Blogpost # 4: The Symbolism of Mermaids

Have you ever thought why people love mermaid decorations and designs? Do these mermaids give important meanings to people?

Love, seduction, feminine, wild, free, alluring, enchanting... These are the things mermaids do represent during the ancient times. But when I started searching through the internet, I found out that mermaids have different symbols and representations in our lives. Let us define how important mermaids are in life in different perspectives.

Mermaids as Tattoo

One of the most popular designs tattoo lovers wanted to have in their body is a mermaid tattoo. Some people also bought some mermaid designs as decorations. Have you ever think why many people love tattoos? They wanted to show to people what they can’t say and sometimes to show what they like and love or even a remembrance. Tattoos like skull, chains, butterfly, heart, anchor, cross, angel, dragon, eagle, flowers, stars, lion, moon, snake, yin and yang, and mermaids. These tattoo designs are very popular because it represents bravery, freedom, religion, emotions, feelings and love. But let’s focus on the mermaid tattoo. In an article in about.com entitled “Symbolism of Mermaid Tattoos” by Jodie Michalak, there are different reasons why people have mermaids as their tattoos.  
First is our love to ocean. Many of us have the desire to jump off the ship and swim fearlessly to the ocean. Mermaids signify freedom of life. Like mermaids, we want to be free and do whatever that will make us happy and contented. She also said that mermaid beckons us to calm and feel protected.
Second is sensuality. Mermaids have sensual power. Her breasts, curves and gorgeous hair are symbols of her feminine beauty. Mermaids aren't shy about baring their bodies. This means that mermaids bring confidence especially to women. They inspire women to express their feelings and not to be afraid.
The last is destruction which is about the mermaids who took down ships and drowned any man who followed their lure. We can also say that having a mermaid tattoo also represents seduction and attracting men because of their enchanting beauty.

These mermaid tattoo lovers put tattoos to express their feelings and emotions. That having a mermaid tattoo makes us show how confident, beautiful, and attractive we are. And also, these mermaid tattoos serves as their strength to show what they wanted to show and express.

Mermaids in Jewelries

In an article on katieojewelry.com entitled “Mermaid Symbology” by Katie O’ Sullivan, she said that the mermaid with the body of a woman and the tail of a fish is a symbol for fertility, eternal grace and beauty.  As with many water creatures she is associated with the moon, mystery, and the unconscious.  Residing in the cosmic ocean from which all life has emerged and into which it must eventually return, the mermaid also represents renewal, purification, wisdom, and infinity. She also said that amulets, charms, fetishes, or talismans were worn on the body to bring luck, heal, enhance fertility, protect against injury.

In my opinion, mermaid jewelries and accessories represent and give elegance and beauty in women. However, people wearing charms and amulets might think that these things give them super magical powers and let them stay healthy and strong. But for me, these charms do not bring any powers or magic in people. Believing that these things are powerful makes them think positive in life.

Mermaids in Our Dreams

We all know that every time we dream, there must be something that our dreams wanted to tell us or warn us. But what if you dreamed about mermaids? I found an article in physicsuniverse.com entitled “Mermaid Dreams: What They Mean” by Mackenzie Wright, that dreaming about mermaids have different interpretations.

Femininity

Whether you are a man or a woman, dreaming about a mermaid could be telling you something about your feminine side. If in the dream the mermaid made you happy and inspired, most likely you are happy about getting in touch with your feminine side. If you were a mermaid and happily dashing through the waves, it means you're embracing your femininity. However, the mermaid frightened you or made you uncomfortable; it could mean you're afraid of being overwhelmed by the feminine side of your soul.

Hybrids

Mermaids are half human and half fish. Sometimes dreaming of a mermaid is reminding yourself that there is more than one side to you. Perhaps you are focusing too much on one side of your nature but have been ignoring the other side. But becoming a mermaid in your dream could be your subconscious mind reminding you that you have to find a more balanced lifestyle to be happy.

