Life in the Garden

Matters of Life and Death

turtle symbolism

Turtle Cremation Urns Are Protection for the Journey

As learned in the children’s tale, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” sure and steady typically win the race. Those who can relate to turtles can fully understand this message as turtles symbolize patience and endless wisdom. Their ancient souls have learned the art of adapting to new surroundings and environments, whether on land or in water. In the spirit world, turtles bring the gifts of longevity, fertility, blessings and journeys while carrying the energies of patience, protection and self-pacing. Based on those qualities we were inspired by the symbol of the turtle to create an urn from bronze. Made in here in America, bronze will last forever and be a lasting tribute to your loved one.

Turtle Cremation Urn

As one of the oldest reptiles living, turtles remind people to slow down. Life is a journey, so sit back and enjoy it! But people can also learn to ground themselves in the protective energy that is the earth and follow those energies at a pace to ensure success.
Turtle Cremation Jewelry
Great Protectors
Turtles understand the need for self-protection as well as protecting those they love. Their hard shells are comparable to a spiritual shell or armor you can have to protect yourself from negativity, painful memories and harmful influences. This symbol has been adapted on a smaller scale to use as a personal mini memorial with our turtle urn pendant in your choice of silver or gold. The pendant has an opening on the back and that’s where it is filled with the ashes.

The inner wisdom of turtles’ spirits comes from being allowed to go inside and find peace and safety. Often thought to be the wisest of souls in the animal kingdom, turtles understand and take their wisdom one day at a time. They move at their own pace, not worrying or carrying what others think.

Turtle Symbolism
Turtles are long-lived and have carefree attitude, but their bodies are very symbolic. The shell represents the heavens, its body the earth and its under-body symbolizes the underworld. A turtle’s symbolism differs depending on country of origin. Hindus see turtles as lunar creatures, while in China, they are symbols of strength. In Japan, turtles are gods of the seas and in West Africa, they are symbols of fertility and feminine.

Urn Garden Cremation Urns

Bronze Cremation Urns: Season of the Turtle

Turtles have always fascinated and repulsed me. There’s something about these prehistoric creatures that captivate. It’s turtle season in this part of the country. Usually by Memorial Day the turtles are moving but Spring was late this year and we’re just now having to dodge slow moving turtles on the road in rural areas. After a weekend at the lake I was amazed to see all the turtles in the water and sunning themselves on the rocks.

My grandfather lived in the country and would rescue turtles on the road, number their shells with nail polish and turn them loose on his farm. I used to see this guy on my walks who also ran a turtle rescue in the neighborhood.


Last summer we had a client who ordered a bronze cremation urn for her husband who died while on vacation in Idaho. Her grown children picked the turtle urn because they felt the qualities of patience, perseverance and strength that were representative of their father were symbolized by this ancient creature.
bronze cremation urn
Some Eastern cultures believe that the turtle unites heaven and earth with the top of the turtle shell as heaven and the square on the bottom the earth while Native American lore uses the turtle as a symbol of land and water.

For families that want a small keepsake as a reminder of their loved one and are drawn to the symbolism of the turtle there is also an urn pendant that can be worn on a chain or as a charm on a bracelet.

turtle urn pendant

This pendant will only hold a tiny bit of ash and should not be worn while swimming. There’s also a paper turtle that is a small urn designed for an ash scattering ceremony in water. The urns are made in Haiti from newspaper and paper bags and hold just a couple of tablespoons of ashes. The biodegradable urns became available after the earthquake in Haiti as a way for the natives to help rebuild after the devastation.

Urn Garden Cremation Urns