Our Turtle

We acknowledge that the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington gathers on the traditional land of over 20 indigenous tribes, including the Shawnee and Cherokee Peoples. We pay our respects to their Elders: past, present, and emerging. The turtle is a sacred creature among Native American tribes. Each tribe’s cultural view of the turtle/tortoise is slightly different; however, the deeper meaning remains the same: the turtle represents Grandmother Earth, who teaches us to walk our paths in peace. Turtles have long life spans, lay eggs, and are slow moving. They also have shells for protection. This lovely eastern box turtle was photographed in our UUCL woodland. As we care for our seven acres, let us remember we are keeping space for turtles.