Jellyfish are among the most extraordinary and alien-like creatures on the planet. Humans can learn from and even be inspired by them. They are made of approximately 95% water despite not having a physical brain, heart or blood. When stressed or injured, these invertebrates can revert back to a juvenile stage as a way to survive. Some jellyfish hold algae in their tissue. The algae gives nutrients to the jellyfish when food is scarce or unavailable.
Not only do jellyfish have really neat ways to stay alive, but they are also environmental cleaners. Jellyfish mucus naturally acts as a form of pollution control. Their slimy substance aids in binding to microplastics that accumulate in our oceans. This slimy protein binds to those microplastics and drops to the bottom of the sea. This stops the plastic from gliding through seawater on the surface. Pretty cool!
Jellyfish are eco-friendly invertebrates. An invertebrate is an animal that does not possess a physical backbone or spine. Jellyfish manage to orient themselves in the water by detecting light. They balance themselves when drifting or swimming with their rhopalia. A rhopalium is similar to a small sized brain. It contains clusters of neurons that assist in muscle movements when the jellyfish is drifting.
Despite not having a traditional brain, heart or bones, jellyfish are peaceful creatures as they drift with the currents rather than stalking or hunting. They are symbols of peace, fluency and progression.
Their rhythmic movements make ethereal and ambient music. When sleepless nights have arrived, jellyfish music can be experienced and enjoyed to aid as a cure for insomnia.
The natural pulse rate of a jellyfish is 0.5 to 3.0 hertz as they swim. This converts to a pulse every four seconds. Multiple jellyfish underwater together can make a sound like a hum reaching up to 900 Hz.
Watching jellyfish in real life — in an aquarium or in a video — triggers the parasympathetic nervous-system response. This is known as rest and digest. Watching the calming and rhythmic motions of these alien-like creatures has neurological benefits. These benefits are the same that come from deep inhalations and exhalations. Studies show watching an aquarium for five minutes reduces anxiety and invites you to unwind.
Did you know being near water can trigger the “Blue Mind” effect? This term was coined by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. Being near water can engage our senses without overstimulation. It can lower cortisol levels and induce serotonin and oxytocin production, leaving us feeling relaxed and connected.
Each of us can practice enjoying the Blue Mind effect by watching, immersing in or creating bodies of water. The color blue is calming and has a different effect than the color green. While both colors are beneficial, blue offers the mind and nervous system a signal of safety and security.
Studies show that symptoms of anxiety and rumination can be decreased when observing large blue lakes or oceans.
The Blue Mind effect can be blended with jellyfish hydro-relaxation or visualization.
You can experience Blue Mind by engaging with water. Engaging in baths, showers and running your hands under a faucet can help put you into a calm or mindful mood. You can also visit local lakes or ponds. Walk along bodies of water for a more immersive experience.
Jellyfish visual relaxation is the practice of mirroring jellyfish. Jellyfish naturally have weightless movements and we humans can utilize their movements for better mental and nervous system health.
Place your focus on how the jellyfish is moving. Notice its characteristics or mannerisms. Imagine embodying its movements and personal experiences. This practice includes mindfulness through mimicking jellyfish movements. Stay mindful and consistent with these practices by immersing yourself in a body of water such as a bathtub or pool. If you are unable to access these, you may still practice these steps without a body of water.
Start by taking a deep and slow inhalation. Be mindful of what the air feels like in your nostrils and take notice of the bodily effects it has on your internal world. You can even take a moment to give thanks for this small bodily function: the breath. If you are submerged in a pool, allow your limbs to float (like a jellyfish). Pretend they are dangling. The purpose of this exercise is to avoid exerting a lot of energy. Give conscious attention to your breath and the rising and falling of your chest. If you do not have access to a lake or bathtub filled with water, you can recline in the comfort of your own bed. Imagine there is a beautiful jellyfish living in the cave of your rib cage. As you take a breath imagine the jellyfish tentacles expanding. As you exhale, take note of the jellyfish closing its tentacles. Picture the ebbing and flowing of your breath along with the jellyfish tentacles. Notice any bodily sensations that come with this practice.
Despite the fact that jellyfish lack a physical brain and blood, they represent flow, trust and emotional fluidity. These are wonderful qualities to embody in our human experience. Balance, flow and self-trust are legendary states that lead to wholeness. When one describes experiencing a state of “flow,” what they are actually referring to is a higher state of consciousness where time seems to take a stand and our inner critic ceases to exist in an experience of pure enjoyment.
Flow can be achieved most effectively when cortisol hormone is low, after a good night’s rest and while engaging in an intrinsically motivating task. Leave a time within your day for 90 minutes with no distractions to engage in the activity. Your brain will naturally want to wander elsewhere when first engaging in the activity, but continue to put your focus on the subject at hand. After this 90 minutes is over, one must engage in active recovery. A neurological flow-state does use a lot of mental energy. Your brain and nervous system will need to recover. Light stimulation, gentle movement and hydration is an optimal way to recover from the flow state.
While one cannot be in an optimal state all of the time without a production crash, it is helpful to give the mind a break. Allow yourself to observe a natural environment or fish swimming in a fish tank, enjoy a healthy meal and refrain from engaging in highly stimulating content such as action movies or doomscrolling.
Jellyfish are a reminder that self-trust is important and that it is helpful to remember to trust yourself enough to agree to rest over obsessing about productivity. Self-trust involves having the confidence to know you will have the tools to manage and know how to take care of yourself and your needs.
While our inner critic can be loud and overbearing, self-trust often involves our heart and intuition. Interrupting negative self-talk with positive and realistic internal communication can be helpful. Celebrate or take note of how you stayed true to yourself. Often self-trust is limited or diluted when one does not stay true to their values or stops taking responsibility for their life. Over time, this can lead to low self esteem and a highly active inner-critic. This is why emotional fluidity is helpful when beginning the process of self-trust.
Emotional fluidity is the ability to feel all feeling presently and to allow these feelings to pass without shutting down or resisting them. Allow all thoughts and bodily sensations to pass without labeling yourself as a “good” or “bad” person. Emotional fluidity allows us to remember we are all human and here to experience the world.
Eleph Myrrh
Breathe Life Into the Heart
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