Snakes give me the heebie-jeebies as do other reptiles: ditto for spiders and cockroaches. Despite my aversion to these creatures, they still have their place in Creation. It’s not only about their ecological purpose but their symbolic purpose, too.
Snake worship has its roots in Hellenism (Greece/Greeks): I did discuss this in some detail in one of my Biblical articles (The Tree Of Life: Bloodlines). I will include the relevant excerpts below for your convenience:
“From The Greek Origin Of Freemasonry pp. 38-39:
The serpent was a mystical emblem in the Mysteries of Greece. At Delphi, the snake deity Python was considered oracular… The Caduceus of Hermes is decorated with two twined snakes… Ophiolatria, or snake worship goes back to the mythological Garden of Hesperides, where the tree that produced golden apples was guarded by the fire-vomiting serpent, encircling its trunk… When Dionysos threw his rod on the ground it became a snake… A statue of the Greek goddess Artemis…holds on the one hand a torch and on the other two snakes… the serpent was considered by the Greeks as a very mysterious symbol. It was one of the earliest emblems of the Ancient Greeks.
Snake worship is of Hellenic origin but we have been led to believe it came from Egypt, like almost everything else that people think is from there (I did go into detail about this here). To the Hellenes, the snake was not evil but the guardian of the knowledge of Creation. Of course, the Egyptians/Jews had to mess with that symbology, too. The ‘Garden of Eden’ (AKA the mythological Garden of Hesperides) is also of Hellenic origin since they were the ones who had the knowledge from the very beginning…”
Snakes Only Attack If They Feel Threatened.
The snake, as the guardian of the Tree of Life in the original (Hellenic) version of the Bible, was there to stop anyone who wanted to misuse, or weaponize genetic knowledge against humanity. Here is another excerpt from the Tree Of Life article linked above:
“It is not a coincidence that the Tree of Life is mentioned in the Biblical book of Genesis since it is the Hellenic word for birth, or beginning. This is also the root of the word genetic which ties to DNA: the blueprint of life. The passing on of genetic material via the family tree is what gives creatures ongoing life on the physical plane. Beings of any species can become weak, or be bred out of existence, if their genetics are messed with via contamination, or manipulation.”
Why Is Snake Worship/Mythology Accepted As A Good Thing In Non-Western/European Indigenous Cultures But Is Perceived As Evil In The West?
Native Americans have their own reverance for snakes that is accepted as good, spiritual, healing, and so on. The Australian Aborigines often include snakes in their artwork and mythology, too.
The Snake As A Powerful Symbol Of Rebirth.
The complete shedding of snake skin that happens throughout this animal’s life cycle, is a powerful metaphor for the birth-death-rebirth cycle experienced by all of Creation.
The foundation upon which Christianity is based is the Hellenic (Dionysian) myth of death and resurrection. It is also tied to the Sun/Soul which is at the center of the equilateral cross and the zodiac wheel. An excerpt from the following article provides a thorough explanation of this aspect of Hellenism (this article provides evidence for the origin of the knowledge upon which the Tarot cards are based):
“Both of the priests have crosses on their clothing but the High Priestess has only one large equilateral cross: the symbol for death and resurrection in Masonry (The Greek Origin of Freemasonry p. 36). Any references anywhere in the world to myths, religious, or psychological philosophies etc., related to death and resurrection, are of Hellenic origin. (The other Major Arcana Tarot card that has one large equilateral cross is the Judgment card (20). The images of people rising from their coffins represent the resurrection of the dead.)
The equilateral cross also represents the division of the zodiac wheel into the four seasons: this is the foundation upon which Western (Tropical) astrology is based. As I stated above, this brand of horoscope is of Hellenic origin. (Astrology and horoscope are both Hellenic words: the former meaning, “the study of the stars”, and the latter, “time observer”, or “the observer of time”.)
The Sun is situated at the center of this cross which is also the center of the zodiac wheel. The Sun represents the Soul in astrology and Christianity: death and resurrection are related to the Sun during the seasons and to Christian Holy days via Easter and Christmas (learn more here).
The equilateral cross is also on the Hellenic flag.”
Helen
