Tuesday 23 February 2016

A few words about Snakes

Yesterday I pulled 3 cards that all depicted snakes. Two were tarot cards from The Wildwood Tarot and one was from a self-published oracle deck called Tarot in Thyme.

Yesterdays cards and my theme for the week


Two days earlier I pulled one of the same tarot cards and being an aware and perceptive person *snortle* I have picked up on this cunning subtlety and read up on Snake totems or medicine.

Goddess alive, I love snakes.

Tarot in Thyme Oracle Deck


Snakes have been revered in many cultures across the world including the Native Americans of North & South America, India, Greece, Egypt, Europe and it is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese calendar.

Snakes have a very dualistic nature and often bridge the gap between solar and lunar energies, fire and water. Whilst snakes tend to be closely associated with Goddesses they also have links with Gods. Shiva wore snakes as bracelets and Cernunnos is depicted holding a snake aloft. Snakes are fire animals which link them with solar energies but they are also strongly linked to the underworld which has lunar energies.

Snakes do not blink and this leads to what can be described as a hypnotic stare. This hypnotic aspect along with their perceived ability to enter a trance, especially before they start to shed their skin, ties very much to their aspect of inner knowing and to the Chinese aspect of clairvoyance in snake people. They also have a heightened sense of smell, and this, along with their sight, suggests strong discernment in seeing past the apparent appearance of something or someone to what is actually there or for sniffing out the truth.

The Snake is a very complex totem pulling together traits of wisdom, healing, sexuality, death and rebirth & guardianship. It is symbolic of both male and female, God and Goddess.

The Druid Animal Oracle


Briefly, otherwise this could go on for quite a while…

Wisdom:

The snake is seen as a symbol of wisdom in Greece and Egypt. In Egypt, head-dresses were worn depicting snakes that sat out at the third eye area of the forehead, these were called Uraeus. The Uraeus represented inner or extra sight and as worn by initiates indicated wisdom, understanding and knowing. These were also versions of the Eye of Horus or the Eye of Ra. I have mentioned before that I had always associated snakes with Crone energy and this is typified by wisdom. Kundalini, the eastern representation of enlightened energy is depicted as a snake coiled at the base of the spine that rises up as we develop and interacts with our energy centres opening us up to different levels of experience and knowledge.

Healing:

The most common symbol of healing is the Caduceus or the staff of Hermes. This symbol is 2 snakes entwined around his staff or rod. Healing and medicine were closely married with alchemy and transmutation. For some Native American societies, snake ceremonies involved transmuting poison from bites. This seems a bit extreme but being able to survive the bites and transmute the poison out of the body was seen as an ability to transmute “all poisons” within and without. It basically activated a kill or cure energy that could lead to all sorts of healing.

Sexuality:

In Cumbria, there are stone carvings of snakes with eggs in their mouths and this instantly calls to mind sperm and ova. Some of these carvings are centuries old and highlight the sacred and essential role procreation played in society. Snakes are also phallic symbols and tend to be sacred to various Goddesses and they are an essential aspect of creation.

Death and rebirth:

Transformation is maybe one of the most obvious things known about snakes; their ability to shed their old skins and emerge with new ones. Snakes were thought to have strong links to the underworld, the domain of death. It was thought that the underworld was where they went when they vanished into deep dark places. When they return to the world, they shed their old skin and are re-born with the new. This cycle of life and death and rebirth, which began with their sexual, life giving energy is shown in the symbol of the Ouroborus, the snake eating its tail which is a symbol of eternity.

Guardianship:

Snakes were sacred to the Celtic goddess Brighid, the goddess of wells, water and fire. Snakes were thought to curl up in the wells and protect them. Snakes also guarded the tree that the Golden Fleece was hung on to keep it from being stolen. Snakes are closely related to their cousins the Dragon in this respect.

Chinese Zodiac:

Snake people are considered to be wise, philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, decisive, compassionate, charming and clairvoyant
I hope you found this as interesting as I did and I shall be looking further into snake medicine as well as some of the other symbols mentioned such as the Uraeus and Ouroborus.


BB X

Monday 22 February 2016

Theme of the Week 22/02/16 - Basically, snakes.


Good afternoon Moonbeams,

How are you all? I’m fine and enjoying the crisp bright day going on outside. The town where I work has its own mini ecosystem. It can be up to 5° warmer, less windy and definitely drier than the village where I live, 20 mins drive away.

Apart from the constant wind and rain that was buffeting my village, I had a cracking weekend. My chaps parents were visiting for the weekend so I wasn’t expecting to see much of them, but I did and we had fun. We went to the pictures on Friday evening, and saw Dads Army. It was fine, easy watching with a few chuckles. York on Saturday night to watch my chaps’ daughter and her band belt out a fantastic set that had the whole place bouncing; a truly cracking performance. Sunday saw us in one pub having a roast lunch and then when he sorted his parents out and took them to the train station, I went on to another pub to meet up with my dad to watch football. You’d think a 6 goal match would be a thriller, it wasn’t…

What I can’t shake though, is a strange feeling about this coming week. I feel anxious about it as if I am expecting some news or an event but I can’t think of anything out of the ordinary that I should be expecting. So what does upstairs have to tell me?

