This is one of the most ancient signs of the earth. Ouroboros is depicted as a dragon or snake eating its tail. In earlier eras, Ouroboros was presented as a sign of infinity. The snake seems to wind around the Earth, while biting itself. This symbol is found in the myths of almost all the peoples of the world. There are many different images of the serpent, different treatment of religions Urboros.
Ouroboros, the serpent, devouring its tail, symbolizes infinity.
The history of the origin of the sign.
Ouroboros looks like a serpent-like dragon that bites its own tail. It became the prototype of the mustachioed Chinese dragon, which is very different from the European one.
This creature was first known from Egyptian and ancient Babylonian records. Ouroboros was described as "the center of the universe, uniting all things. Egyptian people gave this mythical creature special protective significance. According to them it was the one responsible for the balance between the world of the dead and the living.
Modern interpretation
Of course, such an important sign for the world history could not remain without the attention of modern scientists. Its study paid much attention to Carl Gustav Jung, engaged in psychoanalysis in Switzerland. He deciphered the meaning of the symbol in terms of psychoanalysis.
Accordingly with his deciphering, Oureboros symbolizes inevitable darkness, self-destructive behavior. Neumann, who followed the teachings of Jung, believed that Ouroboros signified the initial stage in the formation of the human personality.
In general, today's decipherments of the meaning of the Ouroboros tattoo do not differ from those used hundreds of years ago. The reptile characterizes the cyclical life, the inextricable connection between complete opposites, death and emergence into the light, the light and dark sides, the beginning and the end of all things.
People who believe in the just laws of creation, can give themselves a tattoo with Oroboros, to use it as a protective sign, a talisman. Cyclicality is characteristic of certain events, it cannot be avoided. So, people must not be afraid of it. The perception of the whole sequence of such events must be wise and correct.
Of course, this amulet is not quite usual. This is not the amulet that radiates goodness, positivity, positive energy. The meaning of the Ouroboros is that any deed has consequences. If a person does good, Oureboros helps him receive a corresponding return in the form of a reward. If a man does evil, however, we should not be surprised that he often encounters negative events.
Ouroboros in different religions
The serpent Ouroboros was a saint in most pagan faiths.
But the more popular religions, denied the creature.
For people who adhere to Christianity and Islam, the dragon became the embodiment of evil energy.
Egypt
There is an opinion that the symbol of the ring Ouroboros was born in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptian people have always treated the world of the dead in a special way and really were crazy about it. Absolutely everyone knows about the existence of mummies, tombs and Anubis, the deity with the face of a jackal.
The Egyptians thought that the dragon was the keeper of the dead world. If you believe the legends of the ancient people - Ouroboros was commanded to protect the netherworld. The serpent acted as a guide responsible for birth and death.
Greece
For the Greeks, Ouroboros from the very beginning was the embodiment of infinity. According to legends, the dragon biting its tail represented the birth and end of everything in the universe, illustrated the eternal cycle of transition from one stage to another.
A comparison is often made between the Phoenix and Ouroboros. The phoenix symbolizes immortality and could revive from the ashes.
China
In the Celestial Empire, the reptile also had its place. Thanks to the image of Ouroboros, the mustachioed Chinese dragon appeared, which is so different from its European ancestor.
The new image of the lizard in the East received a new meaning. For the people of China, the Ouroboros ring became a symbol of luck, because the reptile itself took responsibility for it. Later it became the beginning of the Yin and Yang.
India
In India and Hinduism, Ouroboros became the prototype of one of the manifestations of the god, Shesha. It was depicted as a dragon biting its own tail. Nowadays in India, serpents are also revered. They are the patrons of water, large and small. They are the image of life force and fertility. In addition, the serpent-like dragon embodies the eternal circle of time and eternal life. According to the legends, all snakes are the children of the three serpent gods, Vasuki, Takshaki and Shesha.
Ouroboros is depicted as a serpent wrapped in a knot, with Vishnu sitting on top. Ring body of Ouroboros reflects the eternity of time.
Scandinavia
But in Scandinavian myths, the symbol of the serpent has acquired a negative connotation. The people called the dragon Ermungand. He was an impressive size and curled up in a ball, lives at the bottom of a body of water.
