Every single culture of man has more than one myth about a snake and most societies have a creation myth including a snake. Snakes and us, we go way back. Few animals reign supreme like the snake in man’s psyche. To complicate things further, there are nearly 3,000 species of snakes in the world. They live in a wide variety of habitats from jungle to desert and can offer helpful pest control and carry deadly venom. The symbolism of snake is considerably different depending on the species.
If you’ve done any research at all about snake symbolism, your mind is likely twisted up in knots. One reference will call the snake spirit animal a bearer of good luck, rain, fertility, intense power, and abundance. The next will warn against bad fortune, liars, sin, and great suffering.
“The reverence of serpent is universal. No culture remains untouched.”
– Jessica Dawn Palmer in Animal Wisdom
Snake Symbolism & Transmutation
Everyone agrees on one thing, snake symbolism is the embodiment of transmutation. This is best exemplified by the shedding of a snake’s skin. Depending on the age of the snake, this happens one to four times a year, and serves to renew the scales and remove lice. When we say, “I’m going to crawl out of my skin” we are tapping into the intelligence of snake medicine.
Many people feel an overall energetic tingling in their bodies, just under their skin, during a time when they are ready to shed an identity. Aligning with snake spirit animal will help ease the discomfort and antsy-ness that accompanies this transition. Snakes rub up against rocks, bushes, gravel, or whatever they can find to help remove the skin. It comes off in one long piece, like a sock turned inside out. Now may be a good time for a massage or movement such as dance or yoga. Shedding one’s skin is an active process enacted through the friction of rubbing up against events. Conflict and contradiction can be helpful allies.
Initiation of the Venomous Snake
Approximately one-tenth of all snake species are venomous and a smaller portion of those are deadly to man. When considering what does snake mean for you, you will need to at least determine if the snake spirit animal you are working with is venomous or not. If not, the snake will act as a benevolent companion for you teaching you about the origins of life and the cycle of death and rebirth. Also, consider the meaning of snake in relation to healing and medicine.
If the snake spirit animal you are encountering is venomous, the snake will be a galvanizing guide through a fierce remaking of your life. Venom is meant to inflict pain and you may now very well be enduring a painful process. This is an initiation meant to wake up the primal life force within you and help you learn your mettle. You will need to dig deep to find the power to transmute this suffering into a blessing.
Often the suffering is not induced from the outside, but is internal. Anger and resentment fostered over time create an unhealthy buildup of venom in our systems. As Buddha says, “Being angry with another person is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” If you are hearing the warning “hiss” of a venomous spirit animal snake in your ear, turn your efforts to transmuting the poison in your words and in your mind. Prayer can be incredibly helpful during this time as forgiveness is a holy power we need assistance with.
Healing, Death, & Rebirth
In one myth about Asclepius, the Greek God of healing, he learned how to bring the dead back to life from a snake. He killed a snake and watched a companion snake bring herbs that brought the dead snake back to life. Temples built to Asclepius were hospitals that hosted non-venoumous snakes that traveled the floors among the infirm. The Rod of Asclepius is still used as a sign of the medical profession. The symbol of a snake entwined around a staff is an earlier image first seen with the protective Egyptian goddess Wadjet and later referenced in the bible when Moses raised the brass/brazen serpent in the wilderness. Anyone bit by a fiery serpent for speaking against God would live by looking upon Moses’s brass serpent. Blood from the left side of a Gorgon, a Greek monster with a head made of serpents, is lethal, and blood from the right side restores the dead to life.
In these associations we find that the carrier of death is also the one to deliver cure. This is a very homeopathic viewpoint in that “like cures like.” It may look like a misfortune is simply meant to cause you harm, but the cure is a part of the medicine. This is where we see the true nature of the cycle of death and rebirth as a hallmark of snake symbolism. The snake eats its own tail.
Insight from Snake Adaptations
Real-life snakes have poor vision and no external ears, so they sense a lot in their environment by picking up scent molecules on their tongues and pulling them into their mouths to “taste” the world around them. This is why they slither about flicking their tongues. Taste is connected to nourishment. Snake spirit animal helps us determine which environments are most nourishing for us and helps us seek out that which “feeds” us.
