Our Reptilian Ancestry

In my work as a transpersonal psychology/ spirituality coach, I cannot help but recognizing the resourceful energy that can be borrowed from animal archetypes. When woven with ancient wisdom and knowledge derived from modern science they may generate new insight or assist in healing. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of our reptilian ancestry—a term that emerges repeatedly in various fields. You have potentially heard any of the following at some point in your life: the reptilian brain, kundalini energy, reptilian humans, and the snake symbolism used in the Bible and in medicine.

The term reptilian brain refers to the basal ganglia, a part of the brain involved in instinctual and survival-related behaviors. Though the triune brain model, popularized by Paul MacLean, has been critiqued for oversimplification, it still offers a useful metaphor for understanding our primal and instinctual responses (MacLean 1990; Panksepp 1998).

Snake symbolism appears across cultures, scientific fields, and spiritual systems alike. In Hinduism, snakes embody kundalini energy—a coiled force at the base of the spine that, when awakened, allegedly ascends toward enlightenment (Feuerstein 1997). Similarly, the ouroboros, an ancient symbol of a serpent eating its tail, represents infinity and cyclical renewal (Jung 1964).

It’s intriguing that the Chinese year 2025 is dedicated to the snake. In Chinese astrology, the snake is a symbol of wisdom, mystery, and transformation, which mirrors what many of us are encountering spiritually and psychologically this year (Lau 2005).

From an evolutionary perspective, the connection deepens. Dinosaurs didn’t vanish—they evolved. Birds, our modern avian companions, are now known to be living descendants of theropod dinosaurs (Brusatte 2018). This reminds us that even gentle creatures like sparrows carry within them a reptilian lineage.

The panspermia hypothesis from astrobiology adds another fascinating layer. It suggests that the seeds of life—perhaps even DNA precursors—may have been delivered by celestial bodies like asteroids (Crick and Orgel 1973; Wickramasinghe 2011). If we consider that the mass extinction event which ended the age of the dinosaurs involved an asteroid, the cosmic and the evolutionary are deeply entwined.

Spiritually, the snake has long been misunderstood. In Western narratives, such as the Christian Genesis story, it is demonized. Yet in Gnostic texts, the serpent is a bearer of divine wisdom—an agent of awakening rather than corruption (Pagels 1979).

In shamanic practice, particularly neoshamanism, snakes or reptilian entities may be summoned for transformation, healing, and energy work (Harner 1990). Examples of spirit animals like the owl—a modern bird with dinosaur ancestry—or the crocodile, which has remained evolutionarily consistent for millions of years, could be important collaborators in journeying and healing sessions.

Even ancient sites reflect this reverence. The Neolithic temples in Malta feature spiral carvings that echo snake imagery, perhaps symbolizing energy, time, or the cyclical patterns of consciousness (Trump 2002).

Ultimately, to judge snake or reptilian energy as wholly good or evil is to miss the complexity they carry. As with any archetype or spiritual symbol, discernment is key. The reptilian force may have once believed it was the sole creator—but like us, it evolves. Within its ancient coils lies a potent, neutral energy—capable of healing, transformation, and deeper cosmic connection.

Bibliography:

Brusatte, Stephen. 2018. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World. New York: William Morrow.

Crick, Francis, and Leslie Orgel. 1973. “Directed Panspermia.” Icarus 19 (3): 341–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(73)90110-3.

Feuerstein, Georg. 1997. The Shambhala Guide to Yoga. Boston: Shambhala.

Harner, Michael. 1990. The Way of the Shaman. New York: HarperOne.

Jung, Carl G. 1964. Man and His Symbols. New York: Doubleday.

Lau, Theodora. 2005. The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes. New York: Souvenir Press.

MacLean, Paul D. 1990. The Triune Brain in Evolution: Role in Paleocerebral Functions. New York: Plenum Press.

Pagels, Elaine. 1979. The Gnostic Gospels. New York: Random House.

Panksepp, Jaak. 1998. Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Trump, David H. 2002. Malta: Prehistory and Temples. Midsea Books.

Wickramasinghe, Chandra. 2011. The Search for Our Cosmic Ancestry. London: World Scientific.