Tradition / Region: Inuit mythology
Alternate Names: The Hole Animal
Category: Spirit / helping spirit
The Myth
Qarajaitjoq, known as the Hole Animal, is a spirit encountered in Inuit tradition. Its form is strange and unsettling: its head consists only of jaws, with the opening running backward. It has a single arm that extends from the lower jaw, ending in a hand shaped like a loop. Its eyes resemble loose rings, with one located on its back and the other beneath the lower jaw.
According to the account, a person met Qarajaitjoq while wandering alone. After this encounter, the creature became that person’s helping spirit. Qarajaitjoq’s particular power lies in assisting women who have difficulty giving birth, and it is invoked for aid in childbirth.
Through this role, Qarajaitjoq is remembered not as a threatening being, but as a powerful and specialized helper within the spirit world.
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
Philosophical Readings
Psychological Readings
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive