Certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner:
California

Phyllis Solomon (Purple Turtle Healing)

Email: purpleturtleheal@aol.com
Phone: 323-661-2165

The Significance of the Turtle Totem

In Native American teachings, Turtle is the oldest symbol for planet Earth. She is protector and healer, nurturing those who have been physically or emotionally wounded.

According to Cie Simurro (aka Thunderbird Starwoman) if we take the time to develop our relationship with Turtle, she will help us ground and balance our lives. She is the totem of the physical life and is fertile, ripening, nurturing and protective. Turtle’s wisdom is the wisdom of the sage who has seen it all, become wise and can penetrate the mysteries of life.

Turtle embodies the 4-Ps: patience, persuasion, perseverance and persistence. Success is assured if we are patient and persistent. If we seek guidance and believe in ourselves, the combination of faith and faithful efforts will yield new power and success. When Turtle is flipped on its back it uses its strong neck to right itself. This is a reminder to use our own head and inner knowledge to right ourselves when the world is topsy-turvy. If we persevere, we will see the fruits of our dedication.

Because of her long life (up to 150 years) and slow metabolism, Turtle can teach us to have a new relationship with time and aging. Do you usually try to accomplish too much in too little time? (I certainly do at times!) When was your last vacation? When was the last time you took an hour to sit quietly and meditate? Bigger, stronger and faster are not always the best ways to reach your goals. Turtle rewards methodical efforts.

We can learn to slow down and conquer impatience. From Turtle’s perspective, time is meant to give us a chance to soak in our surroundings and truly see our environment. Turtle is a good totem to call upon as we get older. She helps us to age in beauty and enjoy each stage of life. Turtle’s implacable earthiness insists that we listen to our own inner timing, no matter how hectic the outer world.

A very important aspect of turtle energy relates to the home. The shell is actually the turtle’s backbone and ribs, which serve as home and shelter. Her shell holds our longing to feel at home on our planet, in our bodies, and in our physical home. We need a stable environment to ground our sensitivities and feel at home. Turtle’s message is: Your environment is changeable and you will find true stability within.

Illness, pain and nervousness can be signs that you are out of your body, your home. To understand the vulnerability, imagine a turtle without its shell! PRYT aims to reestablish the connections between body, mind and spirit, to reinforce and ignite our inner power to right ourselves.

I gratefully acknowledge Cie Simmuro (aka Thunderbird Starwoman) for her contribution to this article. For additional information about the Turtle and other totems, please contact Cie at cie@crocker.com or 413-625-0385.

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