Turtle Vision

As you very well know, I am a reptile. What you may not very well know is the sense of my eyesight. It is awesome! Turtle’s have incredible eyesight and thus, may recognize our owners (or frequenters of the pond) by sight, before scent or audible tones. This vision makes it easier for me to predict when I should be preparing to hide in my shell or else ‘slide’ back into the water when a predatory character may be nearing. Like Einstein the cat. Although, there is a difference between sight and vision - There are many stories of people having visions - seeing the future, better understanding the past. A “Vision” is defined …. ‘something seen in a dream, trance or religious ecstasy, ESPECIALLY a SUPERNATURAL appearance that conveys a revelation.’ : the ability to see : sight or eyesight (of course!) : something that you imagine : a picture that you see in your mind : something ath you see or dream especially as part of a religious or supernatural experience. Here is some proportion - Sight! When one sees something, they have viewed or are viewing it. Though, when one has a vision (or envisions something), it is the mind’s eye that one has seen with. ------------------- When asked about being a man of vision, Captain Woodrow F. Call replied - “A Man of Vision You say?” - - - “Yeah, one hell of a vision.” This quote is cut from the scene of a famous western novel and televised screenplay - Lonesome Dove - whereupon two retired Texas Rangers set out in the Old West to drive a herd of cattle to Montana. What a ride! A man of vision. ... his visions were were considerate of reflection, whereas prophecy is often considered under this definitionary tone, Call reflected upon the ride North after burying his best friend and (depending upon your imagination, the scene from the movie depicts the emotion so much better) - Call recalls the journey with his friend. He recollects the events which changed his life and brought him right back where he started from to make a promise. The scene in both literary and film format realize the significance of portraying emotion while Call remembers what he envisioned and what he actually saw. --------------------- A dear friend died several years ago that was a great influence to my human mother. After her death, my human saw visions of turtles that held great significance in her healing. And now! Here I am…. A staple in my human’s daily routines. Wonder how that coulda happened? I can tell you how, actually. Spirit comes with vision. Vision is not merely something you see. It might be something within you. Or it might be something within the universe held specifically for you. Either way it is a primitive process. This just reflection from the pond.

The Sounds of Music

My human is listening to 90’s music.  What was that anyway?  The 90’s?

Well, according to the sounds coming through the speakers in my room, near my pond, daily, I am guestimating that the 90’s must have been a significant place for my human.  Grungie - that’s what they called it.  I don’t quite understand the label, but the music is jammin’!

So what were the nineties and how do they compare to my own generation?  I am merely a child of the wilderness and music is an art unknown to my species outside of being domesticated [pets].  Typically, I might listen to the sounds of birds chirping and bugs buzzing… perhaps the fish plopping at the surface of the water nearby or the sweet drizzling trickle of the fresh water in the stream where I may live.  

But instead, I live with my human.  She is awesome.  She listens to all the sounds of the pond as well as her own taste in humanified tunes.

I imagine after I’ve lived for several decades, music may play an integral part in my being as well.  Perhaps I will enjoy it when the human replays music from this, the post millennial era.

Consider this - maybe Taylor Swift isn’t just a trending star… I know I will be listening to her songs for decades.  There are so many to list, but since she popped off my skull we’ll use her as a prime example of sounds that will last throughout generations.  

According to Michael Campbell’s research in ‘Music’ a collegiate text -

“A thousand years from now, historians with access to today’s artifacts will be able to reconstruct musical life in our time with considerable precision and in excruciating detail.”

This in comparison to the opposing issue in researching music of the first centuries in time whereas “there is almost no documentary evidence of music being made [in Europe] around the year 1000.”  -- this also according to Michael Campbell’s research.

It seems as though music is transforming along the way - whereupon the differential of genre is quite a spectacular similarity these days.  

The sounds of music are in a transformative process.  Much like the human race.  Believe me, my ancestors have been around a lot longer than you all, humanoids.  Music has become more so something which one follows rather than what one may simply listen to.  

Back to Taylor Swift, her music alone has made great strides for those that wish to cross genre boundaries.  It was for this reason that she denoted her music from a very popular music application in which she stated that musicians’ art should be respected, and paid for!  While I am only a reptile and therefore have no reason for debate to this issue - I am merely mentioning this in relation to the importance of respecting musical talent, just as one may respect written talent, or the skills of an actor that performs action sets.  

