Turtle Totem & Symbolism – The Spirit of Persistence

Animal Totem is a special Animal Spirit that has chosen you to guide, and protect, for your whole life. It also represents your best, and worst qualities, who you are at your core. You can find who your Animal Totem is through meditation with the intent to know, and meet, your Animal Totem. You can also consult a psychic on this matter.

However, if you have meditated on it, but still have doubts, and you don’t want to consult a psychic, this article will shine light upon the qualities of the Turtle Animal Totem. If you feel it resonates with you, and you share a lot of qualities with the Turtle, there is a high possibility that Turtle is your Animal Totem.

If Turtle is your Animal Totem, it reveals your inner world, and your stamina. It guides, and protects you, but at the same time it reminds you the importance of moving at your own pace, and the strength to believe in your own dreams. Turtle Totem is the symbol of determination, and staying grounded. You may be a strong opinionated person, and you are not easily flattered. You know your strengths, and your weaknesses well, and you know how to use them to advance in life. Teaching others these qualities may be related to fulfilling your soul karma.

Other character traits of the Turtle Totem are:

  • Moving at your own pace
  • Emotional strength
  • Persistence
  • Being grounded
  • Determination
  • Understanding
  • Ancient wisdom
  • Patience

In general, if you were born under the Zodiac Sign of Cancer, Turtle would be your spirit animal. Turtle is associated with the water element.

How to know if Turtle is your Animal Totem?

Your Animal Totem represents qualities, abilities, characteristics, that you currently have, or that you are in the process of developing. Therefore, you can realize that Turtle is your Animal Totem because:

  1. You resonate with almost all qualities of the Turtle like being brave, and handling challenges well, being a good friend, guiding, and healing others.
  2. You see Turtles all the time, like photos, documentaries, videos, but not on your choice.
  3. You just love Turtles very much, they inspire you, and you can’t explain why.

If you are still confused, you can confirm if Turtle is your Animal Totem through:

  • Meditation.

You will have to start your meditation with the intention that you will meet your Animal Totem. It may happen that during your meditation, you see the animal, or you smell something, or you hear something. If none of this happens, do not get discouraged, sometimes it takes a couple of tries.

  • Your dreams, as well as by pure synchronicities.

For example, you may start seeing more Turtles pictures. You may also feel curiosity peak up for Turtles out of the blue. You should follow your intuition.

  • If you feel you have not received any answer, or you can’t figure out your Animal Totem, you can always ask a psychic.
  • Online quizzes that tell you which is your Animal Totem. Online quizzes will depict your character, and personality traits, therefore they are accurate at some degree.

Turtle Animal Totem Symbolism

Various traditions, and religions, believe that each Animal Totem has the qualities of the animal it represents. This means that it feeds the same way (although in an energetic way), it moves the same way, it fights the same, and it behaves the same, as a Turtle would do in the physical world. Therefore, the best way to know what qualities your Animal Totem has, or why it is present beside you, it is to look at how the animal behaves in this physical plane.

However, these traditions also believe that your Animal Totem can foretell your destiny, or share insight into your life mission.

Spirit Animal

As a Spirit Animal, Turtle represents ancient wisdom. Carrying this kind of wisdom with you, you know that life is much more than what your eye can see. You strive to utilize this inner wisdom, and base your every move on that. You also know that there is more than what meets the physical eyes, so it would help you to practice meditation to get in touch with yourself, and your inner world.

Native American Traditions

Native Americans believe that the Creator of the Universe placed the World on a Turtle’s back. In some traditions, they also see the Turtle as the actual Earth.  

Turtles symbolize long life, fertility, and protection. Native Americans use the symbol of the Turtle to help ground themselves, and be more in touch with nature. 

Eastern Traditions

Source: deviantart

According to the Chinese Zodiac, you would have a Turtle Animal Totem, if you were born under the Zodiac Sign of Cancer, during the Year of the Rabbit.

The Eastern Traditions see Turtles as the symbol of longevity, and power. They also believe that Turtles represent the Earth. The longevity of Turtles indicates ancient wisdom, therefore Turtles have the ability to tell tales of the past, and foretell the future. Some Eastern Traditions do spiritual readings with Turtle shells.  

Celtic Mythology

The Celtic Traditions use the symbol of the Turtle to work with themselves, and find the meaning of life. Turtles symbolize the ideas, and dreams, that spark within oneself, and manifest in the world. Celtic shamans use Turtles symbols to ground themselves, when doing spiritual work.

