"Embracing Change" © 1997 ~ colored pencil by Carol E. Fairbanks

                                               Shedding My Skin

"Fighting my Fate" © 1995 - crayon

At least 15 years ago, in Art Therapy class, I created this crayon drawing (on the left) that was inspired by an image I experienced in a stressful dream.  In that dream, I struggled fearfully with this terrible snake, whom I felt threatened my very life.  In the middle of what seemed to be the end of me, I woke up abruptly, feeling terrified. Any restful sleep after that was impossible.

Later, when I went to my art therapy class, the art therapist suggested that I draw that image in my art journal.  Much to my amazement, the "terrible" snake, that had created such fear in me, now looked almost friendly in my drawing!  The struggle was still very much there, but the reason for it did not appear to exist anymore!  I thought to myself, "What if I let go of that snake? If I release my fierce grip, would it harm me? Could I possibly let go of my need to control and just relax in the presence of this snake?

The snake, after that initial experience in my art therapy group, has been a frequent image that has appeared in many of my transpersonal drawings and paintings.  Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak, says that snakes are symbols of change and healing.  He goes on to say, "When snake comes into your life, the changes occur quickly and are soon recognized.  Release any fears and do not resist the changes, because they bring with them new expressions of creativity, wisdom and strength."  In other words, shed the old willingly and embrace the new opportunities!

As for those feelings...... Andrews notes that snakes have poor vision and rely mostly on their sensitivity to vibrations and smell. His advice, according to snake medicine, is to not trust what I see, but rather trust what I feel.  Those feelings I often flee from are, in reality, very important information to help me in making wise choices during times of transition.  Snake tells me that I will feel those changes arriving before I actually recognize them.

About 4 years later, I drew a very different snake in a mandala in a workshop with Judith Cornell, author of Luminous Mandalas.  In that colored pencil mandala pictured at the top, I was again holding a snake, but in a much different way.  Instead of gripping fiercely and trying to control the snake, in this newer mandala drawing I seemed to be honoring the snake.  There is no fearful grip, resisting the snake, but rather this time I am supporting the movement of the snake and allowing it to do whatever it has come to do.  The new snake looks regal and seems to have an important mission to accomplish.  This time I am embracing that transition that this snake represents with my open, welcoming hands.

So while snake has brought me a message of how to be in the midst of shedding those things I need to release, snake also says, that loss is not an ending, but rather a doorway to a new beginning.  Snake power is honoring all parts of the cycle of life - birth, death and RESURRECTION!