The turtle was never a creature I was drawn to, but that changed during my Phoenix Rising training when, during a morning totem yoga class, I chose the Turtle totem card. Truthfully, I was very disappointed to get this card, having hopes of getting the eagle or hawk (totems that soar above and see all).

My initial thoughts were, “turtles move so slowly, they can hide from life too easily, they can’t see very far up ahead.” But, the card said that by choosing the Turtle symbol, I am being asked to honor the creative source within me, to be grounded to Earth, and to observe my situation with motherly compassion. The very things that seemed to be happening with my Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy training and sessions.

The instructor asked us to move like our animal totem. As I did this, I began to feel the steadiness of the turtle, the patience, the knowing. Perhaps there was more to the turtle than I understood. I was less irked at choosing what seemed to be an energy-less, plodding animal. In the following days, events proved that I was both directed and drawn to this totem and embracing the turtle energy was just what I needed.

Later that day, I returned to my room to find that a fellow student had left a magazine article for me. It was called Totems:Turtle, by Cie Simurro. The article gave in-depth information about the significance and teachings of the turtle totem in Native American and other indigenous cultures. The next day, I walked into a shop and came face to face with a purple turtle. It was carved from lepedolite, displayed at eye level and purple is my favorite color. I mean, how often do you see a purple turtle? Moved by these synchronous events, I bought the purple turtle, accepted it as my totem and set out to learn more.

In reading about the turtle as a totem, I began to embrace its message and to own it thoroughly. Yes, turtles move slowly, but they are steady. Yes, turtles might hide at times, but how fortunate to always have a place of retreat. Yes, turtles can’t see very far ahead, but they don’t need to anticipate what is up ahead, they can freely live in and for the moment.

Though I may have felt more like an eagle, I realized that the turtle totem was not addressing that. Rather, it called me to foster deeper turtle qualities to illuminate and enhance the benefits of my PRYT practice. For example, in learning to ground, I place focus on my thoughts and actions and slow to a pace that assures completion. Drawing the Turtle card reminded me to draw on the nurturing energy of my ally, Mother Earth. In any situation, I can ask for assistance and abundance will follow.

Despite my negative first reaction to ‘being the turtle,’ I was able to derive from it something positive. As a yoga therapist, my goal is to disarm the negative energy we hold, find the positive lessons and use those to move forward. The turtle is a very good metaphor for my work as a yoga therapist, and Purple Turtle Healing embraces the PRYT philosophy.

Has Turtle crossed your path? Ask yourself these questions:

Perhaps a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy session is right for you, as the Turtle has now crossed your path. Contact Phyllis at purpleturtleheal@aol.com or 323-661-2165.