Description
As humans have observed snakes shedding their skin for millennia; Thusly they have become a symbol of rebirth, transformation, immortality, healing, fertility, protection and a creative life force. The Ouroboros (a serpents biting on it’s own tail) is a symbol of eternity and continual renewal of life. These meaning span across space and time; Pythagoreans, Gnostics, Hindus, Buddhists, Native Americans and alchemist dating as far back as Egypt all revered the snake. The Chrysopoeia Ouroboros is one of the oldest known images of the Ouroboros and is said to be linked to the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. Carl Jung said ”The Ouroboros is a dramatic symbol for the integration and assimilation of the opposite, i.e. of the shadow. This ‘feed-back’ process is at the same time a symbol of immortality, since it is said of the Ouroboros that he slays himself and brings himself to life, fertilizes himself and gives birth to himself.”