Working with Serpents

Now that we've discussed some of the different aspects of Serpent Magic and the nature of this totem, we can discuss actually working with beings of this kind in more detail.

One of the first things one learns about working with serpents is the locality of it all. There's a certain timeliness and temporality of it all, as while these spirits tend to loop back in upon themselves, they do so because it is their nature. They're everywhere, but these entities don't necessarily travel everywhere, so the versions you interact with are local and lensed through both natural phenomena and your own mindset as you delve into workings with them.

The materials you bring to the table matter, and this applies to both your emotional state and the literal physical goods present. If you're interested in endeavoring to connect with such beings, there are some materials worth considering:

Animal:

• Snake skin - Snake skin is a literal example of what you're looking to cultivate, and as such its an appropriate inclusion in all works involving their essence. I'd recommend procuring a larger intact skin and then tearing off small pieces for your workings. It can be quite the costly inclusion in ritual work, but it makes for a worthwhile change given the incredibly shamanic elements of wearing/working with the pelts of the animal spirits.
• Snake bones - Another rather easy material to guess at the inclusion of. Snake bones are another link to the generative nature of serpents, and this is tied to their more necromantic elements. I have a mala made of snake bones for work like this, and it has served me well.
• Snake teeth - Be careful here, as these are spiritually venomous and troublesome unto themselves. They have a base nature that cannot be tamed, so this is for seasoned practitioners only.

Herbal: 

• Ageratina altissima - Otherwise known as White Snakeroot, this particular plant is poisonous but can serve as a means of learning the flows of the land. It represents both a dangerous thing to ignore and a useful tool, making it a solid ritual tool.
• Origanum dictamnus - Otherwise known as Dittany of Crete, this is a hallucinogenic compound known for its connections to oracular prophecy and connecting to the Gods, this is essentially a kind of spiritual umbilicus where snake spirits (and others) are concerned.
• Anastatica hierochutica - AKA Rose of Jericho, this plant is tied to death and rebirth in the most profound of ways. While being a hugely important plant for prosperity work, the cyclical component of the work with this plant makes it important for both consecration and serpentine magical development.
• Silene undulata - Or Xhosa Dream Root, this is another hallucinogenic compound and its associate with the "White Ways" in which one can connect with their ancestors & the essence of the land. Tread carefully here, as this is powerful and can be quite hard to work with.
• Petroselinum crispum - Common Parsley. This is an admittedly strange inclusion, but I had some UPG around how luck and energetic flows interact, and so this is something I was inspired to use in my work with the Serpent Mother. 
• Ocimum tenuiflorum - Or Holy Basil of the Rama variety, this is directly associated with deities who worked with serpents and it can be burned in conjunction with resinous fumigants to bring that energy into the space.

Mineral:

• Iron filings - Serpents are of the land, and nothing is more rooted to the land than the flows of energy associated with it. Iron filings are directly tied to that innate magnetism and flow.
• Corundum - A crystalline form of aluminum oxide, this can contain all manners of other minerals in its structure, changing both its color and hardness. It is a perfect example of the flexibility of what is on the Earth and within the Earth. Since this material has refractory components and a rather important lensing effect to it, its a good inclusion.
• Alum - This is another crystalline solid that's made up of aluminum & potassium. Its a base for transformation, be it magical or mundane, so it has a distinct pertinence here.
• Quartz - Essentially a gold standard in magic, quartz amplifies energy. Use it carefully and you might find yourself achieving substantial gains.

Miscellany:

• Snake sculptures - A useful link, but beware what this iconography represents. I've personally experienced plenty of weirdness, both physical and spiritual, when placing statues of Naga in my home.
• Art - If you're artistically inclined, drawing or painting serpents and the spirits that follow them can be a useful means of connecting to them.
• Rope - Serpents and rope are deeply connected because of their shape, form, and the ophidian affinity for binding. 
• Rattles - The sound is directly associated with shamanic growth, trance, redefinition, and the sound of a rattlesnake. This is more about an auditory link than anything else.

Things to stay away from:

• Salt - Not their gig, as it dries them out and makes them incredibly grumpy. DO NOT USE salt in their offerings! That's a great way to cause a whole lot of bad to manifest in your life.
• Moralizing - Don't get preachy with beings of this kind. Recognize that their morality is different than yours and *pay attention*. These beings would not be worth seeking out if they had the same old view as any other being.
• Judgement - This is along the lines with moralizing, but its more to it than that. If you make the mistake of trying to entrap or control a spirit like this, you'll find yourself on the receiving end of harm rather than the other way around.
• Knives and bladed tools - Only bring these into ritual with beings of this kind if it has been directly approved. Otherwise, you're bringing in a weapon, and that can go very poorly. One of the things serpents teach is how to turn a person's weapons and tools against them, so you don't want to start off on the wrong foot.
• Sharp things - As with the note above, this applies to all things that are bladed or have a sharp edge to it, be it a knife or a sharply-edged plant. They're not fond of things of this kind, so bear that in mind.

Endeavoring to make use of the above will be a matter of intention, dedication, focus, and your ability to get into the headspace involved in working with these beings. If you haven't done this kind of work before, you will probably have several failures before you start to anchor yourself into the shift that occurs in working with these beings. If you want to work with them, you need to be able to follow them and their thought process, so if you're particularly rigid in your views & tendencies, you're going to have a bad time.

Its part of the challenge in interacting with beings of this sort, but this challenging nature is part of the spiritual weightlifting I've mentioned prior.

If you wish to approach the serpents of your area in ritual, take note of the above suggestions and create blends of herbs and spoken spells that resonate with you. Use them in combination with rootwork and candle magic to draw these powers to you. If you're successful, the doors will be flung wide open for you and you'll begin to have greater bouts of creative experience. It may be a bit alarming at first, but do lean into it.

Their essence can be rather intoxicating, so use some sense and set aside time enough in your schedule to do this properly.

Blessings,
Chris