Snake Medicine At Earth Sanctuary
Wolfling and I had a wonderful time at the Earth Sanctuary yesterday. The weather was perfect, and the site was as powerful as ever.
Unless there is reason to do otherwise, I always go to the dolman first, stopping to chime the bell on the way. As Wolfling and I were going back up the path after visiting the dolman, a garter snake crossed the path in front of us and wriggled into a fern. This is the first time I'd seen a snake at the sanctuary, so I made a point of asking Wolfling if she knew what Snake's medicine was. "I haven't read that far," was her response. I talked about how the shedding of a snake's skin symbolically relates to transformation and new life -- and then started talking to her about my own efforts in that regard right now.
I told her that being laid off has given me a golden opportunity to create the life I really want, that the last time I was this free was when I graduated from college -- but at that time I had no idea what I wanted to do.
As I was talking we headed toward the labyrinth. About halfway down that path there was a lot of rustling in the plants to the side of the path. Wolfling pointed out another snake: this one larger than the first, with different markings. "I think the message is for you," she said.
On reflection, Snake medicine for me is also about daring my edges and facing my fears. I have a great deal of respect for snakes, and I'm not phobic about them, but they do make me very uncomfortable: just like my own dreams of living the life I'm meant to lead. Embracing Snake's message of transformation means facing my fears as well.
Unless there is reason to do otherwise, I always go to the dolman first, stopping to chime the bell on the way. As Wolfling and I were going back up the path after visiting the dolman, a garter snake crossed the path in front of us and wriggled into a fern. This is the first time I'd seen a snake at the sanctuary, so I made a point of asking Wolfling if she knew what Snake's medicine was. "I haven't read that far," was her response. I talked about how the shedding of a snake's skin symbolically relates to transformation and new life -- and then started talking to her about my own efforts in that regard right now.
I told her that being laid off has given me a golden opportunity to create the life I really want, that the last time I was this free was when I graduated from college -- but at that time I had no idea what I wanted to do.
As I was talking we headed toward the labyrinth. About halfway down that path there was a lot of rustling in the plants to the side of the path. Wolfling pointed out another snake: this one larger than the first, with different markings. "I think the message is for you," she said.
On reflection, Snake medicine for me is also about daring my edges and facing my fears. I have a great deal of respect for snakes, and I'm not phobic about them, but they do make me very uncomfortable: just like my own dreams of living the life I'm meant to lead. Embracing Snake's message of transformation means facing my fears as well.