Chinese Medicine and Serpent Symbolism: The Element of Metal by Christina Bjergo

By Christina Bjergo

The basis of health and wholeness from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective comes from our innate correspondence with Nature. Everything within us (microcosm) is reflected in the world around us (macrocosm). The universe and our bodies are synchronized from this holistic approach with everything composed of five elements. The elements of Wood (plants), Fire, Earth, Metal (stone and mountain) and Water make up our physical, psychological as well as spiritual aspects of who we are.

The element of Metal is associated with the West direction in Chinese Theory and is one of my favorites. It represents the time of sunset and the season of autumn and has an energy of lessening activity (yang) and growing introspection and quiet (yin). The color attributed to Metal is white. White is a symbol of death and purification in Chinese as well as Indian Hindu culture and is the color worn at funerals to symbolize the inherent link with this quality of Metal.

Metal in the body primarily governs the respiration of the lungs and the cycle of breathing. Moving in a continuous flow, the exhalation of the breath allows for the intake or receiving of fresh clean air necessary for the healthy oxygenation and operation of the body. The Large Intestine as the secondary organ system corresponding with the Metal element also helps maintain health through the elimination of waste and reinforces the letting go quality of this element. Inherent in our bodies, therefore, is the aspect of death leading to purification and wellness.

Similarly, the serpent has been a powerful archetypal symbol in dreams and meditations of many cultures around the world. Snakes will periodically eliminate the old by the shedding of their skin and emerge larger, stronger and healthier (the molting keeps the parasites off). Our ancestors who gained insight about life from observing animals in Nature believed there was great knowledge in the snake for here was an animal that knew the secrets of death that leads to rebirth. Nature was the link to the archetypal world of the Dreamtime explaining the spiritual significance of serpents in archaeological artifacts found among diverse ancient cultures from as early as the Paleolithic period.

The spiral as a metaphor for the serpent is also found in many ancient sacred sites and is believed to have facilitated initiations and marked critical periods of growth and change in life (coming of age, spiritual awakening, etc.). As a ritual aid many labyrinths have been based on the spiral shape. The serpent spiral in the labyrinth represents the transformational quality of the cycle of life - the moving inward or returning aspect of the cycle allows one to let go of perceived challenges or limitations on the journey to the inner sanctuary or center of the Self. From this center comes the expressive movement of the spiral stretching itself outward. Having transcended the old it can expand it’s trajectory wider than ever before. This demonstrates the serpent and the spiral’s power as a symbol for evolutionary change. This highlights the ancient mysteries of past eras – one needs to allow death to have space to welcome new life and grow.

Spiritual traditions around the world have communicated this Metal and serpent/spiral symbolism through the language of myth placing significance on Metal and the aspect of death leading to rebirth. In Hindu mythology, the popular Shiva is known as the destroyer god. His skin is ash white and he is often depicted in sculpture and printed art with snakes around his neck meditating tranquilly up high on his sacred mountain. Other times he stands upon a dwarf of ignorance in his cosmic dance of purification. In one story, he helps purify the poisons of the world with the assistance of his female consort Parvati and in so doing helps create the elixir of life and immortality. Seeing through the veil of Maya Shiva is not disturbed by the illusions of evil/sin in the world as he has transcended duality and found serenity and calmness (his transcendence of suffering is comparable to the enlightenment of Buddhahood). Shrines where Shiva continues to be honored throughout India include the sacred lingam - a phallic shaped stone.

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he Queen of the West in Chinese mythology (later linked with Kwon Yin as a compassionate deity or aspect of Buddha) was sometimes seen as a white tiger which is the corresponding celestial animal to the element of Metal. The Queen of the West is known for being the destroyer though she also demonstrates an aspect of creation weaving her manifestations among the stars. She sits atop her sacred mountain (sometimes called Snake Shaman Mountain) where the peach trees of immortality grow. The Queen of the West is talented at whistling demonstrating her knowledge of Metal and ability to work with the breath. She comes to earth on her dragon drawn chariot (dragons are the sacred serpents of China and much of Asia) to help humankind transcend mortality and ignorance. She used her powers and knowledge to guide the Emperors of ancient China (who have demonstrated worthiness and virtue) to the afterlife, welcoming them to a place of Paradise.