If the legends are to be believed, Ermungand was not always huge. He was constantly growing trying to bite his tail. This event marked the end of the world.
Gnosticism and Alchemy
Within Gnosticism, adherents seek to comprehend a kind of secret knowledge ("gnosis"). For this movement, Ouroboros is not a central image. The Greek Gnostics interpreted it in different ways:
- it is a symbol of natural cycles that succeed one another, thereby sustaining themselves;
- the soul of the world;
- the unity of contradictory objects;
- life, which unites and cycles everything in the world.
Ouroboros is a symbol of the natural cycles that succeed one another.
In Christian Gnosticism, the image of Ouroboros is present in the apocryphal text "Faith is Wisdom" ("Pistis Sophia"). Here the resurrected Jesus tells his disciples about the fate of Sophia, a non-bodily being from a higher world, her fall, repentance, and salvation.
For alchemy, the image of Ouroboros becomes the embodiment of self-containment. In alchemical processes, one substance can be transformed into another, becoming more and more perfect with each new experience. Thus, according to the ideas of the alchemists, iron could be turned into gold.
The image of Ouroboros here changes: the serpent, closed in a circle, becomes two. One of them was depicted at the top and with wings (as a symbol of volatility), and the other at the bottom.
The meaning of the symbol
Ouroboros in psychology
The Ouroboros ring took on a whole new meaning in psychology because of the popular twentieth century psychologist, Carl Jung. He conducted research about the collective unconscious and tried to understand why different people living in different parts of the world, speaking different languages, had similar thoughts. The self-eating dragon interested the scientist precisely because the image of Ouroboros could be seen in many pagan beliefs.
In psychology, the snake was given a new meaning - the confluence of opposites - birth and death. Man has these two ends within himself and, if we adhere to the theory about human archetypes, it is impossible to achieve such a state of harmony in adulthood and consciousness.
Only infants and young children who are not soiled by dirty deeds, evil thoughts and selfishness are able to reach the state of nirvana and complete tranquility. In adulthood people can only try to get even a millimeter closer to the ideal.
Despite the fact that it is unrealistic to reach the desired level of harmony, people who adhere to this way of thinking will begin to enjoy life, and it will help to improve their health.
Gnosticism and alchemy
The symbol of Ouroboros has also been seen in alchemy. Alchemy, in itself, is a very interesting thing. In the past, scientists liked to experiment with chemical elements, trying to get money or immortality for it.
The symbol of Ouroboros accompanied all the alchemists for a very long time. The symbol of the alchemists was the symbol of the cycle of substances. It meant the cycle of substances. You can see it in the processes occurring with the elements, namely heating, evaporation, cooling and condensation.
Tattoos
Tattoos are stylish and fashionable. For a long time, people cover their bodies with pictures that they like. As a rule, these are characters from cartoons, phrases or simply beautiful images. And someone prefers tattoos with meaning.
Tattoo with Ouroboros, just one of these. This is a demonstration of the power of the moon and the moon's stars:
- It protects against spells and envy.
- Becomes an aid in overcoming difficulties
- Help take the next step on the path of life and leave debts in the past
- Will help to find harmony
It is not recommended to do such a tattoo to evil pessimists, because as experts say, the picture has a reflective property. Ouroboros works like a mirror and reflects the negativity of a person, the law of boomerang will work and the evil will return to where it was born.
Psychological aspects
Ouroboros is an archetypal ancient sign that symbolizes the cyclical, infinite nature of the universe. It associated with endless processesThe change of time of day, seasons, and phases of the moon. In the minds of ancient thinkers, life and death are cyclic, one after the other. The prevalence of the symbol is comparable to the popularity of the swastika.
Because of its prevalence, Ouroboros is of interest to psychologists.
The theory of psychology could not miss such a curious object of study. The study of the prevalence of the serpent was taken up by Carl Jung, the creator of the theory of archetypes. He interpreted the self-biting serpent as a visualization of human dualism: In every person, destructive tendencies struggle with creative impulses.. The state of Uroboros is unattainable consciously; it symbolizes a perfect harmony, a balance characteristic only of an infant. The desire for such a state is a pledge of mental equilibrium.
Ouroboros as a talisman
The most common way to wear Ouroboros as a amulet is through natural jewelry.
