Turtle
Pearls-Type C
The
Turtle and Tortoise Totems
The Turtle and the
Tortoise are very similar in nature and appearance. Some Turtles, however,
have the added element of being considered a sea and land creature, while the
Tortoise, due to its lack of webbed feet, is more grounded and connected to the
Earth. There is one species of Turtle, the massive Sea Turtle, which never
leaves the water except to lay eggs. Both are considered sacred by many
cultures and tribes.
The Turtle comes
in many sizes and some Box Turtles can be very small, about the size of a
quarter. Box Turtles are one of those who live on the land. Some species of
Turtle seldom leave the water and have webbed feet to aid in fast
swimming. The female will leave the water to dig a deep hole in the sand in
which to lay her eggs. These Turtles are very connected to the element of water
and the flowing freedom it brings. Turtle shells are very beautiful and the
markings often found at the bottom of their bodies can be quite intricate and
artistic.
According to some
cultures, the top shell of a turtle is said to represent Heaven while the bottom
of the shell or underbelly is thought to represent Mother Earth. The Turtle
unites Heaven and Earth. There is a Chinese legend that tells of the Sacred
Turtle; its shell contains a map of the Nine Regions of China and it holds up
the sky, he is honored and respected by the people of that country. The Turtle
is also one of the Four Guardians of the Compass of Celestial Emblems of the
Chinese Emperor; it guards the North is associated with the winter season and
its color symbol is black. The Lakota Indians of the Midwest United States
see the Turtle as their creator, to them she is a feminine power and, as she
grants life; she is sacred to them. The women of the Lakota tribe aspire to
be as the Turtle, flexible and long-lived.
The Tortoise does
not have webbed feet, but thick sturdy legs. They lack the necessary
biological equipment to thrive in the water. They have large domed shells
and they are terrestrial and thus have a deep connection with the
Earth. They also carry their homes upon their backs. They move very
slowly and determinedly to their destination. They live on a diet of
leaves, shrubs and insects. They like to dig burrows when it is very hot
outside which they will slip into to cool off from the heat of the daytime
sun. They are shy, but amiable creatures. The old adage “slow and
steady wins the race” comes from the characteristics of the
Tortoise. Tortoise’s are also symbols of immortality in Buddhism, and are
thought to be the impermanent dwelling place for souls making their way through
a series of lives on the path to Nirvana
The physical,
spiritual and mystical similarities between the Turtle and the Tortoise are very
similar. These creatures are methodical, determined and
patient. Whether they live on land or in the sea they represent steady
energy and long life. They also both represent independence, travel, and
the ability to not be tied down or chained to one place as they both carry their
home with them wherever they desire to be. They both posses strong
self-protection in the form of their home shells, they can pull their
extremities into their shell which offers them safety from outside threats.
Turtles and
Tortoise’s may appear very similar, but one should not be fooled by this seeming
resemblance. No two are the same; the variations of their shells and
markings vary greatly from each other marking them as unique and individual
amongst their species.
The Indomitable
Turtle Totem possesses the following virtues:
Independence,
exploration, travel by sea, deeper consciousness, steady energy, joy with
present circumstances, self-protection, inner wisdom, strength, steady and long
lasting progress, longevity, patience, the secrets of life, Heaven and
Earth.
The Terrestrial
Tortoise Totem possesses the following virtues:
Harmonious life,
freedom of false attachments, travel by land, deeper connection to the Earth and
sky, steady energy, power of observation, self-protection, inner wisdom,
determination, steady and long lasting progress, longevity, patience, the
secrets of life, Heaven and Earth.
Turtle and
Tortoise Pearls are said to impart their particular magical virtues to their
owner. Their Pearls are characteristic of their host animal; they possess all
the splendid characteristics that may be seen in these creatures themselves; the
indomitable spirit and determination of the Turtle and Tortoise are contained
within their individual pearls waiting for the proper owner to bestow their
inner magic to that unique and fortunate individual. For century’s shamans,
priestesses, spiritualists and practitioners of the occult have used their
pearls to transfer their powerful magical energy to themselves and to others in
need of their commanding magic and virtues. Turtle and Tortoise pearls are
highly sought after by any wishing to absorb their virtues into their lives and
develop stronger mental abilities such as those embodied by these immortal
creatures. The owner of a Turtle or Tortoise pearl will see their lives,
spiritual energy and mental clarity imbued with all of the virtues attributed to
them. These animal totems are strong spirits and their magical properties
are one of the most significant of all animal totems. Longevity,
determination, freedom from false attachments, and so much more can be
integrated into the spirit of the possessor of these magical pearls and their
totems.