Drowning in Emotion

Water and women are primal symbols of emotion. If you dream you’re facing a mermaid in your dream that is a threat to you, it may be a sign that you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed. If she’s fighting with you, struggling with you, dragging you down into the depths, you may be having a hard time coming out of an emotional state like depression or despair. Dreams like this may indicate that you’re in over your head and need to seek help and support.

Transformation

There are two ways in which mermaids symbolize transformation. The first is in their own transformation from human to fish. Out of the water they look like the rest of us, in the water their legs are magically transformed into a tail, their skin transformed into scales. The other reason mermaids are associated with death is that their songs were said to lure sailors to their doom. Death in a dream rarely means physical death, but is a symbol of transformation. You have to kill of parts of yourself in order to let other parts be born.

Honestly, I never dreamed about mermaids. But after reading this article let me know that dreaming about mermaids is not just a simple thing. It may be just a dream but it can give you some realizations in life that will guide you. Like what Mackenzie Wright said, Pay attention to what she’s telling you and you can learn a lot about what’s going on in your subconscious.

The different interpretations and symbolism of mermaids may be true and may not be true. But knowing these things can help us think and consider things in life. It can give us strength and confidence. It can help us decide in our realizations in life.

Blogpost # 3: Good or Bad?

Now that we know the real beauty of mermaids, are they still good in your own point of view? Does their real look have an effect on their actions and behavior? Let us know how mermaids have known years ago. How people that time react when they see or talk about mermaids. Mermaids can be a darling or evil killers of the sea which means that they can be good or bad.

During ancient times, people see mermaids as a bad luck. They were afraid to encounter mermaids because they believed that mermaids were bad. An article in novelnovice.com entitled “All about Mermaids,Myths, Legends and Pop Culture” by Sara discussed that traditionally, mermaids are known for their beautiful voice. They sing lullabies and hymns that distract and enchant the people sailing. They were also blamed for causing shipwrecks and drowning humans.

We can say that mermaid causes bad, violent storm that destroys the ships. Mermaids are also accused of killing people especially the sailors. They hypnotize people, they use their voices to seduce people specially men, they drag people deep down in the water until the sailor will not be able to breathe, drown and eventually died. However, there are also things that makes the mermaid good.

Even if many people say that mermaids are bad luck, some people during the ancient times said that these creatures are good. According to an article in examiner.com entitled “Paranormal Facts About Mermaids” by Kelly Haulotte, mermaids bring some good luck and fortune. These mermaids are beautiful, gentle and kind. Good mermaids also lure men but in a way that they help men on their way. They warn the sailors about storms and other disaster.

Maybe the reason why these people claiming that mermaids are good is because every time they see mermaids, they conclude that these creatures wanted to say something to them. That mermaids wanted them to avoid danger, be careful and be aware.

Based on my opinion and observation, mermaid is neither a good nor a bad luck. And also, the character of a person do not base on his or her appearance. Mermaids do not have that certain evil or good characteristics. For me, It is just our mind who thinks that seeing a mermaid is like this and like that because they are different from us.

How about you? Are they good or bad?

Blogpost # 2: The Real Mermaids...

When I was young, I see mermaids as beautiful goddesses who sing with a golden voice. What I knew is that they’re kind and cheerful. They were one of the favorite things painters and sculptures use to paint and carve. A lot of people wanted to be a mermaid because of its goddess aura – just like Ariel, the main character in the movie, “The Little Mermaid”. Disney describes her as a cute, beautiful, sweet, and humble little mermaid who found her love in the world of humans and did everything to be a part of her man’s world. But this year, finding out their real beauty surprised me. 

Ariel, The Little Mermaid

After watching the video from the animal.discovery.com entitled, “Mermaid Sighting in Kiryat Yam”, In this video, the US tourists were strolling around when suddenly they saw something on top of the big rock. They've decided to video cam the small creature, and were shocked when the creature looked at them and i jumped into the sea.