Comparatively, modern spiritual traditions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam express their own concept of Paradise as the spiritual destination for eternal life and bliss. Religious texts reference divine guidance of Yahweh/God/Allah communicated to prophets who climbed mountains or slept on stones. In Christianity, post-crucifixion, the dead body of Jesus of Nazareth is placed in a cave and emerges reborn as Jesus Christ the Savior, the Son of God. And through Jesus Christ humanity can have peace with God. The Hebrew word Saraph translated means “fiery serpent” and is the root of Seraphim, the highest and holiest of God’s angels. Furthermore, when God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden he sent them to the East placing the angelic Cherubims and a flaming sword (Metal) to keep the way of the tree of life. Symbolically, to take the journey of purification Westward and pass the spiritual test of the sword humankind can return to the Garden of Paradise and the blissful state of union with God.

Similarly, the ancient Egyptians refer to Westing as Deathing and link the god of Osiris who is Lord of the Duat or underworld to this direction. Osiris was the first to undergo mummification after being cut up (knife is a metal tool aiding elimination and purification) into 14 pieces by his brother and later returned to wholeness when resurrected with the aid of his sister Isis. Osiris is sometimes depicted elderly, stiff and dressed all white in his death-like state on hieroglyphs in Egyptian temples. Completing the cycle of rebirth, however, he can be found depicted in the stone masonry looking renewed and virile with green skin representing the fertility and new life that comes with the floods of the Nile. Furthermore, in physical death the ancient Egyptians believed an individual traveled to the Duat where Osiris sits on his throne overseeing the weighing or judging of the heart. If the heart of the deceased is light as a feather (having cleared away all heaviness) the individual can move onward to join the gods and goddesses as a star in the heavens, the ultimate destination of the soul.

Here in the Northwest one can visit Horse-thief Lake and see the famous pictograph of She Who Watches. Her image painted on a natural stone cliff is an area of spiritual significance thought to have been used for vision questing by a number of local tribes of an ancient time. She Who Watches is painted with white representing death and red representing life. This correspondence with the colors red and white is also found among many indigenous tribes of Africa and Australia and in the artwork of early Europeans. She Who Watches has a visage marked by large owl like eyes (another symbol of death). Her swollen death-like tongue protrudes from her mouth and is a prominent feature to her countenance. She sits up high overseeing the Columbia Gorge below and is a sign of promise and protection, some believe, for those whom her gaze rests upon.

From a psychological perspective, Carl Jung would say the second part of our lives is a spiritual odyssey - a search for the holy grail within ultimately leading to the realization of the Higher Self of the integrated psyche. Carl Jung knew that by working with the unconscious through dreams and body instincts we could resolve and release our shadow side and access the unacknowledged parts of ourselves we have unknowingly delegated to the dark and hidden corners of the unconscious mind. Yet through work with the dreamtime and the body connection (keeper of unconscious influences) we can slowly let go of limitations and dualistic thinking and embrace more of ourselves on our journey to wholeness. And as we symbolically move from dark to light we literally experience greater joy, fulfillment and health in our lives.

Confronting the shadowy aspects of our past can be at times a daunting task. The deathing of old negative experiences, traumas, unhealthy thought patterns, limited beliefs and karma can be intimidating without support or a means of help with the process. Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong is a tool I have found quite effective for myself and others as it helps individuals let go of many things they are looking to clear consciously (such as fears, pain, dissatisfaction, anger, fatigue, anxiety, etc.) as well as the unconscious roots of dis-ease in their lives. Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong ultimately facilitates the integration of conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche into a state of oneness. Using ancient qigong theory with movement meditations individuals connect with the Dream time and can remove old stagnant energy or roadblocks from the energy channels or highways of the body. This stuck dense energy of the past that has become lodged, buried or encapsulated within the cells of the body can be freed up and cleared as higher vibrational energies of Nature are allowed to flow. And as more of our blocks are cleared out, we access greater quantities of our own energy as it flows though the body. This is how we experience a resurrection and reunification of our true Selves or a symbolic rebirth of our own.

Going through the cycle of death and rebirth builds and refines our subtle energies, offering the ready initiate a kundalini (dormant cosmic energy compared to a coiled serpent) awakening with great physical, psychological and spiritual rewards. For as we reconnect with the rhythms of the universe we reconnect with ourselves and open to experiencing new depths of spiritual understanding. Through working with Metal we ultimately open ourselves to another aspect of serpent symbolism - Wisdom.

To learn more about Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong or the possibilities of hosting a class, see www.wildirisasianwellness.com or contact Christina Bjergo, Qigong Grand Master of Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong at cbjergo@msn.com. Upcoming classes to begin Wed. and Thurs. evenings at August Moon Community Center, 111 39th Street, Vancouver, WA in late February. Christina is also an acupuncturist, shiatsu therapist, shamanic practitioner and longtime dreamworker. She treats clients in Vancouver, WA.

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