I have asked upstairs for guidance and, well, there is definitely a theme for the coming week. I have shuffled for England and these three cards all flew out. Spirit have been as subtle as a brick here and I suspect even I can’t miss what this is telling me. I really need to hoick out my book of totems and fully read up on snakes.






Energy: King of Bows (Adder) 

I pulled this card on Saturday whilst I was looking for a bit of guidance and here he is again. This card represents balance, magical power and healing. This card also talks of creativity, charisma and individuality. As this King has shown up twice now, barely days apart, should I be expecting a person who contains these aspects to enter my life? Someone mature and confident to help me shake up my own latent King of Bows and to help me on my way?

Advice: Knight of Vessels (Eel)                                   
This card suggests a quest. I need to set my intent, be crystal clear on my desire and use the energy of this card to set me on my way. How can I grow and develop? This card talks of emotional currents that need navigating.

2 people cards, 2 individuals or 2 aspects of 1 person?


Oracle Overview: The Snake

I have always considered the snake to be a representation of Crone energy, mainly wisdom and healing. This is supported by the King of Bows to a large extent. I know snakes are also symbols of re-birth and transformation and initiations; all things that lead to personal growth and development which are talked about by the Knight of Vessels.













All things considered, if I am not ending this week a different person to who I am today, I should at least be on my way to changing or metamorphosing.

I will definitely be reading up on snakes tonight.

Wishing you all a happy and fruitful week

BB x




The Wildwood Tarot: Mark Ryan & John Matthews 2011

Tarot in Thyme: Kathryn Thyme Giese 2015

Sunday 14 February 2016

It's the New Year! (SIC)

Good afternoon Moonbeams,

How are you? I hope you are all well and happy and cracking on with 2016. I am just about getting up to speed and raring to go now.

At the end of November last year, my world got turned upside down and my time wasn't my own for a while. It was a little surreal and even though I only managed being in work for 2 days in December I still have my full holiday entitlement intact! I need to take 20 days before the end of March... It isn't going to happen as I am currently in work now, today, Sunday 14th February and I have been here since 8.30 this morning and I am here until about 7.30 this evening and I am doing the same hours tomorrow too and I will be working overtime until 8.45 on Wednesday evening so I will have accrued 3 days just this week. If we have a nice summer, I may take a month off to wallow in some sunshine.

Everything is OK now though, I wasn't hurt or ill and no-one died (except my Nan's cousin who had been ill, I adored my Aunt Doreen though and it was sad when she passed in January) and I am getting back into my usual routine. I admit though, I have been extremely lazy, even by my standards and I haven't seen anyone or done anything interesting at all this year so far.

I haven't been on any social media at all either so I have no idea what anyone else is up to.  What are you all up to?

I haven't done anything spooky at all since November but as I had nothing else to do I have knitted up a storm, completing 3 shawls. I am so addicted to triangular shawls I am sat here typing away with one draped around my shoulders as we speak :). I have knitted my first pair of mitts, they are not brilliant but I love them and wear them and am going to have another go for next year. I am nearly 2/3 of the way through a cardigan/jacket. I am on with knitting squares for a blanket for my chaps son's Christmas present and also crocheting squares for his daughters blanket for her Christmas present. I am not buying any more yarn, unless it is for their blankets, until I have busted my stash! it is getting ridiculous, I have enough yarn for 4 definite projects and still lots of oddments, plus, my sister bought me a hank of a beautiful silk yarn for Christmas. The colour isn't really me so I assume it is to make something for her...

 
These are my mitts :)
This is one of my shawls. It is a much deeper brown in real life though.


I have also read umpteen novels and I am now on the 3rd book in a series of 8 by John Le Carre classed as the George Smiley series. I watched the film adaptation of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and I thought Gary Oldman was superb as George Smiley. Of course I had to read the book then and since I started reading them, the  literary description of George Smiley bears absolutely no resemblance to the wonderful Mr Oldman... ah well.

And that is it, 2 1/2 months in a nutshell.

Today is the first day that I have wanted to get my cards out to see what is going on and what I need to start working on with myself. I have decided that I am going to fully get to grips with the Wild Wood Tarot and so it is going to be my working deck this year with random dips into my other decks whenever I get the urge.

So, to break myself back in, here we go; we have the 8 of Bows and The Mirror.

Energy: 8 of Bows - Hearthfire




Very appropriate. I am ready to get back into the world and join in with my brothers and sisters. Community and companionship are essential and to celebrate the joy of living and experiencing.


















Advice: The Mirror

It is cards like The Mirror which have thrown me when using this deck in the past. But, as my New Years resolution is getting to grips with this deck, bring it on!

Whilst I may be ready to get on again, I must be aware of acting in time with the universe and not setting my own pace just yet. Have I fully processed all that has gone before me or do I still need to look in the mirror and see what is really there rather than just dealing with what I want to. The key word of my life is Patience and I am being advised to exercise it again. My soul and the universe know what is best for me and if I need time, they will ensure I have it whether I want it or not

Whilst I am ready to leave my hermit life behind and join in again, I am being cautioned to not just jump in, but to test the waters first and proceed gently.

Well, all in all this is comforting. I am thinking of engaging again and I will get there when it is appropriate.

Well back to work for me and wishing you all a great Sunday and a fab week to come.

Bright Blessings to you all





The Wild Wood Tarot: Mark Ryan and John Matthews 2011