Spider Woman: Winter Solstice

 

 

All around the globe, ancient people have seen and revered Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, in ceremonies and rituals with sunset bonfires, festivals, dances, feasts, and ceremonies.  Some planted trees, some had community games, some danced, some drummed, some had solstice songs.  Some have ceremonial figures that hand out gifts and treats to children.  For all, it was, and still is, a time to give thanks, to gather as family, to have certain rituals amongst loved ones.  Some go on walks to sacred spaces. 

The Hopi believe that, on this shortest day of the year, it is when the Creator is the furthest away from Mother Earth.  They hold prayer offerings (Soyalunda Ceremony) which goes on for 16 days to entice Creator to return.  The ceremony involves music, dance, costumes and gifting.  Some honor Hawk Maiden.  Some honor the return of the Sun.  Some honor Spider Woman (who wove the world). She is known as a powerful teacher in that she taught the people to spin thread, to weave cloth, reeds into baskets, fishing nets.  To some she is hand in hand with Creator.  To some, she leads the way to our next life. 

Spider Woman helped the people survive, in most cultures.  She is , also, known as the goddess of artistry, of manifestation, patience, ancient wisdom, interconnection, just to name a few.  She is the goddess who taught us how to create something from our own bodies just as she makes thread for silk.    To some, she casts her web out and catches misbehaving children and takes them up to a mountain of white rock which represent the bones of the naughty children she ate.  This is scary, but it was a way of teaching children to behave when they need to listen to their parents and elders in case of attack or when they need to be quiet.

Scientists have found that spiders lived 300,000 years ago as found in fossils.  No wonder so many cultures have stories and myths and teachings and celebrations around her.  So, this solstice, honor spider woman in some way.  I do, even though I put out horse chestnuts to keep spiders out of the house.  I put one of my mothers’ crocheted doilies on my altar. 

12.21.22 Carol Desjarlais