Animal Spirit Guide of the week.... Spider (+ Updates)

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Spider
Kingdom: Strength
Trine: Creation
Teaching: Spinner of Life

Mythology and Folklore:

The Spider was regarded as the ultimate spinner and weaver, two tasks that formed a vital part of the economy in early societies, and which were extended to become an allegory for the patterns of life itself. The Spider was associated with all goddesses of spinning and weaving, and with the Great Goddess archetype, representing the universal Mother and Weaver of Fate. The symbol of the supernatural female spinner whose work dictated the destinies of mankind for good or ill was an extremely widespread and well-understood allegory, and the Spider represented the natural symbol for this concept. Some traditions also hold that the Spider's web represents the 'lost' thirteenth sign of the zodiac, again indicating a strong link with fate and destiny.

The Greeks believed that the Fate Clotho spun the thread of life, and wove it into the patterns of destiny. The goddess Athene, who was patroness of spinning and weaving, was challenged to a contest by the human Arachne. When Arachne beat her, Athene, in a jealous rage, transformed the girl into a Spider, condemned to produce thread from her body through all eternity.

In Welsh myth, the spinner and weaver is Arianrhod, sister of the magician Gwydion and mother of the hero Llew.Arianrhod is the mistress of the Otherworld tower of initiation, Care Sidi, whose shape reflects the spiraling thread. Arianrhod's spinning wheel is the wheel of stars, and her threads those of life, creation, birth and rebirth.
An early Christian legend tells how when Herod's soldiers were searching for the infant Jesus, a Spider hid the baby by spinning a concealing web across the place where the family was hiding. In recognition of this service, the common garden Spider carries the distinctive mark of the cross upon its back.  

In more recent folklore, Spiders were considered a good omen, and it was extremely unlucky to kill one, particularly in the house. A country tradition holds that if you find a 'money spider', you should pick it up by the thread and circle it around your head three times to bring good luck in money matters. To see a Spider actually spinning its web would mean that new clothes were about to be acquired. Spiders and their webs were important ingredients in many medieval cures and remedies, especially for gout, ague and whooping cough. It was considered a particularly lucky omen if a Spider dropped from the ceiling onto a person's face!

The patience and determination attributed to the Spider are perhaps best represented in the apocryphal story of the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, who, on suffering defeat in battle, was hiding from his enemies in a cave. Downhearted by his defeat, he was inspired by the persistence of the Spider sharing his hideaway who, no matter how many times her web was broken, would patiently start again at the beginning and persevere until the task was completed. Seeing this as a reflection of his own situation, Robert the Bruce went out and rebuilt his army to continue the struggle against the English.

Characteristics:
Destiny; Patterns of Life; Fate; Creation; Craftsmanship; Birth; Life Goals; Agility; Persistence; Patience; Guardianship; Parenthood

In a spread, the Spider represents creativity at all levels: the creation of arts and crafts, of new paths and patterns in life, or of new life itself through children. It may represent the ability to know the best time to start, maintain or end particular parts of your life, or may signify a feeling for purpose or destiny. The Spider is in charge of its own life, creating its own patterns and paths.

Spiral Path Meaning:
Spinner of Life

The Spider teaches the interconnectedness of all things. It shows you the web that radiates from your own life, enabling you to feel all the forces that touch it.
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Updates:

All free minutes for July 2018 were emailed out on Tuesday so be sure to check your inbox for those. :)

Business Hours:
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8:00 PM - Midnight
Central Standard Time (Texas)

I wish you ALL the most wonderful weekend with plenty of sunshine and fresh air... :)
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Many Blessings,
Mademoiselle Lynna