The crab is protected by a hard shell, yet its underside remains remarkably soft. It is both armored and vulnerable, carrying protection and tenderness within the same body.

For this reason, the crab has long symbolized both emotional resilience and emotional depth. It reminds us that true strength is not the absence of sensitivity. Rather, it is the ability to remain soft where it matters while protecting what must be protected.

It is also known for moving sideways, navigating obstacles from unexpected angles rather than confronting every challenge directly. The crab teaches that there is wisdom in adaptation. Not every path forward is a straight line.

This particular seal depicts the blue crab, a species closely associated with the Chesapeake Bay and the waters of Maryland. For Kathryn, the blue crab holds personal significance, as her husband grew up in Maryland. He has memories as a young kid having blue crab scurry on their kitchen floor in Baltimore City.

The crab is also the emblem of Cancer, the sign of home, intuition, memory, and emotional depth. Like Cancer, the crab teaches that vulnerability is not weakness. The softest parts of ourselves are often the most precious and worthy of protection.