The World Turtle

Remember how I keep mentioning that thing about the turtle carrying the weight of the world on HER back?  Furthermore, for the sake of accuracy, take notice to the femininity of said reptile, SHE is as our Earth; our MOTHER.  

Let us dig a worm out of this and discuss a little deeper-

These religious cultures that believe(d) that the world is supported by a turtle held up by four elephants...It is a belief held most significantly in the Hindu religion - though there is mention of it within the Chinese culture, as well as the Iroquois Indians of North America, and other Indian tribes, too.

This is an account of the beginning of creation which is recognized throughout several other religious civilizations as well.  Nearly as popular as the story of Genesis in the Christian religion, the story of the turtle as a worshipped entity dates back millenia to the early Mesopotamian people.  Turtles have represented divinity and closeness, if not oneness, with GOD.  If you’ll note - Mesopotamian cultures are some of the first documented of your species - homo sapien sapien.  Think on this now, the first people of documented time in the essence of history were noted to have worshipped turtles, first, above all other entities.  

There is actually a temple in India dedicated to “Kurma” a turtle avatar that saved a local tribe as they called for their God to guide them to victory in war, sometime in the 16th century.  Perhaps you are familiar with Vishnu, a God with Great Powers and influence in the Hindu religion.  Vishnu has four arms and is said to have derived his powers from the turtle through an incarnation of life.

Needless to say - we are rounding out our definitions of turtles within the simplicity of their representation of Peace and other mythological symbols.  Allow yourself to embrace the tranquility that the the turtle brings you, as a higher deity might.  While science says the world is round, some people say we are merely walking along on a turtle’s back.  Should this be the case, perhaps we should pay some homage to the one with all that strength.

 

Peace

Oh how the tidings sing a merriful tune...

 

I do so hope you are all settling in to your cozy chairs by the fireplaces and enjoying the carols of the season.  Here at the pond, the decorations are going up and the music is cheery.

 

In continuting with our spiritually signifcant influence of the turtle, this week we are discussing the folklore of the Chinese, and the prominence of the turtle upon their culture.

Whilst sharing this valuable lesson, may the truth of the Chinese Proverb for happiness be with you always:

 

To obtain happiness for one hour - drink WINE.  To obtain happiness for one year - be MARRIED.  To obtain happiness for a lifetime - grow a GARDEN. 

 

I like gardens!  My human drinks wine!  We are going to live for a long long time!

 

Moving along..... Spirituality is an important component of life, love and much much more. And so, in speaking of sitting in your comfy chair by the fire, let us focus our attention to the representation of happiness and good health in which my ancestors play a pivotal role.

 

In ancient times and throughout today, the turtle has been and continues to be an illustration for (good) health.  (Need we really mention here, the longevity factor?)  One should mimick the very way of the turtle in order to live sustainable, healthy, peaceful lives.  Even without the wine, the marriage or gardens.

 

Also be reminded of previous reference of the impact upon so many ancient civilizations in the account of the purity of life which turtles represent because of their strength, endurance and propensity.

 

Now, remember the FOUR elements of our lives? ...

Immediately we should recognize the turtle representing the life element for WATER.  Among the others, Earth, Wind and Fire.  Of course, we also know the turtle represents EARTH in other fables around the world and therefore, we must take into account the purity and fundamental component of exemplary value which the turtle offers. 

 

Because of these extremely influential elements in our lives and the vital role they play in sustainable, peaceful living - the turtle is also a strong element in Feng Shui, which is 'a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy.'  In other words, a fancy definition for decorating your home with the correct energy for your own spirit (as the Chinese believe).  This can teach us the influential role of the turtle even whilst you may not have one in your home.  The turtle, in Feng Shui is one of just four 'celestial' animals which serve as powerful forces of energy within the home - real or not.  Notice, the Green Dragon, the White Tiger, the Red Phoenix and the Black Turtle listed as animals which should be placed throughout the home in separate corners, all corresponding to their energies which will bring peace and harmony to said home. 

