snakes

august 23rd 2024

Photo by Fons Heijnsbroek, abstract art on Unsplash

snakes used to appear right before my eyes
coiled up in the shade 
wrapped around a branch 
slithering across my path 

i would get a specific feeling, 
a sense that they were there 
before they would appear; 
a heightened feeling of fear
a dream about them the night before 
a flash in the corner of my eye 
and then, they would be there 

ancient animal medicine tells us 
that snake medicine brings with it 
a need to transmute something 
in one's life 

a change in which i was in desperate need of 
was continuously showing itself to me 
in the form of one of my biggest fears 

ironic, isn't it? 
the things we need most in life 
are sometimes the things we are 
most afraid of confronting 

luckily i faced those fears 
i accepted the snakes' reminders 
i embarked on my transmutation
i shed my old skin 
and through this i gained wisdom  
and understanding 

my anxious mind has quieted lately 
i go for walks & i breath deep 
the snakes are sure to come again 
but for now
my necessary transformation has been realized 
for now
no more snakes