Commentary: The young maiden and the snake

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor

My family, like most families, shares photos of its members via email. It’s exhilarating to see the children and grandchildren, the native citizens of cyberspace, maturing over the years. It’s likewise powerfully poignant to see us older members, the “legal residents” of cyberspace, begin the decline toward our sunset years, as they are euphemistically described.

This past week, one of the shared photos intrigued me as I stared at it. The image depicted my grandniece, Jade, holding a 5-foot snake with the diameter of a large French baguette. The reptile appeared comfortable as it wrapped itself through her arms.

When we think of 8-year-old girls holding snakes, we imagine them (the girls — not the snakes) tense, with facial expressions denoting fear if not outright terror. Boys probably have the same reaction, but especially in front of other boys or men, young male pride wouldn’t allow them to shriek or at least gasp with fear, as instinct would direct.

The snakes themselves react according to the aura emitted by their handlers.

But Jade appeared supremely confident and relaxed, boldly staring into the eyes of the snake as if to let it know who was in charge. Her demeanor was undoubtedly transmitted to the snake via natural processes we’ll never fully understand. This creature was willing to submit itself entirely to the control of this demoiselle, this strikingly beautiful half-Mexican, half-Asian maiden.

“There’s something supremely archetypal about this image,” I thought to myself as I pondered it. Indeed, the Asian and Mexican cultures are, as most others, rich in serpentine symbology. Women and snakes have been associated with each other since the dawn of time: the biblical Eve; the Mexican goddess Coatlicue, who wore a skirt of writhing snakes; Nehebka, an Egyptian falcon-winged cobra goddess; Medusa, numinous daughter of deities, a beatific maiden until she was caught red-handed with the Lord of the Sea, Poseidon, at which point her hair was transformed to snakes. Nothing, of course, was done to the guy, Poseidon. Some things never change.

Likewise, “Beauty and the Beast” came to mind.

I dwelt upon the ability of women to tame the beasts in their lives — including the men in their world — by exercising their power as a female, whether that be through her shrewdness, cleverness, intelligence or sheer beauty.

Just as Eve of the Old Testament talked with the serpent, so, too, did I see Jade communicating with this lovely beast that symbolizes fertility, passion, immortality and eternity. She was holding the history of ancient ritual in her hands, and it succumbed to the power of this young girl, recognizing her as lady and master.

— David Magallanes is about to embark on a speaking and writing career whose purpose is to promote and facilitate the attainment of the American Dream.  As an optimistic American of Mexican descent and an educator in college mathematics, he brings a unique perspective to issues of our day.  He may be contacted for speaking requests or for commentary at adelantos@msn.com