What is the serpent to you? A symbol of wisdom, or evil?

[astropsyche]

You have been given lots of excellent responses to your question! I have only two small contributions.
A little Chinese story: The snake is talking with the wise man "why is that everyone runs from me whenever I try to join in with them? They run from me, try to kill me and others faint at the sight of me! Why? What can I do to stop them"? The wise man thinks for a few moments and replies: "you pose a threat to them - your bite can so often be fatal to them. That is why they respond to your presence the way they do. Go your way in peace with them and all will be well" Time passes and the snake appears before the wise man again. It is angry and injured and it says " Look at me! I have cuts and bruises and only just managed to escape with my life from the ones who attacked me and whom you told me I should go in peace amongst! I did as you asked of me and still they all hate me!" The wise man looked at the snake for a moment and said " I told you your bite is often poisonous to them and to make peace with them did I not?" The snake nodded. " I told you not to bite these people did I not?" Again the snake nodded. " But I did not tell you not to hiss at them did I?"

And finally - when the snake enters the farmyard all the animals grow restive and nervous. When Time passes and the animals see the snake means no harm to them, they settle and allow it to live amongst them.