Snake fangs are oriented backwards and their jaws are unfused so they can swallow their prey whole. This means they can eat fewer, larger meals. Now may be a time in your life when you come into a time of abundance, more than you think you can take in at once, that will be followed by a long digestion period.
Cool, calm and collected, this cold-blooded animal helps us distance from the drama of life.
Instead of eyelids, snakes have transparent “spectacle” scales, which always protect and cover their eyes. Snakes have no way to close their eyes. Eyeglasses are about putting things into perspective. With the help of snake spirit animal, we can learn to protect our perspective and always keep our eyes open. This speaks of not falling prey to illusion or being caught unaware.
About Author, Stacey L. L. Couch
Stacey L. L. Couch, Certified Shamanic Practitioner, works as a publicist and journalist for Mother Nature and is the author of Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks. She empowers people with the ability to explore life’s big questions by calling on nature, story and synchronicity as a source for guidance and healing. With her deeply rooted experience in the field of shamanism and passion for working with wildlife and rescue animals, Stacey has a unique blend of rational and mystical perspective that makes the world of shamanism easily accessible to others. She values mindfulness, wonder, and compassion in her daily spiritual practice. Learn More about Stacey.
About Author, Stacey L. L. Couch
Stacey L. L. Couch is a Spiritual Director who teaches about archetypes and symbolism. Her speciality is working with soul pioneers - those of you who are making it up as you go along the spiritual path. She works with beginner and life-long spiritual seekers. Through working with Stacey, lost seekers find their way home and professional spiritual guides receive mentorship. Stacey empowers people with the ability to explore their purpose and calling. Wisdom found in story, mysticism, and nature provide guidance and healing in her work. She is the author of Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks. She values mindfulness, wonder, and compassion in her daily spiritual practice. Learn More about Stacey.
37 comments
Hi Stacey,
I was just reading about snake symbolism and had an ah ha moment. Thank you. I recently used the word toxic in connection to my relationship with my husband. Reading your article I almost fell off my chair. I am harboring anger and resentment, venom. I’ll be focusing on transmuting that poison into forgiveness. I am going thru a fierce remaking of my life.
Universe provided my with a divine intervention in 2013 I had the opportunity to bring my horse to Pagosa for the summer to be a working student for Jerry Williams. I stayed for a year. The beauty, energy and peace I found there is amazing. My horse and I thrived. Distance is good, but everything I got away from was still waiting for me in Florida. I took a huge leap of faith and went west on a knowing. I had certainty. It was the best year of my life. I tried to stay but my Guides kept nudging me to return. I listened, I came back east. Another leap of faith. I struggled with this one. I still do. I can’t believe in my heart that Universe gave me wings to learn and be free to come back to have them clipped. I need to be a detective to figure out what to do next. Phew, this is a whopper of a lesson and a journey.
I had an encounter with a skunk one evening while in Pagosa. It was a good one. It scared the bejeebers out of me. It was just curious but I didn’t hang around to find out. I looked them up. Interesting characters. It sent me the message of respect.
Thank you Stacey for providing some insight to my animal guides. Now I know I have a snake and skunk by my side. As Linda would say hmmm how interesting.
Brilliant Sue. I love that you realized forgiveness is the next step. Refusing to allow those toxic thoughts in your head and heart is a fierce commitment. Not saying them out loud is the first step, then eradicating them all together is the next. Snake spirit animal is a perfect companion in helping you through this process.
I hadn’t realized that you spent time with Jerry. That’s awesome! He is a lovely man and horseman. Good for you though to go back and re-enter your life. That takes courage. There is much to learn in loving the life we are given. I trust things will shift for you. The good thing about clipped wings is they always grow back :o).
I’ll have to put skunk on my “articles to write” list! Love to you my dear, Stacey
Stacy I just saw a thin black snake here on my path in Florida just when I was considering how I could get the funds together to buy a park model in an RV park. What could it mean?
