Finding a starfish
Finding a starfish on the shore means holding an animal with no brain. A sea star moves on hundreds of tiny tube feet, and whichever arm points the way can take the lead.
What it may mean
A sea star has no head and no brain. A ring of nerves around its mouth links a nerve cord running down each arm, and when the animal moves, one arm points the way and the others follow, until another arm takes over. There is no single command center, and yet the animal crawls, hunts and rights itself when turned over. It makes a good image for any group without a clear boss: a family making a decision together, a team of equals, a group of friends planning a trip. Someone has to point, but it does not have to be the same person each time, and the whole moves better when each part can lead for a stretch. Holding a starfish on the beach, you might think of your own circle and how often the lead changes hands.
Depending on how you saw it
Moving slowly across your palm
Turn a living sea star over and you see hundreds of small tube feet, each working on water pressure, moving it along inch by inch. What progress of yours happens on a thousand tiny feet rather than in big steps?
Gaps where sea stars used to be
Since 2013, a wasting disease has killed vast numbers of sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America, and some rocky shores that were once crowded with them now hold few. Which familiar presence did you notice only once it was missing?
Why it happens in nature
Sea stars are echinoderms, relatives of sea urchins and sand dollars. They have no brain; a nerve ring around the mouth connects nerves running down each arm, and they move on hundreds of tube feet worked by water pressure. Many starfish found on beaches are still alive. Since 2013 sea star wasting disease has killed huge numbers on the Pacific coast.
To reflect on
In a group without a single leader, who points the way most often, and who never gets the chance?