I was shocked.  It felt creepy while looking at the little monster. But I was happy to see that there really is a mermaid, even if it is an insufficient evidence about the mermaids’ existence. Look closely at the little mermaid. Creepy right? It looks like it’s still a baby. It might be because the camera is too far that I’m confused whether the mermaid has a face or not. But, there's another video of a mermaid with a different look. 

The video is a leaked evidence from the UK Coastguard. The video from animal.discovery.com that makes the mermaid not that attractive is the “UK Coastguard Mermaid Sighting”. In this video, the UK Coast Guard were having their man over board training when suddenly, a glowing creature jumped at the right side of the boat which causes them to stumble and lost their focus.

You can see that the mermaid here looks really scary. If you will look closely, the so called mermaid looks like an alien. Its eyes were big, round and glowing. Its head has no hair, but its head-tail is similar to an alien. And also, its head-tail is pointed. In fact, there is an article who said that the mermaid looks like an alien which is similar to my observation.

An article in agoracosmopolitan.com named “UFO: Mermaid-like appears in the Ocean” by Tanveer Masood and from The Cosmos News in youtube.com, which they also got from the Animal Planet, the video entitled “Mermaid Alien Discovered by Ocean Scientists in Greenland Sea”. Mr. Waring said in the article that “Animal planet recently aired an interview with several scientists from Greenland that had recorded actual evidence of a human-like creature that resembles a mermaid and they had found the remains of a similar creature.” The scientists went 3000 feet deep off the shore of Greenland Sea. While they were looking around, a huge crash startled them and suddenly a webbed hand slammed the windows of their submarine that scared them. Mr. Waring also said that he wonders if the creature is an alien species unknown to us or an alien which has been exploring our oceans. The mermaid here is a human-like creature. For me, It’s like a dead body of a human.

Based on what I have watched and read, mermaids are not beautiful. They look like an alien or a mummy. In the first video, you can see that the mermaid there is like the mermaid that we used to describe despite the fact that it is very small. The second video is about a short mermaid like what the scientists discovered years ago. The third video is what makes me get more excited about mermaids. Actually, I decided to watch the video at day time because I thought it was scary. But when I’m done watching it, I was shocked to see the real look of a mermaid closely. I think mermaids have different types and kinds just like the other species in our planet.

And based on an article in blogs.discovery.com named “Everyone's Asking: Do Mermaids Really Exist?...Well, Do they?” by Betty Chu, she said that, “I believe in possibilities and the power of imagination – that we haven’t found everything out there yet. In the past two decades alone, we just learned about two species of whales that we never knew existed. Scientists have spent countless hours exploring the scientific theory behind this special – it is undeniably compelling –and the ‘what ifs’ are just too irresistible to ignore.”

Yes, it’s true. Our planet is too big for us to discover everything. Particularly the ocean part. We definitely need more time to explore the world and discover new things. 

Thank you!

Blogpost # 1: I Saw A Mermaid!!

Seeing news and different stories about mermaids fascinate me. I really want to know if these creatures were true or not. When I was young, I always watch Barbie, Cartoons, and Disney Princesses such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, and Ariel, The Little Mermaid. I am also into reading interesting myth stories and legends. That’s why Mermaids interest me.  I want to know more about them.

Have you ever wondered why there are such beings who are greatly similar to us humans but have tails, swim very fast and do not breathe underwater just like the fish, the dolphins and the sharks?

A mermaid is an aquatic creature with a half body of a human and the other half is of a fish’s tail which serves as its feet.

Mermaids, Merman, Merpeople, Sirens, Water fairies, Water nymphs… they have been known for a very long time. And until now, the stories of these creatures still exist and are passed on to different generations. Why? Because a lot of people still talk about them and are interested to know the truth about the Mermaids’ existence. But where do mermaids come from?

