The Neptune Warrior

There is an old story of a baby Bass (Fingerling) and a baby Frog (Tadpole).

Because they were the same age they became very good friends, and they played and swam together every day. Tadpole’s friends and family were concerned because they knew that Bass’ family and other fish friends liked to eat Frogs. 

They spent their early days frolicking in the best areas of the pond where it was grassy or had lily pads. They would swim in the shallow areas, often Bass chasing Tadpole. After a while the tadpole began to look different from his fish friend. While Bass was growing larger, he noticed small legs sprouted where there were once fins, his tail shrank, and his body grew fatter and fatter. Bass began seeing his friend in a very different way as well. There was an uneasiness in the friendship as Tadpole began to act and swim differently, sometimes not able to keep up.

One day the tadpole didn’t show up at their usual meeting place, and the Bass had a few mixed feelings about this. First he was irritated that his friend didn’t show up while at the same time he began to worry that something terrible had happened to his friend. During the next few days, he searched and searched every inch of the lily pad area but could not find his friend anywhere. 

A few weeks later, his friend finally showed up, but now he looked completely different. Tadpole was now a Frog. Frog explained to his friend that he had discovered a new place, called dry land, which existed beyond the shallow lily pads of the pond. He explained the dry land area was unique and had strange and new things to discover.

Bass was not happy about this and thought it was foolish. The more his friend tried to explain his new joy, the more furious Bass became. Finally, Bass had heard enough and violently lashed out at his childhood friend making a huge splash. This frightened Frog and every since that day he avoided Bass and his family and friends who all vowed to devour him.

Frogs are creatures of transition and like what we do with Aquatic Awakening, we take lessons from the water and apply to everyday life. Those close to us may not understand the lessons each of us take from the water and transition to the “dry world”.

Tadpoles begin their journey in a totally aquatic world and grow. Each one learns lessons of survival, takes in information, and builds skills. At some point all tadpoles begin their transformation and become amphibious with the ability to breath and walk on land. Just like the tadpole, there are those who might even oppress this change and discount the new discoveries made while growing.

The tadpole undergoes metamorphosis and changes from one form to another while keeping the same DNA. This transformation is a changed state of being. Even though from a DNA perspective they are the same, they look, act and live differently. They may return to the aquatic realm, but their life is different from the first day they entered the water.

We can’t live forever as tadpoles. At some point we take what we have learned, grow, and become the frog