I live in an old mans skin
there in the roots growing beneath the surface
in secret, easy in the warm around
intertwined, with the serpents'- red eyes peering out ever watching
safe in the fear of other
we mean no harm . . .
Venturing out once for solace but finding that protector is all--
each is all
I cannot help your belief comforting though is "other" and a better place.
More secure is settling into us all
giving up, conceding breathing
To knowing and peace
Legend has it that while Siddhartha Gautama ( ~ 563 BC) was meditating, a fierce storm arose of which he of course was unaware. The Naga (snake) Mucalinda rose up from beneath him spread her wide hood and protected him from the ravages.
Serpents are typically protectors (save for the Eden metaphor where the serpent was evil.)
In a dream, snakes are said to represent the creative urge toward wisdom and is a neutral symbol -- for which it is up to us to assign a slant.
This poem came of a dream I had where the serpents were there in the dark waters but posed no threat and seemed to be protectors; if anything I felt secure. I still don't know what to make of dreams and all I can tell of them are the feelings and reactions I have to them and the impressions left.
Probably no archetypal significance whatsoever to most of them, just flashing brain releases at night.
But you never know . . .
