Snapping Turtle Dream


Artwork by Steve Cova

My dream last night was about a snapping turtle, who I tried to take to do therapy work with Darwin (we are going to the Casa today to do pet therapy), but the turtle kept trying to bite me. I finally asked some advisers what to do about the turtle, and put it down. Suddenly it got much smaller and developed brightly painted colors (mostly blue) on its back. I woke up.

Haven’t figured out quite what this dream symbolized for me yet, but found this interesting story while I was researching the turtle dream. Enjoy.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Common Snapping Turtle

One time that well-known brave, Snapping Turtle, became angry. All the people wondered why he acted so strangely. “Snapping Turtle is very cranky,” said the other turtles, “Something must be in the air.” One day a messenger came to all of them, calling each to appear at Snapping Turtle’s wigwam. All the turtle people were glad, and hoped that this meant that he would be in a good mood, so they came and feasted. Then Snapping Turtle said to them: “My brothers, I am angry at mankind. I am going to raise a war-party and fight them.”

All the turtles agreed that they had received many insults from men, and were ready to go. That night when everyone was asleep, the warriors started out to do battle. They traveled from dawn until dark, and then they rested and slept. One of their numbers, the little Box Turtle, had a dream of bad omen. This made Snapping Turtle angry. He said that he did not believe in omens, and that he was determined to fight anyway. Each dawn he called on his followers to narrate their dreams of the night before, and each morning they had only bad omens to report. One morning Box Turtle sang this song: “Oh! Snapping Turtle, I see you now! They are throwing all of us turtles in a sack!”

“Don’t sing that!” hissed Snapping Turtle. But Box Turtle continued to sing, so Snapping Turtle went up to him and kicked him, but found that Box Turtle was singing in his sleep. The blow struck Box Turtle on the chest so hard that it broke his shell, and you can still see the break-the hinge of the shell on his chest-to this very day.

He said, “Next time, Box Turtle, you will sing ‘Snapping Turtle is brave and cleans up all the villages wherever he goes.’ I don’t want you to sing that I get my people thrown into a sack. It is a bad song. Instead, sing that I am the one who makes a clean, sweep wherever he goes, and throws the enemy into hysterics.”

Box Turtle was indignant and answered, “I don’t want you to put people in a sack. This is not my fault. I was asleep, and the dream I sang about came out that way. Who am I to control my dreams?” ….

Click on the link to continue the story)

Here’s the dream symbol interpretations I’ve found:

SNAPPING TURTLE – a person who will retaliate in a negative situation

TURTLE – the negative aspect is a fear of facing responsibility or reality. Can represent long life because turtles live a long time. Quiet strength,. In China it carries the world on it’s back. It is a symbol of fertility and unwavering vitality, and great patience.

Apparently I’m not the only one dreaming about him lately either….

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One Response

  1. Humm, all very interesting. I like the part where you asked the advisors what to do and then put the turtle down (the smart thing to do) before they answered. Once you did that the turtle became smaller.

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