image via http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/artists/244344135?view_mode=2
Proteus was a wise Greek sea god, a shape changer and a prophet. Pictured as fish-tailed, he was able to change himself into a lion, a serpent, a panther, a wild boar, a tree and flowing water. In order to get answers from him concerning the future, it was necessary to wrestle him and bind him, then wait patiently through all the transformations for the voice of prophecy. He is an image of something elusive, flickering and ineffable that wriggles shakes and transforms many times before it stabilizes as an image that can be comprehended by consciousness.
Proteus is a great metaphor of working with archetypes and symbols. They are creatures of the deep ocean of the collective unconscious and this is where they feel best. They do not fare well in the world of hard matter or clear-cut mental distinctions. Out of water they may get too dry, lose their colour, become lifeless. Like Proteus, they cannot wait to return to their proper realm. Waking up in the morning, we try to capture the dream images, but they change their shapes rapidly, often fading away too fast for the consciousness to capture their meaning. Whatever we say about them will never be enough: it would always be possible to go deeper because their Protean oceanic wisdom is unfathomable. How many times their wisdom is lost, annihilated by the stern voice of the classifying mind. As Jung wrote in Memories, Dreams, Reflections:
I felt that at some time or other I had passed through the valley of diamonds, but I could convince no-one – not even myself, when I looked more closely – that the specimens I had brought back were not mere pieces of gravel.
All the manifest forms have emerged out of the protean, shifting, unstable, shaping and reshaping watery realms of imagination and ceaseless creativity. A 2004 documentary on Ernst Haeckel, a nineteenth-century biologist and artist, who studied tiny radiolaria, ancient one-celled marine organisms, includes stunning animation sequences of the shapeshifting of these tiny creatures, whose geometric skeletons show the infinite creativity of form and pattern. It is a mystical vision: the organic world of radiolaria mirrors the world of the archetypes in its breathtaking beauty and diversity, eternal unity in manifold manifestation. Haeckel went to the valley of diamonds and brought back precious and beautiful gems.
Ernst Haeckel
symbolreader 
That is a mind blowing video.It did look like an alphabet and snowflakes. Just wow at Creation~
LikeLike
THE ALPHABET OF CREATION! That’s brilliant, wish that had been the title of my post.
LikeLike
The post is brilliant no matter what you call it. 😀
Shared on Facebook.
Have a great day Monika~
Namaste
Sindy
LikeLike
Thank you, same to you!
LikeLike
Thanks bluebutterfliesandme for leading me over here. And thanks Symbol Reader for leaving a crumb. Love the Haeckel reference, imagery, and invokation of Proteus, who I am – the Unchanged Changeling. Following. Peace on Earth, Ik
LikeLike
Thank you very much, Erik! I was surprised myself that she would do that.
LikeLike
No accidents. All meant to be as is. Peace, Ik
LikeLike
Peace to you too,
Monika
LikeLike
I don’t know why that would surprise you Monika? 😀 I just knew Ik would enjoy your blog. I was right, he does. Just connecting great minds & souls~
✿ღ✿ღ.¸¸ღ♫*¨`*•..¸ƸӜƷ ✿ღ ✫❀
Namaste
Sindy
LikeLike
Haha, you are an alchemist.
LikeLike
Takes one to know one~ 😀
LikeLike
Found the video fascinating and wonderfully mysterious.
LikeLike
So did I. I love it when science turns into art.
LikeLike
I kept coming back to reread and the video was soo Cool!….
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post today!
Take Care…
)0(
maryrose
LikeLike
Thank you for being here, Maryrose. All my best, Monika
LikeLike
your welcome, though it is a pleasure to
wander in and take away something I didn’t know…
)0(
LikeLike
As Jung wrote in Memories, Dreams, Reflections:
I felt that at some time or other I had passed through the valley of diamonds, but I could convince no-one – not even myself, when I looked more closely – that the specimens I had brought back were not mere pieces of gravel. great quote and intriguing post Monika. This quote evokes past reflections on a mystical experince where what was once on fire with energy or glowing with shimmering splendor seems quite ordinary at a later date.
LikeLike
I know exactly what you mean. I would often prefer not to mention the experience at all for fear of sounding ridiculous.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on An Elegant Mystery.
LikeLike
wonderful post and exquisite video – look like prototypes of all flowers and plants – nature’s designs are breathtaking at all levels – shapes of leaves, architecture of flowers, a trillion types of eyes ( camera designs cannot begin to scratch in the competeion), noses ears, mouths,legs hands, hair – no anarchy, just a set premise, then whoosh unending variety – i want to meet this designer in person but then like proteus he/she will so keep changing form that i wont be able to catch its tail.thanks
LikeLike
Like the alphabet of creation. All the possible forms – both natural and manmade, but perhaps this distinction is unnecessary.
LikeLike
made by man made by nature ):
LikeLike
Fascinating as always. You’re a gem!
Peace.
James
LikeLike
That melts my heart. So are you!
LikeLike
This was a really interesting post! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Am currently reading about Carl Jung and am wondering if I should continue with studying his works with regards to Archetypes and such. I am still trying to wrap my mind around a man who attempted to psychoanalyze the Bible! How awesome and yet mind boggling is that! lol
LikeLike
I am not objective about Jung because reading him changed my life. There was a time when I read nothing but him. As for analyzing the Bible, I do not think he disrespected it, it was still a holy book to him with profound wisdom. He just looked for archetypal patterns and studied them just like Haeckel did with the radiolaria.
I am happy you liked my post.
Best,
Monika
LikeLike
Great post again!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Beautiful and thought provoking! Reminded me of an occasional feeling I’ve had of wanting to break out of this form, and suggests that the desire to change may be a visit from Proteus.
Very inspirational stuff. Thanks Monika!
Debra
LikeLike
Thank you, dear Debra. Would you believe I have had the same yearnings.
LikeLike
Yes, I do, and it warms my heart! Something about not feeling so crazy when you discover someone else speaks your language.
LikeLike
Great post.. and you chose a great Jung quote
LikeLike
Proteus and the radolaria, both great metaphors indeed for the mystical and unruly road to search for deeper truths. Maybe peeled onions without a real core…
(See you’ re very productive last week, have been sailing with my daughter for a while, but will read of course 🙂 ).
LikeLike
Yes, I had a good writing week – home alone and still on holiday until next week. Glad you are back.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Subliminal Spaces and commented:
An amazing blog has come within my radar and I feel moved to share just one of the many fascinating posts from ‘Symbol Reader’. Capturing the depth of insight and inspiration that is possible when the symbolic aspects of life are delved into, this post on protean fluidity is particularly mesmerising. I hope you enjoy it and get as much out of it as I have. Thank you Symbol Reader 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: “Odyssey” by Homer: Book IV – The Red-Haired King and his Lady | Stuff Jeff Reads