Spider Webs and Your Mind

Ever thought about a spider web? As the beads of dew reflect the sun’s light, it carries a message. Its thin structure belies its strength. Even though it is spun from strands of silk, it can support the weight of the dew and create a trap for unwary insects. This also brings to mind a symbol of the weaver, the spider herself.

She reminds you that you too can weave your life into a strong, useful work of art. You also have the reminder that what you do is temporary. The spider’s web will last only for a time. Then it is gone. And what you create in your life will be the same. As good as you can make it for that time, and poof! It’s over.

Among Native American traditions, creativity is the hallmark of spider medicine. The spider’s eight legs represent the four winds of change and the four directions of the medicine wheel. Her body is the shape of an infinity symbol, representing countless possibilities. Just like the Fates in Greek mythology who weave the tapestry of life, spiders are reputed to weave the creative forces that develop the patterns of our lives.

The spider web also reminds you not to get stuck. Just as the hapless fly gets caught in the beauty of those strands, your mind can also get stuck in patterns. While some are positive, others may be no longer useful. Some are quite harmful. Your brain is wired to catch the negative far more quickly and persistently than the positive.

The amygdala is that part of your brain designed to trap the negative (trauma, accidents, hurts, anger) from your experiences, replaying it over and over again. Ever had an endlessly repeating fear in your mind? That’s a gift of the amygdala. Its purpose is to warn you if something like that negative happening ever comes your way again.

But what if?

Want to break that train of thought?

• Pick your favorite song and sing over it. Override the insistent thought. I did this the other day when out for a walk. Negative chatter kept me company, for no good reason I could see. Much to Little Toot’s dismay, I began to sing “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!” It was gone.
• Heart breathing. Slowly take a breath in through your heart. Then breathe back out. As you do this, focus on your breathing. You could make your breath a color. Or you could make it sparkle. Simply breathing in and out like this will slow your mind.
• Bi-lateral stimulation. Take a water bottle or anything with weight, and slowly pass it from one hand to the other. This movement slows your thoughts and regulates your fight-or-flight response. Your fears subside as your breathing slows, your shoulders drop, and your gut relaxes. You’re in control.

If a spider has wandered into your life, bringing her web energy on a walk or in the corner of your mind, she may have several messages. Perhaps it’s time to open the doors to more creativity in your life. Or maybe it’s time to sweep the hurtful cobwebs from those corners. Remember: the spider web is strong. And you can be too. Live unstuck.