The serpent and the witch share a lot in common. Often misunderstood, yet eerily beautiful, they both face the world in defiance of those who fear them.
Slithering their way into enchanted folklore from Europe to South Carolina, snakes undulate with magical allure.
Serpents tap into the deepest parts of us—the things we fear yet cannot look away from.
Contents
Where to get snakeskins for spell work.
Naturally shed snakeskins are a powerful item for use in spell work.
Of course, the best snakeskins to use in your Craft are the ones you find yourself, either in your garden or on your nature walks.
The rare experience of finding a snakeskin yourself charges the item with magical energy and leaves the impression of your experience on it, making it intrinsically connected to you.
Collecting snakeskins from a friend who keeps a snake is also an excellent option.
However, if neither of these opportunities presents themselves. you can also find high-quality, responsibly collected snakeskins on Etsy.
Power
Our strong reaction to snakes provokes major energy shifts.
The serpent is a symbol of power in witchcraft and the occult.
Including snake skins in spells (especially those the witch finds herself) to enhance their potency.
Grace
The smooth, ethereal movements of the snake evoke the image of ancient dance rituals and feminine movement.
Use images of the serpent in charms to enhance grace and dark beauty.
In Divination.
The appearance of a snake during vision work or divination, particularly during the dark moon, suggests deception.
If the snake appears to you in an altered state of consciousness, pay careful attention to your intuition.
Are you suspicious of a seemingly friendly newcomer in your life?
Your gut is more reliable than you think.
Protection
Serpents are powerful symbols in protection magic.
If you don’t have a snakeskin or charm shaped like a snake, try including white snakeroot in spell bags or charms for protection to add extra punch.
Trance & Meditation.
The slow-moving, entrancing motion of snakes is dangerously, but powerfully hypnotic.
Use the imagery of the snake in meditation to enhance your trance state.
Serpents are an ideal meditation focal image for conquering fear, moving through difficult feelings and regaining your power.
As a symbol of transformation.
The constant shedding and regrowth of the snake’s skin naturally represent transformative states and experience.
Snakeskins are sometimes used in spells to bring about change in the witch’s life, especially after a period of stagnation.
As a symbol of eternity.
The image of a snake eating its tail, called the ouroboros, appears in both ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian imagery.
These ancient peoples considered the snake a perfect representation of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
In this way, the serpent symbolizes the intrinsic integration of everything in the universe and the infinite cycles of destruction and recreation.
In magical gardening.
A snake in the garden (especially your magical garden) is both a blessing and a warning.
The appearance of a snake in your garden represents the transient nature of gifts from the universe and a reminder that sometimes they bite!
So, be careful what you wish for.
Sources & References
Claims Based on Documented Sources
- Snake symbolism in folklore (Europe to South Carolina): Documented in comparative folklore and cultural studies
- Snakeskins as naturally shed/found materials: Documented in witchcraft resource collection practices
- Snake as symbol of power in witchcraft and occult: Documented in contemporary witchcraft symbolism
- Snakeskins for spell potency enhancement: Documented in contemporary witchcraft practice
- Serpent movement associated with ancient dance rituals: Documented in anthropological and dance history studies
- Serpent imagery for grace and beauty: Documented in artistic/symbolic traditions
- Snake appearance in vision work during dark moon: Documented in divination traditions (dark moon correspondence)
- Snake symbolism in altered consciousness/intuition: Documented in meditation and visionary practices
- Snakes as protection symbols in protection magic: Documented in protective magic traditions
- White snakeroot plant in protective spell work: Documented in herbal magic and historical plant use
- Snake hypnotic/trance properties: Documented in behavioral observation and meditation practice
- Serpent imagery for meditation/trance enhancement: Documented in contemporary meditation traditions
- Snake skin shedding as transformation symbol: Documented in natural observation and symbolism
- Snakeskin use in transformative spells: Documented in contemporary witchcraft practice
- Ouroboros (snake eating tail) symbolism: Documented in ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian imagery/texts
- Ouroboros representing birth-death-rebirth cycles: Documented in classical mythology studies
- Ouroboros as universal integration symbol: Documented in religious/philosophical symbolism
- Snakes in garden as blessing and warning: Documented in folk magic tradition
- Snakes representing transient universe gifts: Documented in contemporary witchcraft philosophy
Claims Based on Personal Practice & Experience
- 20+ years experience with modern pagan community (Lumina Indigo)
- Personal knowledge of snakeskin collection and spell work (Lumina Indigo)
- Direct experience with snakeskins found vs. purchased (Lumina Indigo)
- Professional tarot reading and divination work (Lumina Indigo)
- Kitchen witch and green witch expertise (Lumina Indigo)
- Observation of serpent/witch parallels (Lumina Indigo)
- Professional editorial review (Tina Caro)
Recommended Reading
- Folklore and cultural studies on serpent symbolism
- Ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology texts (ouroboros)
- Contemporary witchcraft symbolism guides
- Divination and vision work resources
- Meditation and trance practice materials
- Herbal magic and plant correspondence guides
- Protection magic resources
- Transformation and shadow work materials
- Green witch and magical gardening guides
About the Author
Written by Lumina Indigo (Moody Moons founder, est. 2012), specializing in in-depth research on modern spirituality. With 20+ years of pagan community experience, Lumina is a professional tarot reader and kitchen witch. Reviewed by Tina Caro.
Note
This article explores serpent symbolism in witchcraft across eight symbolic/practical applications based on folklore, ancient mythology, and contemporary practice. Opening establishes serpent/witch parallel—both misunderstood, feared, yet beautiful. Snakeskin sourcing prioritizes naturally found materials (garden/nature walks) as energetically charged through personal experience and intrinsic connection; friend-kept snake skins are secondary option; Etsy sourcing available but less magically potent. Eight applications: (1) Power—strong human emotional reactions to snakes provoke energy shifts; snakeskins enhance spell potency; (2) Grace—serpent’s smooth movement connects to ancient dance and feminine movement; use serpent imagery in grace/beauty charms; (3) Divination—snakes appearing during vision work/dark moon suggest deception; trust intuition about suspicious newcomers; (4) Protection—snakes symbolize protection magic; white snakeroot alternative for spell bags/charms; (5) Trance & Meditation—hypnotic serpent motion enhances trance states and meditation; ideal focal image for conquering fear/difficult feelings/power reclamation; (6) Transformation—constant skin shedding represents transformative states; snakeskins used post-stagnation for life change; (7) Eternity—ouroboros (snake eating tail) appears in ancient Greek/Egyptian imagery; represents birth-death-rebirth cycles, universal integration, infinite cycles of destruction/recreation; (8) Magical gardening—garden snakes bless but warn; represent transient universe gifts with reminder that gifts sometimes bite. Tone is poetic and symbolic, emphasizing both reverence and caution.
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