Hello Wendi, The snake could suggest that regardless of if you buy the park model or not, that it is time to shed your skin. Allow what no longer serves in your life and, more importantly, in you to fall away. The color black is symbolic of the mystery and the pure creative potential of the universe. When the snake is shedding its skin its eyes cloud over and it can’t see well during the process. While you are letting go, you may not be able to see what lies ahead. Best of luck with your decision, and know that the decision to look inward and do your inner work is more important than any material thing. Blessings to you, Stacey
Hello Stacey! I was wondering if I can get your opinion. About a month ago I was driving to my friends house and I saw a black snake pass right in front of me. I thought nothing of it. My friend and I had a long day talking about life. I have been having a hard past couple of months. I have been having no luck with jobs. I left my job before because it was so toxic for me that I had to leave. But, I was successful and accomplished other things with my free time. But it was tough because I am a workaholic. My lease was is done this month and I was getting really nervous because I moved to Florida about 3 years ago by myself and I made a life down here. I went for a run and on two of them I saw two black snakes on my way back on two separate occasions. Then another time I saw a long big brown snake cross right in front of me. I have lived in FL for 3 years and have NEVER encountered snakes before. That same day I was offered two interviews and the following day I had another offer. Last week I got a rejection email from one and then two bad interviews. I would like to add too, when it all started I started becoming more religious and started going back to church and prayed more. After church today, I noticed butterflies as I was walking home. They really stuck out to me for some reason and one I stopped and watched. I went for a run and encounter two dead snakes and they were split in two. I prayed all the time for signs and I don’t know what to think. I was wondering if I can get your opinion, please. I would really appreciate it!
Hello Monica, It is nice to meet you and thank you for sharing your trials and prayers with me. Despite this being a very challenging time for you, it sounds like you are finding the blessings in it by moving into your interior and enriching your soul life. This is a beautiful thing and a great accomplishment, something not to be overlooked. Remember that signs are simply windows we step through. We want signs to be the answers, but instead they bring us new questions. It is the questions that bring us closer to God. For if we had the answers wouldn’t we stop talking to him? We’d forget we needed him at all. The signs weave together with the events of our lives. All are part of a grand tapestry. Our job is to discern the symbolism not just of the signs, but also of the events in our lives, so that we can stand back and see the grand design of the holy order of things. There are many ways to view each sign and no one answer. One possible interpretation of your sighting of the two snakes split in two is that they are showing how in this transformation you are undergoing that you are being split open to the cosmos. Your interior, or soul, life is coming out. This is a lot to process with both your exterior life in disarray and your interior life breaking open, but sometimes both have to happen at once for us to be ready to accept God’s love. Hopefully this all makes sense. Hang in there my dear and know that this process has a beginning, middle and end. Pray for fortitude and stamina. All is Well. Many Blessings, Stacey
Hello my friend’s daughter has a snake and today she gave her mum a skin to give to me. Any thoughts? Snake has been coming for a while, – in this instance I asked for a sign, yesterday and this came today. Before about 2 months ago, I dreamt my dance teacher came in with a tray of snakes and one slide off the tray and grew bigger, crawling up my leg and devouring me.
Since these encounters with snake spirit animal have been going on for awhile now, I would suggest that maybe the skin indicates that you have made it to or near the end of a recent transformation. Dreams are fun things to interpret. Rather than seeing your dance teacher literally, think of her as a representation of the artistic or expressive part of yourself. That part of yourself was offering, up on a platter, multiple chances for change. One of them slipped through your fingers and out of your control, taking over and consuming who you thought you were. Being eaten by a spirit animal is a very powerful image symbolizing purification and loss of your old self. These things I am suggesting are a few possibilities among many different ways to view and benefit from these messages in your life. My hope is that you will be able to expand from here. Many Blessings to You, Stacey
hi, question I’ve had a very very bad year from totaling vehicles to having very bad marriage problems… I had a very bad dream this morning… then while doing my daily chere’s I found a live very small Florida brown snake in my bathroom… they are harmless… but I feel it was sup pose to mean something. can you please tell me what you think it means? 🙂 thank you
Hello Amanda, See what feels right for you, but here are some suggestions. The snake could simply be there as an acknowledgement of everything you’ve been through, all the change and transition and movement that’s been required. This part of my article really stands out in for me in regards to your story: “It may look like a misfortune is simply meant to cause you harm, but the cure is a part of the medicine.” Labeling your year as “bad” discounts the great effort you’ve put in to get through it. I don’t know what inner resources you’ve drawn on to make it through to the other side, but somehow you’ve made it through. See if you can find and appreciate the strength in you that has you here today brave enough to contemplate the meaning of it all. Even just this, the ability to stand back and consider what it all means, is a gift in itself. You are moving out of the drama for a time and being with the cool and calm energy of snake medicine. Try dropping the judgement of the year as bad and see that it simply was. Just knowing you can distance yourself for even a few moments is a powerful, healing gift. Many Blessings to You on the Path, Stacey
Hello Stacey! Thank you for your article. I have had a deep bond with snakes for a very long time, I can often summon them (I will be outside wanting to see a snake and one will come), and I usually see them when I am going through a change in life.
