Briefly
The Opossum, a small marsupial native to North America, embodies traits of cunning, strategy, and adaptability. It’s best known for “playing possum,” or pretending to be dead when threatened – a survival strategy that confuses predators. This act of deception has given the opossum a symbolic association with trickery and intelligence. It also represents life and death, duality, and balance due to its nocturnal nature and unique survival tactic.
- Symbolism: Cunning, Strategy, Adaptability, Trickery, Intelligence, Life and Death, Duality, Balance.
Opossum in Dreams
In dreams, an opossum can represent a situation in your life where you may need to employ cunning or deceit to get out of. Alternatively, it could symbolize a need for better balance or adaptability in your personal or professional life. The appearance of an opossum in your dreams may be a sign that you need to be more cautious or develop a better strategy for dealing with challenges.
- Dream Symbolism: Cunning, Deception, Balance, Adaptability, Caution, Strategy.
See also our Free Dream Interpretation Tool
Opossum in Myths and Folklore
The opossum holds a place of respect and admiration in Native American mythology. The Cherokee, for instance, have a myth about the opossum obtaining a beautiful, bushy tail from the Creator. However, due to its vanity and pride, the tail became bare and skinny – a symbol of the dangers of excessive pride.
In Australian Aboriginal mythology, the opossum is seen as a trickster figure. Stories depict the opossum using its cunning to outwit its enemies, reinforcing its symbolic association with intelligence and trickery.
- Folklore Symbolism: Vanity, Pride, Trickery, Intelligence.
Opossum Spiritual Meanings
In a spiritual context, the opossum symbolizes the need for clever tactics and strategies in life. It teaches the importance of adaptability and the ability to navigate through difficult circumstances with grace. The opossum spirit guide encourages us to be versatile and flexible, reminding us to remain balanced amidst changes and to use wisdom in our decisions.
- Spiritual Symbolism: Strategy, Adaptability, Versatility, Balance, Wisdom.
Opossum Tattoo Meaning
An opossum tattoo is a unique symbol of survival, strategy, and adaptability. It can represent overcoming difficult situations through intelligence and trickery, similar to the opossum ‘playing dead’ to evade predators. Moreover, due to its nocturnal nature, an opossum tattoo could symbolize the duality of life and death, light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance.
- Tattoo Symbolism: Survival, Strategy, Adaptability, Intelligence, Trickery, Duality.
FAQs
What does the opossum symbolize?
The opossum symbolizes cunning, strategy, adaptability, trickery, intelligence, life and death, duality, and balance.
What does it mean to dream of an opossum?
Dreaming of an opossum can represent a situation where you may need to employ cunning or deceit. It could also symbolize a need for balance, adaptability, caution, or a better strategy in your life.
What does an opossum tattoo symbolize?
An opossum tattoo symbolizes survival, strategy, adaptability, intelligence, and trickery. It may also represent the duality of life and death.
What is the spiritual meaning of the opossum?
Spiritually, the opossum signifies the need for clever tactics and strategies, adaptability, versatility, balance, and wisdom.
Reviewed by Alexander Lys, M.L., a specialist in the field of symbolism research and dream psychology. A certified participant in numerous psychological seminars and courses, the author of hundreds of articles on psychology, including studies on symbolism in dreams and myths from a scientific perspective.
