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When I was a little girl, a gentle being with large eyes told me that I would never be without a spider.
This statement didn’t fit in anywhere until early adulthood, after I’d had a few changes of residence under my belt. The being was right; everywhere I live, a spider sets up shop in my kitchen. They are usually black widows, which wield the fiercest symbolism among all of the fearsome options in the spider kingdom.
My current kitchen spider has been with me for two years. She lives beneath the floor lamp that lights my artistic workspace, and after all this time, we’ve come to know each other well.
Why do spiders show up?
Bugs have historically been a source of terror for humans. Scapegoats, in my opinion, along with the snakes…they’ve been given a bad rap. Think about it: When was the last time one lunged out of the corner to attack you?
Yet those who view the world as a dangerous place will be the first to squash them when they appear in spaces that we call “our own.”
Any sense of invasion is a fallacy, of course; for if a spider shows up in your environment, it is just as valid a part of your creation as the lamp it lives beneath. You may love it or hate it, or something in between, but it’s you who put it there.
How does squashing the things that you fear work for you?
Here’s a common response when I discuss my arachnid friend:
“But it’s just a spider.”
Everything you see, hear, feel and experience is a part of you. If you have labeled something as “Just a…. (anything),” then you have concluded that your existence is more valuable than someone else’s.
Expect this to come back to you.
So before you pull out the shoe, observe the spider from another level.
Bend down and look at it. It’s safe…most of them don’t jump…(wink).
Ask yourself some questions:
Why is it there? What do spiders represent for me? How do I feel about them being in my space?
Such reflections will become standard for you as you awaken, for you’ll want to consciously apply your lessons to multiple levels. You’ll be addressing the creepiness enforced by social conditioning (physical level); exploring appropriate symbolism specific to you (emotional level); and taking responsibility for what shows up in your life (creational level).
Here are some common spiritual themes that may invoke a spider in your world:
The value of life in all forms. Does it deserve to live?
The right to live in a specific space. Is it impinging on my territory?
Victimhood. Is it out to kill me?
Powerlessness. What if it bites me while I’m sleeping?
My guides call the spiders “Veterans.” After all, they lose everything each time the cleaning lady makes a good sweep (which apparently mine doesn’t), and they immediately set up home again when the coast is clear. A representation of your own inherent qualities, if you choose to activate them.
Establishing a relationship with your kitchen spider
Consider how our indigenous cultures live in unison with the nature around them. Earth offers many examples of such symbiotic relationships. If they can do it, then we all can do it.
…and realize that you may come to like the little bugger. What once was an irrational fear turns to curiosity, and then to fondness, and then to its own kind of love.
Even if spiders still scare you, adopting a “you don’t bother me, and I won’t bother you” attitude will yield some very positive results. See what happens when you do this. If you have children, introduce them to the spider, and discuss it with a sense of wonder rather than fear. The animal kingdom is quite receptive to a welcome environment, and respect is returned in kind. If fear for your child’s safety overpowers everything else, then move the spider to a jar for rehoming outside. This demonstrates respect for the well-being of everyone involved, while illuminating your current belief systems along the way. Incidentally, my grown son has a kitchen spider of his own.
Your attention to repairing relationships with “Others That Scare You” sends out a powerful message to the Universe. It shows your dedication to transformation for a more unified co-existence. This intention calls immense power to you, for use in spinning your own Web of Creation…one based in integrity and respect for those who share your world.
All this…from “just a spider.”
author: Kimberly
About the art associated with this post.
“Here’s What Happens When You Channel a Spider” is a digital watercolor I created while connecting with my kitchen spider. Her messages arrive in bold images, colorful, and overlapping. She calls me “pig.”
Should you choose to read further about spider symbolism, check out Spirit-Animals.com.
Should you wish to order a print of the spider’s art, you can find it at my ArtStation site.