Turtle

The turtle represents a quiet, silent power that can retreat into protection. It is a maternal symbol associated with the moon and the earth. Like the moon, the turtle can withdraw into the darkness and emerge again. The turtle's many eggs have given it a symbolic connection to fertility, which enhances its feminine quality. This slow, crawling moon creature is, by association, "a toad with a shell."

Everywhere, the turtle has been seen as ancient and is central to humanity's oldest mythologies. A recurring theme is how turtles support the world, that the shell is the world, or contains the world. It is, therefore, a "cosmic" animal and sometimes appears as a symbol for the Self in our dreams.

In alchemy, the turtle is associated with the primordial state and prima materia. There are images where the turtle symbolizes the beginning of the work, as Mercury’s wings represent its goal. The turtle was believed to be able to drive away witchcraft, cure poisoning, and more.

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