 

Following the same precedent:  There are only four "animals" that were worshipped in ceremonies as possessing spirit within the ancient Chinese civilizations - the Horned Rhino, the Phoenix, the Turtle and the Dragon.  Kinda makes one wonder if the Phoenix and the Dragon may have reallly existed at one time because of the significance in the folklore regarding these ever majestic souls.

 

And now, as a new year approaches and a season of joyful time and laughter is upon us, may we rejoice in the simplicity of the turtle and the peace she brings.

Totems

As the yuletide season is upon us throughout so many cultures this time of the year, we find it prime time here at Charlotte’z Weblog to speak of the history of the significance of turtles throughout these different civilizations. This week the focus is on Totems. Recognized by several Native American Indian Cultures as animals which depict certain characterized determinations in our lives, turtles are said to be the totem which teaches us determination and instinct. If you’ll remember the mention in a previous post, in ancient times, the turtle represented the WORLD itself. That’s a pretty big weight to carry. No wonder we wear these heavy duty shells! This particular history resonates within the Native American culture most notably as the American continent itself is represented as the “Turtle Island”. Although, this is also a known remembrance in the Hindu and Chinese cultures. “Turtle shows us it’s time to slow down”… Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? It could have been the turtle and the rabbit, too. Depending on when you grew up, and where. Nonetheless... the turtle, in some cultures and religions holds many sacred attributes even relative of their characteristically slow moving status. They are known figures of perseverance and protection. Turtles represent creation and longevity in so much as many of these cultures throughout the world celebrate their traditions with the turtle in mind. The American Indian was no exception. A sure culture representative of determination - could be because of their undying faith to their totems. The wisdom of totems offer specific areas of dynamic value within each animal of the kingdom. In this, the turtle specifies the way of Peace with a heavy influence on feminine energy - serving as the energy of Mother Earth herself. Mother Earth, which requires Peace and Harmony. Turtle teaches us balance and provides us with positive energies. I like to think, even while ‘Turtle’ is not my human’s totem animal… I can provide her with the influences of my spirit. While each person roaming this gigantic planet has their own totem animal, only some of us may ever learn, perhaps by the guidance of the turtle, which wild beast rules our universe. In the meantime, you and I may celebrate this holiday season in whichever tradition we may so choose. Perhaps your spirit animal is the bear and you are hibernating this time of the year. Or maybe you have a Wolf watching over you and you will be close with family and friends. Whatever your guidance… remember, as turtle does, follow your heart (which is where your instinct lies anyway).

Losing Scutes

I lost my first scute! It’s kind of like losing your first tooth, or shedding your first layer of skin. Although, I am unsure how well you may relate to the latter. Speaking of however, I am shedding my skin too. While that is not nearly as fun to speak of, it deserves mentioning… Because, all of this means I am growing up! Yay! My mother seems to think that I have outgrown the life stages which are most sensitive to my health, as a young hatchling. There should not be much worry going forward for her because I am a healthy and happy turtle. Anyway, back to the topic of my scutes. This is important. Really important. If you’ll remember my mentioning so before, scutes are sort of like the bark on a tree. Each year, I will grow larger and my scutes will fall off. It is currently assumed (without further research) that by the time I lose the last of this current layer of scutes, I will be approximately one year old. And so it will be so forth in each coming year as I grow older. The presumably inaccurate nature of this statement is only due to inadequate findings in research done thus far. It is in fact true that turtles will lose their scutes and thus the turtle has grown a year older. However, it is not necessarily true that should one find a turtle in the wild, to count the rings of the shell will not surely indicate the age of the reptile. In captivity, this is all a bit easier to monitor. Obviously, I am not yet a year old and I have lost my first scute. I will assume that I will lose the rest of this youngling skin by the time I do turn one year old, whereupon a ring will appear within each scute, indicating that I am approximately of the age as would be figured. Nonetheless, this is all such a very big deal. More so to my mother than for me. For me, its like shedding skin. Which is exactly what its like for you, shedding skin that is. You do it every day and you don’t even really know it and if you do, you shouldn’t really care too much. My mother on the other hand takes it with a more celebratory notion. All I wanna know is if there is a Scute Fairy. I hope she doesn’t leave me money though - I wouldn’t have any use for it. I want some mealwoms!

