Spider Woman, creator and weaver of life, is the great teacher, protector and Mother of all creation. She manifests as a sacred guardian, overseeing the welfare of all those in need. The great goddess is also connected to darkness and caves, water, and war.
The great goddess is mostly recognized because of her unusual relationship with spiders. In many murals, the Spider Woman is shown with many of the scurrying arachnids in the background, on her clothing, or hanging from her arms.
The great goddess wears a frame headdress that often includes the face of a jaguar and has a medallion in the centre on which an owl is usually depicted. The jaguar was arguably the most important animal to the Mesoamericans when it came to mythology. The fact, then, that the Spider Woman was associated with the jaguar suggests her greatness. The largest species of cat in the new world, the jaguar can be active at any time during the day, but is most often seen on the prowl at night, and especially at dusk or dawn. It is no wonder, then, that these ancient people related the big cats to darkness, for they are truly the rulers of the night. Jaguars are also surprisingly good swimmers and are often found near ponds and small lakes, providing the idea that the "great goddess" is also related to water. It was also very common amongst the ancient Mesoamericans to associate jaguars with warfare. This is probably the most obvious symbolism suggested for the big cats, provided their predatory nature, mighty jaws, powerful musculature, and huge claws.
The other animal commonly seen in the goddess's headdress is the owl, providing another reason the Spider Woman is thought to have been a goddess of darkness. The owl is one of the most recognizable nocturnal creatures, and was believed to be a messenger for the lords of the underworld. Burrowing owls were also common in the area, living in old prairie dog burrows and other holes in the ground, further suggesting their relationship to caves and the underworld. In numerous cultures throughout the world, the owl is a symbol of darkness, evil, sorcery, and death, but also revered as magical and wise.
According to mythology, Spider Woman spun two silver strands, one connecting east to west, the other north to south. This connected the four corners of the earth, with Spider Woman as the centre.
As a sustainer, Spider Woman is always urging us to reconnect to our own spiritual source of higher power. She tells us that our natural role is to live in peace and harmony, with reverence toward the earth and its beings. She imparts her sacred wisdom to people as they sleep, connecting them to her spiritual wisdom through a filament spun from her body and attached to her crown.
She empowers one to keep the dream of life alive and encourages them to continue weaving their dreams, even in times of despair and unknowing.
WATCHERS OF THE EAST
I CALL ON YOU TO WITNESS THIS RITE
LEND US YOUR POWER
PROTECT US THIS NIGHT
SO MOTE IT BE
WATCHERS OF THE NORTH
I CALL ON YOU TO WITNESS THIS RITE
LEND US YOUR POWER
PROTECT US THIS NIGHT
SO MOTE IT BE
WATCHERS OF THE WEST
I CALL ON YOU TO WITNESS THIS RITE
LEND US YOUR POWER
PROTECT US THIS NIGHT
SO MOTE IT BE
WATCHERS OF THE SOUTH
I CALL ON YOU TO WITNESS THIS RITE
LEND US YOUR POWER
PROTECT US THIS NIGHT
SO MOTE IT BE
OH SPIDER WOMAN,
CREATOR AND WEAVER OF LIFE, THE GREAT TEACHER,
PROTECTOR AND MOTHER OF ALL CREATION.
COME TO US NOW
OH GREAT SUN GOD WHOSE GOLDEN BEAM PENETRATES OUR BEING.
BRING FORTH YOUR INSIGHTS.
COME TO US NOW
Circle members will participate in the meditation. Walking the circle, they imagine they are walking through the jungle hearing the sounds of the jungle, feeling the closeness of the trees and vines, the chatter of the monkeys. They are joined by an owl and a black jaguar that follows at a close distance. The path through the jungle leads to an ancient city where two temples stand side by side; The Temple of the Sun & the Temple of the Moon. The journey takes us to the caves under the Temple of the Sun. This is the place where one is confronted by the Spider Woman. Each member is faced with the web of life and has an opportunity to review and change the patterns of their life. A period of reflection is undertaken and all participate in the drumming which starts out as a heart beat. Once the reflection is completed the participants walk the meditation back to where they began chanting "We All Come from the Goddess".
WE ALL COME FROM THE GODDESS
AND TO HER WE SHALL RETURN
LIKE A DROP OF RAIN
FLOWING TO THE OCEAN
OH SPIDER WOMAN,
CREATOR AND WEAVER OF LIFE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE TONIGHT
HAIL & FAREWELL
OH GREAT SUN GOD WHOSE GOLDEN BEAM PENETRATES OUR BEING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE TONIGHT
HAIL & FAREWELL
WATCHERS OF THE SOUTH
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWER & PROTECTION
HAIL & FAREWELL
WATCHERS OF THE WEST
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWER & PROTECTION
HAIL & FAREWELL
WATCHERS OF THE NORTH
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWER & PROTECTION
HAIL & FAREWELL
WATCHERS OF THE EAST
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWER & PROTECTION
HAIL & FAREWELL
May this circle be open but unbroken
May the peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts.
Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet again.