There are three main types of amulets:
A wrist bracelet.
The bracelet is usually made of jasper and lava with a stainless steel bead. Ouroboros - denotes infinity, space, rebirth, change and cyclicality. Jasper denotes higher powers, wisdom and truth. It is said that a piece of jasper protects the wearer from any misfortune-from evil entities and envious people, will help find the way out of difficult situations, give guidance and advise what to do next. Lava is the blood of the earth and gives the wearer energy and does not let it stand still.
Pendant on the neck
A talisman on the neck is usually made of silver. The symbol denotes cyclicity and infinity. Such a piece of jewelry really protects its wearer. Protects against disease and various ailments. It will help to gain wisdom, tranquility, and wealth. Experts do not recommend to wear such amulets in children, they are too strong and can take away forces.
According to statistics, people more often buy pendants. This type of amulets most often can be found in magic shops. And it is logical, because the pendant is comfortable to wear at any time of the year, and hide the pendant under clothing from others' eyes.
Ring
The ring is also considered one of the most in-demand amulets in the form of Ouroboros.
Amulet in the form of eating its tail snake, will bring good only to the spiritual man with a desire to do good.
Amulet Ouroboros required to treat with responsibility. Very often people buy amulets even without knowing what they are needed, this is a big mistake. The Ring of the Ouroboros applies to this too. In order to wear this amulet, you must have an idea of what Karma is. If you think that Karma is an invention, and you bought yourself a Ouroboros, then with a great probability all its positive properties will play a bad joke with you and instead of good luck you will attract to yourself misfortune.
This amulet is also forbidden for people who are looking for goodwill and bad luck, but it is also necessary for people who are looking for bad luck.
For people who seek only profit and have selfish goals - amulet will give only illness and misfortune, because all energy coming from a person will return to him.
Features of the tattoo
- Distinguish the wearer from the crowd.
- State his personal philosophy.
After a long time of oblivion, the image is again at the peak of popularity. Such a tattoo is a kind of amulet, able to turn away evil from a person, to help the owner understand what is destined to him by fate. Ouroboros is a powerful totem for someone who believes there is a rebirth after death.
Approximate cost of amulets
Prices for such jewelry start from 200 rubles. The cost depends on the material of the product. Also, the price depends on whether the amulet is made by hand. Below we have given examples of such items on the site ozon.ru.
We recommend to watch an interesting video on "Ouroboros", which we found especially for you:
Antiquity
Heraclitus said that the beginning and the end of the circle coincide at one point.
"Originally the Whole was like an egg with a serpent (rpeita) surrounding it like a tight bandage or ring" Epicurus
In Greece, probably used in Orphic iconography as a sign of death and rebirth. Identified with the Cosmic Egg (encircling it) and the eon, the time of existence of the universe.
The Gnostics saw it as an illustration of
- the self-maintaining of natural cycles, endlessly performed over and over again,
- the unity of opposites,
- the very essence of life - the universal cyclicality, which includes in its turnover all being.
The maxim "all in one" or "All is one" sometimes accompanies this symbol.
It is also called Hercules, which identifies it with the revolution of the Sun.
Macrobius also associates this symbol with the movement of the Sun.
In Rome, the emblem of eternity and an attribute of Saturn and Janus.
One of the symbols of the Ocean?
Psychology
Infinitely returning to the starting point ouroboros not able to rise to a higher spiritual level than resembles the Buddhist wheel of existence (samsara), the endless chain of reincarnations.
It gives birth to itself, joins with itself in marriage, fertilizes and kills itself. Symbolizes the cycle of loss and restoration of wholeness, the force that forever wastes and renews itself, eternal cyclicity, the cyclicity of time, infinity in space, truth and knowledge in one person, the connection of the two progenitors, androgyny, primordial waters, darkness that preceded creation, the closed universe in the chaos of waters before the arrival of light, potential before its actualization. Images of the uroboros on tombstones symbolize immortality, eternity, and wisdom. In many myths he embraces the whole world and is identified with the circular flow of the waters surrounding the earth. He can sustain the world and its existence, and at the same time, he brings death into life and life into death. Immovable in appearance, it represents eternal movement, forever returning to itself.
