Hatchling: immersing and thriving in an adventurous life

The magnificent and peaceful sea turtle is one of the oldest creatures on Earth. Certain species have remained, in essence, virtually unchanged for 110 million years during their reign on this planet.

Sea turtles can travel up to 10,000 miles in a year throughout their migration. With a lifespan of up to 80 years, these fantastic animals clock over 800,000 miles in a lifetime. An amazing feat!

The female sea turtle always returns to the same nesting beach, an annual tradition; a time to recreate and nest the future of her species. Extremely sensitive to the Earth's magnetic fields, the matriarch knows and locates the beach she emerged from.

Sea turtles bury and lay their eggs in the sand by using their rear flippers. This happens multiple times over several months. The nests contain around 100 eggs each and hatch after 2 months. In their due time, each group of hatchlings, called a clutch, emerges from their nest.

The clutch of hatchlings works together, helping each other to dig free out of their nest. Each one has a sharp temporary "egg tooth," called a caruncle, used as a hook to break out of its shell.

As these tiny baby turtles emerge, they dig themselves out of the sand and waddle towards the ocean, instinctively knowing where their home is in the sea. Although they are reptiles and breathe air, these animals are extremely adept in the water, able to submerge and even sleep underwater for hours at a time.

Assisted by the downward slope of the beach, these tiny babies are able to reach the surf. This process happens at night, and the reflections of the moon and stars on the water act as lighthouses, illuminating their destination.

Adjusting in the sand, learning to waddle, breathing in the air, and forging their way to the illuminated ocean is their form of "imprinting;" the process of learning and knowing through doing while assisted with instinctual cues.

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It is with this "imprinting" that a journey is awakened, as the journey is the path, and

the Buddha reminds us:

"It is better to travel well than to arrive."

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Upon reaching the surf, these tiny babies swim past the breaks and dive into deeper and deeper water. The silence of the sea must be an amazing refreshing experience.

Within these deep blue waters, finding their essence, wrapped in the blanket of buoyancy and peace, a tranquil freedom is experienced as the water envelops them.

This is the essence of an adventurous life. A brand new life with assistance from their instincts; immersing into this new world to thrive. Although there are threats and danger, the tiny turtle paddles forward, releasing into the depths, knowing home is in the grand ocean.

Inside our being, we are this tiny turtle, as every new adventure is an opportunity to emerge from our perceived shell. We all have a hereditary caruncle, and with this we are able to break free from our enclosed perceived cell, possibly created by us.

As when we break free, sometimes with the help of other hatchlings, we remember we have done this before; we have all the tools to wiggle and waddle towards our sea.

It does not matter how long it takes, or how graceful our traverse is on this path of adventure. It is about having the courage to break out of our shell, dig free from the sand, and venture forward.

With assistance from our intuition and instincts we are inspired by all those who have gone on their journeys before us. We utilize this inspiration and knowledge of all the others who have made their way to the sea.

What are they teaching us or have taught us? They were able to break out, free themselves from the nest that was created and now roam the seas.

This is the sea of adventure, open and free, with the magnetic pull of creativity and courage as a guide, experiencing a path of aspirations and a life fully illuminated.

With the assistance and guidance of others teachings, the oceans currents, and our internal magnetic compass, we learn to orient our life's desire towards new adventures.

With the help of the clutch, and all who are traversing their personal inner journey, we break free and embrace the unknown. With intuitive guidance and inspiration we venture out to explore our seas.

Then out at sea; dive into the dream and thrive here now.

Cheers!

Kether

Spunky Mind

"Your work is to discover

your world and then

with all your heart,

give yourself to it."

-The Buddha