By Sadie York
Depicted as a serpent consuming its tail within an endless circle, the symbol named “Ouroboros” projects the nature of life and death, existing as one which comes back to itself through rebirth. Aligning with the ancient Egyptian beliefs of nature’s never-ending course, the cycle of Ouroboros dates back to several traditions. As the snake consumes itself, its body provides sustenance for its own rebirth, symbolizing constant renewal and new beginnings.
Eternity takes many forms. In a constant loop, Ouroboros carries no regard for start or end, but rather embodies the journey of each individual cycle. Many utilize the serpent’s swirl to combat the complex ideas tied into identity and existence, with the snake’s skin sloughing symbolising the transmigration of souls. Through the creation of the universe, there is an inherent interconnectedness between all life. A string, woven between the DNA of each living organism to continue the cycle, from start,—conception in the womb—to death, to rebirth—re-integration of the cycle: a corpse reuniting with mother nature under the rich soil of Earth. It is the paradox of life that feeds on itself in order to continue existing. The serpent mirrors the human condition in which we are creatures who consume ourselves. In destruction and rebuilding, Ouroboros devours its tail with a means of no end—symbolising the intertwined cycle of life and death.