"In Britain and northern Europe in ancient times the Salmon was regarded as the King of the Fishes. The salmon is a magnificent creature that can grow to a length of 120 cm (4 feet) and weigh over 30 kg (66 pounds), and displays an amazing feat of navigational skill as it finds its way from the sea to the river of its birth. In this journey it can leap waterfalls up to 3 meters (10 feet) high.

"The vast energy of the Sun is reflected in the energy of the salmon. Why salmon? Just as the lion is considered the King of Beasts on land, the salmon is a powerful example of aquatic life.

"The salmon in legendary tales was said to swim in waters of inspiration and foreknowledge, and was thus associated with wisdom and with strength of purpose ... Its movement through the water is so graceful that the fish cause almost no disturbance.

"One cannot stand still in fast-flowing water because it is in a constant state of rapid motion. Consistency comes through being true to the Inner Self because there is an infinite intelligence within that knows and that will respond once it is recognized. That is where stillness lies."

- Kenneth Meadows

"Like the whale and the primordial monster, the cosmic fish symbolizes the whole of the formal, physical universe.

"It is a symbol of profound life, of the spiritual world that lies under the world of appearances."

- Cirlot

"A fish indicates the ability to live amid the contents of the unconscious mind. In a dream it may indicate that you are becoming more comfortable in the unconscious realm, or that there is information there that you need or desire. The fish also symbolizes Christianity, and two fish form the symbol for Pisces, the twelfth sign of the zodiac."

- Terry Rosen

"The salmon is immensely powerful, able to fight its way upstream through rapids, and even up waterfalls, to reach its spawning grounds. It is a symbol for the emotional strength we all depend on when life finds us figuratively swimming upstream against all the odds. The inspiration of this powerful fish is measured by its value as a source of physical food - it represents the profound value of the unconscious mind, as it swims beneath the water, gliding without creating any wave. It rises each year to renew itself in its fresh water birthplace. We can also rise to the challenge of brining our unconscious wealth into the light of day to strengthen ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

"The dolphin, although a mammal, shares some of the qualities of the salmon. The dolphin further encourages us to regulate our breathing in a healthy way. By controlling the breath, we learn to control physical symptoms such as pain, emotional outbursts, mental agitation, and spiritual unease. Then we simply relax into being and Oneness.

- Stephanie Clement

Sources

Cirlot, J. E. A Dictionary of Symbols. New York, Philosophical Library, 1971.

Clement, Stephanie, and Terry Rosen, Dreams: Working Interactive, 2000.

Meadows, Kenneth, Earth Medicine,. Rockport, Element, 1991.