The Resurfacing of the Snake

St. Patrick is one of the most well-known Catholic saints in human history. He is celebrated internationally in the United States, Brazil, Australia, Britain, and of course, Ireland, where he has been honored as the patron saint of the country for centuries.

Among the many miracles he supposedly performed, Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes from Ireland’s shores in the 5th century AD. However, all is not as it seems—for Ireland never had these reptiles to begin with.

So how did Patrick come to be credited with such an impossible task?

Ireland was cut off from snakes by the last Ice Age more than 7,000 years ago.

Patrick wrote of converting tribes by battling and defeating their Druids: men and women who were healers, teachers, spiritual leaders and tribal elders. Nowhere in his writings does he ever mention snakes.

Ireland has never had snake species, so Patrick could never have driven them out.

So, what really happened?

What we know of St. Patrick’s history comes from 2 historical documents written by Patrick himself. Born a Christian in Rome and sold into slavery, Patrick broke free from his owners and escaped to France. Ten years later, he returned to Ireland to help others who he saw as enslaved. He 'peacefully' converted Ireland to Christianity, saving lives by destroying traditional beliefs, erasing thousands of years of wisdom from Ireland’s Native peoples who were connected to their land.

Ever wonder why St. Patrick is associated with shamrocks? Ireland’s native peoples had venerated shamrocks for years as living symbols of the triskele—the Goddess’ triple spiral representing Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Early Christian colonists, including St. Patrick, used this existing symbol to explain the Holy Trinity of God.

Both mom and I don't celebrate St. Patrick's day for the same reasons we don't celebrate Christopher Columbus Day or Thanksgiving. Yes, between each other we do cook a big feast for our family, but neither of us don't go overboard with decor, wearing costumes, having a theactrical reenactment of the holiday, etc. This time of year, just like Indigenous Peoples Day, (for mom and myself), is a time of remembrance and honoring our ancestors who were forced onto another path that wasn't of their choosing. In that era of time, those who opposed, which were probably hundreds of thousands, possibly even more than that. When upon refusal, these same souls were brutally murdered by the hands of this green wearing piece of excrement, called Saint Patrick. To me and my mother, this so called 'Saint', in our eyes, was an insidious monster disguised in human skin.

It only takes one individual to change the course of history, and not for the better in some cases. In the present we unearth our ancestral roots to discover our ancient family magic. To reflect, heal and grow past the ignorance and hate. For today, we celebrate this long-honored holiday as All Snakes’ Day—we step into the drunken, green-dyed fray bedecked of our sacred snakes. We honor the fallen elders and wisdom-keepers of the past. We remember and explore the shadows of hidden history to transform it. We say onto to the malicious spirit of St. Patrick and the ones who carried out his devious deeds by his side, "Hey, Patrick! You Missed Several Thousands!"

We're still here and we are not going anywhere. We survive, we thrive and are taking back what was stolen. You cannot bury the truth of history, nor the knowledge and magic of its people and place it with corrupted lies without consequences of the original truth being unearthed.

Many of my sisters and brothers worldwide are waking up, and a lot of us have already been awake. One thing is for sure; we reclaim the lost medicine of the Serpent.

Blessed All-Snakes Day to all who celebrate. May your ancestors keep you strong and The Goddess guide you always.