Cold Water

It’s starting to get cold outside. It’s starting to get cold in here! Winter is in the air, and the water. Literally. I’m cold. And it’s not because I’m cold blooded either. I’m cold, because my H20 is only 74 degrees. 78-82 would be more like it! Someone kick the heat on up in here! My pond will not generally become this detrimental to my health and so there is no real reason for concern. This inclemental element is merely a temporary hurdle for my human. She will install a new heater as soon as it arrives. She takes good care of me. Its raining again. I know this because I never go outside when it’s raining. It rains a lot here. It stays cold when it rains. Must be a sign of winter. Herein lies my wonder. If it IS winter, why am I not hibernating? Late at night I can hear the waves crashing on the shores and the sea lions crying out. I wonder if they are real cold like me - out there in the ocean. If they do not hibernate, maybe, neither do I? So, I did some research… okay, my human did the research, but only because I cannot read yet, I’m still a baby, remember. Besides, my instincts are transversal. I can hibernate in the wild, or not - where I’m from, it’s not likely necessary but for a few weeks anyway, if at all. In captivity, I am not going to hibernate because my human does not want me to. And that is that. I don’t really need the hibernation ritual unless it’s really cold (outside). The heater should be here next week sometime and I’ll be a happy turtle when the water warms up. In the meantime, I’ll just bask upon my rock to keep warm - we all know how much fun that is for me.

Surviving the Real World

Blood runs thicker than water. That’s what ‘they’ say anyway. Who are these [people] to say things like that? As my human mother cares for me, the water runs clear, and clean, and fresh, and I am happy to survive in this creative environment; without all the gooey cells and mucous and platelets. This brings to note that water should not run thick in the first place! Maybe it does somewhere’s, but alas, my human and I, we live in a land of fantasy and delusion. She, the writer, me, the spoiled little cold blooded reptile. I am daily catered to with otherwise nothing but time on my flippers for deep water explorations and surface observances. Not to mention the glorious times of day whence upon I may take to basking. It is surely a delightful part of my existence. Now, mind you, all these wonderful things about my life shan’t make it a fairytale….. Actually, what am I saying? I don’t live in the real world. I live in a world created for me. Remember, where the water runs clean and clear. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘Tis funny how the world is, where some animals such as myself will not care for their young beyond an age. From embryos in a sac to toddlers. Yet, this human will care for my own self (as well as she does for other non-germanes) for decades. --- My mother human went away for several days. There was another human that cared for me while my mother was gone. He did a fine job, but I sure did miss my mother. She has a special way of loving me in that I would hate to live alone in the real world where my blood mother just laid my egg and walked away. So, I’m glad my human mother is back home to care for me. If blood runs thicker than water… well, I think it’s safe to say that whatever ‘they’ say is not always 100 percent statistically accurate.

Charlotte Hunts

I get tired of these little guppies trying to eat food directly out of my mouth sometimes. Every once in a time I will snap at them, and one of these days, if they’re not so lucky, I’m gonna snap one of them in half. I have hunted before. I am kind of lazy when it comes to eating these live fish because my human feeds me shrimp and krill and other turtle food every day. I don’t much get too hungry for these little pesky brats. They do help keep the tank clean, eating the little scraps that I will not digest. At the end of the feeding time I’ll spit some of my pellets out because I am so full. They like that. Haha - lucky little guppies. There is one left over from the original three that appeared in my small tank while I was only a few, small months old. Then there were three more - and now there are only two. So that equals three. Does this math make sense to you? Is this what common core looks like? The mother human has tried feeding me strawberries and bananas and lettuce. All of which I am mostly uninterested. The pellets are full of nutrients and vitamins to help me grow and the shrimp and krill are just like candy to a baby. My candy, because I am a baby. It will be neat to grow old enough to eat real big fish. In the wild, I would be hunting already. Although, there would also be things hunting me. I’m so glad I have this little habitat that my human built for me. She added flowers the other day and I’ll get a fresh, clean tank this weekend. That’s always exciting because new guppies arrive! Yum Yum.