Snake Symbolic Meaning, by
Avia/Το φίδι, συμβολισμός και σημασία, από την Avia
Symbolic Meaning of Snakes
Snake symbolic meaning, overwhelmingly and in various cultures, deals with
primordial life force and usually turns our attention to gender supremacy (both
male and female).
Consequently, snakes span the symbolic bridge between lunar and solar associations
as well as aspects between water and fire.
Coiled within this polarity, we
clearly see symbolism of duality and the search for balance. Other snake
symbolic meaning includes...
Quick-List
of Symbolic Snake Meanings
Cycles
Rebirth
Patience
Fertility
Eternity
Balance
Cunning
Intuition
Awareness
Healing
Intellect
Protection
Solemnity
Rejuvenation
Transformation
Occult (hidden) Knowledge
Male/Female, Yin-Yang, Duality
"Life
is a moving, breathing thing. We have to be willing to constantly evolve.
Perfection is constant transformation."
~Nia Peeples
As a Native American Indian symbol
(depending on the nation/tribe) the snake can be a masculine symbol, associated
with the phallus of lightning which is considered a medicine staff of
tremendous assertive power. Other tribes lean in the direction of feminine
attribution for the snake and pair it with mothering (creation), and lunar
(moon) symbolism.
Whether raising itself in masculine authority, or encircling the Earth in a
motherly fashion the snake symbol of the Native American's was highly regarded;
utilized in ritual to invoke an element of pointed focus and weighty influence.
symbolic snake meaning
Snakes espouse bold meanings. But they also have soft, subtle, secretive
meanings two. This makes it a powerful symbol of duality.
The ancient Celts were extremely nature-wise too, and approached snake
symbolism from the behavior and life cycle of this magnificent creature. From
the Celtic perspective, the snake was a symbol of secret knowledge, cunning and
transformation.
Further, the snake Celtic symbol comes from observations of the European viper
(also known as the adder) which is the only (along with the common grass snake)
species able to tolerate the colder climate of the ancient Celts.
In
the keen Celtic mind, snake symbolic meaning of
transformation came from the shedding of its skin. Physical evidence of leaving
its form behind (casting off the old self), and emerging a sleeker, newer
version made the snake a powerful symbol of rebirth and renewal.
As far as the occult (hidden) symbolic meaning in Celtic and other
cultures, this can be connected to the sleuth-like ways of the snake. The
saying 'slippery as a snake' is a small nod to its symbolic secretive nature.
It's nothing to do with slippery, but rather how snakes can dart quickly into
hiding places high and low. Their effective camouflage is also symbolic of
hiding, shadow realms, secrets. In this light, the snake as a totem offers the
gift of manuevering under the radar. Snake is a friend among people who are
good at laying in wait and then strike when the opportunity appears.
"Without
mysteries, life would be very dull indeed. What would be left to strive for if
everything were known?"
~Charles de Lint
Disappearing in colder months and summoned by the sun marks the snake's connection
to the shadow worlds with its successful ability to live within the dark realms
for extended periods of time. Alternatively, the snake softly moves into the
embrace of the sun, and so it encapsulates the ancient magician's creed of
moving in perfect rhythm of natural forces.
The Tarot reinforces this concept. The Tarot is a great tool that is based
on symbols. And the snake is a symbol on the Magician card. It is a reference
to having authority over energy. The snake and the Magician in the Tarot salute
the energy that resonates behind the veil. In short, recognizing the power of
the unseen and utilizing that power.
In
Eastern Indian myth the Sanskrit word for snake is naga and
these are associated with the element of water. Picking up water's symbolism of
emotion, love and motion, nagas in this light are considered a feminine aspect
and embody nurturing, benevolent, wise qualities. To this day, it is a common
Hindu understanding that all nagas protect all water sources. The naga is also
said to be a guardian of big treasure and fortune...which could be water if it
is (and often it is) a scarce resource. This all reinforces the snake's
symbolism of fertility, renewal, and cleansing. Further in the Hindu tradition,
snakes (naga) are considered kind and benevolent towards humans. It is only
when humans act out bad behavior that gets the naga ticked off. Often in Indian
stories, the naga comes to strike down or eat whoever commits bad deeds. Not a
bad argument for good behavior...nobody wants to be gobbled up by a gigantic cobra.
