The Ouroboros is an ancient symbol showing a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. It represents the cyclical nature of life and the universe, suggesting a continuous process of renewal and regeneration.
Its origins can be traced back to ancient Egypt, and has been adopted by different cultures and fields, including Greek alchemy and modern psychology, each adding their own meaning to it.
In this article, we will explore the significance of the Ouroboros, examining its historical origins, symbolism, and cultural impact.
60 Sacred Symbols and Meanings
Historical Origins of the Ouroboros
Ancient Egypt
One of the earliest appearances of the Ouroboros is found in the the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
A funerary text called the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld was engraved on the tombs walls, dating back to the 14th century BCE. The text delves into the actions of the sun god Ra and his union with Osiris in the underworld, highlighting the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.
The Ouroboros is featured twice, encircling the head and upper chest and surrounding the feet of a large figure, which is believed to represent the unified Ra-Osiris. This figure symbolizes Osiris reborn as Ra, encapsulating the concept of the beginning and the end of time.
Both serpents are manifestations of the deity Mehen, known to protect Ra during his journey through the underworld. The symbolism of the Ouroboros in this manner highlights its significance as a protector and a symbol of eternal cycles.
Ancient Greece
The symbol was later adopted by the ancient Greeks, who named it “Ouroboros,” meaning “tail-eating.”
For the Greeks, this symbol represented the concepts of eternity and the perpetual cycle of life, encapsulating the endless nature of time and existence.
While not explicitly mentioned in Plato’s work “Timaeus,” the philosophical ideas presented there have been linked to the symbolism of the Ouroboros through interpretation.
In “Timaeus,” Plato describes the creation of the universe by a divine craftsman, who shapes the world as a perfect, self-sufficient living being.
This being is spherical and moves in a circular motion, analogous to the circular form of the Ouroboros.
Plato’s depiction of the universe as a self-contained and perpetually moving entity resonates with the symbol’s representation of eternal cycles and self-sufficiency.
Hellenistic Era
In the Hellenistic era, the Ouroboros gained significant prominence in alchemy, where it came to symbolize the unity of all things and the eternal cycle of destruction and creation.
Alchemists saw the Ouroboros as a representation of the philosopher’s stone, a legendary substance believed to have the power to turn base metals into gold and grant immortality.
One of the earliest alchemical texts to feature the Ouroboros is the “Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra,” attributed to Cleopatra the Alchemist. She lived in Alexandria during the 3rd century AD, where she worked as a philosopher and author.
Her experiments with practical alchemy are mostly famous for providing one of the four attempts by female alchemists to produce the famous Philosopher’s stone.
This text contains a famous drawing of the Ouroboros with the inscription “hen to pan” (ἓν τὸ πᾶν), meaning “the all is one.”
The image depicts a serpent divided into black and white halves, symbolizing the duality of existence, similar to the Taoist yin and yang symbol.
Another important alchemical manuscript, “The Aurora Consurgens” from the 15th century, features the Ouroboros among symbols of the sun, moon, and mercury.
The Ouroboros Symbol in Different Cultures
Hermeticism
Hermetic Philosophy and the Seven Hermetic Principles
The Ouroboros in Hermeticism represents the endless cycle of creation and dissolution, encapsulating the idea that the universe is a self-contained and self-renewing entity.
It symbolizes the eternal return, where the end is always a new beginning, echoing the Hermetic concept of “as above, so below.”
“As a symbolic illustration of this passage point, one can use the example of the Ouroboros, the snake swallowing its own tail and whose mouth is simultaneously a place of destruction and a source of generation. This is because the act of eating/digesting is both destructive and generative depending on the perspective one takes. In this case, the snake eats its own tail (destruction) and regrows from it (generation) in an endless cycle.“
Hermeticism and Cosmic Cycles by Gauthier Pierozak
This principle suggests that the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the individual) are reflections of each other, and the Ouroboros embodies this interconnectedness.
Additionally, in Hermetic alchemy, the Ouroboros is a powerful symbol of the alchemical process, representing the union of opposites and the transformation of base matter into spiritual gold.
The serpent biting its own tail signifies the blending of the material and spiritual, the merging of the conscious and unconscious, and the achievement of wholeness and self-realization.
Gnosticism
Gnosticism, also embraced the Ouroboros as a symbol representing the eternal, cyclical nature of the divine and the universe.
One notable Gnostic text, the “Pistis Sophia,” written around 400 CE, describes the Ouroboros as a twelve-part dragon encircling the world with its tail in its mouth.
Each of these twelve parts is often interpreted as representing the twelve zodiac signs or the twelve months of the year, symbolizing the completeness of the cosmic cycle and the passage of time.
Norse Mythology: Jörmungandr
In Norse mythology, the concept of the Ouroboros is embodied by Jörmungandr, also known as the World Serpent or Midgard Serpent.
According to the mythological tales, Jörmungandr is a colossal serpent, so large that it encircles the entire world, Midgard, and grasps its own tail in its mouth.
In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr plays a crucial role in Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world.
During this apocalyptic event, it is foretold that Jörmungandr will release its tail and emerge from the sea, causing chaos and destruction. The serpent will ultimately face the god Thor in a final battle, leading to their mutual destruction.
This confrontation symbolizes the cyclical nature of destruction and renewal, as the old world is destroyed to make way for a new one.
Modern Psychology
In modern psychology, the Ouroboros is used to symbolize several key concepts related to the nature of consciousness and personal development.
One of the most prominent interpretations is its association with the process of individuation, a concept developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung.
Individuation is the process by which an individual integrates the conscious and unconscious aspects of their psyche to achieve self-actualization and wholeness.
The Ouroboros continually renews itself by consuming itself.
This mirrors the ongoing process of self-discovery and self-renewal that individuals experience as they explore and integrate their unconscious desires, impulses, and emotions into their conscious awareness.
Universal Symbolism and Meanings
Cyclical Nature of Life
At its core, the Ouroboros symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the universe. It represents the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
In different mythologies and spiritual traditions the underlying message remains the same: life is an eternal cycle, and all things are interconnected in this cosmic dance of creation and destruction.
Unity of Opposites
The Ouroboros also embodies the concept of the unity of opposites.
The serpent eating its own tail symbolizes the balance between creation and destruction, life and death, and the harmonious coexistence of opposing forces.
This duality reflects the complexity of the natural world and the human experience.
Alchemy and Transformation
The Ouroboros is a powerful symbol of transformation and alchemy.
It represents the philosopher’s stone, the ultimate goal of alchemy, symbolizing the achievement of spiritual enlightenment and immortality.
Modern psychology echoes this theme of spiritual alchemy, using the symbol to represent the process of individuation and the journey towards self-realization and self-fulfillment
The old must be destroyed to make way for the new.
Final Thoughts from a Higher View
I view the Ouroboros is a symbol of opportunity, reminding us that every moment presents a new chance to shed our old selves and evolve into something greater.
Endings are merely beginnings in disguise and every experience is interconnected, leading to the next in an infinite cycle of growth and transformation.
Let’s embrace every opportunity to grow and be open to fresh new beginnings and experiences. Every day.
