Sea Turtle Adventure Retreat - My Love for Turtles
My Turtle Story
Turtles Medicine- Motherhood, Longevity, Awakening to Opportunities
Since a small girl I have been drawn to turtles, and them to me it turns out. I remember being about 10, the current age of my daughter Athena, and being on a lovely vacation with my family on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during a particularly strong storm. The air was warm and wet, the sky dark and grey as if someone turned the lights dim on our day, the loud falling rain and wind were making wild exotic sounds and it was all an exciting show for the family from Southern California. We were entertained by it all and decided to drop into some hammocks and watch this tropical storm do her thing. Then I saw a baby turtle walk straight up to me, this tiny helpless creature was confused by the storm and was walking inland instead of to the sea. I knew it needed help right away almost instinctively, and I gently took it in my hands and then looked to my mother as what to do next.
Moms know what to do next, she helped me locate a nearby cove where the waters were protected by a large grove of trees creating calm waters to help my new friend into. With tears in my eyes I let the baby turtle go with a little kiss and prayer. I remember having this proud mother feeling, I imagine a similar sensation one feels when watching your child drive off for college, sadness that they are leaving you but in addition there is fullness and gratitude for supporting y. It was a powerful moment for me and is one of the strongest memories I have as a child.
For I felt connected to the web of life in a way that I had never before, and I knew that I made a difference to that web. I have continued to see turtles appear in my life and they bring me such joy. Animals help us to reconnect with the world of nature from which we evolved and . The 250 types of turtles on earth today, all teach us something about life, our planet and ourselves.
As a group, turtles are more ancient than any other vertebrate animals. And today many turtles are needing our attention and care. The sea turtles that we are going to visit were almost hunted to extinction but after government bans many of the turtle populations returned and you can see on the beaches and at the research center. The research center that we will be going to contains specimens of all the world's eight marine-turtle species (seven of which frequent Mexico's coasts), plus some freshwater and land varieties.
Symbolically, turtles bring the energies of motherhood, longevity, and awakening to opportunities. Because the turtle navigates both water and land, the magic turtles humans bring us unite heaven and earth within our lives.
Come explore the healing reminders of these great animals in Mexico with us this Summer! We are headed to one of the most popular nesting sites for the Olive Ridley sea turtles, whom are considered endangered because of their few remaining nesting sites in the world. Olive ridley turtles are best known for their behavior of synchronized nesting in mass numbers, termed arribadas. This stretch of coast in Mexico is one of the best in the world for observing the arribada, a Spanish word meaning “arrival”.
I'm so delighted to be traveling with both my daughter and my mother to Mexico to do our parts as humans to learn about and help support the life of these beautiful turtles. Where we will have the rare opportunity to connect with these beautiful creatures and will have an intimate behind the scenes tour of the largest rehabilitation center for sea turtles in the country!
Sea Turtle Yoga Adventure for women, Mothers + Daughters!
July 2018
I hope you'll join us!
Adventure on,
Tawny