Atargatis

One of the famous stories on how mermaids began is the story of Atargatis. In an article in aquaviews.net entitled "The Mermaid’s Tale"  by Creedence Gerlach, the first known Mermaids originated from Assyria, now called Northern Iraq, where the Goddess Atargatis fell in love with a human shepherd boy and when she got pregnant she ended up killing her love unintentionally. She was so ashamed of herself that she threw herself into a lake and pretended to be a fish.

Mermaids are extremely hard to find. They’re very good in hiding. People, especially those who live near the sea and those who travel during the ancient times, say that mermaids suddenly show up singing. But most of the time, what they can only hear are the mermaids’ hymn. Scientists and researchers take several years to find some information about mermaids. And it takes lots of money to research about them because you can’t use just a simple boat to search for the mermaids. What you need are swimming equipment like diving suits and oxygen tanks in order to stay long underwater. And also the submarines, which cost a lot, because mermaids can’t be found in shallow areas of the ocean. But there are times that faith is with us and some people said that they saw a mermaid. 
There are lucky people who said that they have seen mermaids. In the article of voices.yahoo.com entitled “The History of Mermaids” by Shelly Barclay, there are recorded events and sightings that mermaids have showed up. These are: Pausanias who claimed to have seen two Tritons, Henry Hudson who wrote in his journal, "From the naval upward, her back and breasts were like a woman's . . . her body as big as one of us; her skin very white and long hair hanging down behind, of the color black; in her going down they saw her tail, which was the tail of a porpoise, and speckled like a mackerel”, and Christopher Columbus who claimed to have seen the mermaids off of the coast of Haiti and Guinea Africa. And Alexander Carmichael who reported that he had met people who had seen and touched the mermaids. 

These people believe that mermaids really exist because they saw it with their own eyes, even if there were not enough evidence to prove. But these days, the search for mermaids has been brought up again. In fact, a place in Israel called Kiryat Yam is known to several mermaid sights and stories.

Kiryat Yam, Israel

According to livescience.com, an article entitled "Mermaid Sightings Claimed in Israel" by Benjamin Radford, Shlomo Cohen, one of the people who saw the mermaid, said, "I was with my friends when suddenly we saw a woman laying on the sand in a weird way. At first, I thought she was just another sunbather, but when we approached, she jumped into the water and disappeared. We were all in shock because we saw she had a tail." There were also other people in Kiryat Yam, Israel claiming that they saw mermaids. These rumors have reached to the mayor.

Mr. Shmuel Sisso, Kiryat Yam Mayor

Because of his eagerness to see a real mermaid, the mayor of Kiryat Yam in Israel, Shmuel Sisso, offered $1 Million dollars as a reward to anyone who can give the evidence that will prove the existence of the mermaids. And because of the mayor's proposal, people started to find and record some evidences that mermaids are real. As a matter of fact, two US tourists have recorded an evidence of a mermaid on top of a rock and sent it to the mayor of Kiryat Yam. It reached the Animal Planet.
According to Animal Planet's video of Mermaids: The New Evidence entitled "Israeli Mayor's $1 Million Proposal" in animal.discovery.com, the mayor said that he saw the footage but that video is not enough because it could be something else. He wants a 100% proof because people want a 100%  of the $1 Million.
Proving and making people believe the mermaids is not an easy task to do. We may believe that the video taken by the American tourists in Kiryat Yam, Israel is a real mermaid but still, it is not enough to say and prove that the creature in the video is really a mermaid because the tourists were very far from the stone, the video is not that clear and it’s not an evidence worth of a million dollars. I believe that mermaids do exist. I really do. They might just be at the incredibly deep parts of the sea that are impossible for humans to reach.

Thank you!

Mermaids...

Have you ever dreamed of swimming deep under the ocean without breathing through your lungs or like the animals in the sea? Or rather like a mermaid? Well, that was one of my fantasy dreams when I was young. Every time I see different news and stories about mermaids, it really gets my attention. And that’s why I came up to have Mermaids as my topic in our Research Writing class. So, if you are as interested as me in getting to know more of the so called “Human Creatures under the Sea”, join me in exploring the World of Mermaids.