Ophidicism

 Karen Heagle: Woman with Snake, (2008)

The ancient and formerly widespread practice of ophidicism, or sex with snakes, is poorly understood if the serpent is simply thought to be a phallic substitute.

For the joy of having a large python between your legs, or of feeling a small viper wriggle free from your vagina is real enough in and of itself. It is no more than human male conceit to imagine that a woman always needs a man's penis for her pleasure and fulfilment.

This is not to advocate zoophilia, or encourage women to insert limbless creatures into their bodies. But, having said that, life is short, pleasures are limited and there are certainly worse things that one might do (and worse sexual partners one might have).

Indeed, it might be argued that if we are to overcome our bad conscience and enter into a post-moral paradise in which the snake curls in peace about the ankle of Eve at last, then we will need a new understanding of our humanity and our intimate relationship with other species.

Perhaps ophidicism might play a small but vital part in this revaluation of values. And perhaps Lawrence was right to say that it will be a sign of bliss when we are finally reconciled with the serpent and brought to the fateful realization that there is nothing in this world and this life to be ashamed of.