So many little wearing shell shells. A whelk shell, particularly the "lightning whelk," holds significant spiritual meaning in many Native American cultures, often symbolizing the cycle of life and death due to its clockwise spiral, representing the movement from birth to darkness, with the left-sided opening signifying the unusual or "contrary" aspect of this cycle; these shells were often used in rituals and found in ancient burial sites, signifying their sacred importance. | Crustacean Planta