First I want to acknowledge the revolution happening while I post : While we ponder our relationship to the natural world and spirit world, let us send some light to our friends in Egypt.
To quote Anthony Bourdain in A Cook’s Tour, ” Welcome to my world! ” It seems that I am attracting many creatures lately. Yesterday I received a surprise gift from a friend in the mail. The card had three bunny rabbits on the cover. Than this morning, a large grayish bird smacked against the screen door of the living room. It seemed determined to pay me a visit. Then this evening I took a short walk. I felt the call of the wild beckoning me and I complied. Just a simple walk today, with the intention of being open. The humidity was bothering me, so I cut my stroll short. Other than a persistent fly, not much was happening. Then as I headed back inside, I spotted a light yellow /gold snake moving downhill. I squirmed as I made my way past this menacing reptile. I must admit I was afraid, years of conditioning and little experience with snakes sent me reeling. While I made my escape, I tried my best to capture its image in my mind for safe-keeping. Here is a somewhat similar photo of a garter snake:
Now I know the snake is linked to Scorpio, but I prefer to align with the eagle or phoenix. Here are additional meanings for snake or serpent from http://www.whats-your-sign.com/snake-symbolic-meaning.html I aspire to the attributes found in Snake Totem:
Attributes of the Snake as a Totem or 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.
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.
When I read uroboros, I recognized that I had read this term somewhere before. It is a definition of my name Linda! So perhaps I am being invited to return to my totally conscious self. Something to definitely ponder!
Update: Thanks to Renate at Pisces, I learned the name of the flowers in my yard that I have been photographing for weeks, Hydrangea. According to Wiktionary, the root hydrais derived from Latin Hydra, the mythical serpent, originally from Ancient Greek ὕδρα, from Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥ (“water”). Angea comes from angeion “vessel, capsule” (see angio-); so called from the shrub’s cup-shaped seed pods. Considering all the rain we have been having, I am almost certain the snake I saw is a water snake. Loving all the snake, Scorpio, water element, transformational synchronicity!
Today I am continuing the theme of pairing wildlife with poetry. I randomly picked this favorite Rumi poem:
It’s Rigged
It’s Rigged – everything in your favor.
So there is nothing to worry about.
Is there some position you want,
some office, some acclaim, some award, some con, some lover,
maybe two, maybe three, maybe four – all at once,
maybe a relationship
with
God?
I know there is a gold mine in you, when you find it
the wonderment of the earth’s gifts you will lay
aside as naturally as does
a child a
doll.
But, dear, how sweet you look to me kissing the unreal;
comfort, fulfill yourself in any way possible – do that until
you ache, until you ache,
then come to me
again.
see related posts: https://lindalitebeing.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/linda/
https://lindalitebeing.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/poetry-solstice-signs/
snake image by By Cephas (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I still find it all so amazing how all things are linked,, That was a lovely poem too 🙂
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Thank you Sue,
Rumi is such a treasure.
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Interesting – snake shows up often for me, but I ignore it because of my phobia! 🙂 When I first got my animal power cards (totally on a whim during a window-shopping visit to the book store) the rattlesnake kept coming up – I’d squeal and drop the card! 🙂 Maybe the Scorpio portion of my chart is calling to me….LOL
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probably so! 🙂
I gotta get those cards 🙂
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I have the book and cards and had the opportunity in 2007 to spend a full day in the “Healing Circle” seminar with him – very interesting!
http://www.earthmagic.net/bookstore-power-animal/102-animal-spirit-guides
http://www.earthmagic.net/bookstore-power-animal/101-power-animals-how-to-connect-with-your-animal-spirit-guide-oracle-cards
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thanks, just did a free reading online woohoo!
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😀
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Chinese year 2013 is the Year of the Snake as well. Snake symbolism is so deep and rich. Thank you for sharing your experience. Beautiful poem, and hydrangea, too. Interesting that the word hydrangea has “Hydra” in it!
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Hi Renate,
I honestly did not know the name of the flower! Perhaps at another level I knew the name and paired the photos together. Thanks for the info.
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Lovely post, lovely synchronicity with your name.
Because snakes can renew their skin, they are often referred to as symbols of inner transformation and healing. Like we know, Scorpio is a sign of great transformation ability.
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Thank you Deelia! I just learned from Renate that the flower photo that I chose is Hydrangea – hydra! The snake was situated pretty close to those flowers so all in all plenty of connections! I hope that transformation is in store for all that desire it so….
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That is a stunning flower Linda, is it from your garden?
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thank you, it is but I did not plant them 🙂
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Linda,
My Power animal is Snake! She is the Guardian of Higher Mysteries; The Void. And you may be interested to know, if you didn’t already, that Eagle is the ‘higher form of Scorpio at their best potential’. Snake is linked to the Kundalini; the awakening of Energy within ourselves.
This is just an excerpt, but I thought you might find it interesting 🙂
Light & Blessings x
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Hi Heidi
As a Scorp the snake is a great benefit! I always thought the phoenx was the highest manifestation of Scorpio 🙂 Thank you for reminding me about the Kundalini, how wonderful if I am receiving the positive aspects of this process!
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I never heard about the Phoenix – that’s awesome! I certainly feel like a phoenix right now (hopefully about to write a post regarding this!).
I certainly hope you are feeling the benefits – Snake Medicine has much to offer 🙂 xx
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I’ll let you know..
looking forward to your posts as always Heidi!
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Fascinating post & brilliant poem! Kudos~
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thank you, Rumi is an amazing poet whose words complement even the most unlikeliest of tales 🙂
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Good one~
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the poem or the snake?
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Both but I meant the post~ 🙂
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thanks!
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Cool name connection to the snake! 😉
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yeah, it really took me by surprise 😀
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