Today I saw something very alarming and confusing, a small dead snake. I haven’t seen a dead snake before so I’ve been trying to research the significance of that in context of being my spirit animal.
I have been struggling to move past a relationship that ended a couple of months ago, and while I have made great strides on letting go and focusing on my own journey, a part of me is still fixated on him. Could the dead snake be related to this?
Thank you!
Hello Mina, I believe that your intuition about the dead snake relating to the relationship ending is very insightful. Trust your prompting on this one and bring this intuition into your self-reflective practice of journalling or sitting or meditating. Seeing a dead animal can be very distressing. Our first inclination is to think it a bad omen, but over the years I’ve come to realize it for the extremely generous gift that it is. The animal to some degree or another gave his or her life to bring us a message. It is a big deal and should cause us pause. Whenever I encounter a dead animal, I do my very, very best to delve into the direction the animal is pointing. I encourage you to do the same and see what poisonous thoughts you can transmute and release. Take as long as you need. This is important work you are doing! Many Blessings to You on the Path, Stacey
Hello Stacey,
I had a dream last night where I grabbed a very large snake by the throat while my father tried to find a gun to shoot it with. The snake was very strong and got away, it did not try to hurt me. Then the snake seemed to ‘possess’ everyone else in the dream, mainly children, and they all looked catatonic. Eventually they collectively ‘woke-up.’ Really strange!!!
I am going through a time of shedding around some old belief systems, especially around self-worth/relationships. Even so, this dream is really puzzling to me…
Any further insight would be greatly appreciated!
Warmly,
Rachel
Hello Rachel, Wow! This is a very compelling dream for sure. The snakes ability to possess others, especially those who are innocent (children), but not you speaks to the new immunity you may be building up with the release of the belief systems and coming into a more aware state. I wonder what of these belief systems you once shared with your dad or what family belief systems you and your dad tried to combat? It may be worth investigating how what you are shedding is linked to your genetic line. We also do a lot of processing and moving of things in our dreams, so this may be you doing the same releasing work in your unconscious. Interesting isn’t it all? Thanks for dropping in and sharing your experience. Many Blessings, Stacey
Hi stacy thank you for your shared wisdom. I recently had a dream that I cant stop thinking about and it would be embarrassing to tell but I feel like I need guidance on this one!! I dreamed that I woke up because something was coming out of my bottom. Almost like it tried twice before actually causing me to wake fully ( in the dream still). I reach down and grab what was trying to come out and as I kept pulling I realized its a snake but I keep pulling and pulling and pulling until it was out and I just held it out away from me and thought how it could be dead but at the same time I felt that it knew that I would be frightened holding a snake that was moving around so it didn’t move but then I woke up. So not sure if it was dead or alive. It was a white snake with different colors and it was big enough to hurt coming out and them I almost felt sore the next day . The dream felt so real.Thank you in advance for any insight you can help me with on this. When I dream of snakes I do not have negative thoughts about them I recognize snake as healing but I’ve also never had one come out of me before in my dreams. I do hope you have insight on this Thank you!
Hello Renee, That is quite a wild and impactful dream! There are a number of ways to interpret that one. I’ll pose a possibility and you see if it resonates or sparks any new ideas. One thought is that the snake spirit animal moved through your system gobbling up and clearing out what no longer serves. The dream could have been a way to share with you that you’ve sufficiently eliminated the fears, anxieties, anger, vengeance and so forth that was polluting your system. In shamanic extraction work, practitioners shape-shift into an animal such as a snake to gather and clear negative inundations in their clients. Thank you for having the courage to share your story! Many Blessings, Stacey
Hi stacy,i had few dreams about snake.it looks always the same- all white colour and orange on top of the head going to the tail.what changes is size of it, last time it was huge.apperas close to me, no fear,we keep looking at each other as we would know.
