Jan 23

Written by: Jayanthi
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

My encounter
During Thanksgiving 2007, Animal Planet was playing specials on the animals of Africa and specifically animals who encounter wildebeests during their migrations in between Tanzania and Kenya. Because wildebeests must cross many water bodies to get to their final destination, they come in contact with hippos. Somehow, since I saw that show, I became immediately enamored with this roly-poly fellow.

Wisdom of Natives
Native Americans who call animals “totems” or “medicine” would not have seen a hippo in its native environment. Yet, once I spoke to a Native American who believes in totems and I was told that any animal that exists on this planet can come to people in their dreams- whether that is a dream you have while you are sleeping or a dream you have when you are awake as both states of consciousness are considered dreaming in that person’s culture. Interestingly, one characteristic of the hippo totem is lucid dreaming- dreaming within a dream. In any case, as the Indian (from India) belief holds in my learning, maya or illusion is a very similar concept. What is really real? Do we really know that because we see it and feel it that it is real? Or can it be a dream? (More on this below, click on the link “Singular Reality.”) Hippos, according to the natives are a sign to pay attention to lucid dreams.

Modern Wisdom
Much wisdom for the symbology of animals and how they impact our daily life derives from the  study the behavior of the animal. Many people know hippos for at least two things: being big and clumsy and wading in water all day. I want to question both of these behaviors. Yes, hippos are big. I can not argue that. But, are they clumsy? In fact, they are not. This is one of the aspects of hippos that attracted me so much in the Animal Planet specials. Hippos swim under water and run on land. In the video below, it is noticed hippos run quite fast and actually look quite graceful while running up to 30 mph (source). Marjorie Baker Price told me that noticing this should help me understand things are not always what they seem to be on the surface. Interestingly, this concept also carries over to the wading behavior. Water is universally a symbol of emotion and creativity. Water is also a necessity in life to keep hydrated. In looking beneath the surface of the water, we can get to the heart of the matter- of our emotions and creativity. Sometimes it takes time and patience, an ability to simply wade in matters to give them time to soak in and imbibe us. This is important not only for understanding but moving forward. Additionally, beneath the water is the ground. Hippos teach us how to process our emotions and creativity- our life forces without getting too caught up in lofty or airy perceptions, keeping us grounded. Additionally, water is a symbol of not only life- but birth. Hippos are a good guide or teacher for women or families preparing to grow their families. Hippo mothers are maternal and form strong bonds, especially with their daughters. Hence, possibly in the here and now, hippos can help us to strengthen bonds with the female members of our family or friends circle or intuitively work on our ‘maternal instincts’ to help others.
It is also well known that hippos are regimented and like things a certain way. For example, in exiting or entering their watering hole, they take the same path. Hence, this path becomes worn. Hippos teach “us to find a path that works for us and to stay on it to reach our true destination.” (source)  It can also teach us that reaching our goals is indeed possible, but may take time, effort and repetition of successful behaviors.

Global Folktales
Trying to find Hippo stories from Africa, where Hippos live in concert with man, was a bit challenging for me. A few stories I found discussed the hippos need not to be picked on or laughed at by other animals for being so ugly. To cover their ugliness, as it were, God agreed with the Hippos that they can live in water bodies. However, God was also concerned Hippos having such large mouths would eat all the fish. Hippos made a deal with God. To prove they would not eat fish, they decided to become vegetarians and regularly open their mouths very wide to the sky to prove there are no fish inside. (source)

Sayings Associated
The only saying I know is “Hungry as a Hippo.” This phrase, I believe is not as it seems. Somehow in our culture any animal that appears big or fat is equated with overeating. However, I believe animals do not inherently overeat (minus possibly the domesticated ones, for which exercise videos are being released), that unfortunate task is reserved for humans. Again, things are not as they appear as the “tremendous size” of the hippo does not lend itself to overeating, a lack of energy or grace.
In our house, since hippos have become a fascination of mine, we have created our own hippo saying. I say, “Hippos rule.” My husband says, “Hippos drool.” For each of us, both are true!

Personal Reflections
In the Animal Planet special, two aspects of the Hippo stuck with me. One was the quick, graceful sprint of the hippo. The second was the hippo attacking and eating a wildebeest. (Also in the clip below, the hippo attacks a cheetah.) As a vegetarian, why would a hippo eat an animal? Again things are not what they seem. Occasionally, hippos do not always get all their dietary needs from plants, this may be especially true in the long dry seasons, so this could force them to find their nutrition in unlikely sources. I also have been a vegetarian for ten years, not touching meat or meat broth (though I eat eggs) and occasionally when I appear a bit weak to my Ayurvedic doctor he has encouraged me to eat meat or fish. I have not yet taken this advice, but again, this proves things are not always what they seem and that sometimes nutrition comes from unlikely sources.  Definitely since hippos came into my life, my creativity has sparked. During my time of recreation, I had created a “hippo shrine” as it can be called. The photos of the hippo biome throughout this article are the final product of that vision. I have been able to give myself time and space to process some things that have happened to me to help clear them from my life. This gives me room to let new things in- creatively and emotionally. Getting into the heart of the matter and cleaning things also has happened for me in the physical realm as I have been able to clear clutter and organize the house hold for an ease of living, which I have realized definitely takes creativity. Lastly, though I will not wade in water to stay moisturized, I continue to integrate hydration habits into my daily life such as drinking more plain water and moisturizing my skin appropriately. 

Thank you, Hippos!

Photos by Krishna Kumar.

More Wilderness Wednesday Animals here.

Related Sites/Links: Taking a Bite Out of the Sky (Find Hippo Lore in this Post)  |  Lucid Dreaming  |  Singular Reality (Article on Philosophy of Dreaming)  |  Hippos on Wikipedia  |  Centering Tools  |  Hippo articles on Animal Planet’s Website  |  Hippo Totem and Crystals 

 

You Tube Video: Watch the Hippo Run

(I am not endorsing the medicine, just for sake of the Hippo.)

 

Funny Video on Hippo Singing with Dog.

   
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Copyright ©2008 Jennifer Jayanthi Kumar

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