Opened site 2007
Vanessa with Kittens, 2009Click on images to view entire slide show with arrow keys.
Pigs Feet, 1993
Measuring Space and Giving Recognition
Advocate and push yourself, expanding acceptance of our diverse humanity. Place yourself within a people different than yourself, measuring and seeing your resistance, overcomes differences with mindful participation. Open yourself finding and making new relationships and associations, and more importantly, giving some people unrecognized—a little focused attention. By simply being with other's, acknowledging equally, and sharing common ground, we create and define a better life together, often it is working on ourselves that makes that difference.
Shelby Lee Adams
Lincoln, Maw and Shorty, 1992
James and Clapper, 2006
Chester with Hounds, 1992
Children with Blind Horse, 2008
[mule]
Sherman with Hog's Head, 1992"We enjoy having you here and having things done we never had before. Ain’t no way we see it any other way, we see it only in a good way. If anything, your pictures help, more than anything. You let the people have the books and they enjoy seeing thereselves in the books and what you write up. They always somebody that’s goin' to be against you in everything, don’t care what you do. Your work is original. It’s real life and it’s the way we live. People away from here, they got all they need in life, they got new homes, new cars. They don’t know what it is to live a poor person’s life. People enjoys livin' from day to day, makin' it on their own, not out here crookin' somebody or stealin' something to make it; just makin' it, surviving on their own. That’s the way mountain people are. We just enjoy doin it, because it’s everyday things. If I go out here today and make enough to survive to the next day, I’m tickled to death. Long as I’ve got dinner on the table for my family. If I tell a man something, I tell the truth. I don’t lie."
Sherman Jacobs
October 2007
Sherman, 2008
Wade, 2005
Paul with Rabbit, 2006
Eric with Spike the Rooster, 1999
Angelia with Banty Rooster, 2003
Gobel with Puppy, 1983
Brice and Crow on Porch, 1992 [with Puppies]
Cody and Tank, 2004
Billy and Bethany with Coon Skins, 2004
4x5 Polaroids shared with family showing some of the compositions made before film was exposed.
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The Holiness Religion
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in
My name shall they cast out devils; they shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16: 17—18
King James Version of the Holy Bible
Lloyd Collins, left, holding two rattlesnakes, demonstrating his faith.
[ photo given to photographer by minister.]
When I first visited a serpent-handling church in 1983, I was invited by the preacher, Lloyd Collins, who pastored his rural church in Letcher Co. Lloyd was around 63 years of age then, a simple, humble country man in appearance. He stood about five feet six inches tall, clean-shaven, and a bit potbellied, with silver-grey hair, scared hands, and bright blue eyes. He had been practicing this religion for nearly 50 years when we met. He was my introduction to this Pentecostal Faith with signs practiced. There are many Holiness Pentecostal churches that do not practice the signs. A religion in my home county that I grew to greatly respect, a faith that requires a giving of one's self to practice or even witness clearly.
The Symbol of the Serpent and Signs Practiced
With the Eastern Kentucky Pentecostal Holiness church members I have spent time, attending services, snake hunting, talking with participant's, photographing and recording services. To them, the serpent is the symbol of the devil on earth. In this religion, when one is drawn or moved to take up serpents, they should be spiritually moved [anointed] and inspired by Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit.
One must be drawn to practice this religion, not coerced or told by another. The drawing power comes from religious study [prayer and fasting], or a personal spiritual calling, and in this region faith is often developed watching other family members, and believers drawing one to participate.
One can take up a serpent on faith or in themselves so moved, but only the devoted living within the church doctrines should do so. To the nonbeliever, outsider, and the newly introduced, when attending a service practitioners say, you are seeing and witnessing, the will of the Lord on this earth. They believe, the church member has been given the gift or sign to have power over the devil here on earth and they are demonstrating the gift, love, and strength of the Holy Spirit. Members say,"All the other signs when practiced demonstrate the same almighty love of the Lord." That is what the devoted I knew and have photographed would like for us to see, so they allow photography. Today with the media interest, many charlatans now practice, practice putting on a show.
There is no serpent worshiping cults, or Freudian views practiced here. I have gone into the woods with the snake hunters and caught wild timber rattlesnakes in our mountains, putting those snakes in my car in a special box. On the same day, taking them into a service myself and I have seen those exact serpents handled repeatedly in services and no one bitten. The "fresh wild one's," is what the serpent handlers say they want.
