I've read the Indian tale you sent us. You asked for comments. Well, here you are.
Every fairy tale or myth tells us as a rule about transitions of heroes from one world to another by means of transmutation or through destruction of their body form -- according to my dad's words. In this story we can see transitions between different worlds too -- at first Snake with big feet is transformed to Snake with mocassins and after this to a brave human. A fairy tale reflects reality through unusual descriptions, symbols. The Snake doesn't necessarily mean a serpent of the reptile world. In fact it symbolizes a human being crossing the borders between worlds of spiritual nature. The world of snakes is a low physical plane where Snake with big feet lives at the beginning of his conscious life. He is different from usual residents of this lower world, and this implies that he doesn't really belong to this plane and is able to cross its border. Mocassins are the sign of Snake's initiation into the higher (middle) world of animals. Inhabitants of this middle world can be good or evil. Snake fights the evil and seeks for friends one of which helps him to ascend further. And once again in his striving for progression Snake falls in love with a daughter of an Indian chief as a symbol of most precious, human or heavenly world. Fast, prayers and finally fire (one more symbol of soul purification) lead him to near death condition (near transition state). A medicine man, his Teacher, Guardian and Guide, does help him to gain a truly human appearance on the bonfire and to become a complete member of god-like humanity.
Olya
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