If you’re like me, you’ve probably never given much thought to eels. I’ve never been scuba diving, so my personal experience with these serpentine swimmers is limited to 1) Flotsam and Jetsam in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and 2) the greenish-yellow Moray eels I marveled at years ago at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Now, however, thanks to a card I recently drew from my tarot deck, I have a much greater understanding of these strange underwater creatures, as well as a deeper appreciation for what they have to teach us during the uncertain times of coronavirus.
The card that inspired my exploration came from my Wildwood Tarot deck, a beautiful, mystical set of cards created by Mark Ryan and John Matthews. Even though I’ve been using this deck for over three years, I’ve never drawn the eel card before, so my interest was immediately piqued. In the illustrated picture, a sleek blue-black eel is swimming along a river beneath leafy green trees and large rocks. The message associated with the card spoke of pursuing my destiny with pure intent, bringing wisdom to tasks I need to complete, and embarking on a journey of personal revelation.
Given my lack of experience with eels, I’m not sure what traits I thought would be associated with them, but I wasn’t expecting themes related to undertaking journeys and overcoming challenges in pursuit of my goals. So, I investigated further, and while the lessons eels have to teach us are unquestionably important, they’re especially applicable during a pandemic. As we live through unprecedented times of chaos and upheaval, here are five things we can learn from eels:

• Be adaptable. While eels spend most of their time in the water, many species are capable of surviving on land for short periods of time. Australian eels have been observed slithering across dry ground to move from one pond or waterway to another, traveling up to 400 meters in some cases. According to Celtic lore, eels are shape-shifters, able to alternate between animal and human forms at will. As shape-shifters, eels embody the ability to change, adapting themselves to best overcome whatever challenges they face. As we face a crisis on a global scale, how can we change to make the most of where we find ourselves? How can we adapt to these difficult and unwanted circumstances, not only surviving but ultimately thriving in our new environment as our communities are remade in new and unfamiliar ways?
• Going backwards doesn’t mean you failed. Eels are incredibly powerful swimmers, able to go against strong currents with ease. Undulating body movements allow them to propel themselves forward, but eels can also swim backwards, as well. Swimming backwards allows them to change direction quickly or extricate themselves from becoming stuck, tangled, or caught. There’s no shame in going backwards, since it’s just a part of the journey, and the eel still ends up where it wanted to be. Many of us may be struggling with a lack of forward motion in our lives right now, feeling as if we’re not making progress or moving forward as quickly as we’d like. What can we learn from the eel about changing directions and not being afraid to adjust course, even if it means swimming backwards for a while? What can we learn about how we define failure or progress?
• Pay attention. Eels are generally shy creatures, but that doesn’t mean they’re oblivious to what’s happening around them. They’re actually very observant animals, watching from the shadows and gathering information before darting out to snatch prey or sneak past a larger predator. How can the eel skills of watching and waiting serve us now, when we don’t know what tomorrow will bring? How can we practice taking in information about our environment and using it to care for ourselves? How can we become better at knowing when to wait and when to go for it?
• Be comfortable in the dark. Eels can live all the way down in the bathypelagic zone of the ocean, also known as the “midnight zone,” the part where sunlight doesn’t reach and the only available light is generated by the creatures living there. Not many creatures can survive in a habitat of total darkness with high pressure and frigid temperatures, but certain eels are able to do so easily. The world beyond our own front doors may not seem as hospitable as it used to, so how can we find sustenance right where we are, in the darkness of the unknown? How can we make a home for ourselves in the less-than-ideal circumstances created by COVID-19?
• Don’t give up. Eels travel unbelievable distances to breed, with some species migrating over 400 miles and taking over seven months to reach their mating grounds. Eels teach us to persist, to keep going regardless of how far away our destination or dream might be. As we face the challenges of reopening businesses and restarting the economy while protecting our health, how can we mimic the eel and persist in the face of overwhelming obstacles? How can we draw upon eel magic for the courage and the strength to keep going when we’re anxious and exhausted and ready to give up?

If you’re looking for a spirit animal to guide you during the pandemic, look no further than the eel. From these creatures, we learn the importance of adapting and changing in order to overcome challenges. We learn to persist in the pursuit of our goals, even if that means crawling on our bellies over new terrain or swimming thousands of miles to reach our destination. We learn to be at home in difficult environments, and we learn to observe the world around us, gathering information before acting, enabling us to make smart decisions. Have fun exploring all the ways you can apply the wisdom of eels in your life!