Spikes of the sea urchin - Phyllacanthus imperialis

The spines of the sea urchin

The attractive spines in shades of red, deep gray and purple belong to the species Phyllacanthus imperialis which belongs to to the family Cidaridae. About my size. 50mm - 6mm. Sold by the piece.

Sea urchins (Echinoidea) are spiky ball-shaped, echinoderm marine invertebrates that can live up to 20 years. An adult individual is typically 3-10 cm in diameter. They move along the seabed with their suction feet. The sharp spines of sea urchins protect the animal well against predators. Their spines can be up to 30 centimeters long and usually keep predators away. The sting of the spines causes pain, and in addition, the spines of some species ooze poison. In the worst case, the sting of the thorns can cause blood poisoning. In addition to pain, the effects of the poison include e.g. nausea, numbness and difficulty breathing.

Symbol meaning

Ancient mystics associated the sea urchin with the virgin goddess and fertility. In Native American cultures, the sea urchin is often considered a symbol of protection, guidance and intuition. The spines of the sea urchin represent a strong spirit, wisdom and the ability to defend yourself, while the animal's hard shell symbolizes the ability to protect itself from blows and bumps in life. The ancient Celts, on the other hand, considered the sea urchin a symbol of courage, strength and fertility. They believed that the animal helped women who had trouble conceiving. Early Christians, on the other hand, considered the sea urchin a symbol of Christ. They believed that the spiky appearance of the sea urchin resembled the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus' head before his crucifixion.

Ritual use

At the time of the Crusades, people near Judea carried sea urchin spines with them as amulets. It was believed that the spikes protected the wearer from urinary tract infections and "stones". The ancient Danes, on the other hand, believed that sea urchins were born from a lightning strike and that they were a gift from the thunder god Thor. It was also believed that if you carried a sea urchin spine with you as an amulet, you were safe from lightning and evil magic. In addition, it was seen that the thorns protected against diseases, poisons and injuries during battles.

It is recommended to buy the amount that best suits your desired purpose. Below are the meanings of numbers 1-10 according to the Pythagorean number symbolism:

1. (Monad) the beginning of all that exists. Symbolizes unity, inspiration and beginnings.
   
2. (Dyad) symbolizes opposites, dualism, the world of matter and choices.
3. (Triad) is the uniting element of opposites and the number of spiritual development and growth. Represents growth and trinity.
4. (Tetrad) the organized form of the atmospheric world. Symbolizes stability, order and structure.
5. (Pentad) describes the process of human perfection. Also depicts change and instability.
6. (Hexadi) number of wisdom and intelligence. Symbolizes problem solving, adapting activities to match goals and communication.
7. (Heptad) the number of development which combines the number 3 of growth and the number 4 of concrete manifestation. The number of reflection, evaluation and spirituality / spirituality.
8. (Ogdoadi) number of action, movement and achievement. Symbolizes action on a sure footing.
   
9. (Ennead) is the number of inner growth and creativity. Symbolizes powerful and unrestricted expression, as well as the approach of graduation.
10. (Decade) symbolizes completion, the end of a cycle and renewal. Unlimited, eternal continuation.

Note! Sea urchin spines are natural products washed up on the shores of the sea, i so each of them is its own unique individual. Because of this, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. Trust that the songs selected by intuition for you resonate best with your personal purpose. We do not buy, sell or forward new clams, conch shells or their parts, and we do not accept illegal importation of these.