The Serpent as an Ancient Symbol of Inner Change
Across cultures, serpents appear as markers of inner evolution, rebirth, and emotional depth. In tarot, they move between the worlds of instinct and intuition, carrying meanings tied to cycles, shadow work, and renewal. When serpentine forms emerge in my surreal artwork—coiling botanicals, fluid hybrid creatures, or soft horror silhouettes—they echo these timeless symbolic qualities. Their movement and shape suggest transformation that happens quietly, internally, and often invisibly. The serpent becomes a subtle guide through emotional landscapes.
Death and the Serpent’s Power of Shedding
In tarot, Death is not a symbol of literal ending but of profound transformation. The serpent aligns with this card through its ability to shed skin, revealing an unexpected softness beneath the surface. In my serpentine-inspired artworks, the forms often appear intertwined with flowers, roots, or mirrored botanical shapes. These connections reflect the emotional shedding that Death represents—the release of outdated identities, inner patterns, or emotional weight. The fluid motion of the serpent becomes a visual metaphor for the transition from one state of being to another, carried with both delicacy and strength.
The High Priestess and Intuitive Serpent Wisdom
The High Priestess embodies silent knowing, intuitive depth, and the unseen world. Serpents in tarot often appear as guardians of hidden knowledge, coiling around thresholds of truth. In my art, their presence within botanical structures or floating beside symbolic faces expresses this same quiet intelligence. Their curves and spirals resemble the flow of instinctual understanding—something felt before it is named. These serpentine forms move softly, as if following an inner frequency. They echo the High Priestess’s energy of introspection, sensitivity, and subtle emotional perception.
The Wheel of Fortune and Cyclical Serpent Movement
The Wheel of Fortune represents cycles, fate, and turning points. Serpents are natural symbols of circular motion, transformation through repetition, and the rise and fall of emotional states. When I paint serpents that coil around botanicals or curve into looping shapes, they express this rotational energy. The artwork captures a moment within a larger cycle: a shift, a return, a new beginning. The spirals, loops, and mirrored shapes in my serpent imagery reflect the Wheel’s message that growth often comes through movement, change, and rhythm.
Shadow Growth Through Serpentine Imagery
Snakes are often misunderstood symbols, linked to fear or danger. In tarot, however, they frequently point toward the shadow—the unexplored aspects of the self that hold untapped potential. My surreal serpent forms carry this sense of shadow growth. They appear gentle rather than threatening, inviting rather than hostile. Their softness suggests that confronting one’s inner shadow can be a process of curiosity rather than force. When intertwined with glowing seeds or luminous botanicals, they represent transformation emerging from emotional honesty and self-awareness.
Botanical Serpents as Emotional Ecosystems
The serpents in my artwork are rarely solitary. They blend into ecosystems of flowers, spores, and tendrils. This integration echoes tarot’s understanding of transformation as interconnected rather than isolated. Growth happens within a wider emotional environment. A serpent winding through petals becomes a symbol of instinct woven with vulnerability. A snake-like form emerging from shadowed leaves signifies new understanding rising from complexity. These compositions turn serpents into living emotional landscapes.
Colour Logic and Symbolic Tension
In tarot imagery, serpents are often associated with specific colour energies—deep greens for intuition, reds for vitality, blues for the subconscious. My palette mirrors these emotional tones. Electric greens wrap around serpentine shapes, creating an intuitive glow. Red lines pulse through their limbs like energy. Blue shadows surround them like dream-space. This chromatic language reinforces the connection between serpents, intuition, and inner transformation.
Contemporary Serpent Art as a Path to Inner Awareness
While my artwork is not created as tarot illustration, the serpentine forms within it align closely with tarot’s symbolic depth. They speak of emotional cycles, intuitive knowing, shadow integration, and personal rebirth. By blending serpents with botanicals, glowing centres, and surreal portraiture, the work transforms ancient symbolism into a contemporary emotional vocabulary. The result is a visual world where serpents become guides—quiet, fluid, and deeply connected to the inner journey.
