Spider Woman
Na'ashjei'ii Asdzaa - Grandmother Spider, Weaver of Life
Spider Woman is one of the most important creator figures in the traditions of the American Southwest. Known by many names - Na'ashjei'ii Asdzaa to the Navajo, Kokyangwuti to the Hopi, Spider Grandmother to many peoples - she is the ancient being who wove the world into existence, taught humans the sacred art of weaving, and continues to guide those who seek wisdom. Her web connects all things, and her teachings speak to the interconnection of all existence.
Attributes & Domains
Tribal Traditions
Spider Woman appears across Southwest traditions with variations in her role and significance:
Creation Stories
The Weaving of the World (Hopi)
In the beginning, there was only endless space and Tawa, the Sun Spirit, who existed in the void. Tawa wished to create a world, so he gathered his thoughts and created Kokyangwuti - Spider Grandmother - to be his helper and co-creator.
Spider Grandmother began to weave. She wove the sacred web of creation, and as she wove, she sang the creation song. From her web came the earth, the sky, the waters, and all living things. She shaped humans from clay - four colors of clay for four peoples - and covered them with her white cape woven of creative wisdom.
She sang over them, and they came to life. Then she led them through the worlds, guiding them upward through the emergence place (sipapu) when each world became corrupt, until they reached this Fourth World where we now live.
Teaching: Creation comes through thought, creativity, and patient work. The world is literally woven together - all things are connected in the great web.
Spider Woman and the Hero Twins (Navajo)
When Monster Slayer and Born for Water, the Hero Twins, set out to find their father the Sun and obtain weapons to defeat the monsters plaguing the people, they faced many dangers on their journey.
Spider Woman found them and gave them sacred gifts: eagle feathers for protection, sacred stones, and most importantly, the knowledge of the life-giving trail to the Sun's house. She taught them the sacred words to say when challenged, which would prove their divine heritage.
Without Spider Woman's guidance, the twins could not have completed their quest. Her wisdom and gifts allowed them to survive the trials set by the Sun and obtain the lightning weapons needed to make the world safe for humans.
Teaching: Wisdom often comes from unexpected sources. The elderly grandmother, seemingly weak, holds the knowledge that makes heroes' journeys possible.
The Gift of Weaving (Navajo)
Long ago, the Navajo people did not know how to weave. Spider Woman saw that they needed protection from the cold and beauty in their lives. She came to a young woman and taught her the sacred art.
"Build your loom from the sky," Spider Woman instructed. "The cross poles shall be made of sky and earth cords, the warp sticks of sun rays, the heddle of rock crystal and sheet lightning. The batten shall be a sun halo, the comb white shell."
She taught that each weaving should have a spirit line - a small break in the pattern - so the weaver's spirit would not be trapped in the work. She taught the sacred designs that tell stories and carry power.
To this day, Navajo weavers honor Spider Woman when they work, and the art of weaving remains sacred, passed down through generations.
Teaching: Creative work is sacred work. The act of making is a form of prayer, and what we create carries spiritual power.
The Sacred Art of Weaving
For the Navajo people, weaving is not merely craft - it is a sacred practice taught by Spider Woman herself. Several traditions connect weaving to spiritual wisdom:
- The Spirit Line (Ch'ihonit'i): A deliberate "flaw" or line that breaks the border pattern, allowing the weaver's spirit to exit the textile. Without this, the weaver's creativity could become trapped.
- Spider Hole: Some weavers leave a small opening in the center of their work to honor Spider Woman and acknowledge the web's center.
- Sacred Materials: Traditional looms incorporate symbols of the cosmos - representing the connection between the act of weaving and the original weaving of creation.
- Young weavers are sometimes told to find a spider web and press it to their hands to absorb Spider Woman's skill and blessing.
Symbolism & Teachings
- Interconnection: The spider's web represents the interconnection of all things. Every strand is connected; touching one part affects the whole. This is the fundamental nature of reality.
- Creative Power: Spider Woman creates through weaving - through patient, careful, creative work. This teaches that creation requires time, skill, and dedication.
- Grandmother Wisdom: Spider Woman is always depicted as elderly, a grandmother. This honors the wisdom of elders and the power of feminine knowledge.
- Patience: The spider works slowly and carefully. Spider Woman teaches that the greatest works require patience and persistence.
- Protection: Spider Woman protects and guides, especially those on spiritual journeys. She offers practical help when it is needed most.
- Thought Creates Reality: In some traditions, Spider Woman's thoughts become reality. This teaches the power and responsibility of thought itself.
Living Traditions
Spider Woman remains a vital presence in Southwest communities:
- Navajo weavers continue to honor Spider Woman in their work, maintaining traditions thousands of years old
- The Hopi still tell the emergence stories featuring Kokyangwuti
- Spider imagery appears throughout Southwest indigenous art
- Children are taught to respect spiders as relatives of Spider Grandmother
- Weaving remains a sacred act that connects practitioners to the original creation
Cultural Respect
Spider Woman is not merely a mythological figure - she is a living presence in the spiritual lives of Southwest peoples. Many of the detailed ceremonial aspects of her worship are not shared publicly, and this is respected.
When encountering Spider Woman in story or symbol, approach with reverence for the traditions that have preserved her teachings. Support Native artists and weavers who carry forward this sacred art.
Related Across the Mythos
White Buffalo Woman
Sacred Feminine Teacher