Cave of Ouroborus
May 17, 2009
On the Serpentine Road you have consistently seen the sign of the Ouroborus.
There have been manholes and votive signs.
Ouroborus has a cave in the rock face beyond the House of the Serpents.
It is time to visit and make an offering.
Far off, unknown, beyond the range of thought,
scarce reached by gods, the years’ rough haggard mother,
stands a primeval Cave in whose vast breast,
is Time’s cradle and womb. A Serpent encloses,
the Cave, consuming all things with slow power,
and green scales always glinting. Its mouth devours,
the backbent tail as with mute motion it traces,
its beginning. At the entrance Nature sits,
the threshold-guardian, aged and yet lovely,
and round her gather and flit on every side
Spirits. A Venerable Man writes down
immutable laws. He fixes the number of stars
in every constellation, makes some of them move and others hang at rest.
So all things live or die by predetermined laws…
When the Sun rested on the cave’s wide threshold,
Nature ran in her might to meet him; the Old Man bent
grey hairs to the proud rays. Of its own accord
the admantine door swung open, revealing
the huge interior, displaying the House
the Secrets of Time. Here in appointed places
the Ages dwell, with varying Metals marking
their aspect. Those of brass are there upheaped,
there stiff the iron, there the silver gleaming;
shy of earth-contacts, in a distinguished section,
is set the flock of golden years.”
from Claudian On the Consulship of Stilicho
Activity
Download and print a copy of an Ouroborus Mandala and use it and Claudian’s work as a meditative tool and guided imagery. Commune with the Rainbow Serpent who fills the cave that Claudian speaks of. Offer a gift! Share any revelations or responses.