Which, by the way, the naga typically is...some kind of cobra.
Avia with a grass snake she found.
She loves snakes!
There is even a spiritual discipline
in Eastern Indian alchemy based on the naga. It is called Nagayuna the practice
seeks to achieve loving harmony between the physical and ethereal. Simply put,
all of us striving to better ourselves by calmly easing into places of personal
balance within the cosmic balance of the whole are practicing this ancient
technique. In a way, we can all practice our own kind of Nagayuna. We don't
have to go to a temple, don't need strict rituals as Nagayuna practictioners
do. To the relief of some, we don't even need a real-life snake in our presence
(also part of Nagayuna ritual). But we can certainly embrace the Nagayuna way
of harmony and balance. And the snake can help us get there in our minds and
hearts. When asked, the naga (snake) will happily come into our energy and
assist in balancing our lives.
I have a naga pair as a full back
tattoo. That brings me to snake tattoo symbolism. Of course, it all varies
according to the bearer of the serpent. For example, my serpents (nagas) are
wrapped around the seven prime chakras down the length of my spine. This (to
me) incorporates the kundalini power available to all humans. It's about
balance. It's about what this article has been addressing: Homeostasis and
harmony with the core energies that power the worlds of the seen and unseen.
Additionally, this entwined snake
imagery hearkens to the caduceus, in which the staff of Asclepius is made of
two polar (yet perfectly matched) serpents. This symbolizes balance, equanimity,
union and regeneration. So much so, the staff of Asclepius is a symbol for the
medical community. It's roots are tied to Asclepius who was the Greek god of
medicine, and utilized the snake as not only a symbol of healing (having shed
its skin is synonymous with cleansing and healing) and also used in medicinal
treatments.
Double snakes are common in almost
all cultural symbolic languages. Ultimately the double snake is an icon
representing the following...
Double
Snake Symbolism
Connection between primal forces
Integration of opposites
Advanced communication
Joining together on a divine level
Making whole what was once fragmented and
doing so in a magical, organic way.
Carrying this dual snake imagery a step further, we could look to the language
of science. Observe the formation of DNA and how it forms a perfect, serpentine
double helix (shown left). This prompts us to consider how the energetic mind
is connected to the grander whole, and how it so effortlessly makes graceful
connections between the basic building blocks of data with the manifestations
of the natural world. By association the double snake icon is a vital symbolic
building block in cultural understanding.
There is no doubt, the snake is a unifying force embodying infinite messages
to those who are energetically available to perceive them. Alchemists
understood this, and thus incorporated the philosophy of snakes in their
grimoires, practices, and even their daily life.
Indeed,
alchemy literature is rife with the image of the
uroboros which is symbolic of conceptualizing totality, embracing the whole of
consciousness and devouring it with unquenchable passion.
Those who are drawn to the snake (and
vice versa) are gifted at perceiving life through an uncommon lens. Other
characteristics of those who are connected to snake energy include...
Ways The Snake Helps as a Totem and
Animal Guide
A natural ability to balance energies (you're likely a gifted healer)
Diplomatic and eloquent in areas of speech and writing
Dynamically intuitive (often knowing other's thoughts and emotional
states without trying)
Impulsive, but not without careful consideration. This may sound
paradoxical, but those with the snake totem know what I mean here.
I invite you to step into the
calming energy of the snake, and see what this noble creature offers you in the
form of messages, growth, and enlightenment.
Further, it should be understood
this page is but a miniscule sampling of the diverse snake symbolic meaning s
available to us. Therefore, I encourage you to slither into your own personal
ruminations, research and meditation of the snake. You will find your
investment to be infinitely rewarding.
I trust you've enjoyed this page on
snake symbolic meaning. Check out the links on this page for more animal
symbolism and meaningful insights. Thanks for reading!
Two
entwined snakes is a consistent cultural symbol for balance, healing and
harmony.
http://seliniartemisekati.blogspot.gr/
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