Yesterday afternoon my family and I went for a walk along the beach and on our return home our daughter spotted a turtle in difficulty in the water.

We tried to help ‘nudge’ it out of the shallows, however we found it was unwell thus carried the beautiful boy (boy turtles have tails) to shore.

We contacted the Coolum CoastCare Turtle group, a team of volunteers that look after the coasts wildlife.   I have to say, what an amazing group of conscious and humble souls that appreciate and revere our animal life… and hence go to great lengths to protect and support our marine life.

My family, together with some local residents and the volunteer turtle team carried the turtle off the beach… and this morning the turtle was headed to Underwater World for nurturing back to health.

It was so very sad to hear that our marine life, in particular our Turtles here on the coast and becoming increasingly ill (even dying) from ingesting plastic which leads to intestinal blockages and internal bleeding.  In addition, debris and dissolved chemicals carried in storm-water runoff, rubbish thrown directly into our seas and boat propellors all impact our turtles and marine health too.

Here is a picture of the beautiful turtle that we found (we named him ‘Franklin’.. one of my children’s favourite turtle cartoons when they were younger).

The Turtle volunteer team suggested that ‘Franklin’ was a Green Sea Turtle… and most probably he was about 15 years old.  Green Sea Turtles lives to around 80 years old in the wild, thus Franklin is only a teenager !

Wishing ‘Franklin’ the best of health.. and our prayers are with him for his full recovery.

Turtle Spirit

On my return home, feeling a bit sad… I opened my Animal Dreaming book (by Scott Alexander King.. waving to you Scott)… to understand more about ‘Turtle Spirit’ and the symbolic/spiritual meaning of this animal.

Here are some words that touched my heart from Scott’s book:

“We sometimes forget our connection to Spirit and the relationship we have with the Earth Mother and creation.  We feel apart from rather than apart of, nature.  We feel disconnected from the Great Wheel of Life.  Turtle, however, reminds us that we are never alone – that the Earth is our Mother and that she loves, speaks, protects and provides for us every day…..  Turtle prepares us for profound change, personal growth and awakening.  You are being prepared in a sacred way to the creative force of the the Earth Mother’s Womb, her heart and the inherent wisdom she yearns to impart.  You are being reminded that we are all ‘related’ and that, even when you believe yourself forsaken you are being cradled and nurtured by Mother Earth.”

I think these ‘turtle spirit’ words really say it all – we are all part of this one Earth, living, breathing and sharing the bounty that Earth provides (refer to my book ‘Shealla-Dreaming‘ Chapter 15).   We must take the message of Turtle Spirit into our Hearts… it is time to wake up and care for our planet as custodians of Earth for future generations.  We must be the change and work collectively to help Earth evolve and flourish. It is up to us !

To quote words from the ‘Happy’ movie that I recently watched:  ‘My life is like a loan from God, and when I leave Earth I wish to have paid back that loan with interest’.

Postscript to this article:
With sad news I have just found out this morning that ‘Franklin’ didn’t make it through the night.  Whilst his spirit may no longer be with us, his message will stay in my heart forever. xx Simone