edited from various sources:

Turtle Spirit Animal
The turtle totem wisdom teaches us about walking our path in peace and sticking to it with determination and serenity. Slow moving on earth, yet often fast and agile in water, those who have the turtle as totem or spirit animal may, at times, be encouraged to take a break in their busy lives and look around or deep within themselves for more grounded, longer lasting solutions. Traditionally, the turtle is symbolic of the way of peace, whether it’s inviting us to cultivate peace of mind or a peaceful relationship with our fellow man and/or environment.

Turtle Symbolism
The turtle symbolism is characterized by the association with the Earth and earth symbols of groundedness and patience:
• Symbol of the world, of the Earth
• Ability to stay grounded, even in moments of disturbances and chaos
• Slowing down, pacing yourself
• Determination, persistence
• Emotional strength and understanding
• Ancient Wisdom, The turtle is also linked to the spirit of the water and the fluid as well as sometimes turbulent nature of emotions.

In general, the turtle totem symbolizes our peaceful walk on this earth. It represents the path we take as we embark on our journey through life.  In contrast to emotional or spiritual development occurring in bursts, the way of the turtle anchors our personal unfolding in a slower, more grounded series of steps and longer cycles of personal transformation.

The turtle is associated with our physical and embodied evolution on the earthly plane. Call this spirit animal for help to be more grounded over the long haul. You can also get help slowing down and pacing yourself, so you can take your next step with more confidence.

The turtle and ancient wisdom of the Earth
The American continent is referred to as “Turtle Island” in the Native American folklore. It is said that the Turtle carried the weight of the land of that continent on her back. This image is also present in Hindu and Chinese cultures, where the turtle is the animal literally carrying Mother Earth  and holding the world in balance.

Having the turtle as totem means that you have an affinity with the ancient wisdom of the earth. You are naturally tuned into the elements, land, plants, people and animals. You carry your home on your back figuratively speaking and feel at ease wherever you are. Home for you is where the heart is passionately attuned and in keeping with your highest principles. Home improvement and decoration means little to you unless it has deep personal meaning and resonance.

The turtle totem and determination
The wisdom of the turtle totem teaches us about determination and staying strong despite obstacles or distractions. This animal encourages those who have it as totem to listen deeply to their inner guidance and trust their path no matter what.
It is a great helper for those who need to provide a steady effort and persistence. You can call on the wisdom of the turtle when you need help to sustain your efforts and succeed in a long-lasting endeavor or one that is perceived as unpopular or “impossible” by others. By analogy with the biological attributes of this animal characterized by a long life, this spirit animal is also associated with longevity and ultimate success in the long run.
If you have the turtle as spirit animal, you may be inclined to base your decisions on a deliberate process of reviews and considerations. It may sometimes take you longer than others to make your big move or learn to stick with one thing (versus a million others) but when you do, the results tend to be long-lasting and solid.

The turtle and the way of peace
The turtle represents the way of peace – whether it’s external or internal. It is considered as the Peace-Maker in Native American traditions. This animal is also often associated with the feminine principle or feminine energy, which foster peace and harmony with all things. Women with the turtle animal totem are significant peace-makers in a world of strident differences and apparent conflict. Thus, they are human “bridge builders” who look towards finding shared perspectives and common ground, even among warring sides and hostile combatants.

Being inspired by the wisdom of the turtle totem, you can use your spirit animal to slow down when you feel you are getting overwhelmed by a situation or emotions and obtain rest (in a well protected space/shell) to gain a more grounded perspective. This spirit guide can assist you in taking time for yourself to better integrate all the aspects of a given situation or issue.