Embrace Transformation & Recovery with the Hydra and the Scents of Lime, Frankincense, Bergamot & Lemony Litsea Cubeba
 
The Hydra of Lerna (Lernaea) is a Snake or Dragon-like creature with multiple heads in Greco-Roman Mythology. Hydra is a mythic monstrosity that lives in the Lake of Lerna: The abysmal, dark, and treacherous body of water in Argolis, which, in ancient times, was understood as The Underworld’s entrance. The creature’s titles are myriad, including “Hydra Lernaina,” “Exedra,” or the “Lernaean Hydra.” “Hydra” stems from the feminine form of the Greek word “Hydros,” meaning “water snake,” so immediately, the connection between the creature and the Water Element is clear.
The body of the Hydra is serpentine in appearance, but there is at least one tale describing the creature having the shape of an enormous Dog. It’s likely the tale confuses the Hydra with one of its siblings, the Three-Headed Dog, Cerberus, the “Hound of Hades,” who guards the Underworld while preventing the deceased from returning to the realm of the living. As a Guardian of the Underworld Gates, Hydra represents transformation, death, change, transitions, and Karmic repercussions.
The Hydra, like its siblings, is a Chimera and the child of Echidna, a Half-Snake, Half-Woman, and Typhoeus, a Gargantuan-sized Serpent. Along with Cerberus, Hydra’s siblings include the Chimera, Orthos, the Sphinx, and the Nemean Lion. Because Hydra is chimerical, it symbolizes opposing forces, paradoxes, and duality. It also serves as the physical embodiment of the Masculine and Feminine Forces.
Hydra symbolizes rapid renewal and regeneration; when one of the creature’s heads is cut off, one or more heads grow back immediately. Lore suggests Hydra’s breath is poisonous to anyone who breathes in the vapors. A few stories tell of the Hydra having feet and wings. With its various depictions across time, Hydra symbolizes shapeshifting abilities, glamoury, and the superficiality or transient nature of physical appearances.
When multiple problems are heading in your direction, the Hydra may appear as a Spirit Animal to warn you ahead of time. The appearance of the creature suggests a period where you’ll need to remain on your toes and heighten your awareness. Hydra arrives with the message, “There’s trouble in the water, so pay attention!”
The Hydra may also appear to you as a Spirit Animal Guide when a situation requires different perspectives or viewpoints. Each head of the Hydra is separate, with its distinct thoughts. You may encounter a relationship or situation where looking at things differently or through the eyes of another will prove beneficial.
Hydra might come to you if you are being single-minded to the point of blindness or close-minded where you are thwarting your personal growth. Hydra’s multiple heads serve as a reminder that there are many ways to look at or think about a situation or relationship. The creature’s Medicine involves using a diverse approach for evaluating a problem so you can find the most ingenious solutions.