Snake totem

Okay my post today has a bit of relevance because i'm working on a nifty project that involves snakes. I acquired a set of almost identical snake rattles. And before you trip out on me, the meat  was not let to waste. The coyotes and foxes loved it. My grandmother lives in a bit of a secluded area and always lets mother nature to it's own accord except when one of goddesses creatures, especially one of the more dangerous varieties, end up on her front porch right at the door. Apparently it's the week of the snake because this is the third one we've had to eliminate this week. There's also kids here to so another reason that they had to be dealt with. Anyway i'm thinking they will be made into earings since they are almost a matching pair. BTW there was at one point a rumor that used to run rampant around these part about there being a deadly powder in snake rattles. It's completely untrue. Snake rattles are just modified rattles that gain in numbers from shedding. I'm either going to use these in more serious rights, or I might even post them up on etsy. Not sure at this point:P

So I dedicate this post to my project and The snake.

Of all the reptiles and maybe even all animals , the snake has been the subject

of great controversy and paradox. Religious sources argue over whether it is

the symbol of the higher or the lower. Sometimes seen as devii and sometimes as

healer, it is an animal that truly has earned the mythical reputation.

In the Americas, the snake served as a prominent symbol in art and lore. To

the Native Americans, the snake is a symbol of transformation and healing. Snake

ceremonies involved learning to transmute the poisons within the body after

being bitten multiple times. Survival of this would then enable the individual to

transmute all poisons-physical or otherwise. It activated the energy of kill or

cure, ultimately leading to dramatic healings.

In the Meso-American societies, the serpent or snake was depicted as

feathered and flying. It was a symbol of their greatest god and hero, Quetzalcoatl.

Quetzalcoatl's story is the myth of a dying god who would someday

return. In many ways he was the patron god of the Toltecs, and it was said that

the heavens and stars and all the motions of the universe were under his

dominion. "He was the master of the winds and of the clouds and the protecting

genius of his people."2

In creece the snake was also a symbol of alchemy and healing. The god Hermes

carried a staff upon which were entwined two snakes. This caduceus symbol

is the primary symbol of modern medicine and doctors. It is a symbol of wisdom

expressed through healing.

In India the goddess Vinaia was the mother of snakes and a symbol of water

and the underworld. Also in India there were demigods, Nagas and their beautiful

wives, Naginis, who were usually depicted as half cobra and half deity. The

god Vishnu is often depicted sleeping on the serpent of eternity called Ananta.

Shiva wears snakes for bracelets and necklaces, representing sexuality.

The serpent and snake has long been a symbol of the sexual/creative life

force within humans as is taught in Eastern traditions. The kundalini or serpent

fire lies coiled at the base of the spine. As we grow and develop, the primal energy

is released, rising up the spine. This in turn activates energy centers in the

body and the mind, opening new dimensions and levels of awareness, health,

and creativity.

In Chinese astrology one of every twelve years is named for the snake. Those

born within that year are believed to have the qualities of compassion, clairvoyance

and charm. They usually need to learn lessons associated with forgiveness,

superstitiousness and possessiveness as well. A study of Chinese astrology will

help you with this.

In Egypt the snake has also had mystical significance. The uraeus is a head

band in the shape of the snake. The head of the snake rests and sticks out at the brow area. It was believed to represent a state of inner sight and control of the universe.

It was a symbol worn by those who were initiated. Some believe it to be a

variations of the eye of Horus, while others see it as the sacred eye of Ra. It represented

a certain degree of wisdom and understanding.3

Because it sheds its skin, the snake has long been a symbol of death and

rebirth. It sheds its skin as it outgrows the old. This death and rebirth cycle is part

of what snake represents. It has ties and significance to the ancient alchemists and

their symbolic transmutation of lead into gold. This is associated with higher wisdom

that comes with the passing of time. This cycle of death and rebirth is often

symbolized by the ouroborus, the ancient image of a snake swallowing its own

tail. It is the symbol of eternity.

Before the snake begins to shed its skin, its eyes will begin to cloud over. It

gives the snake a trancelike appearance. To many mystics and shamans this indicated

the ability of the snake to move between the realms of the living and the

dead, of crossing over from life to death and then back to life again. As the skin

begins to shed, the eyes begin to clear as if they will see the world anew. For this

reason, alchemists often believed that wisdom and new knowledge would lead

to death and rebirth, enabling the individual to see the world from an entirely

new perspective.

The snake has often been depicted, along with its relatives, the serpent and

dragon, as a guardian. It is found in myth and lore guarding treasures, the springs

of life or sacred places. The snake/serpent guarded the tree on which the golden

fleece hung in the Greek tale of Jason and the argonauts.

The snake is sinuous and fast. Although many people think of them as slimy,

their skin is very dry. In fact, humans are slimier than snakes. If a human runs his

or her hand on the floor, it will pick up dirt. A snake's skin will not which is why

it is able to slide and move in the manner it does.

A snake attacks quickly. It raises itself up and strikes quick, hard, and true to

its mark. It is not unusual to find that those with this totem can respond the same

way if need be. It is best not to anger snake people. Although slow to lose their

tempers, once lost, their bite is quick, sharp, and direct. They almost always hit

their mark. They may end up swallowing you whole or just poisoning you in

some way.

Anytime a snake shows up as a totem, you can expect death and rebirth to

occur in some area of your life. This rarely reflects an actual death but rather a

transition. Look for a change in conditions and a movement to new life. examine

what is going on around you. Are you needing to make changes but aren't for

some reason? Are you trying to force change too quickly? Are you striking out at

people and shouldn't? Are you not striking and should? Remember that a snake

not only uses its venom and bite to overcome prey, but also for defense. What is

needing to be healed? What new opportunities are surfacing that you need to

strike out for and take advantage of?

It can also reflect that your own creative forces are awakening. The stimulation

of the kundalini usually has physiological as well as spiritual consequences.

Physiologically it can activate the sexual drive, bring more energy, etc. Spiritually it can stimulate greater perception of how to apply your insight and intuition.

Your own vision and intuition will become more accurate.

To understand the specific role your snake totem will play within your life,

first begin by examining the form it takes. This alone will tell you much. Every

snake has a head, body, and tail, and there are a wide variety of snakes. Some are

poisonous, almost all can bite, and some squeeze and strangle their prey by coiling

around it. Examine your snake's markings, and the patterns of its scales. A

diamond-back rattler is named for its pattern of scales. Examine the significance

of geometric shapes. This will help you to define the role the snake will have in

your life.

The rattlesnake, for example, moves around only during the cool hours of the

night. Extreme heat is deadly to it. You may find for yourself that becoming more

nocturnal would be of benefit. It has a sidewinding motion to its movement. It

also has a special sense organ, a small pit in the head that reacts to heat put out by

other creatures. This is how it senses its prey. On a symbolic level this indicates for

those with this totem an increasing sensitivity to the auras of others. You may start

seeing them soon, but you will definitely start sensing them. Trust what you feel

around others, no matter how strange it may seem.

Always examine some of the qualities and characteristics of the snake in general.