The Snake at the Threshold: Spring Equinox, Shedding the Old, and the Wisdom of Serpents

Ah, spring—the time of blooming flowers, longer days, fresh energy… and snakes. 🐍

While everyone else is out celebrating the gentle rebirth of the season, let’s talk about something a little more primal: the serpent, the old gods of the underworld, and what the act of shedding can teach us about stepping into spring with true transformation.

Because, let’s be honest—we don’t just wake up on March 20th fully renewed, glowing like an ethereal woodland priestess. No, we’re more like a half-molted, slightly confused snake, still tangled in the skin of last season, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

The Serpent: The Most Misunderstood Symbol in History

Let’s get one thing straight: snakes aren’t evil. They’ve been vilified in a lot of mythology (thanks, Garden of Eden), but before that, they were revered as symbols of wisdom, transformation, and rebirth.

Think about it—these creatures literally shed their skin to grow. They spend time underground, moving between realms. And they’re closely tied to forgotten gods and underworld deities, making them the perfect messengers for the Spring Equinox—a time of balance between light and dark, old and new.

The Serpent & The Goddess: The Forgotten Magic of Ishtar

Snakes have long been symbols of wisdom, rebirth, and transformation, but before they were demonized, they were deeply sacred—especially to the goddess Ishtar (Inanna), one of the most powerful deities of renewal and resurrection.

Ishtar wasn’t just a goddess of fertility—she was a warrior queen, a death-walker, a serpent mother, and a force that could bring both life and destruction.

And guess what creature was sacred to her? Yep—the serpent.

In ancient Mesopotamian mythology, snakes symbolized Ishtar’s ability to move between worlds, shedding her old form and returning stronger than before. She was the ultimate example of transformation, power, and resilience.

Her descent into the Underworld mirrors the Spring Equinox perfectly:

She descends into the darkness, stripped of her old self (just like winter strips the earth bare).
She faces death and rebirth, learning the hard truths of transformation.
She returns renewed, more powerful than before—just as spring rises again.

And she’s not alone. Another great serpent deity tied to spring’s renewal is Ningishzida, a lesser-known Sumerian god whose name literally means “Lord of the Good Tree.” Often depicted as a winged serpent, he was associated with healing, rebirth, and the lush renewal of life in the springtime.

Sound familiar? Yep, a serpent twined around a tree bringing wisdom and transformation—just like later versions of myths where snakes became symbols of forbidden knowledge.

Ishtar and Ningishzida’s connection to serpents, death, and rebirth isn’t just myth—it’s a map for transformation. And this is exactly the energy we tap into at the Spring Equinox.

These beings weren’t just mindless creatures slithering around—they were embodiments of knowledge, the cycle of life, and the balance between creation and destruction.

Which brings us to the Spring Equinox and what we can learn from them.

Spring Equinox: The Shedding Season

The Equinox is all about balance—equal day and night, life and death, dormancy and growth. But before we can grow, we have to let go. And that’s where our scaly friends come in.

Snakes don’t get nostalgic about their old skin. They don’t sit around journaling, thinking, “Hmm, I should keep a little of this dead layer for later, just in case.” No. They split that old shell wide open and slide out, raw and new and ready.

But for us humans? Shedding is uncomfortable as hell.

We cling to outdated relationships, toxic habits, limiting beliefs—things that we KNOW are holding us back, but somehow we just... keep them around, like emotional hoarders.

But here’s the thing—when a snake doesn’t shed properly, it can lead to serious problems. Stuck shed can cause blindness, restriction, even death. And the same goes for us: if we refuse to let go of what no longer serves us, we risk stagnation, bitterness, or just being stuck in cycles that no longer align with who we’re becoming.

The Spring Equinox isn’t just a time for planting seeds—it’s a time to molt.

A Shedding Ritual for the Equinox

If you’re ready to embrace serpent energy this season, here’s a simple but powerful ritual to help you shed your old skin and step fully into your transformation.

You Will Need:

A piece of fabric, ribbon, or thread (symbolizing your old self)
A black candle (for releasing the past)
A green candle (for embracing the new)
A small dish of salt or earth (to ground your energy)
A smooth snake-like stone (serpentine, jasper, or obsidian work well)

The Ritual:

Set the Mood – Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Light the candles, sit with the stone in your hand, and take a few deep breaths.
Acknowledge What Needs to Go – Hold the piece of fabric/thread and think about what you’re ready to shed. Is it self-doubt? A toxic connection? A habit that’s been holding you back? Speak it out loud.
Cut or Burn the Thread – As you sever the thread, say:“Like the serpent who sheds with grace, I leave behind what no longer serves me. I step forward, new and unbound.”
Bury or Scatter the Remains – Place the ashes or fabric in the dish of salt/earth, symbolizing that what is released will be transmuted.
Hold the Stone & Set Your Intention – Close your eyes and focus on who you are becoming. Feel yourself sliding out of your old skin, stepping forward into something clearer, freer, and fully aligned with your magic.
Blow Out the Candles & Move Forward – Take a moment to feel lighter, stronger, and just a little more untamed.

Embracing Your Inner Serpent

Spring is a powerful, primal season—not just of light and joy, but of deep transformation. And transformation isn’t neat. It’s messy, raw, and sometimes uncomfortable.

But when we embrace the process, when we shed with intention, we step into our power in a way that is real, grounded, and deeply magical.

So this Equinox, don’t just plant seeds. Shed. Let go of the past, slide into the new, and embrace the wild, untamed energy of renewal.

Because, my dear witches, you were never meant to stay the same.

🐍✨ Ready to molt? Drop a 🐍 in the comments if you’re shedding something this season!