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The Holiness Religion
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in
My name shall they cast out devils; they shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16: 17—18
King James Version of the Holy Bible
[ photo given to photographer by minister.]
When I first visited a serpent-handling church in 1983, I was invited by the preacher, Lloyd Collins, who pastored his rural church in Letcher Co. Lloyd was around 63 years of age then, a simple, humble country man in appearance. He stood about five feet six inches tall, clean-shaven, and a bit potbellied, with silver-grey hair, scared hands, and bright blue eyes. He had been practicing this religion for nearly 50 years when we met. He was my introduction to this Pentecostal Faith with signs practiced. There are many Holiness Pentecostal churches that do not practice the signs. A religion in my home county that I grew to greatly respect, a faith that requires a giving of one's self to practice or even witness clearly.
Snake Hunter, 1983
Verlin's First Serpent Handling Experience, 1983
[Verlin is handling two copperheads in photo above, his parents are watching and praying in background.]
The process of surrender, as these religious devotees believe acknowledges that the ego is not controlling their rituals, freeing them from the bondage of the individuals rational thoughts so they may receive spiritual instructions. The mountain serpent handlers I know surrender themselves to the [anointing-energy-taking in] spirit of the Holy Ghost, overcoming personal will and desires, a meek and humbling connection is made, yet sometimes very powerful and infinitely connecting . In a church service they believe in giving themselves to the Lord's [higher spiritual power] literal biblical teachings to practice his faith and works.
This religion lives, applies and demonstrates regularly [the signs from the book of Mark] becoming and interconnecting to what they believe is God's greatness beyond ourselves, practiced for others [the sinners] to witness God's power here on earth. They believe each of us has this spirit within. It is up to us to pray for, find, search, discover and practice these gifts, given to all of us from the spirit of God to make ourselves whole with God and humanity.
Hort's Church Sign
Surrender to what "is," means that we trust the way life unfolds because events are not meaningless or the result of chance, and we depend on a larger knowing, rather than on what we decide. The serpent handlers believe God speaks to them personally, through the Holy Ghost [spirit] and then they are blessed and given the gift to practice the signs, sometimes only one gift [serpent or fire handling], sometimes many signs, most always anointed and blessed by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate to themselves and [to us] the world, these signs given.
With the Eastern Kentucky Pentecostal Holiness church members I have spent time, attending services, snake hunting, talking with participant's, photographing and recording services. To them, the serpent is the symbol of the devil on earth. In this religion, when one is drawn or moved to take up serpents, they should be spiritually moved [anointed] and inspired by Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit.
One must be drawn to practice this religion, not coerced or told by another. The drawing power comes from religious study [prayer and fasting], or a personal spiritual calling, and in this region faith is often developed watching other family members, and believers drawing one to participate.
One can take up a serpent on faith or in themselves so moved, but only the devoted living within the church doctrines should do so. To the nonbeliever, outsider, and the newly introduced, when attending a service practitioners say, you are seeing and witnessing, the will of the Lord on this earth. They believe, the church member has been given the gift or sign to have power over the devil here on earth and they are demonstrating the gift, love, and strength of the Holy Spirit. Members say,"All the other signs when practiced demonstrate the same almighty love of the Lord." That is what the devoted I knew and have photographed would like for us to see, so they allow photography. Today with the media interest, many charlatans now practice, practice putting on a show.
There is no serpent worshiping cults, or Freudian views practiced here. I have gone into the woods with the snake hunters and caught wild timber rattlesnakes in our mountains, putting those snakes in my car in a special box. On the same day, taking them into a service myself and I have seen those exact serpents handled repeatedly in services and no one bitten. The "fresh wild one's," is what the serpent handlers say they want.
The Blind Serpent Handler, 1987We cannot be separated from Nature as a whole because we are Nature, manifest in the form of people.
—Serpent Handler
Gracie Serpent Handling, 1986"The spirit is something you can't hardly explain. The feeling of the spirit of the Lord can't be explained without you having the spirit in your soul. It is a good feeling - it's a feeling too good to explain! Just like in heaven, you can't even wash the spirit of the Lord out of your hands. The spirit is something great. I've had the spirit in my arms, in my whole body. I've had it so much, I feel so weak I could fall out. I have to sit down sometimes. I feel so weak in the Lord- I'm in the spirit! If you understand the spirit of the Lord, it's not weakness or sickness but meekness in the spirit."