Musicians are talented folks.  Their genius deserves great accolades.  

This is a spiritual concept too you know... The first styles of historically recorded music date back to religious circles - primitive folks, like myself.  

If I could make noise (turtles do not), I would be singing all the time.  

So take this information and do with it what you will… Just remember one thing - Music is life --- and the beat goes on.

Zodiacs

Did you know that thirteen is actually a representation of the zodiacs… not some mysterious omen of bad luck?  Well, it was that too during the medieval times, but from where I stand… the Thirteen scutes on the bottom of my shell are representative of life itself…

Remember our previous discussions about the Chinese beliefs, and the Indians of North America too?

Here’s another spin:

Turtles also play a significant role in the zodiacs.  Perhaps you have studied astrology or maybe it interests you just enough to follow along here…

We’re going deep here people - get your snorkels on.

During the Neolithic period ---- whoa!  Pay attention here - the “Black Turtle” represented the North.  This is dating back to an era before civilizations!  

To give you some history - the Black Turtle of the North is one of four symbols within the Chinese thought, of constellations within our universe.  It may also be referred to as the Black Tortoise and is thought to protect the Northern cities.  While we know the turtle represents longevity, this was a powerful symbol of protection.

And so, herein… see the astrological significance of tortoises and turtles deriving from the Chinese Zodiacs…  

Tortoises have the Tropical Sun sign of Sagittarius, and are born during the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Sheep.

Turtles have the Sun sign of Cancer, and are born during the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Rabbit.

This is what we call Primal Astrology - - - There is a deep connection here.  

For example, my human is a Tortoise, by nature of being a Sagittarius, by nature of the way the stars were aligned on the date and month and time that she was born.  So... this astrological alignment correlates with her spirit animal... (her primal zodiac sign) in Chinese is a Sheep.  This belief system follows many cultures throughout the world.  It is karmic.  As another example, in the Native American Indian civilizations, because of the way the stars are examined here, the spirit animals may be different according to each life path.  

These beliefs may also correlate with Numerology.

These are the deepest beliefs within this planet that serve more so as the concepts of different realms within this reality, that which we think we know, exists.

These are very philosophical thought processes and therefore some either do not know the existence of such a belief, or choose to disregard it completely.

There is lots to learn about the turtle and the combinations of influences that correlate alongside the myths and horoscopes and primal significances of our species.  Just as the zodiac is represented by signs and dates and years related to your birth charts… so as the turtle is represented throughout the primal aspect of astrology to outline the definitive chapters of your lives.

Further research may benefit you.  Or maybe not.  In the meantime, know that if a turtle crosses your path - there IS significance there.

Wrapping Up

As a new year approaches, whilst the old year fades away, methinks we should reflect and prepare.

I have grown significantly since hatching from my egg sometime in late April or early May 2014 -  at nearly the size of a half of a baseball, whereas I started out smaller than a dollar coin piece.

Morphing from a young hatchling into a baby turtle feels great.  My human mother and I are very much looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring.  We look forward to sunny, productive days!  Every year deserves a few lazy days too.   Truthfully, I’m looking most forward to spring time.  I am sure my human will create an outdoor habitat for me to play in and it will be the most fun.

My human mother loves to watch me grow.  As we all know, the favorite part of both mine and her day is when I am basking upon my rock, observing the room around me.  I am now upon the sixth rock that will hold my size.  It’s a good one though, this should last a while.

In terms of 2014… there was a lot to talk about.  We started this blog for example.  This is a whole new adventure for everyone involved.  What a great time!  

As always - Welcome and Thank you for your support!  

This year the human is working on some very important projects beside this simple little diary of me.  And so, for those of you that were anticipating a story guideline here with a focus of any particular sort… we can essentially throw that out the window.  The human is here to write my story and correlate other worldy functions that relate to me.  This leads to the perhaps disappointing news that you may not expect the human to start video recording and audio recording blog posts as previously promised.  Please quit waiting for the day to come as the human has found herself wrapped up in several other projects which are a bit more important than this simple blog about me - the turtle.