In my last dream,i was passing small hill.my mother and sister managed and i kept falling down.ny sister gave me a hand but we together slide from the hill again.on climbing the top,my sis.grab one three and tried to get support on the way to the top.she took the tree out of the earth with roots.all hill colapsed,the ground opened and i could see many roots of three,soil,and something attached to the roots.it looked like small bags,transparend with something in shape of circles inside.many of it.i saw big white snake there,looked like burried in that soil under roots.no movement,i remembered some legend about its dead because it killed some boy,so people killed the snake.suddenly snake started to move.i realised that snake was not dead but asleep.my sister was close to roots,looking at those circle object,not seeing snake.i screamed on her and tell her to run, bec of snake.she could not,she was stuck, snake came to her.i saw her lying like dead person – her hands on the chest,shake head opened and on one move she was swallowed at once.snake was looking at me,i stood 3-5 m from it.i knew there is no escape.i was expecting to be either eaten as my sister was or left. I felt no fear.
Hello Katarina, Thank you for sharing your dream. It sounds very intense and I find it wonderful that you felt no fear. This shows a level of composure in the midst of radical change at the very roots or core of your being and family history. This dream may relate to transmutation of old family patterns (the roots and the tree being the “family tree”). The white snake could be a clear or pure intention in doing so. White can also relate to spirituality, so this may be associated with belief systems of your family. Just some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Remember there are many ways to interpret dreams, so don’t be afraid to come up with more than one interpretation and try different ones on to see which fit best for you. Many Blessings, Stacey
I saw a garter snake in our frog pond. He had a red tongue and I wanted to know if all snakes had red tongues so i typed the question into my search engine and thus started hours and hours of i guess you could say snake research. I wouldnt say I am a snake fan but I dont believe they should be kept in cages as pets and I feel they should not be killed unless someone or something is in imminent danger. In other words I have a lot of respect for snakes and a healthy fear (I would not want to be bitten by one or one to latch onto me) of them and of course a fascination. When I see one I talk to it and assure it that I am not going to hurt it. Anyway a couple of days later I heard the rattle of a rattlesnake in my house the sound coming from outside my head. Instinctively I knew it was a rattlesnake even tho I have never heard one rattle until this happened. It was so real that I immediately sat down and put my feet up even tho I knew there could not be a rattlesnake in my house. I feel because this happened that rattlesnake has chosen to be my spirit animal. What are your feelings about this? Also, do you think that if I accept rattlesnake as a spirit animal it would be allright to buy a rattlesnake rattle or head? I am very torn about this because you know a snake had to die for someone to obtain these things. please help…..driving myself crazy
Hello Pam, All very good questions. First of all, thank you for taking the time to get to know snakes. I feel knowledge builds respect and tackles fear. Your intuition that the rattlesnake has chosen you is a worthy one to follow. I believe the relationships with our spirit animals are very personal and when people tell me they feel an animal is theirs I take their word. Your question about buying a part of a rattlesnake as a talisman or totem is a tough one. This too is a very personal choice. If you do decide it is something that is important to you, I recommend making an offering of tobacco or other sacred herb to the land in return for the gift of the rattle or head. This showing of respect makes a difference. Another option is to find a carving or sculpture that closely mimmicks the real thing. Many Blessings, Stacey
Hi Stacey I have a holiday property abroad which I am trying sell now following the death of my husband 3 years ago. I have been affirming that I am ready and willing to release the property and I recently found a complete snake skin at the house, which was apparently from a small black snake. What would your interpretation be? Thanks Carol
Hello Carol, In this instance it does sound like the snake skin has appeared to affirm the shedding of your own identity. Sometimes the spirits/angels send us calling cards to commemorate a big shift we are going through. Of course all of the elements of transmutation and snake symbolism also apply here. You’ve transmuted your grief into a powerful surrender. I honor your bravery and wish you the best of luck as you move forward into this next phase of your life. Many Blessings, Stacey
While hiking in the woods on Mother’s day I came across and watched a large snake that caught and ate another large snake. If anyone has any insight into the symbolism of this it would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Laurel, This reminds me of the symbol called the “ouroboros”. It is an ancient image from alchemy symbolizing the constant cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth revolving endlessly throughout time. It conjures up a sensation of eternity. Although not exactly the same thing, your encounter with one snake eating another is uncannily close and it shows the cycle of life, one snake losing it’s life so another may go on. The cosmic mother is an integral part of this wisdom and the fact you saw this on mother’s day even heightens the message of creation and destruction, birth and death. When we see this cycle as a representation of the truth that energy is not created or destroyed, only transformed, we can find solace in the constantly evolving and changing world. Many Blessings, Stacey
Thank you Stacy for your insight. It is much appreciated.