Gracie Holland, Happy, Kentucky
Gracie Serpent Handling, 1987[Two Timber Rattlesnakes]
Student- Marc Culp's photograph taken during the making of
"Gracie Serpent Handling," 1986, Happy, Ky.
As mysterium, the numinous is "wholly other"-- entirely different from anything we experience in ordinary life. It evokes a reaction of silence. But the numinous is also a mysterium tremendum. It provokes terror because it presents itself as overwhelming power. Finally, the numinous presents itself as fascinates, as merciful and gracious.
— Rudolf Otto
Holiness Hands with Serpent and Bible, 1987
[Hands of Ray, Gracie's husband.]
Holiness Man and Family, 1987
— Rudolf Otto
Holiness Boy with Serpent Box and Poison Jar, 1987
Without a surrender of attitude and mind, the body is always sensing danger. Properly understood these pictures represent a life and religion connected to a universal trust in God. Being blessed to practice this ritual and other signs for no matter how brief a time is a moment you never forget, humbling the participant, knowing and experiencing a part of our connectedness to each other and the divine. Some members of this religion may have the experience of serpent handling or other signs only once in their lives, yet others practice daily.
Serpent Box, 1986
Without a surrender of attitude and mind, the body is always sensing danger. Properly understood these pictures represent a life and religion connected to a universal trust in God. Being blessed to practice this ritual and other signs for no matter how brief a time is a moment you never forget, humbling the participant, knowing and experiencing a part of our connectedness to each other and the divine. Some members of this religion may have the experience of serpent handling or other signs only once in their lives, yet others practice daily.
All venomous serpents.
The Holiness Gathering, 1987
Brother Shell Fire-handling, 1987
When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 4 3:2
The Belief and Experience
In making this portfolio I was
allowed to witness, invited to participate and photograph the religious who
could enter into a truly natural altered [spiritual] state of mind, like stepping into a
multi-dimensional space—some believe universally accessible to all
those wanting to make the journey. The serpent handlers would say — they were
in the spirit receiving from God, and the Holy Ghost, the gift. In an open mental state [overcoming all fear], one can
handle serpents and practice the various other signs in many different manners
- when spiritually called and anointed. It is the invisible spirit and energy that moves these people so. Together, we have tried to capture in words and pictures something of that spirit. Some would call this an altered state of consciousness.
Serpent handling is the most
popularly known sign or gift practiced. Handling fire and poison drinking
are just as incredible to witness and see in person. Demonic possession can be
the most perplexing, this healing rite
[removing evil, often praying for the sick with cancer or tumors] can only be administered and witnessed by the most devout and not usually a part of a regular service.
[removing evil, often praying for the sick with cancer or tumors] can only be administered and witnessed by the most devout and not usually a part of a regular service.
Each experience, individually and personally called, often happens [so it seems spontaneously] in a member's home, in their yard, and of course in church. The
spiritual anointing is the real and powerful experience or blessing, as members like to say. "The sign or signs practiced are the gifts to you personally in the flesh and of this body,
for us to witness and see the power of our Lord," preachers instruct.
The blessed one can be spiritually instructed to take on more signs, depending upon how deep the anointing and the spiritual instructions. Several other members in the same service may each be practicing and observing the Lord's instruction, each differently and all at the same time. This may appear chaotic to the observer, and often is written and reported in this way; seeing an individual or many handle rattlesnakes, speak in tongues, holding the fire bottle to their necks and hands, dancing and singing in the Holy Spirit — all at one time, all members moving differently, they call that a good meetin'.
Holiness Preachers say, "This is not chaos, this is not ignorance, as some say. Holy Roller's, as the newspapers so often label participant's actually is being enraptured in the spirit, in an infinitely and finely tuned spiritual connecting, a devout religion." In discussing after services with church members, they will tell you, they were following spiritual instructions, and obeying the Holy Spirit. Again, sharing with us personally, the strength and power of our Lord, working through them. Each inspired member is communicating through the Holy spirit and obeying the Lords will. Minister and congregation together practice their faith differently, individually, yet together, and under one church.
