The Ouroboros and it’s symbology relating to the inner child
The symbol of ouroboros is an ancient image of a serpent or a dragon eating its own tail. It represents the cyclical nature of life, death and rebirth, as well as the eternal return of all things. The ouroboros also symbolizes the unity of opposites, such as light and dark, creation and destruction, or life and death. The word ouroboros comes from the Greek words for “tail” and “eating”, and it has been used in various cultures and traditions throughout history.
Some Jungian analysts have interpreted it as a symbol of the individuation process, the integration of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche. The inner child, according to Jung, is a part of the personal unconscious that retains the original sense of wholeness, innocence and creativity. It is also a link to the collective unconscious, the realm of archetypes that transcend individual experience. The source archetype, as defined by Jung, is the primordial image of the origin and end of all things, the ultimate ground of being. It is often associated with God, the Self, or the cosmic order. When we die, Jung suggested, we return to the source archetype, where we are reunited with our true essence and potential.
Could the ouroboros be a symbol of this connection between the inner child and the source archetype? Perhaps it could be seen as a metaphor for the journey of the soul, which begins and ends in the same place, but undergoes transformation and growth along the way. The ouroboros could also represent the paradoxical nature of the source archetype, which is both one and many, eternal and changing, immanent and transcendent. The inner child, as a manifestation of the source archetype, could embody this paradox as well, being both innocent and wise, playful and serious, creative and destructive. By embracing our inner child, we might be able to access the source archetype within us, and prepare ourselves for the ultimate return to it.