Is meaning different for water snakes?
I keep running into them. A lot, yet no one else im with does at the lake.
Good question! Snakes are typically associated with the element of fire, so water snakes add a different twist. This could be about transmuting toxic emotions since water is the element most commonly associated with emotion. Also think about being fluid, mutable, and changeable in the way you navigate through life. Many Blessings, Stacey
Hi, Im getting ready to move from Fla. to ATL. For the last 2 or 3 days… I started having flies enter into my apt. So tonight I walk outside to see what was causing this and it was a dead snake. Does thia mean anything?
Hello Jarrell, When we see a dead animal it adds extra power/meaning to the message the animal is bringing if for no other reason it stops us in our tracks. I don’t see this as a bad omen at all. In fact, I don’t believe that animal sightings are fortune-tellers of good or bad luck. The messages are just too complex and rich to boil them down that way. I encourage you to look at snake’s messages of transmutation and see what change you are inviting into your life right now. Be easy with yourself and know there is always room for growth. Many Blessings, Stacey
I was saw a dead snake on a bike ride I’ve been asking the universe for signs. I just found out yesterday that my fiancé cheated on me. Does a dead snake have the same meaning?
Hello Joann, I have never heard of that meaning nor would I think snake spirit animal is related to cheating in particular. Either way, it sounds like your life is going through a large transformation and that whether you are ready or not, a shedding of the skin of your old life is happening. Many Blessings to You on the Path, Stacey
Hello Stacy,
I was hiking this morning and encountered a brown snake, I live in central Australia.
I’ve been going through a custody battle with the father of our 2 girls. I’ve raised them since they were in my belly for 8 years with very little help from him. We live on the east coast. I wanted to move back to the centre where I had a future. He Did not want me to so I went anyways. Now he has the girls and the girls are saying they don’t want to live with him but they only see to be telling me this and having break downs with me. We received the family report a couple of days ago saying that her suggestion is the girls live with their father on the coast….I’m feeling torn and scared and heartbroken. Unsure of what to do and how to deal with this.
Could encountering this snake this morning be a message????
Hello Alex, The snake likely was a message at least in part to how to make it through this time, but the snake also could be arriving as a spirit animal to help you. Any message right now is not going to ease your pain or solve the crisis, but a heavenly helper may be able to help you manage some of the heartache. I wish you healing. Many Blessings, Stacey
The grounding,searching and investigative
movements of snake can alert us to be
aware of our surroundings by using our own senses.WE might become prey to snakes
quick-Uranus in Taurus ,reactions on
the earth and its up to us to use the same
energies to be as skilful as this great survivor
through history.Ive seen a beautiful snake
painting in a cafe and I seem to want to buy it!
Hi Stacey,
i would like to hear your thoughts on one little gopher snake. i found it warming itself up on the blacktop just next to my parked car. I didn’t want it run over–that happens too often–so i offered it an extra shoe to crawl into, and took it over to some shade while i continued my tasks. i decided to let it go in a natural area close by if it was still in the shoe when i was done with my tasks.
So! the baby snake was gone when i checked up on it later. I went on my way too.
The next day i found the little snake in the roadway near where i had discovered it the day before–it had been run over by a passing car. i felt very sad, of the loss. What are your thoughts on finding a spirit animal very much alive one day, then over the rainbow bridge the next? would you help me interpret it’s meaning.