Ely – I am guessing it your cousin represents the good supportive feelings you have for each other. The snakes are a possibility of a poisonous situation that you were able to deal with well. Snakes often are the poisonous feeling we can inject into ourselves – like doubt, hate, malice – that can injure you. But the feelings about snakes can also be protective. Imagine if you had a live rattler in your hand and someone can to attack you, you would feel confident you could handle the situation.
I take it you are right handed, so it was a threat to your supportive ability.
Tony