Mystical Big Turtle
Explore: 6-23-09 (Front Page/Page 2) Thank you my dear Flickr friends.
Meet Big Turtle. Please view this in large size (and surely you will not sleep tonight).
This guy was waiting for us in our driveway on Sunday. I think this is a giant snapping turtle, but I invite others' ideas on what type turtle this is. Hir shell was a weathered olive green color. He looked prehistoric. My guess is he weighed 30-35 pounds. Mind you, our backyard is an ancient woodlands forest so we see all kinds of wildlife near our home.
Big Turtle was not at all frightened by us, and he allowed me to take several pictures of him, including some full body shots. He appeared to us on the very first day of summer.
In many cultures throughout history, animals were thought to possess special powers as sources of healing, insight, and transformation. Here is what one source on the Web had to say about the spiritual symbolism of turtles.
"Turtles have been and are held sacred in many traditions. In the Far East the turtle shell is seen as a symbol of heaven while the squarer underside is symbolic of mother earth. And through other traditions such as Native American turtle is a symbol of mother earth and our ability to find happiness on mother earth.
The turtle is a slow moving creature on land and is never in a rush. All you need to do is find the pace that is appropriate. Like the knight of pentacles in a Tarot deck turtle energy is steady, earthy and always accomplishes what they set out to do. If you align with the energy of turtle you are assured completion. It teaches to go with the flow and be happy with the pace that your life is taking. Do not try to push it faster than is natural or you may reach your destination too early and feel you missed something along the way. Turtle teaches to try and enjoy the journey as much as the final achievement. To focus too much on the end of something means you will often find yourself dreaming of the future, which will leave you ungrounded and unhappy. So have around you the symbol of turtle when you wish to remain grounded and take joy in what you have been given.
Also because of their great shells turtle symbolize our ability to protect ourselves. When you have done a certain amount of personal development and thinking you come to realise that everything is connected. And we start to see ourselves reflected in the actions of others. But sometimes some people have their own history and their own anger and it is just best to get out of their way. That is where the shell of turtle may come in handy. You don’t have to take responsibility on for everyone. Sometimes just leave them to get on with it. And if they get too close use turtle energy to give them a little snap so they know you are there." Source: www.holisticshop.co.uk/dictionary/turtle.html
Mystical Big Turtle
Explore: 6-23-09 (Front Page/Page 2) Thank you my dear Flickr friends.
Meet Big Turtle. Please view this in large size (and surely you will not sleep tonight).
This guy was waiting for us in our driveway on Sunday. I think this is a giant snapping turtle, but I invite others' ideas on what type turtle this is. Hir shell was a weathered olive green color. He looked prehistoric. My guess is he weighed 30-35 pounds. Mind you, our backyard is an ancient woodlands forest so we see all kinds of wildlife near our home.
Big Turtle was not at all frightened by us, and he allowed me to take several pictures of him, including some full body shots. He appeared to us on the very first day of summer.
In many cultures throughout history, animals were thought to possess special powers as sources of healing, insight, and transformation. Here is what one source on the Web had to say about the spiritual symbolism of turtles.
"Turtles have been and are held sacred in many traditions. In the Far East the turtle shell is seen as a symbol of heaven while the squarer underside is symbolic of mother earth. And through other traditions such as Native American turtle is a symbol of mother earth and our ability to find happiness on mother earth.
The turtle is a slow moving creature on land and is never in a rush. All you need to do is find the pace that is appropriate. Like the knight of pentacles in a Tarot deck turtle energy is steady, earthy and always accomplishes what they set out to do. If you align with the energy of turtle you are assured completion. It teaches to go with the flow and be happy with the pace that your life is taking. Do not try to push it faster than is natural or you may reach your destination too early and feel you missed something along the way. Turtle teaches to try and enjoy the journey as much as the final achievement. To focus too much on the end of something means you will often find yourself dreaming of the future, which will leave you ungrounded and unhappy. So have around you the symbol of turtle when you wish to remain grounded and take joy in what you have been given.
Also because of their great shells turtle symbolize our ability to protect ourselves. When you have done a certain amount of personal development and thinking you come to realise that everything is connected. And we start to see ourselves reflected in the actions of others. But sometimes some people have their own history and their own anger and it is just best to get out of their way. That is where the shell of turtle may come in handy. You don’t have to take responsibility on for everyone. Sometimes just leave them to get on with it. And if they get too close use turtle energy to give them a little snap so they know you are there." Source: www.holisticshop.co.uk/dictionary/turtle.html