Let me explain what Naag Tantra is all about. It originates from ancient Indian esoteric traditions and involves the mystical worship and calling upon of serpents, known as naag or naga. These serpents stand for fundamental energies like primal power, change, insight, and protection. Within Hindu Tantra, they represent the kundalini shakti, which is imagined as a coiled sacred energy at the bottom of the spine. People perform rituals to awaken this energy, aiming for spiritual awakening and higher consciousness. This idea of serpent mysticism isn’t limited to India; it appears in different ways around the world, where snakes often symbolize opposing forces such as life versus death, healing versus poison, and growth versus ruin. Although Naag Tantra itself is an Eastern concept, its core ideas echo in Western occult paths like Wicca, Voodoo, and Hoodoo, and also in traditions from Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese folklore. By referring to respected books and sources on the occult, this article breaks down how serpents are used in practices, ceremonies, and calls in these systems, showing how they connect the everyday world to the spiritual one.
Serpent Symbolism in Wicca
To understand serpents in Wicca, consider that Wicca is a contemporary pagan movement that focuses on honoring nature and mixing various magical approaches. Here, serpents represent ideas like renewal, connection to the earth’s vitality, and deep personal shifts. This differs from the Bible’s portrayal of the serpent as a deceiver; instead, Wiccans draw from older pagan beliefs, viewing snakes as protectors of secret wisdom and as examples of ongoing renewal because they shed their old skin. This connects to wider mystical views of serpents, where they embody the raw energy of the planet and processes of inner alchemy or transformation.
In practice, Wiccans weave serpent images into their spells to foster self-improvement or safeguard themselves. For example, someone might place shed snake skins into small bags to help release bad habits, symbolizing the shedding process. Or, during rituals under a full moon, they could call on serpent energy to build personal strength. These ceremonies might include imagining a serpent wrapping around one’s body to stir up internal energy, similar to the kundalini concept but tailored to Wicca’s focus on the elements like earth, air, fire, and water. Reliable sources, such as Patti Wigington’s work on Serpent Magic and Symbolism, explain how snakes serve as companions to the earth, appearing in old stories for purposes like curing illnesses and foretelling the future. Similarly, in Scott Cunningham’s book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, serpents are linked to wisdom in lists of animal meanings, even if they’re not the main focus.
Here’s an example of a basic Wiccan call to a serpent, which could be recited while setting up a sacred circle: “O ancient serpent, wise and bold, uncoil your power, stories told. Grant me sight through shadowed veil, in earth’s embrace, let wisdom prevail.” This comes from traditional pagan recitations that highlight change, and it’s often said three times while grasping a serpent-shaped amulet.
Serpent Occult in Voodoo
Voodoo, also called Vodou, is a religion that developed from African spiritual roots mixed with Catholic elements, mainly in places like Haiti and Louisiana. It gives a key role to serpents through the spirit known as Damballah Wedo, who is seen as the original father of the sky and the creator. Shown as a massive white snake, Damballah stands for purity, knowledge, fertility, and universal harmony, frequently alongside his partner Ayida-Weddo, a rainbow serpent. This is similar to how serpents in Naag Tantra are viewed as sources of life, but in Voodoo, people call on them specifically for wealth and recovery.
The ceremonies include presenting white items like eggs, milk, or rice on altars during gatherings, where attendees might enter a state of spirit possession. When Damballah takes over, it leads to snake-like twisting and sounds like hissing. A standard ceremony features sketching veves, which are holy designs, using cornmeal, along with beating drums and singing to invite the spirits. In the Voodoo of New Orleans, serpents are thought to shield from bad luck, and charms made from snakes are placed in protective bags called mojos.
Trusted references include Kenaz Filan’s The Haitian Vodou Handbook, which outlines the steps for Damballah ceremonies as ways to connect with the spirits, stressing his part in origin stories where he shapes the waters of the world. Denise Alvarado’s Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook, which crosses over into Hoodoo, talks about calling on serpents to attract riches.
