ouroboros
The ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. It represents the concept of infinity, the cyclical nature of life, and the idea that destruction and creation are perpetually intertwined in a closed loop. In modern usage, it is frequently invoked in philosophy, psychology, and literature to describe processes that are self-sustaining or recursive. It often carries a mystical or somber tone, suggesting that the end is always contained within the beginning.
In conversation
Discussing a complex theory
The way this project loops back to the initial problem is kind of poetic.
The way this project loops back to the initial problem is kind of poetic.
It’s a total ouroboros. We’re just solving the same issues we created at the start.
It’s a total ouroboros. We’re just solving the same issues we created at the start.
Used metaphorically to describe a self-defeating or repeating cycle.
Examples
The ancient symbol of the ouroboros represents eternity.
The ancient symbol of the ouroboros represents eternity.
The bureaucratic process became an ouroboros, with every new regulation requiring another to fix the first.
The bureaucratic process became an ouroboros, with every new regulation requiring another to fix the first.
In alchemy, the ouroboros signifies the unity of matter, where the serpent symbolizes the transmutation of the soul through eternal recurrence.
In alchemy, the ouroboros signifies the unity of matter, where the serpent symbolizes the transmutation of the soul through eternal recurrence.
