Renewal: Imbolc & Snake Shamanic Wisdom

I’ve noticed the first crocuses poking their heads out of the ground, tenderly reaching for the sun, as winter’s grip slowly loosens. Imbolc is here—a time when the earth, still quiet from winter, begins to stir with the first hints of spring. The days are growing longer, and there’s a distinct shift in the air—lighter, brighter, and a promise of what's to come. New life!  Imbolc, the Celtic beginning of spring, is a season of potential. It's a moment when the seeds of renewal are planted, and we too are invited to shed what no longer serves us and open ourselves up to what’s emerging.

This time of year, is a quiet, yet powerful invitation to embrace transformation. This time aligns beautifully with the energy of the Chinese Year of the Snake. As we step into this year, we are reminded of the profound wisdom of the serpent, an archetype also rooted in Andean shamanic traditions. The snake is not merely a creature that slithers through the earth; it carries deep energy for growth, healing, and renewal.

The snake’s journey of shedding its skin is a perfect reflection of our own potential for change. Each time it molts, it leaves behind the old, the worn-out, and the outdated, stepping into a new version of itself. This transformation mirrors our own capacity to release what no longer serves us, to shed old patterns, and make space for what is waiting to emerge. We’ve all experienced this moment at various points in our lives—when we are called to let go of an old version of ourselves in order to step into something new.


And just as Imbolc signals the slow but steady emergence of new life from the earth, this year feels particularly ripe for transformation. Look around — you can feel the energy of things shifting. Old ways are falling away, leaving space for something fresh, vibrant, and alive. We are being called, both personally and collectively, to embrace this season of rebirth. 

The serpent’s shedding is connected to the root energy,  at the base of our spine. Just as the earth roots us to the physical world, our own root connects us to Mother Earth and our primal instincts. The snake is also linked to this root where we can awaken the dormant power of the kundalini — an ancient, coiled energy waiting to rise. When awakened, this energy travels through the energy body, leading us to greater awareness and spiritual awakening. It’s a path of profound transformation, one that helps us reconnect with ourselves and the divine.

The serpent’s energy teaches us something powerful. It invites us to bring the divine into our bodies, to embody the sacred here and now. The message isn’t about escaping the physical world; it’s about grounding spirit into matter, living in alignment with our higher selves, while staying deeply connected to the earth. It reminds us to welcome change.

So, I ask you: What is the old skin you are shedding as you emerge into this season of renewal? What new skin are you ready to step into?

Personally, I can feel the shift in my own life. My new skin is focused more on creativity, art, sound, and community. Also to renew my physical body and health and connect to a deeper, more soulful transformation in my life. I am unfolding, many new aspects of my psyche and spirit that are guiding me toward a truer, more authentic expression of who I am.

I invite you to pause and reflect on your own journey.

The serpent teaches us that shedding is not necessarily gradual or painful. It can be a powerful, immediate act of embracing the new. It’s about walking through life with beauty, grace, and alignment belly to belly with the earth—embodying the divine in every step, just as the earth embodies the returning light and new life.

As we navigate this year of transformation, may we all remember the wisdom of the serpent. May we trust in our ability to shed the old, to embrace the new, and to step into our own power. The serpent is not just an animal; it’s a state of being—a state that connects us to both the physical world and the divine. When we master this, we become more aligned, and more deeply connected to our true purpose.

Here’s to a year of rebirth—where transformation is not just possible, but inevitable.