The blessed one can be spiritually instructed to take on more signs, depending upon how deep the anointing and the spiritual instructions. Several other members in the same service may each be practicing and observing the Lord's instruction, each differently and all at the same time. This may appear chaotic to the observer, and often is written and reported in this way; seeing an individual or many handle rattlesnakes, speak in tongues, holding the fire bottle to their necks and hands, dancing and singing in the Holy Spirit — all at one time, all members moving differently, they call that a good meetin'.
Holiness Preachers say, "This is not chaos, this is not ignorance, as some say. Holy Roller's, as the newspapers so often label participant's actually is being enraptured in the spirit, in an infinitely and finely tuned spiritual connecting, a devout religion." In discussing after services with church members, they will tell you, they were following spiritual instructions, and obeying the Holy Spirit. Again, sharing with us personally, the strength and power of our Lord, working through them. Each inspired member is communicating through the Holy spirit and obeying the Lords will. Minister and congregation together practice their faith differently, individually, yet together, and under one church.
This anointed energy or spirit, is
given and transferred to individual member's. Often very unique acts, communications or signs are exercised by a participant or a group within the church; also an entire congregation can be
touched by the spirit, all at once in unison, for a moment or for varied periods of time. Each service is different, but can be life enhancing and changing. They say they are receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and doing his will. When blessings are garnered and experienced, a humbling and
fulfilling of the spirit occurs that allows a full feeling of connection to one's brother's and sister's in the church, with neighbor's outside and perceptions in general are expanded. Spontaneously one experiences life energy as in no other way, making this church unique to all it's practitioners and anyone so believing.
Another example: If a non-member
stands between two brothers in the spirit that are anointed with the
gift of serpent handling, members believe they can pass a venomous serpent
[rattle snake, copperhead or any venomous snake], to the non-member and no
harm shall come, with that non-member holding the serpent for a matter of time
and then passing the serpent on to the member next to him, from left to right
or vice-versa. One still has to believe and have the positive energy and trust in everyone around him.
Serpent handlers say,"You feel that pouring of the spirit coming from all around you, even underneath you and above, so it feels as if you are suspended free above your body, yet grounded and connected deeply to the earth. You feel, suddenly a wholeness and lightness within and without seeing infinitely. " I have been touched by this phenomenon personally and the energy created and released is indescribable, transforming, and profoundly moving; something that stays with you.
Serpent handlers say,"You feel that pouring of the spirit coming from all around you, even underneath you and above, so it feels as if you are suspended free above your body, yet grounded and connected deeply to the earth. You feel, suddenly a wholeness and lightness within and without seeing infinitely. " I have been touched by this phenomenon personally and the energy created and released is indescribable, transforming, and profoundly moving; something that stays with you.
Receiving the Spirit, 1986
Members believe that a venomous serpent
can bite you and you suffer the bite, your faith holds you true and you shall
recover and no harm is apparent. Some still suffer and die from this practice.
Which ever is the Lord's will, member's say? I have seen both, most often with no consequence and I have seen the deepest suffering
caused by the bite and venom. When bitten in church, a member may show no signs of the bite other than a little blood coming from where the fangs penetrated, some suffer the consequences with vomiting, convulsions, swelling and worse, or they may ask to be taken to a hospital if loosing faith, regardless they are prayed for.
I have attended all night vigils in members home's where several church members go in and circle around the suffering member and pray, laying on hands anointing with olive oil, praying together and individually, for the bitten member throughout the night. This can go on for days and members are sometimes left maimed, recover or die. They believe, the Lord can heal in a moment or not. "It is up to our Lord," they say. They also say, "The Lord can provide or not, heal and work miracles. The Lord knows what is best."
Much is perhaps unexplainable or even believable to the rational mind, yet literally written in the Bible. Verses support their beliefs and practices, as the Pentecostal’s practicing the signs interpret the Holy Bible. This is a religion of deep faith.
Shelby Lee Adams
I have attended all night vigils in members home's where several church members go in and circle around the suffering member and pray, laying on hands anointing with olive oil, praying together and individually, for the bitten member throughout the night. This can go on for days and members are sometimes left maimed, recover or die. They believe, the Lord can heal in a moment or not. "It is up to our Lord," they say. They also say, "The Lord can provide or not, heal and work miracles. The Lord knows what is best."