A classic Voodoo recitation for Damballah goes like this: “Damballah Wedo, papa loa, serpent ancient, bring the rain, heal the pain, in your coils we gain.” It’s performed in Creole language during ceremonies, repeated with clapping in rhythm to help reach a trance state.
Serpent Magic in Hoodoo
Hoodoo is a form of folk magic from African American communities, centered on everyday spellwork or conjure. It employs serpents for defense, hexing, and seeking fairness. Different from structured faiths, Hoodoo relies on rootwork, which means using plants, animal pieces, and verses from the Bible. Snakes here signify cleverness and strength, with their shed skins or teeth added to mixtures like hot foot powder to repel adversaries or to spells meant to cross or harm in retaliation.
Common methods involve placing snake heads underground near entrances to block harm or incorporating rattles from rattlesnakes into lucky charms called mojos. Back in times of enslavement, serpents in Hoodoo symbolized fighting back, as magic practitioners used them to counter those in power. Ceremonies could feature reading Psalm 91 aloud over oil derived from snakes for safety.
Important books on this include Alvarado’s Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook, which provides recipes involving serpents, such as using black snake root to remove curses. Catherine Yronwode’s Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic mentions snake components in genuine mixtures. Zora Neale Hurston’s Mules and Men records Hoodoo stories, including those with serpent amulets.
One such call might be: “Black snake, coil and strike, bind my foes in the night. By the power of root and bone, leave me be, or be gone.” It’s spoken softly over a piece of snake skin as sulfur is burned.
Nagas in Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibetan Buddhism, nagas are half-godly snake-like entities that watch over riches, bodies of water, and the teachings of the Buddha. They represent balance with the environment, and if upset by things like pollution from humans, they might cause sickness. This is much like the nature-focused serpent reverence in Naag Tantra, where nagas safeguard holy places.
The rituals feature naga pujas, which are sessions of giving milk, seeds, and scented smoke at water sites or temples to calm them and ask for rainfall or well-being. Monks recite sacred texts, such as the Naga Offering Ritual by Mipham Rinpoche, while picturing the nagas accepting special food offerings called tormas. In the advanced Vajrayana branch, nagas show up in complex diagrams called mandalas, signifying deep understanding.
Respected writings include Robert Beer’s The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, which shows images of nagas. The Nilamata Purana, from Kashmir, affects Tibetan writings on where nagas come from. Chogyal Namkhai Norbu’s The Practice for the Naga explains limited-access ceremonies.
A portion of a recitation could be: “Om Naga Raja Hum—guardians of the deep, accept this offering, bring peace and rain.” It’s said along with hand gestures during the pujas.
Snake Occult in Chinese Taoism and Folklore
Chinese mystical practices, closely linked to Taoism, regard snakes as emblems of endless life, change, and the passive yin force. In traditional tales, figures like Nuwa, who is part woman and part snake, are said to have made humans, and the story of the White Snake shows a snake being pursuing romance and spiritual growth. In Taoism, snakes relate to alchemical work, standing for the movement of life energy called qi and never-ending patterns.
Methods include arranging snake figures in feng shui for safety or performing ceremonies to call on snake deities at events like the Dragon Boat Festival to align with the natural world. In hidden Taoist practices, extracts from snakes are part of potions for long life.
Notable books are Taoism and the Arts of China by Stephen Little, which looks at snake designs. The Legend of the White Snake, found in Pu Songling’s works, describes serpents that change forms.
A call might go: “Serpent of the depths, uncoil your qi, grant eternal flow, harmony be.” It’s recited while holding still poses for meditation.
The Universal Serpent Path
To wrap this up, serpent mysticism in these various paths, much like in Naag Tantra, acts as a way to achieve change and equilibrium. Whether through Wiccan spells for new beginnings, Voodoo’s grand spirits, Hoodoo’s hands-on magic, Tibetan offerings to nagas, or Chinese pursuits of alchemy, serpents teach us about the strength of the natural world. Today, as people interested in the occult explore these, it’s important to approach with care, honoring the serpent’s balanced light and dark sides. Books like Filan’s guide and Alvarado’s spell collection offer starting points for more exploration, helping these old forces continue.
