Spider symbolism and meaning
If you are afraid of spiders, I’ll tell you right away that this is not going to help that fear. If anything, it’s going to aggravate and strengthen it.
Nearly everyone has some sort of a phobia of spiders. In fact, spiders are among the most feared creatures in the world. It seems like these eight-legged creatures are always around us watching us.
Some even suggest that the popular myth about spiders feeding on humans is a real possibility. So, if you still have a spider phobia, here’s some information on spider symbolism and their meaning.
The venomous spider is widely known for its potent venomous fangs. The bite of a venomous spider can cause serious illness and in some cases result in death.
In addition to their deadly venom, spiders are also widely known for their webs. They are known as natural weavers and their webs are considered to be woven masterpieces of nature.
But almost everyone knows they are a creepy and crawly, and the fear is justified. That may be the reason why they often appear in many of our dreams and nightmares.
Spider Symbol & Meaning
The spider symbol is often associated with creativity and inspiration. Spiders are extremely resourceful and extraordinarily resilient.
Spider Native American symbolism
Spider is a minor totem in the Native American belief systems. It is believed that if a spider weave their web across your path, it is a sign to slow down your speed.
Spider is regarded as a protector of the boundaries. In the Apache tradition, Spider represents the female element.
It is also associated with the two Spider Sisters, who helped the Sun to become the first Spider.
Spider Eastern Symbolism
The Eastern spider symbolizes patience, wisdom, and intelligence.
In Hinduism, the spider makes its sixty-fifth appearance in the “Bhagavad Gita” and the first sutra section of “Panchatantra.”
The spider, in ancient Greece, was considered a symbol of wisdom.
The Aztecs made the spider a symbol for fertility, weaving and the double edge sword.
In Vietnam, the spider is an auspicious sign that brings high position, honor and wealth.
Therefore, it’s no wonder that spider costumes are worn on important occasions, like in weddings, at the end of every Chinese New Year or at the beginning of the Ching Ming Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The totemization of animals is a phenomenon in which an ethnocentric group believes that animal species are the beneficiaries of the spiritual energy they had left behind and consider them as their protectors.
The spider is such a totem for the Chinese. Although the Chinese have deep respect for the spider, these arachnids are also thought to be harmful due to their fangs and poison. Therefore, whenever a spider is sighted, its fate is to be killed and honored.
Spider Christianity symbolism
In Christianity, the spider is associated with St. Lydia, who was a noblewoman converted to Christianity by Paul. Her conversion led her to become a follower of Christ. She was considered to be a great protector of Christians.
The spider’s web represents wisdom and creation. It also represents the world’s harmony in the Bible, and the path the human soul travels through incarnation.
In the Bible, the spider was asked by God to teach the spider how to weave its webs. As a result the spider filled the world with its creations. Then God asked the spider to weave its web. God then gave the spider a free hand and judge the results.
In Christian symbolism, the spider represents patience and understanding. It also represents the diversity of creatures on earth, the faith of the onlooker, the strength of mind, and the trustworthiness.
The spider is also associated with the good behaviour and the need to exercise moderation.
In Christianity, the spider is also associated with the Virgin Mary. The Greek goddess Hera prohibited the weaving of a web…a guiding thread was held by an Arachne. This angered the goddess and she cursed it. The goddess changed Arachne into a spider.
Spider Celtic symbolism
In Celtic mythology, the spider is a symbol of bravery, protection, and skill. It also symbolizes craftiness and perseverance. However, it is also seen as an omen of bad luck in some areas.
Spiders are animal totems in Tribal Shamanism and they are believed to have mystical powers. Spider totem involves psychic powers, understanding of death, and awareness of the existence of the spirit world.
Spiders are known for their ability to create mystical webs. Hence, this quality can help those who have chosen the spider symbol as their totem to strengthen their psychic energy, as well as their physical and emotional health.
People associated with the spider totem are known as being unrelenting and tenacious. If they set out to do something, they will do it. Hence, they rarely give up on their goals.
Those with the spider totem are also very intelligent, with the ability to create life-changing tools and devices.
Spider in dreams
What does it mean?
Spider Symbolism & Meaning (+Totem, Spirit & Omens).
A spider in a dream represents a malevolent energy. Or, if you dreamt of using a spider, this is a clear message that you need to call on this energy in order to achieve your goals. There are ways to do this symbolically and practically. For instance, an orb weaver spider can be used to summon blessings from the spirit world.
The Native Americans used spider webs to catch a spirit or the soul of the dead and feed them with a spider web they had with them. This is how they believed a spirit manifested into a human being, by these souls taking the form of a spider. The spider carries its web on its back.
Spider encounters and omens
While spiders aren’t generally considered harmful, many people still regard them as scary or even vile creatures.
It’s no surprise since most spiders hunt insects at night and often lurk in the corners of the room, under the bed, and in the closet. Spider symbolism is deeply rooted in superstitions and mythologies of different cultures.
From India to Australia, spiders are often regarded as the signs of bad luck.
On the other hand, the Greek, Jewish, and Christian cultures see a spider as an ominous creature, often associated with the creation of the first human woman Eve.
Even a courageous man like Arachne can’t escape the spider symbolism. She was turned into a spider by the goddess Athena for challenging her to weave a work better than hers.
It’s easy to notice the discrepancy between native and European attitudes towards spiders. The stories about this creature are numerous and also frequently illustrate it as a star of horror movies.
Spider is often a symbol of rebirth. In Christianity, it’s closely connected with the concept of the Annunciation.
