By Steve Brian, September 24, 2018
“See the Turtle of Enormous Girth
On his shell he holds the Earth.
His thought is slow, but always kind.
He holds us all within his mind.” – Stephen King
A common myth in different world cultures is the idea of the Great Turtle that carries us all upon his back – the bedrock supporting all creation. From the Far East to the Subcontinent of Asia to our own backyard, this theme is enmeshed in old traditions and thought. Some North American native tribes still call our continent Turtle Island, from their legend of a sea turtle whose shell was piled with soil and mud until the landmass of the world rose out of the abyss and into creation.
We have a similar affinity for snails. The spirals of their shells represent the moon and its phases and, by extension, time itself. The continually expanding mathematics of spiral shell geometry is symbolic of fertility and the expansion of life upon the earth. Increase upon increase. Begat and begat and begat till the end of time.
But why do we imbue these creatures with otherworldly gifts and abilities? It’s probably not their speed. Though it can’t be coincidence that these beings that travel so slowly carry so much symbolic weight with them – all of creation and time itself. That might slow you down too.
We admire and elevate these animals because they carry their homes around with them wherever they go. What power. What freedom. What comfort and strength. To know that within yourself, you carry all that you need with you at any time. And you can take it anywhere, and be home.
The next time you pass an RV slowly winding its way across the landscape, will you not also wonder what that would be like? To have your home and all you’d need so near at hand and so free to roam. And like the turtle or the snail, wouldn’t we trade speed for bringing Home with us wherever we might be?
It’s time to start respecting the RV and taking in all the joys it has to bring the world – after all, the Hare never beats the Tortoise. 😉
Steve Brian
Broker | OR
He/Him
Steve has made his career based on the concept that “service comes first.”
He has helped clients buy and sell homes on both sides of the river and has a strong understanding of what it takes to negotiate in a way that allows his clients to feel that their best interests are always at the forefront of the negotiation table. He has worked with first time buyers, upsizers, downsizers and investors alike, priding himself on being able to provide well-informed advice based on the current market and leaving the final decisions up to his clients!
After moving to Portland in 2002, Steve bounced around different neighborhoods on the Eastside of Portland and grew a love for straight shots of espresso. He has now planted roots with his family in the Terra Linda neighborhood of NW Portland and is a sucker for a delicious beer on a hot, summer day from one of the many local breweries in Portland. When he’s not wearing his “Steve the REALTOR®” hat, he likes to spend time in the water with his two boys or just put on some mud boots and find some trails to explore.
"Service Comes First!"
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- T: 503-720-2529
- steve@stevebrian.com
