Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is doing their "Folklore Friday" again and this time it's about spiders! I thought you guys would enjoy learning a little something about spider mythology: "
Folklore Friday: Corkscrew is home to many species of spiders. Spiders are a beneficial part of our eco-system and help to keep other insect populations under control. Spiders have long been the subject of mythology and folklore. In the Hopi creation story, Spider Woman is the goddess of the earth. The people were taught how to weave by Spider Woman. Today, many weavers will rub their hands in spider webs in order to absorb the skill and wisdom of Spider Woman. Grandmother Spider is said to have created the universe. She wove her web and when it was laced with dew, she flung it into the air and the dew became the stars in the sky. Each day as she re-weaves her web, she re-weaves creation and life. Other Native American myths tell of how Grandmother Spider brought fire and the sun to the People. Grandmother Spider is known as the “Keeper of Words.” As she wove her web, she brought writing to the People. In West Africa, the spider is portrayed as a trickster God, much like Coyote in the Native American stories. Called Anansi, he is forever stirring up mischief to get the better of other animals. Maya, the Hindu Goddess, means weaver of illusion and is associated with the spider. Here are a few tidbits from spider lore around the world: If a spider crawls into your pocket, you will always have money. If you walk into a spider web, you will meet a friend that day. If there is dew upon the spider web in the morning, it will be a beautiful day. This one is the most important from a spider’s perspective: If you wish to live and thrive, let a spider run alive."
