Ouroboros

Back in my college days I edited an environmental column in the Augsburg College student newspaper entitled Ouroboros (pronounced as or-oh-bor-us). The name in Greek is οὐροβóρος and translates to "tail-devourer". The concept of this self-consuming creature is found in numerous secular and religious traditions and is a part of Aztec, Chinese and Viking cultures. Plato described it as the first living thing in the universe - a self-eating, circular and immortal being.

Becoming aquainted with the metaphorical implications of the creature undoubtedly shaped my world views during those impressionable college years that included the first Earth Day. Whenever I think about how the planet should work I think about this cyclical, self-renewing symbol for sustainable nature and rebirth.

Ouroboros is woven into North American culture in interesting ways. Examples include having X-Files' Dana Scully getting the tattoo of the Ouroboros put on her back, dialogue about ouroboros in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith references it, and the image is part of the Phi Alpha Theta honor society emblem.

Treat Mother Nature badly, and she bites back.