Greetings and Salutations

I just wanted, so very suddenly, to do an octopus…there was no plan, no preliminary sketches; it was all on a whim. But, whenever I tackle something I do research the subject. I thought I knew pretty much everything about octopi, but I discovered I was very wrong.

In addition to being very clever shapeshifters capable of changing both form and color, octopi have nine brains and three hearts. Nine brains; three hearts.

One brain serves as command central. It’s wrapped around its esophagus…so I guess that says something about gut instincts.

The other eight brains are located at the base of each of its legs, which are all completely autonomous. In fact, the octopus cannot tell what the legs are doing unless they are in its line of vision. Yet, they all work to benefit the whole octopus identity.

The three hearts are there because, being an active individual so spread out in all directions, they are simply needed to pump that blood around more efficiently.

My aunt very recently told me the story of an octopus she sees regularly, all holed up in a snorkeling area near her home. It’s almost always hiding, except for one time when she passed overhead and caught it by surprise with another octopus. The two froze in her shadow…except for one arm from each octopus that reached out to the other, as if to comfort. Looking back, she saw them start moving again, continuing on their octopus ways, in their octopus’ garden, in the shade.

In most species, the males die a few months after breeding; the females a die bit after sitting on their clutches of eggs for seven to eight months at a time.

It seems to me these octopi have a lot of heart that isn’t just for pumping blood around.

Except for maybe when the larger ones are eating the smaller ones…let’s be realistic.

So much of my work explores identity…most if it in visual allegory and metaphor. My own third culture identity always shifts and slides, almost imperceptibly, adapting to life’s demands. This mutability seems to have generated a magnetic pull that through fated incidents and occasions has introduced several individuals with DID (dissociated identity disorder) into my life at different points, and each has left a permanent impression on how I, in turn, view the world and life and spirituality in general. I am amazed at how much resilience and strength these people have shown to overcome extreme hardship and carve out places for themselves in this world. Discovering more about the natural qualities of this octopus reminds me that there are so many ways of being that are by design, and with purpose.

So this octopus…is another finding, another stumbling into, another chance encounter; and I am so glad to discover those nine brains and three hearts.