For one of my catch up challenges, I decided to tackle Claws, Paws, Tails, and Scales. Any guesses of what Iām picking? No? Yes?
If you chose snakes, you would be completely correct! 
I have always been enamored by snakes. I can remember going to camp in the sixth grade (about 11 years old, Iād say) and one of the camp counselors found a snake while we were on a nature hike. They could tell what the snake was, though I donāt remember what it is today, and they put it in their shirt to keep it safe. I know that sounds weird but they were wearing two shirts, both tucked into their pants, so the snake had a sort of pouch to stay safe in.
Anyway, fast forward many years and my fiancƩ, (boyfriend at the time), and I got a California King Snake from the store. We loved taking care of it but it was small, quick, and loved to escape. We ended up selling it to someone who had the time and energy to care for it that we did not. I was sad, of course, but I knew it was going to a home that would take good care of it.
Today, though, I have four snakes! We have ball pythons now and they have become a passion project for my fiancƩ and 
little noodles of love for me .
Here are some pictures for anyone that wants to see them. I will put them under a little read more thing in case anyone is afraid of snakes. Also, these are not all recent pictures so theyāre all mostly bigger than this now.
Click Here To See Snakes!
This is Willow. She is our oldest ball python at about two years old. She is a yellowbelly ball python.
This is Lemon. She is our second snake, though not the middle child in age. She is an albino ball python and she is visually impaired. She is almost a year old at this point, Iām sure.
This is Mimikyu. He is our middle-child aged snake at about a year and a half old. Genetic wise he is a banana pastel ivory possible fire. I know that is a jumble of words but those are basically different genetic patterns that give the snake his color.
This one is our youngest snake both in age and new to us. She does not have a name yet but she is an emperor pin fire and is about six months old.
All of these snakes hold a special place in my heart. Of course, not everyone in my house likes snakes but they just have to deal with it 
Anyway, snakes play an important role for me symbolically, too. Have you ever watched a snake shed? Or seen a snake eat? Or had the privilege (okay, maybe that is not the right word depending on who you ask) of watching a snake catch their prey? They are fascinating animals! Here are a few common concepts associated with snakes. These concepts come from both my own experience but also popular lore and mythology.
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transformation
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power
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speed
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vulnerability
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perspective
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secrets
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knowledge and wisdom
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truth
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cunning
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clever
There are also many stories throughout folklore and mythology that deal with snakes. Of course, it wouldnāt be a post by me if I did not discuss some of the most popular myths, right?
Adam, Eve, and the Serpent
One of the most well-known stories involving snakes is the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In chapter three of the book of Genesis in the Bible, there is the following passage.
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, āDid God really say, āYou must not eat from any tree in the gardenā?ā
2 The woman said to the serpent, āWe may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
3 but God did say, āYou must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.ā ā
4 āYou will not certainly die,ā the serpent said to the woman.
5 āFor God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.ā
BibleStudyTools - NIV
According to Christian lore, the reason humans have knowledge of good and evil is because the serpent deceived Eve. They tricked her into eating from the Tree of Knowledge and thus began the downfall of humanity. In common knowledge, this is where snakes get the reputation for being cunning, sly, and deceitful.
Jormungand, The Midgard Snake
Pronounced YOUR-mun-gand, this particular serpent is one of three children of Loki and Angrboda. This is the infamous snake in Norse Mythology that surrounds Midgard and swallows his own tail.
The god Thor is his particular enemy. Two battles between them are recounted in the Eddas. In one, Thor fishes for Jormungand, and fails to pull him up only when the giant Hymir, terrified that this will bring about Ragnarok, severs the line, sending the snake back down to the depths. When Ragnarok does arrive, however, Thor and the Midgard Serpent are fated to slay each other.
Norse Mythology
Medusa and the Gorgons
In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were snake-women who could turn people to stone just by looking at them. It is said that Medusa used to be a beautiful woman. However, after an encounter with Poseidon in one of Athenaās temples, Athena turned Medusa into a Gorgon. Later in Greek mythology, Athena would help Perseus slay Medusa by giving him a shiny shield to reflect Medusaās gaze. Once Perseus cut off Medusaās head, he mounted it on his shield to turn his enemies into stone during battle.
St. Patrick and His Snakes
Perhaps one of the most well-known stories to come out of Ireland, this tale doesnāt necessarily have a definitive meaning. It is said that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. However, we know historically that snakes donāt naturally inhabit the island of Ireland. It has been said that the snakes are a metaphor for paganism, especially since St. Patrick is credited (wrongfully, might I add) with driving paganism out of Ireland. I havenāt found any two scholars that agree one way or the other, but it is a story that is well-known in both pagan and non-pagan circles today.
Snakes in my Practice
One thing that I am doing lately is trying to build a bond with the spirit of Snake. This is not a specific snake, so to speak, but the all-encompassing animal spirit of Snake. I have done a few meditations where I will sit in stillness while holding some snake shed that I have from my own snakes. I have called upon the spirit of Snake many times while trying to build this relationship. So far nothing has happened but I am confident that, over time, this is a spirit relationship that I can build. Either that, Snake wants nothing to do with me which, in that case, would be okay, too.
This is my entry for 
Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Claws, Paws, Tails and Scales
) but when I come across them in nature (very rarely thank goodness) Iām the first one to run away 
Donāt mind me stealing that word and adding to my vocabulary