#sidereal spider

[lailoken]

A while ago, I was seeking reassurance from my high initiator, the Old Spider, that I was spiritually supported in confronting a particularly sly and dangerous threat. Quickly thereafter, I was shown this sign, so bold and so clear that it was well-nigh impossible to ignore or dismiss.

[lailoken]

I asked the Old Spider for an omen regarding a situation I'm dealing with, and less than 30 seconds after voicing my request, this large Cupboard Spider lowered itself directly onto my hand using its silken tether.

[lailoken]

I've recently been going through the work of codifying my years of writings into an illustrated grimoire. While this is a large undertaking, in and of itself, it's also something I've had massive reservations about for a number of reasons. As such, I ritualized an earnest plea to the Old Spider, and requested a clear omen within the day to help me understand once and for all if attempting to undertake this work is acceptable to the Star-Weaver. I expressed that, should no omen come, I would take that as a negatory response.

A bit later in the day, I discovered a newly hatched brood of Orb Weaver Spiders clustering on our Pregnant Onion plant. I've observed the Spider I believe was their mother, as she lived in our Greenhouse all this last year, but I never noticed her nest. As such, this was a delightful surprise, which I believed fulfilled the terms of my requested Omen.

[lailoken]

Oblation Vessel of the Wending Way: Reborn

After two years of heavy use, having utilized it continuously for my monthly Lunar Rites, the Attercob's Oblation Vessel has begun to show signifcant wear and tear. Given its preciousness, my husband and I came to the conclusion that it was time to "retire" this vessel from active use. Instead, we plan to place it upon a simple corner shelf altar we'll be constructing with the purpose of giving spiders a place to have free reign within the the boundary of our Fane, while allowing us to keep the rest tidier (we've been struggling with letting spiders just sort of colonize our domestic temple, given their holiness within the context of our tradition, but ended up finding this compromise.)

Knowing that a new vessel would be needed to fulfill the aforementioned Lunar Rites—and specifically one we find through providence—my husband and I started casually keeping an eye out in places of interest, in hopes that one would present itself. Finally, one day, I experienced a fairly in-your-face Spidereal Omen, which made me think we would be finding the new vessel soon, and lo and behold, I came across it later that same day.

The moment I saw this pot—which came from an estate sale in Britain—I knew it was the right one. Between the intuitive response I had, the fact that its Celadon coloration matches the color of our Fane exactly, and the fact that it's marked with twelve eyes for each month of the year it will be used to fulfill its purpose, it was glaringly apparent. What's more, the Eye, and Multiple Eyes in particular, are an important symbolic motif within the context of my tradition in general. Plus, as a cherry on top, it was quite cheap and was constructed/glazed in a way that should stand up much better to long-term moisture exposure.

I love it, and look forward to the years ahead with it.

[lailoken]

We stumbled across this vintage Spiderweb Doily being sold for $5 and couldn't resist getting it.

I'm not totally sure how it will be used at this point, but I think it would make a lovely devotional placemat on our Cardinal Altar, given the deeply Spidereal nature of our Craft.

[lailoken]

Devotional Pitcher of the Spider

Just recently, my husband went about crafting me a ritually enlivened pottery ewer, dedicated to my Craft and my prime initiator, the Sidereal Spider.

I am quite taken with it, and I feel compelled to share it with pride here.

[lailoken]

"The ability of spiders to spin webs has caused them to be associated with magic in many folklore legends throughout Europe. Some commentators have likened the process to casting spells, and terms like "the thread of magic" and "a web of magic" indicate such beliets.

Spinning and weaving have long been associated with the Fates. Professor Eva Pocs (Between the Living and the Dead, Central European University Press, 1999) states there are thirty-six documented cases, spanning three centuries of Witch trials, in which a "fate goddess" appears in Hungarian Witchcraft. Poc also states that all the goddesses mentioned in Witchcraft trials are associated with spinning. She notes that Hungarian Witch trials mention Witches spinning, weaving, or carrying spindles."

—

The Witch's Familiar

by Raven Grimasi

[lailoken]

I recently asked for an omen from the Mother Spider, in relation to something particularly important. Shortly thereafter, I was visited by what was simultaneously the largest and most docile house spider I’ve ever been so charmed to meet. 🕸