Before and After

 Gordan Green – This is a Hawaiian green sea turtle. The precious turtle is listed as endangered. Sea turtles have existed on earth longer than any other vertebrate animal — they were here when dinosaurs evolved and became extinct, and they survived the Ice Age. This turtle lives up to 80 years. Sea turtles cannot pull their head into their shells like other turtles. Green sea turtles are the largest of sea turtles weighing up to 700 pounds! Most sea turtles warm themselves by swimming close to the surface but the green sea turtle will actually sun itself on the land along side seals! Sea turtles often return to the same beach they were born on to lay their eggs. The turtle symbolizes the navigator to Hawaiians.

Throughout the ages humans have bestowed turtles with special meaning. Ancient myths from different cultures describe the world as resting on the turtle’s back. Among Far Eastern cultures it was believed that the turtle’s back symbolized Heaven and that its underside represented Earth. For them the turtle signified the possibility of uniting Heaven and Earth within one’s own life.

Some cultures today still regard the turtle as a symbol of the primal mother and believe that it is connected to the lunar cycle.