A Long Time Ago before
the computer was invented,
there were three spiders
hard at work, each weaving
webs. Two of these three
spiders hail from the United
States while the third is from
Africa. One spider tradition
comes from northeastern
Arizona, the other from
North and South Dakota,
while the third originated in
southern and central
Ghana, West Africa.
Among the Hopi of Arizona,
Spider Woman's web
connects all things in the
universe. It is believed that
we are linked by spider's
strands to each animate and
inanimate object in the
universe. We are also
similar to the spider that
senses vibrations when one
strand of its web is disturbed.
Iktomi, once associated with
wisdom, is the trickster
spider of the Lakota. He is
responsible for the
expanding web across the
continents, first via the
telegraph system and now
through the Internet's World
Wide Web.
In the land of the Asanti
(Ashanti) of Ghana,
Anansi's web demonstrated
to humans how we should
be linked together in order
to form a unit called a
"society".
Thousands of years before
the www, or the World Wide
Web, storytellers in two
distant continents said that it
was the spider's woven
filaments that represented
the connection between
human beings and their
universe.
the computer was invented,
there were three spiders
hard at work, each weaving
webs. Two of these three
spiders hail from the United
States while the third is from
Africa. One spider tradition
comes from northeastern
Arizona, the other from
North and South Dakota,
while the third originated in
southern and central
Ghana, West Africa.
Among the Hopi of Arizona,
Spider Woman's web
connects all things in the
universe. It is believed that
we are linked by spider's
strands to each animate and
inanimate object in the
universe. We are also
similar to the spider that
senses vibrations when one
strand of its web is disturbed.
Iktomi, once associated with
wisdom, is the trickster
spider of the Lakota. He is
responsible for the
expanding web across the
continents, first via the
telegraph system and now
through the Internet's World
Wide Web.
In the land of the Asanti
(Ashanti) of Ghana,
Anansi's web demonstrated
to humans how we should
be linked together in order
to form a unit called a
"society".
Thousands of years before
the www, or the World Wide
Web, storytellers in two
distant continents said that it
was the spider's woven
filaments that represented
the connection between
human beings and their
universe.
The web is a symbol among the Hopi of North America. It is Spider Woman's
symbol. She was present at the creation of the universe. She fashioned the
first human beings out of clay into whom life was created at sunrise. Of all
the clans to which the Hopi belong, hers is the first and the most important.
The web reflects the colors that were present at the time of the creation of
the Universe.
symbol. She was present at the creation of the universe. She fashioned the
first human beings out of clay into whom life was created at sunrise. Of all
the clans to which the Hopi belong, hers is the first and the most important.
The web reflects the colors that were present at the time of the creation of
the Universe.
Anansi's Web of Life (above) inspired humans by showing them how to
weave and how to construct houses. The web also showed human beings
how to link themselves together in order to form a strong group. As
individuals the Asanti are joined to each other by family, clan, village and a
Confederacy whose foundation dates back to the Kwaaman state in 1570.
The web is also a symbol of the life-giving sun. As the son of Nyame the
Creator, he is also a god capable of performing fantastic feats in spite of his
size.
weave and how to construct houses. The web also showed human beings
how to link themselves together in order to form a strong group. As
individuals the Asanti are joined to each other by family, clan, village and a
Confederacy whose foundation dates back to the Kwaaman state in 1570.
The web is also a symbol of the life-giving sun. As the son of Nyame the
Creator, he is also a god capable of performing fantastic feats in spite of his
size.
Legend: According to a legend, Iktomi gave the web of life
to a Lakota elder who had gone to a mountain
with an offering of a willow hoop adorned with
horse hair, beads and feathers. Iktomi the great
trickster and wisdom-keeper appeared to the
elder in a vision. Iktomi began to weave a web
inside of the hoop. Iktomi had made a
dream catcher that he told the elder
to give to the people. The web of life
was intended to capture all the good
dreams and ideas. The bad dreams would pass
through the hole in the center of the web.
to a Lakota elder who had gone to a mountain
with an offering of a willow hoop adorned with
horse hair, beads and feathers. Iktomi the great
trickster and wisdom-keeper appeared to the
elder in a vision. Iktomi began to weave a web
inside of the hoop. Iktomi had made a
dream catcher that he told the elder
to give to the people. The web of life
was intended to capture all the good
dreams and ideas. The bad dreams would pass
through the hole in the center of the web.
A dream catcher
Some Native American nations have
another interpretation for the dream
catcher. A dream catcher is placed
above the sleeping child where the
bad dreams are caught in the web.
The good dreams come to us through
the hole in the center. At daybreak the
sun's rays destroy the bad dreams. In
one version the web of life protects us
while in the second all our hopes and
dreams remain safe.
another interpretation for the dream
catcher. A dream catcher is placed
above the sleeping child where the
bad dreams are caught in the web.
The good dreams come to us through
the hole in the center. At daybreak the
sun's rays destroy the bad dreams. In
one version the web of life protects us
while in the second all our hopes and
dreams remain safe.
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| CLICK MY PIX TO GO |
Copyright 2007 by Michael Auld
Name: Iktomi (ik-toe-me) or Unktomi.
Nationality: Lakota/Dakota/Nakota [Also known as the
Sioux].
Son of : The Thunderbird
Brother of: Iya the Storm, the evil monster who also
spreads disease.
Profile: Iktomi the spider is a shapeshifter and trickster
whose actions provide moral lessons, especially
for young people.
He is also responsible for giving culture to the
Lakota. He is like a puppet master who controls
humans on a string. He especially has power
over women. He has been described as shallow
fellow with an empty smile and who dresses
sharper than any Lakota warrior. He is a potion-
maker who is not always bad and will help people
by showing them how to protect themselves from
evil.
Nationality: Lakota/Dakota/Nakota [Also known as the
Sioux].
Son of : The Thunderbird
Brother of: Iya the Storm, the evil monster who also
spreads disease.
Profile: Iktomi the spider is a shapeshifter and trickster
whose actions provide moral lessons, especially
for young people.
He is also responsible for giving culture to the
Lakota. He is like a puppet master who controls
humans on a string. He especially has power
over women. He has been described as shallow
fellow with an empty smile and who dresses
sharper than any Lakota warrior. He is a potion-
maker who is not always bad and will help people
by showing them how to protect themselves from
evil.
| The Web of Life: |
Spider Woman, Anansi
and iktomi
The Web of Life is the first universal Internet. It was an example used to
explain how we are connected to all things in the universe.
explain how we are connected to all things in the universe.
Iktomi
Spider Woman
Anansi