LESSONS FROM THE FROG

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Teachers come in many sizes...

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On my desk sits a small, clay caricature of a frog. His lips are puckered, and his chubby fingers uphold two hearts. They are inscribed with the words "kiss me". Though comical, this common depiction of the frog is also telling. Most wildlife, already misunderstood, must be reduced to a cartoon-image to be assimilated. How has modern society has lost its connection with nature?

My love affair with the frog and my understanding of their profound spirituality came at some emotional cost. I was sixteen, and due to having severe acne at the time, was teased relentlessly. Part of this teasing involved calling me "frog". At first I cried (enough tears to water an entire frog pond), but then reevaluated my reaction. What was wrong with being a "frog" or "froggy", and why should I let my blemished skin define the person inside?

Modern Misconceptions

Westernized society has a long misrepresented the noble frog. Part of this is due to the Biblical depiction of frogs as evil spirits. In Exodus 8, when God sent a plague of frogs, he did more than punish the Egyptians-he also punished the frogs themselves. What could be more damaging to reputation, than being documented as a symbol of God's wrath? In popular culture, frogs are also victimized. Movies associate them with black magic as often as white. Historically, artwork has painted them with the same dirty brush.

Trying to redeem my self-image from the negative connotations of the word frog, I spent the spare hours of my sixteenth-year seeking contrary knowledge. I researched the frog's role in other cultures, and studied its amphibian biology. More compelling than scientific facts, however, was discovering the spiritual role of the frog throughout various early societies, particularly Druid society.

Divine Kermit

Ancient Druid culture is rooted in ancient Ireland and Britain, beginning about 8000 years ago. In modern terms, Druid people were holistic environmentalists. They insisted on a profound respect for nature, and believed in the interconnectedness of life. In Druid thought, every animal has a purpose more significant than meeting our food or entertainment needs. The symbolic beauty in each animal's life was a reason that animals were looked to as teachers. The frog was no exception. In its evolution from tadpole to maturity the frog represented transformation and hidden beauty. His constant forays into water, rather than being understood scientifically as fulfilling a need for oxygen, were regarded as spiritual cleansing.

This skin of the frog, which absorbs this oxygen, only recently became singled out for derision. The modern discovery of the poisonous covering of certain frog varieties, meant even greater hostility and fear towards this mottled darling. Less scandalous (and therefore lesser known) is the discovery of dozens of chemical compounds from this skin, that can be used as antibiotics and analgesics. The ancient Druids were among the first to recognize and harness this medicinal potential. In their lifetimes, the ashes of frogs were used to stem hemorrhaging, and its spawn applied to soothe inflammation.

Frog Freedom

Though my blemishes eventually disappeared, my lessons from the frog remained. Frogs teach us to look beyond the visible to discover hidden beauty. This was a lesson applied first to myself. Too often, our merit is decided by our appearance. The frog teaches us not to judge by this scale. A frog's power to heal or to poison is independent of its beauty. As well, in human circles, the connection between goodness and beauty is arbitrary. Too, as the frog grows from tadpole to adulthood, we move from acne to wrinkles. Our soul remains the same. Our potential remains the same.

Moving from earth to water, the frog's journey represents a transition between two worlds. Both the frog's hibernation and submerging under water, is a lesson to believe in what is not seen. As the Druid's believed the frogs communicated with water spirits, we must also recognize the life of the soul. Modern society is very divided on the issue, but needn't be. Thankfully, each individual who moves towards incorporating earth (conscious) life, with water (unconscious) experience, helps to form a more enlightened culture.

New Understanding

I believe the fact that most frogs are green is highly symbolic. Through time and tradition, green is a color associated with growth and healing. Today, ecologists gauge the ecosystem as a whole, based on the health of its frog population. In this way, frogs help us to understand the nature of interrelationships. They teach us that our actions have consequences. They are the unacknowledged "canary in the coal mine." Perhaps it is time we listened to their song.

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Galina Pembroke has published over 100 articles in Australia, Europe, the U.S.A. and Canada. She is a proud supporter of the anti-trapping organization The Fur-Bearers (www.banlegholdtraps.com). She lives in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. If you'd like to read more of her articles or receive permission for reprinting them, contact her at galinawrites@yahoo.com.

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