Friday, November 20, 2009

Picking up snakes





Once in an old village, there lived a beautiful young woman. As she did every morning she went to the river to gather water for the day's use. When she approached the rivers edge she came across a rattle snake. She was fearful at first, and rightly so. The rattle snake spoke to her, and it said "do not be afraid, I am here only because I can not cross the river. But your so beautiful and you must be kind, would you take me across the river?" The young woman shook her head, and said "no, I would never pick you up, for if I do, you'll bite me." To this the snake replied "I'd never bite one so beautiful as you! Even I do not wish to destroy such beauty." The flattery worked and the young woman picked up the snake and began to wade across the river. When she was half way across the snake bit her hard on the arm! The young woman cried out and was filled with the snakes poison. She said "but you promised not to bite me! now we will both surely die." The snake looked on impassively and said "I couldn't help it, its what I do. Don't blame me, you know what I was when you picked me up."
This story holds much meaning to me this day. I am being put into a social situation with a woman who I know to be a rattle snake. If it were entirely up to me, I'd have nothing more to do with this person, but its not. For some reason the love of my life feels compelled to have dinner with this woman. I did an Ogham about the situation and it was not a favorable reading. I got the impression the woman will reveal secrets (funny how a secret is something you tell another person.) that will try and force me or us, to choose between two options though I don't know what they are. I thought about refusing to go, and letting my b'loved do this on her own, but then I thought it how could I let her face this woman alone? We have always been stronger together as a team. So to dinner I go...invoking spirit of golden eagle.

2 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful allegory; one that I think we can all relate to. What is its origin?

    And since I am already commenting, I would just like to say that I enjoy your writing. It's very honest and enthusiastic. Keep it up! :)

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  2. Thank you amathyst. I believe the orginal story came from native americans though I am not sure of the tribe or if this is even correct. I have heard several versions of it. Some with a young woman, some with a turtle and a scorpion. Regardless of the details, the message is alwasys the same.

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