For as long as we have known, the shrewdness of the serpent or Snake has been admired because of its wily and crafty ways. Tales have been told and lessons taught in regard to some of the positive characteristics we can learn from these animals. Here's a quick breakdown of some of these characteristics:

• The snake sheds its skin on average two to four times a year. Young snakes that are growing may shed every couple weeks. The snake sheds its skin when its insides are too big for its outside skin. We can learn from the snake the need for internal growth and the necessity of external shedding of old thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, etc that restrict us.
• The shedding process is difficult and makes the snake vulnerable. Also, if the shedding process is not done right, it could lead to infection or other issues. We can learn some things from this as well. Even though change may seem difficult in the moment, it is necessary for our long-term growth. It's also important to do correctly and to be done in a place where we can have the space and time to get through the process and become stronger in the end.
• The snake sniffs out its surroundings and goes toward the strongest scent. The snake's two-pronged tongue is used to sense smell in two different directions. The snake frequently sniffs out its surroundings until it finds its next meal. The snake then moves toward the strongest scent. This characteristic can apply toward our goals in life. We need to be regularly accessing where we are at in relationship to our goals.
• Snakes seem to find the path of least resistance and the fastest progress. This is a great application in how we deal with the challenges in our lives. We can face our challenges and redirect the energies from them into something positive and/or let go of false negativity.
• Snakes seem to come out of nowhere. There are a couple of applications to our lives from his example. As we continually prepare ourselves for success in our chosen endevear, we need to continually access where we are at and where we need to go. We need to see the opportunities before us and move at the right time.
• Snakes seem to have an intuitive nature as a result of these skill sets. This is a great example of how wisdom can appear in someone's life as they continually use and practice the previously mentioned skills.

Bringing It All Together

Snakes demonstrate their shrewdness by shedding their skin a couple of times a year just as we need to let go of old things in our lives in order to grow. Shedding of the skin needs to be done correctly just as change in our personally lives needs to be done correctly. The snake sniffs out its surroundings until they find their next meal just as we need to Continually access where we are at in relationship to our goals. Snakes find the path of least resistance just as we need to allow positive challenges to send us in positive directions and let go of negativity. Snakes seem to come out of nowhere just as we need to be always be preparing to achieve a successful endevear and looking for opportunities to appear. This combination of skill sets causes snakes to appear to have an intuitive nature just as applied wisdom can do for us.

Your Application

Do you make the necessary changes to grow in your life on a regular basis? Do you know how to make changes in a healthy and productive manner? Are you accessing where you are at continually in relationship to your goals? Are you using challenges to direct you in positive ways and are you letting go of negative energy? Are you continually preparing for opportunities in your chosen endevear and keeping your eyes open for them? Do you have a combination of these skills that appear to be the intuition and shrewdness of the serpent?