Christian Religion

Christian Religions see Turtles as creatures that have a heavy burden to take care of. They believe that Turtles carry the sins of heretics, and all humanity. Therefore, they are seen as evil spirits, or at least, having an unclean spirit. Turtles are depicted as immortal, and this ability to defy death, makes them heroic creatures. The lines on a Turtle shell foretell the path that one’s soul takes after death.  

What your Animal Totem indicates about:

Your personality

Turtle Animal Totem indicates that you are someone who has a clear vision of what you want, and you don’t give up easily. You don’t give up on people, on situations, on dreams, on business, on feelings, for as long as you can hold onto them. They won’t always serve your best interests, but they will always teach you what you need to know, in order to grow.

You are also very determined, and patient. These are skills that cannot be taught, and you are lucky to have these natural gifts of character. Sometimes you may overly patient with people, or in situations, where you shouldn’t be, but it always turns in your favor.  

Your self-esteem is usually high, and you are not someone to easily doubt your path, if something is not working out. Your persistence is what rewards you in the end. You may find that you have a difficult path, at least when you compare yourself with others who have more or less the same life as you. However, if others would give up at the first sign of trouble, you keep going. If anything, you see others as a source of inspiration, rather than comparison.  

Your life at the current moment 

An Animal Totem is the Spirit Animal that accompanies you since the day you were born, until the end. Therefore, if Turtle is your Animal Totem, it doesn’t indicate much about life at your current moment, unless it starts showing up in your dreams.

The Spirit Animal that guides you through certain events in your life, is usually an Animal Guide that chooses to walk with you for a limited period of time, until you learn your lesson, or you overcome the problem. It may also choose you, to help you amplify certain qualities that you need for the next phase in your life.

If Turtle is the Spiritual Animal that chooses to accompany you, it is reminding you to evaluate the important things in your life. You may be experiencing the shiny objects syndrome, which means that you fall for things that look good on the outside, or you have many ideas, but you never work on them. The Turtle Spirit is aiding you to walk on your own path, unbothered about what others think, or feel for you. It is also encouraging you to have more faith in yourself, and believe that if you are given a dream, you have all the skills to make it come true. What others think, is of no importance. If you need someone to advice you, you better choose to ask those who are on the same path as you, and better yet, those who have overcome the same obstacles you may be facing. Your example should be someone who you would like to trade places with, not those who are not doing anything with their lives, no matter how much you love them.  

What does dreaming about your Animal Totem mean?

If you have a dream where a Turtle is present,it is usually a sign of longevity, prosperity, and good health. They also encourage the dreamer to have faith in themselves, and be patient in their journey.  

It can also symbolize the need for protection. If you have been feeling defeated, or experiencing emotional withdrawal, a Turtle in your dreams, may indicate that all you need is someone who can trust, and if not such person is around, you have to put the trust in yourself.  

A Turtle in a dream would also indicate that you have to calculate your moves. Don’t take any unnecessary risks if you don’t have to. Also, make sure to think through your opportunities, before you make any decisions.

How do you handle your life based on your Animal Totem?

Relationships

If you have the Turtle Animal Totem, it indicates that you give your all in your relationships, even though you take it slow. You are not someone to fall for the idea of love at first sight, or to move in with someone you barely know. You may find it interesting how some people get married within a couple of months of knowing each-other, and you believe that someone can intuitively know when they have met their husband, or wife, even if they just met the person. However, you don’t like to approach a committed relationship the same way.

You love to enjoy each moment, and each stage of the relationship. You want to get to know the person, experience different things with them, have fun, and have sad moment. You then, may consider to get more serious, get families involved, and eventually take all the steps to serious commitment, whatever it may be for you. For some is marriage, for some is living together, etc. After that, you may consider children. Children are important for you, and you take the time to know well the person with whom you will have them.

The perfect partner for you would be someone who is emotionally available, trustworthy, patient, and someone you can rely on. It is extremely important for you to have good communication with your partner, to build a safe place for both of you, and to enjoy each-other. You also are protective of your own space, and energy. A partner should uplift you, not cause unnecessary stress. For you, it is all about the journey, rather than the destination, so you tend to not create expectations of commitment, especially when you have just started to get to know the person.

