On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love (the creative spirit) sent to me:
Six Green Turtles Ambling
Seven Platypus Swimming
Six Numbats Digging
Five Satin Bowerbirds Decorating
Four Australian Fur Seals Frolicking
Three Tasmanian Tigers barking
Two Superb Lyrebirds Mimicking
and a Kookaburra up a Gum Tree

Turtle symbolizes both new beginnings and endings. It is the ending of something that allows space for something new to arise. This ending may be an outer circumstance or a change or shift that occurs within ourselves. There may be a sense of loss or even grief over what has passed and yet it is through the energy of Turtle who is very long-lived and thus very wise, that we can come to understand why something did need to leave our lives. Turtle can help lead us to that space where we can finally move on, to let go of what has been, celebrate it for the gifts it gave us and finally to turn and head for a new shore.
Read more about Turtle Medicine 

If you’ve ever dived or snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef and seen a turtle majestically gliding by, then chances are it was a green turtle. It’s the most recognisable of all marine turtles and widely distributed throughout the world’s tropical and subtropical waters. Large populations live, feed and nest on the Reef, favouring the bays and protected shores near the coast and around islands.

The green turtle is one of the largest and the only herbivorous marine turtle – feeding almost exclusively on seagrass and algae. Like other sea turtles, it migrates long distances between feeding grounds and nesting beaches, with females returning to the very same beach on which they were hatched to lay their eggs. Female green turtles have been tracked across 2,600 kilometres during such a migration.

If Green Turtle has crossed your path he is usually giving you the message that “slow and steady wins the race” Pay attention to details in your current project and take your time with it. Don’t be tempted to skip steps or take short cuts. You will get there! Just trust in the process and stay in the moment. Bigger, stronger, faster are not always the best ways to reach your goals.

Turtle carries his house on his back, and when feeling threatened can hide to protect himself – this shows us about protecting ourselves. Just like the turtle, there are times when we need to put a protective shield around us to ward off negative emotions and forces such as anger, jealousy and thoughtless actions of others. We need to learn to protect ourselves – in a non violent way – not only when we feel threatened by the outside world, but also in order to contemplate, to decide what our next move will be. On the flip side, this is also a reminder of the importance of going within.