There are two primary types of Ouroboros: one which merely holds the tip of its tail between its jaws, and one which swallows it(self).
The former is static. It describes a circle, and partakes of the symbolic meaning of the circle, which is perfect, eternal, and divides the universe into inside and outside. It is a magic barrier or circle of protection, and represents eternal life and perfection.
The Ouroboros that swallows its tail is dynamic. It describes a spiral force, and partakes of the symbolic meaning of the spiral, which is cyclical, moving, changing, evolving. If we follow mentally the consequences of a serpent swallowing its tail, we see that in a magical sense it will reduce itself to a single point and vanish from the universe utterly. Hence the Ouroboros swallowing its tail represents the gateway between our universe and the absolute, or to put it more poetically, the Eye of God
In the image of the Ouroboros (the serpent swallowing its own tail) lies the thought of devouring oneself and turning oneself into a circulatory process... The Ouroboros is a dramatic symbol for the integration and assimilation of the opposite, i.e., of the shadow...it is said of the Ouroboros that he slays himself and brings himself to life, fertilizes himself and gives birth to himself."

did you get all that?
Last edited by ElanthianSiren; 09-09-2008 at 06:29 PM.
"We are the change that we've been screaming for."
- Strung Out, Mission Statement
If you receive rep signed -M, it's probably from me... or one of the other three people using the same signature. In the scheme of things though, do you really care?