Amy’s talk is called “Octopus as Other: Lessons We Can Learn from an Underworld Consciousness”
The past decade has brought a resurgence of the octopus. Documentaries, books, and scientific exploration seem to have rediscovered these intelligent-yet-otherworldly beings. What can we learn from them? Turning to myth gives us diverse answers. Norse myth sees the Kraken as a fearsome monster, Native Americans of the Northwest tell stories of the octopus making mortal man her husband, and ancient Hawaiian and Tahitian myths depict Octopus as god of the underworld or as a remnant from an ancient universe. So what is behind this long-held fascination?
This presentation makes the case that Octopus is a symbol for Other and for the unconscious, an alien consciousness that we can experience but never fully understand. We will examine some of the evidence for Octopus intelligence and consciousness, drawing parallels between our conceptions and prejudices about Octopus and the Jungian concept of the Unconscious. When we view Octopus through the lens of ecological consciousness, shining a light on relationships and connections, we can learn more about our relationships with poorly understood parts of nature and of ourselves.
About Amy
I’m a practicing pediatrician with a Master’s in Jungian and Archetypal Studies. I live in San Francisco, and I love interpreting dreams, attending local theater, and experiencing life through a mythological lens.