Career

Turtle Totem indicates that you are patient, and persistent in the professional arena. You don’t have a certain preference for jobs, as long as their wage matches your duties, and the work you do is related to your profession. Sometimes, you may even settle for a job that offers you enough security, and promises you room for growth. At first, you may find it hard to get a decent job. Most opportunities will turn out to either offer less than what you know you deserve, or you could be rejected. However, your patience will pay off. You just have to keep looking for opportunities.

In the work environment, you know how to stand your ground, and when to let some things go. You don’t like conflicts, but you will not tolerate disrespect. You like to move in your own pace, so this may become an issue if you work directly under your boss, or if you work for someone. They certainly have their own agenda, and their own approach to the job, so if you don’t match their mindset, or you have other ways to do things, it may become a struggle for you to enjoy the work. You have to find a balance between your own pace, and your boss’ pace, so you get the best of everything. You can apply your own knowledge, and learn through your own practical approach, but also learn from your boss.

You would do well in the business world, but only if you learn how to adjust fast when things are changing. Your persistence, and patience, will pay well, in the beginning, when you just started your business, and money is not flowing. This is when most people give up, and return to their old 9-5 jobs. Once the business starts to grow, you should grow with it.

Regarding finances, Turtle Totem represents a good financial situation. You may start off slow, but eventually you will build a legacy for yourself. You have to balance your needs, your desires, and your future. If you struggle with saving money, find ways to force yourself not to use money, or to make it impossible for you to use a certain amount of money for a long period of time, (for example: invest in a bank deposit that won’t allow you to touch that amount for 10-15 years).

Relationship with yourself

Turtle Animal Totem reveals your inner struggles, as well as your true self, which you may hide from others. Although you are patient, and persistent, your patience may run thin multiply times. When this happens, you may witness little things starting to fall apart. It is your own vibration, or changes in your own mindset, that trick you to think you are not gaining anything. You may also be tempted to make swift changes, which will cause more harm than good, because they are not though-through. If you want a major change, first take some time off, travel do a different place, and wind down.

Even though determination characterizes you, you may find it hard sometimes, to keep going down the same path. At this point, you should evaluate the path you are walking on. Is it really worth it to keep going, or do you need to make changes? You may want to ask someone who has experienced the same struggles as you. You may place a time limit on yourself, before making changes. Or you may just take the risk, and adapt.

Also, be careful how much you tolerate people, because they start to take advantage of you, a trait that you have noticed way too often. If you see two or more red flags, make sure to speak about it. Don’t let it pass, especially if your boundaries are being crossed. You can be patient with people who show that they are making changes to not hurt you, after you talked to them.

How to honour or connect with your Animal Totem?

Source: Undertheseapottery

If you want to connect with your Turtle Animal Totem, you can take a page from the book of the Native American Traditions. You don’t have to wear the skin of the Turtle on you, but you can keep nice Turtle sculptures at your work desk. You can have a beautiful artwork of the Turtle printed at your blouse, or a paint of the Turtle on your wall. You can also buy jewelry that has a Turtle signature in it, like the head, or footprints.

You can use these objects to focus on during your meditation, in order to connect with Turtle Animal Totem. During your meditation, you may want to call upon your Turtle Animal Totem, and ask to be blessed with the qualities that you need at the moment.

If you feel that you can’t visualize the Turtle well, which is important for your meditation process to work, you can think about the qualities you want to embody, and try to feel those qualities growing in you. You have to embrace the Turtle energy in all aspects of it: physically, energetically, spiritually, and emotionally. It may also help to watch a movie with Turtles.

Try to feel the specific quality amplifying in you. Act as being a Turtle is your second nature. This is also how you honor your Spirit Guide, Turtle Totem.

Conclusion

You may find that during the course of your life, other Spirit Animals will choose to walk with you for a while, to guide you in different areas of your life. It is possible, that while you have Turtle Animal Totem, you can also be guided by other Spirit Animals. However, you will notice that your core values, the same qualities you share with the Turtle, won’t change.

You will still be patient, wise, determined, unbothered by others opinion, and have high self-esteem.   Different Spirit Animals help you see other paths, that only those can help, and guide through. They also help you develop other qualities, because the purpose is for you to grow.

For example, if you will be accompanied by Bear Totem, which is there to help you develop your inner power, your intelligence, and help you overcome obstacles by pure inner strength. Turtle Totem will always be there, even if you won’t always have other Spirit Animals.

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