Spiders

(1) Power to waken our deepest fears

(2) Snare Stalk Paralyze Poison
(3) The myriad different shapes and sizes is a symbol of diversity.
(4) Tarantulas ability to paralyze and prey on a ferdilance snake. Bigger stronger
but has adapted
(5) weave a net to let itself know of any predators and preys.
(6) Been around 400 million years of evolution, it has adapted to survive
(7) extensively Prevelant- Alpine Peaks- Deserts. Deepest darkest Caves-Marine
Tidal Pools
(8) it weaves very strong only to assure that a prey that struggles only gets stuck
deeper and deeper
(9) The web is weaved in different stages. Master pieces of design and engineering.
(10) Mother Spiders provides luxurious a cocoon for her eggss protection
(11) Opportunists. Waiting to strike and dont let go of an opportunity. Net Casting
Spiders
(12) Escape strategist
(13) Camouflage

Weave a Web of Creativity

Animal Symbolism Spider

By Trish Phillips
History

Spiders
Dakota and Lakota decoration often use the symbol of spider or spiders web. It is believed that any warrior adorned
with spider symbol is invincible to arrows and bullets. Just as the arrow or bullet can pass through a spiders web,
leaving it relatively intact, it was believed that the projectile would pass through the brave warrior and leave him
unharmed. Also, since the spiders web is difficult to see unless it is wet, the wearer of spider symbol is given a type
of invisibility.
In Lakota mythology, spider is both feared and revered. On one side fear the trickster is transformed from one-time
god of wisdom. On the other side reverence Iktomi is credited with giving all creatures their names, shapes,
personality and identity. Since he ran out of names before naming himself, he ended up as spider.
For some, spiders legs represent the four winds of change and the four directions on the medicine wheel. Other
tribes credit the gift of fire to spider.
In southwestern America, spider was the creator goddess and weaving was an honored art. Spider was also credited
with giving humanity the first alphabet; writing was equated with feminine wisdom.
The Victorian view was more pragmatic, seeing the fly-eating spider as a part of the animal economy. In Hindu, spider
sitting in its web watching till its prey is entangled represents being caught in the illusion of the physical world. In
Russian legend, spider is blessed humanity was saved by driving plague insects into spiders web.

Biological Characteristics
Despite their diversity, all spiders have the eight fragile legs. Spider bodies are split into two sections. Most, but not
all, are weavers.
Spider habitats include a wide range of environments. They can be found just about anywhere.
All spiders are predatory and nearly all are venomous. Most weave a deadly trap in the form of a web.
Females are usually larger than males. Procreation typically means death for the mail. Spiders are good mothers and
stay with their eggs until they hatch. Some carry the eggs on their bodies until they hatch. One spider commonly
found in English gardens lets her young prey upon her body the ultimate sacrifice.
Spider must shed its skin in order to grow, much like the snake. Another thing that spider and snake have in common
is peoples instinctive negative reaction toward them.

Symbolism and Power

Spider and snake are remarkably similar in symbolism. Spider is creator; she is death. On a Freudian level spider
embodies woman. She is the creative force, weaving the designs of life and fate.
Spider is associated with words and communication. Spider bestows the power to work magic over people and things.
By weaving, it gains a certain element of control; once the prey is wrapped up, this control is complete.
Some find the eight legs and body shape in the form of an eight significant; numerology equates spider with the
symbol for infinity. Spider is the totality of the life cycle the beginning and end. The medicine of spider should be

Spiders
called upon when one feels trapped. If a web is destroyed, spider recycles it and weaves it anew. So spider allows the
individual to assimilate negative experiences and use them for gain.
Spiders appearance can symbolize ones fear. When she arrives, it is time to confront ones phobias. Suppressing
them without confronting them means they are sure to surface later.
Spider allows one to contact ones deepest wisdom and nurtures a sense of connection and integration at all levels.
Her web symbolizes the tying together of loose ideas into a tidy package.
The spider person has two speeds: motionless and lightning strike. The spider person can have a stinging bite when
angered. Deceit is the negative side of spider personality. A web of rumors, gossip and lies can easily be woven. The
person with spider energy may be ruthless and once incited to attack, the punishment is decisive and lethal.
The lesson of the spider is maintaining balance between past and future, male and female, spiritual and physical.
She teaches you that everything you do and experience now is weaving what you will encounter in the future.
The spider awakes creative sensibility. She reminds us that the world is woven around us; we are the center of our
own world.
Because of its characteristics, mystics and mythology associate spider with three expressions of magic creation,
assertiveness and the connection between past and future.
Questions to ponder when spider appears:

Are you weaving your dreams into reality?

Are you moving toward a central goal or are you scattered and going in multiple directions?

Are you becoming too involved and or self-absorbed?

Are you focusing on others accomplishments and not on your own?

Do you need to write or draw and are not following through?

Are you developing resentment because of it for yourself or for them?

Remember: Spiders are timid, delicate, agile and much of their creative energy is expended in the dark. But when the
sun hits the fruits of spider labor, they glisten with intricate beauty. If a spider drops from the ceiling onto someones
face, good luck and money will follow. If you see a spider spinning its web, you will soon receive new clothes.