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The double-helix structure of DNA was discovered in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick. The length of a single human DNA molecule, when extended, is 1.7 metres (5 ft 5 in). |
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Turtle Symbolism
Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 (CDT) by Thoth
 A great deal of mythology exists in regard to the turtle. In the Far East, the shell was a symbol of heaven, and the square underside was a symbol of earth. The turtle was an animal whose magic united heaven and earth.
The turtle is a creation of nature that carries its round shell over the ground, like heaven, and has a flat bottom, like earth. With a profile resembling a mountain and the turning motion of its toes, it seemed to be a depiction of heaven and earth changing constantly through the seasons.
In the West, early Christians didn't like turtles, and they viewed them as symbolizing evil forces during war. In Greece, turtles were once believed to be citizens of hell. But like the Chinese, Indians have a legend that "the world is supported by four elephants standing on a giant turtle."
After
hearing a Western scientist clearly give a scientific explanation for
the formation of the world, one old Indian woman said that he was
wholly mistaken, that the world was being supported by a giant turtle.
When the scientist asked what was under the turtle, she said, "Of
course there is an endless pile of turtles, one on top of another."
Turtles seem to possess an
enviable and god-like resistance to aging, and so they came to
symbolize longevity. Their link to heaven and earth made them a natural
for use in divination. Turtles are also symbols of immortality and are
considered temporary dwelling places for souls making their way through
a series of lives on the path to Nirvana. The turtle is considered to
be the second incarnation of the powerful god Vishnu in the Hindu
religion. After a great flood, which occurs every four billion years
and dissolves the earth, Vishnu transforms himself into a great turtle.
On his back, he carries a vessel in which the gods and demons mix the
elements necessary to re-create the globe. After a thousand years, when
the earth has been reborn, the turtle remains in place, and on his back
stands a large elephant, which support the planet.
According to some Native
American tales, the Earth Diver turtle swam to the bottom of the water
that stretched across the world. He surfaced with the mud which the
creator used to make the earth. The turtle is a shore creature, using
the land and the water. All shore areas are associated with doorways to
the Faerie Realm. The turtle is sometimes known as the keeper of the
doors. They were often seen as signs of fairy contact and the promise
of fairy rewards.
A Japanese Fairy Tale about
Urashima tells of a man who protects a turtle from some boys who were
bothering it. As a reward, the turtle takes the man to meet the King of
the Ocean. As a reward for his good deed, Urashima marries the King's
beautiful water sprite daughter. In Nigeria, the turtle was a symbol of
the female sex organs and sexuality. To the Native Americans, it was
associated with the lunar cycle, menstruation, and the power of the
female energies.
The markings and sections
on some turtles total thirteen. In the lunar calendar, there are either
thirteen full moons or thirteen new moons alternating each year. Many
believe this is where the association with the female energies
originated. The turtle symbolizes the primal mother and Mother Earth.
To the modern Chinese,
turtles are viewed in many different ways. It is regarded as one of the
four divine animals, along with the dragon, phoenix and chimera. They
are worshipped in temples. Flour turtles used to be used as offerings
at temple festivals or big family events. However, the term turtle is
also used as a curse word, and the Taiwanese expression for gamblers
"losing your shirt" translates as "knocking turtles". Apart from
gamblers' fears that eating a flour turtle will turn their luck sour,
turtles have many other bad connotations in modern Chinese society. In
fact, when people curse each other these days, the first thing to come
out is often "turtle egg" or " grandson of a turtle".
Even so, the image of the
turtle as a spiritual beast has become deeply implanted in people's
minds. One ancient text warns its readers not to act rashly when
catching turtles and always to carry out the proper ceremony to worship
them first. There are also many legends about how those who killed
turtles eventually met with misfortune. Common Buddhist restraints
against the killing of animals evolved into the Buddhist ceremony of
releasing turtles.
Turtles remind us that the
way to heaven is through the earth. In Mother Earth is all that we
need. She will care for us, protect us, and nurture us, as long as we
do the same for her. For that to happen, we must slow down and heighten
our sensibilities. We must see the connection to all things. Just as
the turtle cannot separate itself from its shell, neither can we
separate ourselves from what we do to the earth.
Copyright: likeacat.com
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Re: Turtle Symbolism
by jem on Sunday, September 24, 2006 (CDT)
(User Info | Send a Message) | Unless people interact with Turtles, they don't realize how aware they are.
They are very sentient creatures. |
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Re: Turtle Symbolism
by Rishi on Sunday, September 24, 2006 (CDT)
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) | | I keep a small aventurine turtle around always. It is a reminder for me to slow down and hear myself breath. Also, I love when turtles go inside their shells. I have often wondered what goes on inside there? |
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