The Serpent that Lies in the Grass Unseen @rosa-nitida

As long as there have been serpents and people residing in the same place, the latter has been enchanted by and apprehensive of the former. This is no different in New England, where old European tales were held over across the Atlantic and took on a life of their own. This became especially apparent during the 17th century - where religious ideology laid the very foundation of colonial society and accusations of witchcraft, however unfounded, abound. John Hale stated in regards to the practice of folk magic in colonial Massachusetts:

“Such have implicit faith that the means used, shall produce the effect desired, but consider not how; and so are beguiled by the Serpent that lies in the grass unseen”. The parallels to the Edenic serpent can not be ignored in this sentiment, and supplies demonstration to how profoundly ingrained the snake’s characterization remains even to this day: trickster, beguiler, and to the perceived heretic - teacher and ally.

The first person executed as a witch in the American colonies was Alse Young of Windsor, Connecticut in 1647. Though the persecution of witchcraft tapered off significantly after the 17th century, the last witchcraft trial in America was held in 1878 in Salem, Massachusetts against Daniel Spofford and the case was dismissed without further incident. In the interim, superstition and folk beliefs incubated in the minds of colonial Americans.

During the witch hysteria in particular, it was stated that the snake was among the creatures that could be counted as a witch’s familiar and fetch - spirits in the employ of the witch or a piece of the witch’s spirit itself that is sent out of the body to enact the witch’s will. In a parallel vein, the presence of snakes in dreams and in the realm of physical reality, particularly one of the two species of venomous snakes (copperheads and timber rattlesnakes), indicated that magic was afoot. In dreams the snakes indicated that a person was inclined towards the craft, whereas if the snakes presented in reality it was a sign that the individual was already engaging in magic and the snakes were protecting the individual in question.

It wasn’t only those accused of witchcraft that were subjected to the superstitions surrounding |serpents - there were instances of children having preternatural relationships with snakes. According to folklore, if a child fed a snake from their plate, their souls would become bonded. Sometimes this meant that the snake would act as a guardian to the child, in other cases it meant that the snake would effectively become a spiritual double to them. In either case, the consistency remained that if any harm came to the snake, up to and including death, the child too would wither away and follow them to the grave within a few weeks. Thus it was generally recommended that no matter how unsettling the parents found these activities to be, the snake should remain unmolested for the sake of the child.

In my own practice, I agree with the serpent’s role as interpreted by the Puritans, albeit from the heretical side; the serpent’s wisdom regarding magic and shapeshifting is not to be ignored. Tools are bedecked with their bones, shed skin is used in transformative works, yarrow and wormwood are used to entice and compel the spirit while offerings of milk and eggs help satisfy their price.

Hither and thither Slither and wind, As you shed your skin I will shed mine. Three times around And three times again Hither and thither And slip back to bed.

Photo by @poemsandmyths

PRECEDING PHOTO BY @SATSUTI