Much is perhaps unexplainable or even believable to the rational mind, yet literally written in the Bible. Verses support their beliefs and practices, as the Pentecostal’s practicing the signs interpret the Holy Bible. This is a religion of deep faith.
Shelby Lee Adams
When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 4 3:2
[Photo given to photographer by a church member.]
Rachel in the spirit at church in Hooverville, 1989
Rachel and Wayne, 1990
[Wayne's Serpent Bite was from a Timber Rattlesnake]
1st published in 1993, Appalachian Portraits, Univ. Press of Miss.
Wayne's Serpent Bite, 1983
Joe and Wayne Serpent Handling, 1985
Dewey, 1986, Jolo, West Virginia
In a Serpent Handler's own words:
"There's somethin' to it besides a natural person...Looks like anybody could see that. It's not just th' natural part of man...It's somethin' else, somethin' deeper."
"When I hold serpents, there's no feelings...nothin' but that there ani't no fear about you." Believin' gives you the power."
And when the Holy Ghost has come and gone, the fortunate are left with a gift to use to prove their faith: That of speaking in tongues, of being able to prophesy, of discerning spirits, or of knowledge.
__From the Foxfire book 7
Joe Serpent Handling at Sunset, 1987
Highway Holiness Church, 2018
[photo by Heidi]
Church Sign
Shelby Handling Rattlesnake, 1986
[photographer Dewey Chapin, Jolo, West Virginia]
Rattlesnakes held by Shelby and Wayne, 1987
[photo taken by Andrew]
Related Books:
The Cult of the Serpent, Balaji Mundkur, State University of New York Press, 1983; Taking Up Serpents, Snake Handlers of Eastern Kentucky, David L. Kimbrough, The University Press of North Carolina, 1995; Foxfire Book 7, Editor Paul Gillespie, Anchor Books, 1982; Thou Art That and Myths of Light, Joseph Campbell, New World Library, 2003; Salvation on Sand Mountain, Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia, Dennis Covington, Addison—Wesley Publishing, 1995; Psyche and Sacred, Spirituality beyond Religion, Lionel Corbett, Spring Journal Books, 2007, Blind Faith, Serpent Handling in West Virginia, by Colleen Sexton, published 2015, Page Publishing, NYC, Them That Believe, The power and Meaning of the Christian Serpent-Handling Tradition, Ralph W. Hood and Paul Williamson, University of California Press, 2008; The King James version of the Holy Bible.
The recommended books above: For those interested in demystifying and understanding this religion and others related, what some call a stereotype because they do not wish to understand. Learn about this religion whose members often practice daily, a very primal and deeply rooted religion. My experiences were from 1983 - 1994. Additional books on historical world religions: Mircea Eliade, Ordeal by Labyrinth, Conversations with Claude-Henri Rocquet; Pathways To Bliss, Joseph Campbell; The Two and the One, The Sacred and the Profane and The Forge and the Crucible all by Mircea Eliade.
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Carrie LeeAnne, '03
Donnie with Baby and Cows, 1999
Nancy with Parakeets, 2004
Tyler and Sheba, 2001
Sheba Asleep, 2007
Shithead the Pony with the Noble Family, 2003
Larry in Garage, 2004
Bert with Guitar, 1992 [cat and dog]
Jane with Diddles, 1994
The Cock Fighter, 1989
Lila and the Goose, 2003
Enos holding Snapping Turtles, 2007
Tammy with Catfish, 2003
Larry with Goat, 2005
Eagle's Nest, 2004
Freddie with 38-Year-Old Retired Mule, 2005
Anne with Pigeon, 1995
Reed with Pony and Chicken, 1995
Peggy and Albert, 1999
Photo made in 2003 when Appalachian Lives was published, Albert holds his copy of book open to his and Peggy's photo.
Aunt Glade with Tom, 1973
Grandma Sleeping with Cat on Bed, 1973
Knives, 1997
Johnny and Son's at Hog Pen, 1981
Printed 1990
Grandpa's last Hog Killing in the Rain [color version], 1978
[Film transfered to digital.]
Grandpa's Last Hog Killing, 1978
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