The Power and Terror of Life
By: Joseph Campbell
The power of life causes the snake to shed its skin, just as the moon sheds its shadow. The serpent sheds its skin to be born again, as the moon its shadow to be born again. They are equivalent symbols. Sometimes the serpent is represented as a circle eating its own tail. That’s an image of life. Life sheds one generation after another, to be born again. The serpent represents immortal energy and consciousness engaged in the field of time, constantly throwing off death and being born again. There is something tremendously terrifying about life when you look at it that way. And so the serpent carries in itself the sense of both the fascination and the terror of life.
You can find this passage in one of my favorite books of all time — Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth
Having just experienced the solstice and the December full moon in southern Pacific Mexico... and being a writer for over 45 years... we contemplate the cycle of life, as it never ceases. What catches us up is the disconnect between indigenous wisdom and modern. There are just things that can not be controlled and shouldn't. Fear or grace can blossom in this chasm: likely both.
Joe knows. Yes, indeed. Great post.
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Lisa
In my opinion, mind ages when accumulating knowledge just as the body ages by exhausting its resources and once it does that the will to live decreases. We forget to marvel in front of the beauties surrounding us because we already know what to expect about them. We’ve seen it all so many times before. From this perspective knowledge is a blade with 2 cutting edges… 😉 and life, well it kills the worn out shells to make room for young souls still capable to marvel and learn…