The Ouroboros — Spiritual Meaning
The ouroboros is the serpent that eats its own tail, an ancient image of cycles, eternity and the self-renewing nature of existence.
The Eternal Return
Found in ancient Egypt and later in Greek and alchemical writing, the circle of the serpent suggests endless return and renewal.
Alchemy and Wholeness
For alchemists it symbolized the unity of matter and the cycle of destruction and creation. Jung read it as an image of the self containing opposites.
Consuming and Creating
The snake devours and is devoured, a picture of death and rebirth in one motion.
Key spiritual meanings of Ouroboros
- Eternity
- A cycle without end.
- Renewal
- Death and rebirth.
- Unity
- All things as one.
- Self-sufficiency
- A closed system.
- Alchemy
- The great work.
- Cycles
- Return to origin.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ouroboros mean spiritually?
The ouroboros is the serpent that eats its own tail, an ancient image of cycles, eternity and the self-renewing nature of existence.
The Eternal Return
Found in ancient Egypt and later in Greek and alchemical writing, the circle of the serpent suggests endless return and renewal.
Alchemy and Wholeness
For alchemists it symbolized the unity of matter and the cycle of destruction and creation. Jung read it as an image of the self containing opposites.
Consuming and Creating
The snake devours and is devoured, a picture of death and rebirth in one motion.
What are the 6 spiritual meanings of Ouroboros?
1. Eternity: A cycle without end. 2. Renewal: Death and rebirth. 3. Unity: All things as one. 4. Self-sufficiency: A closed system. 5. Alchemy: The great work. 6. Cycles: Return to origin.