I had planned to write about roses, and the Goddesses including Hathor, Isis, and Mary Magdalene. Roses, the Rose lineage, and Mother Mary are presenting as themes in May for me. What about you?
Something else presented itself though or came into view, a big crawly spider. You see this month the spring cycle starts here in Colorado. Nature is in movement, and whether it be new growth or the slow awakening from the slumber of winter, life is on the move.
So, as part of this, a Spider woke up from his/her space, a big Spider at least a half inch, black, with bold markings. It was beautiful. I am referring to this Spider as an it, but it is so much more, it is alive consciousness, and as forms of consciousness the Spider and I are connected.
This bold, beautiful spider, absolutely terrifying in its presentation, just wants to be itself. It is not trying to harm me personally. Of course, if I place my hand in its path and agitate it, it may bite me. In that situation though have I not contributed to my own injury?
Spiders have an essential function to the balance of our ecosystem, as do you. The spider’s function includes controlling the insect populations and maintaining ecosystem balance. Studying the spider’s web often referred to as their silk has led to unique materials and applications used in biomedicine and textiles. The list of benefits is long.
The spider has been the subject of stories and tales since ancient times. It is associated with many Goddesses of Egypt and earlier. Spider is found in creation stories of many indigenous cultures. There is reference to Spider in cultural stories around the world. This includes Japan and Africa. Spider is revered in some cultures as the goddess of creation, weaving, and wisdom. The spider’s web is often seen as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all things. The Spider is seen as a guide to feminine power including the capacity to be fierce, patient, intuitive, and creative.
The Spider doesn’t apologize for its existence even when so many are fearful of it. Spider is simply being its own magic. Society can be fearful of Spiders gifts just as society can be fearful of the gifts of the Goddess. Yet Spider continues to go about its life, undisturbed by the opinion of others.
I digress, let me continue the story of my encounter with Spider. Well, this beauty preceded to begin walking on my walls and ceiling from wherever its home was within my home. I would see it at different times of day and night, but it only came out when it was just me. My first reaction was fear, and I kept my distance while I self-regulated and pondered the situation. Luckily, I have progressed far enough in my studies of consciousness, energy, and shamanism, and other mystic teachings that I felt a connection to the Spider. I also understood it was probably best if at this moment, we didn’t live together. So, I made a plan in my mind to relocate the Spider outside.
I proceeded to have conversations with the Spider whenever I saw it. In its own way the Spider was trapped although the cage was very large and did not look like a trap. A cage is still a cage.
So, I would communicate with the Spider to go to the window each time I saw it. I brought a large glass jar upstairs in case I was able to cajole the Spider into the jar. I know right, silly me. After a few days of this messaging and verbal conversation, I see the Spider on the window blind. It was not hard to miss, as the blind was white, and the Spider was black and the size of a large coin.
I am very careful around Spiders; You know healthy fear and all. I have not studied the behaviors of the spider in the same way an arachnologist might. In other words, I have enough knowledge to hurt myself and the spider. I am using my intuition and patience to manage the situation. So, I waited a moment until the Spider went to the top of the window, then I opened the window. I waited again, for the next phase of the plan, phase II to be possible. The spider moved to the top of the window screen, then I made a small cut in the screen at the bottom so it could escape, while I closed the window and left the spider on the screen. I assumed it would find its way out. I didn’t see Spider again for several days and I forgot about it.
And then one day I opened the window to let the breeze in and went about my day. As I went to close the window, while not paying attention to my surroundings, I came eye to eye with Spider. Imagine my shock. I nearly came out of my skin.
I panicked a bit and went into action mode, no longer able to manage my fear. Truthfully, if I had studied the behaviors of spiders, if I had more behavioral knowledge, I would have been much less afraid and more confident in managing the moment. I was partially reacting to the unknown and to the hype. I did not take Spider’s visit as a friendly hello, although Spider meant no harm to me. I stepped back looking for the jar that was still upstairs. I find the jar and the jar lid, and I start chasing the spider with the jar down the wall. Oh, my heart was pumping, my hands shaky and aware. Trying to catch the Spider, while keeping my distance, as I was not wearing gloves. It was a comedy of errors on my part and a hoot to any sane human watching.
Eventually, I chase the Spider with the jar to a flat surface on the ground. It was between the ground and the base board; poor Spider was trying not to get hurt, what hysterics, the Spider is trying not to die as it curled up against the baseboard, and I am trying not to harm it while ensuring the Spider gets in the jar and doesn’t hurt me. I am trying to not kill the Spider while I am triggered and not thinking as rationally as I might otherwise.
Eventually, I find space between the breath and recognize that in my quest to get Spider out, I am potentially harming it. So, I step back. Eventually, I remember it takes both of us for this to work, and I try communication again. I tell Spider that it has to go outside, and the jar is so I can do that. I wait, and within a few seconds, the Spider crawls into the glass jar. It was a large glass jar with lots of space for the Spider to crawl. Spider goes deep into the jar as if waiting on me, and I feel safe placing the lid over the jar. After doing so, I breathed deeply. Somewhat in awe at what had just happened, I went downstairs. I was greatly relieved I was able to safely transport it to better spring surroundings!
I placed the jar outside near spidery territory, and I opened the jar and walked away. I checked a few hours later, and there was no sign of Spider, who I hope has found a home that fits and is safe. That is my hope for everyone, that we find a place that fits us, and a home that is safe. And in the meantime, if we are in place that doesn’t fit, grace finds us and protects us until we find our people.
Why would I wish consciousness anything else? Why would I create a hierarchy of importance? Was the spider’s life not important, as a member of the ecosystem, all life matters. The ecosystem is the very definition of a connected web.
I recently heard an indigenous scholar and speaker, Dr. Lyla June Johnston, state and I am paraphrasing, that her culture was not me centered but rather, centered around the creator and Mother Earth. There are many among us who might make great students of this philosophy.
Dr. Johnston went on to share her belief that we as humans can be a great asset to the Earth, to ecosystems and named many indigenous examples of this. She encouraged each person hearing her to understand that we can be stewards in a way no other species can, that we have an important ecological role to play, if we will only awaken to it and align. The practices Dr. Johnston speaks about from her studies offer possibilities. I invite you to ponder her work. She is easily found on the web.
In the meantime, may Spider and its connection to eight bring us the remembrance that Spider is a symbol of infinity, and a symbol of the wheel of life flowing from one moment to the next, that her magic is creative, assertive, and links worlds.
May I remember my own creative, assertive, courageous nature. May I face my fears step by step. May I see my shadow and integrate it. May I see and appreciate the web of life around me. May I see my worthiness and my beauty. May I be present to my feelings. May I be a contributor to the web of life.
With a sacred intention I state:
May my actions be actions of peace.
May my actions be actions of kindness.
May my actions be actions of hope.
May my actions be aligned with life.
May I honor the gifts of Spider that lie within me.
May I honor my own unique life.
Namaste’
L Kay Smith
Copyright L. Kay Smith © 2026 ~ Used with Permission
Photo by Chamfjord. on Unsplash
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