This is the time when the archangel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary with a message that she’s going to give birth to the Son of God.
Spider mythology and folklore
Spiders are part of several different myths and lores.
In Western folklore spiders are widely seen as a symbol of bad luck and misfortune, and have long been regarded as creatures to be encouraged to leave a dwelling.
A traditional belief links spiders to a potential for fire, and the ancient Greeks kept them away from hearth and home.
The ancient Egyptians had a very positive view of spiders, associating them with the goddess of creation, Ished.
Many Native American creation myths include Spider Woman giving humans the knowledge of weaving and the ability to capture sunlight in spider webs.
In contrast, some Native American tribes believed that the silk given to them by Spider Woman was intended that they use it to carry the dead to the spirit world.
Southeast Asian culture has long held the view that seeing a spider in the house is an indication that someone in the household will die soon.
Some Latin American countries believe that the web from the center of a cobweb is a sign of good fortune. The larger the web, the greater the good fortune.
In colonial America, some thought that the spider, which is a good and hard-working creature, represents diligence, patience, and persistence.
Authorities on Chinese philosophy tend to believe that the spider represents diligence and concentration in the practice of Zen.
Spider spirit animal
Totem & meanings.
Your spider spirit animal represents your power of creativity, emotion, and intuition. One thing is certain, no matter how hard you try to hide, the spider will sense your presence and come back to you.
As a spider totem, your spider empowers you to weave your web of magic that is filled with secrets. To many it is a mysterious manifestation of universal laws of attraction. As you walk through this world understand that each deed has consequences and each action has its own rewards, to make the entire Universe your web. You are the spider at the center of your web. The sky is your distant view. Do not tire, for you can never run out of power for you are the Dream Weaver.
As a spider spirit animal, the spider teaches you how to channel negative emotions into creative energy. To weave them into natural laws of attraction, which in turn will create harmony in your life.
Impatience and irritability will only cloud your judgement. As a shaman, you need patience and flexibility to accumulate wisdom and practical knowledge from the DreamClouds. So as the spider, you can apply this knowledge and weave your web of knowledge as a shaman. With patience, you can communicate with the invisible realm as you wait for your prey to arrive. Beware of others who only wait to pounce on you.
Spider totem animal
The spider holds extreme importance for some indigenous people, due to its use in spiritual symbolism and ceremonies. This is due to the spider being an excellent example of intelligence, resourcefulness, and perseverance. Some cultures believe that the spider is a guide and protector, often representing spiritual guidance, hidden treasures, and good luck. The spider symbolizes strength and self-confidence, as well as being the scribe of the Great Spirit. In some regions, the spider stands for protection, while in others, it represented creativity and vitalization.
They are believed to have very strong souls that are able to protect the wearer from negative energy and transmute it into positive energy. The spider has been often used in the art, especially to incorporate the sacred spiral. The Celtic have a very high respect for the spider, and often use their webs to create wreaths, and call the spider the midwife of the Great Spirit. The Navajo used to believe that the spider symbolized luck and protection, it later became a symbol for the protection of wealth.
Spider power animal
When you think of a spider, what comes to mind?
Is it fear, revulsion, or amazement?
In my experience, people tend to have more of the latter and less of the former.
However, the spider has a bit of a bad rap: it’s ugly and crawly, it bites, and everyone thinks it’s dangerous.
But it’s not.
So why do we see this image of the creepy crawly spider in our everyday surroundings, from movies and fairytales to cartoons?
These cultural references have quite a few things in common. Most commonly, spiders are depicted as villains or obstacles; they’re the thing that the hero has to get past before achieving the goal.
When you live with a certain image in your mind, your subconscious mind tends to gravitate towards related things.
So when you walk into a room and notice a spider, your mind fills in the rest of the story. You become fully aware of the spider, what it can do to you and what it can do to stop it.
This is a primal survival tactic.
Spider tattoo meaning
A spider tattoo represents the act of weavering your way through the world or overcoming your enemies.
It could also symbolize:
Fidelity: As the spider never leaves its web
Resilience: In most stories, the spider knows how to weave himself out of the bad situations
In some cultures, the spider is seen as a protective, benevolent creature.
The legend of the Golden Spider, a representation of the spider of the elements, also has a strong influence in the beliefs of some cultures along with the legend of the Spider Woman. She is associated with life and death, war and peace, fertility and agriculture.
A spider tattoo can be an incredible reminder to the wearer to be steadfast, prudent and tough to achieve any goal.
Conclusion
The Spider family of animals is diverse and magnificent, featuring a fascinating history.
There are over 44,000 spider species, 1,660 tarantulas, and 500 mygalomorph spiders (trapdoor spiders). And going beyond the Spider family, spiders are also one of the largest groups in the animal kingdom!
Spiders have been at the center stage of myths and legends for countless years, starting with the ancient Greeks. And even more recently, they have been the source of myths and legends in pop culture, literature, film, video games and music. Spider webs even made it to the food industry, in the form of actual spider silk made from silkworms, which also has interesting properties for technical use!
So, whether you're a Spider enthusiast or you just want to learn more about the amazing creature that can inspire wonder, this book is for you. Inside its pages, you'll learn about the Spider family, its common spiders, its sub-orders and its representative spider species. You’ll also learn fascinating spider facts, which include the most dangerous spiders in the world, the largest, the fastest, the toughest, and the most beautiful.
We’ll also look at the many astonishing characteristics of spiders, including the way they catch and manipulate prey and the way they use chemical signals (insect sex pheromone) to attract their mates.