Serpentine

It's the Year of the Snake, according the the Chinese calendar.

Personally speaking, snakes freak the hell out of me.  I wish I could be one of those badass chicks that totally digs snakes but. 

 No.

And so researching for this post was... a challenge, but I face challenges head on, so I share with you now some of my favorite Serpents.

{ kiss, kiss.}

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{ Lulu Lataska, snake charmer and Circassian.}

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{ dress up as a snake, or let a snake dress up as you. }

{ this dame's got snake coverage head to foot. }

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Of course, snakes have been used throughout history in art as well as religious practices.

{  Quetzalcoatl, Aztec feathered serpent deity of learning and knowledge. } 

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{ The strength of the serpent and the age-old battle of man v. beast is demonstrated in this ancient Greek sculpture, 'Laocoön and His Sons'.  I only wish the epic poem had survived! }

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{ In Japanese folklore, a nure-onna (lit. "wet woman") is a yōkai which resembles an amphibious creature with the head of a woman and the body of a snake. While the description of her appearance varies slightly from story to story, she has been described as being 300 m in length and has snake-like eyes, long claws, fangs and long, beautiful hair. She is typically spotted on a shore, washing her hair. }  

via.

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{ above:  Charles Rickett's The Great Worm, 1889 }

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... And if you're thinking about snakeskin in fashion....

{ no choice:  to go 'snake' is to go bold. }

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and then there's THIS, the Snake Woman...

if you're squeamish, watch with caution.

~.~ Have an amazing year, everyone! ~.~