Elizabeth Dorn Zwiener
"Not So Lowly"
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| (Photos by Patrick Fraser) |
To be honest, the news that my animal spirit totem was the Spider came as a bit of a disappointment. Other than the spider’s ability to create beautiful webs and devour annoying pests, I’ve never really been a fan. But then I began my research and learned a great deal about the symbolism of the ‘lowly’ spider and how the spider has been revered through stories and legends throughout history and across many cultures.
Greek mythology tells us about Arachne, a gifted weaver and spinner. Native American lore portrays the spider as a wise teacher, protector and grandmother. The Shaman’s spider is a symbol of creativity, feminine strength, and weaver of her own fate. Surprisingly, so many of these attributes resonated with me. The more I learned, the more I began to identify with my ‘spider spirit’.
Inspired by my findings, and with a nod to the countless women who have spun, woven and stitched through the ages, I set to work. I’ve incorporated bits of silk, wool, antique lace, vintage French needlepoint, book pages from a worn out copy of Charlotte’s Web, and even an old wooden spool of thread to create a personal vision of my spider and her web. She’s protective, creative and feminine. She’s determined, resourceful and resilient, a balance of gentle strength. She has many qualities I aspire to have myself.
This experience of creating and experimenting has been particularly meaningful for me as I’ve recently welcomed my first grandchild into the world. My web has expanded to embrace a new generation while continuing to keep me connected to loved ones, near and far.
A spider as my spirit totem? I’m good with that.