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Here is my submission for Wolfwoofa's Dust Daemon Competition. The assignment to depict your daemon--or in the lore of Pullman's novels, the animal manifestation of your soul. My animal totem. My spirit animal. I debated about this for quite a while, actually. Could I even have an aquatic daemon? There is much debate on the internet. Some mention is made in the novels that it is difficult. However, there is enough speculation that daemons don't need to eat or breathe that I have decided that since the daemon is more spirit than corporeal, I can have any damn thing I like! I had debated between a sea gull and an octopus, but ultimately opted for the octopus, since he spoke more closely to my heart--though the sea gull is a close second. I love them and then never cease to make me smile.

The octopus, however, is what I have in mind. Many people in my life would have and have thought me more cat-like...and that is fair. I am a creature of comfort. However, I think the octopus, adaptable, intelligent, difficult to understand, elusive and a survivor of the first order feels more "right." This, of course, is a blue-ringed octopus, which is beautiful, and highly toxic. I am not a toxic person, but I imagine that I am dangerous in defense of what I determine needs to be defended. The blue-ringed octopus, is also about the size of a golf-ball, however, this is a surreal painting, and I have the artistic license to paint him any size I like. So there.

Description
Here is my submission for Wolfwoofa's Dust Daemon Competition. The assignment to depict your daemon--or in the lore of Pullman's novels, the animal manifestation of your soul. My animal totem. My spirit animal. I debated about this for quite a while, actually. Could I even have an aquatic daemon? There is much debate on the internet. Some mention is made in the novels that it is difficult. However, there is enough speculation that daemons don't need to eat or breathe that I have decided that since the daemon is more spirit than corporeal, I can have any damn thing I like! I had debated between a sea gull and an octopus, but ultimately opted for the octopus, since he spoke more closely to my heart--though the sea gull is a close second. I love them and then never cease to make me smile.

The octopus, however, is what I have in mind. Many people in my life would have and have thought me more cat-like...and that is fair. I am a creature of comfort. However, I think the octopus, adaptable, intelligent, difficult to understand, elusive and a survivor of the first order feels more "right." This, of course, is a blue-ringed octopus, which is beautiful, and highly toxic. I am not a toxic person, but I imagine that I am dangerous in defense of what I determine needs to be defended. The blue-ringed octopus, is also about the size of a golf-ball, however, this is a surreal painting, and I have the artistic license to paint him any size I like. So there.