Origins of the Ouroboros

The Serpent biting its own tail is first seen as early as 1600 years BC in Egypt. From there it moved to the Phonecians and then to the Greeks, who called it the Ouroboros, which means devouring its tail.

The serpent biting its tail is found in other mythoi as well, including Norse myth, where the serpent's name is Jörmungandr, and in Hindu, where the dragon circles the tortoise which supports the four elephants that carry the world.
Alternate spellings include: oroborus, uroboros, and oureboros.

Symbology behind the Ouroboros

The ouroboros has several meanings interwoven into it. Foremost is the symbolism of the serpent biting, devouring, eating its own tail. This symbolises the cyclic Nature of the Universe: creation out of destruction, Life out of Death. The ouroboros eats its own tail to sustain its life, in an eternal cycle of renewal.
In the above drawing, from a book by an early Alchemist, Cleopatra, the black half symbolises the Night, Earth, and the destructive force of nature, yin. the light half represents Day, Heaven, the generative, creative force, yang.

Alchemically, the ouroboros is also used as a purifying glyph.

The current mathematical symbol for infinity - may be derived from a variant on the classic Ouroboros with the snake looped once before eating its own tail, and such depictions of the double loop as a snake eating its own tail are common today in fantasy art and fantasy literature, though other conjectures also exist.

It can also represent the idea of primordial unity related to something existing in or persisting before any beginning with such force or qualities it cannot be extinguished. The ouroboros has been important in religious and mythological symbolism, but has also been frequently used in alchemical illustrations, where it symbolizes the circular nature of the alchemist's opus. It is also often associated with Gnosticism and Hermeticism.

Showing itself primarily in ancient Gnostic texts, the Ouroboros is any image of a snake, worm, serpent, or dragon biting its own tail. Generally taking on a circular form, the symbol is representative of many broad concepts. Time, life continuity, completion, the repetition of history, the self-sufficiency of nature, and the rebirth of the Earth can all be seen within the circular boundaries of the Ouroboros.

Societies from throughout history have shaped the Ouroboros to fit their own beliefs and purposes. The image has been seen in ancient Egypt, Japan, India, utilized in Greek alchemic texts, European woodcuts, Native American Indian tribes, and by the Aztecs. It has, at times, been directly associated to such varying symbols as the Roman god Janus, the Chinese Ying Yang, and the Biblical serpent in the Garden of Eden.

There is truly little known about the deeper meaning of this symbol.  Many see it as evil, others as a trap, or a curse.  It is said that the re birthing cycle is a loop like this symbol, one that trap those entering in it in such a way that they will be in it for eternity.

There is no reason this symbol need to be a loop or trap in our lives.  As we have entered into this system, and entered into the cycles of death and rebirth, so many of us has forgotten the true reasons we came here.  To learn!!!

Each life we learn our lessons, when the time come we can leave the loop, yet very few leave it.  As they have become trap in the loop of their existence.

It eats its tail that is feeding it to continue the cycle, but the question remain what are you feeding it?  Are you feeding it negative or positive energy, this determine the effectiveness of the loop.

Many at this time desire a change, wanting to be rid of the loop as this cycle is no longer serving them.  They have been searching for the answers in their lives, trying to find a way to break the loop.

They believe that the loop hold them captive away from what they feel they need, and that is a change in path.  This time in this 26 000 year cycle mark a time of increased energy, that when utilised right, can help a soul change the fabric of his existence.  Maybe not now, but in the next incarnation.  This is a time of great opportunity.

At this time, it is each persons goal or purpose to break free from their current loop, so that they can reach higher, and change the path they are on.

How do you do this, is the question on many lips?

The snake is biting its own tail, it has the choice to bite or to let go. The way to break the loop is to let go of your fears. We as humans tend to fear what is not known, in this way the loop is known to us, letting go is the great unknown, something that strike fear into the hearts of many.

As time pass we start to believe that the loop is unchangeable, everything is existence is changeable at some point, why not the loop. They end up holding so tightly to their loop that they start to believe and despair that they cant leave it.

So they turn to find a saviour that will help save them from this evil loop that is keeping them captive. Yet, they do not realise that they are the only ones that can let go, in order for the snake to be set free for the loop, to create a new path, they can follow.

You are the only one keeping yourself captive in the place of existence you are in.  All change start by letting go!