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The Easter Snake

11/4/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture
As I was creating my spring altar at home, a large stuffed snake declared that she wanted to be the centerpiece of my sacred altar for Ostara. When I was finished, my entire dining room was exploding with decorative eggs, flowers, bunnies, and three snakes. I posted the photo on the left to facebook and entitled it "The Easter Snake." I was surprised when several people wanted to know the story.

I had no story. I began to think about spring holidays and spring symbols and St. Patrick came into my awareness - then I knew the story of the Easter Snake and why this lovely animal is important at this time of year. St. Patrick forcefully Christianized Ireland in the 4th century AD and part of the story of this aggressive, although much loved, priest was that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. That aspect of the story has been taken to mean that the native Celtic and Druid culture was violently suppressed. Spiritual suppression is a common story in the history of religion; all religions are an amalgamation of the beliefs of the invaders and the native population. Ireland still has much of its pagan roots very much in evidence.

So, why not encourage that earthy side of Celtic spirituality and celebrate "All Snakes Day" sometime in spring? It is the time of year that the little and big crawlers slither out of their dens and bask on a warm rock in the spring sunshine. "All Snakes Day" is actually the idea of Archdruid Isaac Bonewits, and I, for one, support it. Let's bring back the love for one of the divine goddess's familiars: the snake that is at home above and in the earth. Let your own out grown skin fall away this spring and transform with the celebration of "All Snakes Day!"















3 Comments
Mary Murray Shelton link
11/4/2014 01:42:28 pm

I love the idea of the Easter Snake and All Snakes Day! A great way to add new fun and mystery to the spring season of abundant life springing forth so jubilantly everywhere!

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Robert McDowell link
12/4/2014 11:37:34 am

Thank you for All Snakes Day. Christianity vilified the snake, of course, yet snakes are so important in mythology. The snake is coiled at the base of our spines and is the potent, coiled core of awakening and awareness. It's the taut spool of readiness, the stretching out of exploring new possibilities.

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Lela
31/8/2014 01:56:13 pm

Thank you for the story of Mab. The Mab that honored my life has passed on at a very advanced age. She fits the picture of watching, talking in her own understandable language, healing(she would lay on my husbands chest after a heart by-pass surgery and gently kneed the covers with her paws then nuzzle his chin and go into meditation). I am
expecting another special kitty to come to me.
And, thank you for honoring snakes with 'All Snakes Day'. I made friends with snakes when I was a child. I have experiences their transformative nature.
I wish you great success with this website.

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