The serpent has always been a principal player among the noble beasts of mythology, mysticism and religion, Eastern and Western. The renowned scholar of magick, Nicholas Flamel (d1418) catalogued the various symbols and processes of alchemy in his Codex. He alluded to how Moses nailed a serpent to a staff or cross so "that it might be seen before all the people and they might recover from the pestilence". It is a symbol of the healing power of the crucified Christ (John, Ch 3 V14). For the snake to release its healing power, it had to be transfixed with a golden nail and its poison drawn out. Thus for Jesus to become divine and release his healing power for the sake of Mankind, he was crucified.
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