Scripture teaches that nature is our first Bible, suggesting that the eye is to look to her for the vestiges, images, and patterns of God to recommend to the heart, thereby confirming our faith (Rm. 1:20). As such, we are to be on the look-out for seasonal sights and sounds that arrest our attention. Spring warmth activates wintered-over gardens, and with them spiders, the last critters whose creeping images one might expect would be a reminder of spiritual things. But as divinity is often found where least expected, in the commonplace, or even the unsightly, we are invited take a closer look at her parables, in this instance with an assist from a time-lapse video (view link above).  

The common garden spider weaves her web nocturnally (only female spiders weave webs). A second look reveals a familiar pattern, one that repeats and re-creates the spiraling spin-shape motif found everywhere in the cosmos and nature, from sunflowers, to snail shells, to waterspouts, including the shape of our galaxy, which also spin-spirals from a relatively small center point. This same spiraling motif doubles as a mini re-enactment of how the entire universe was created, described in Gen. 1, and confirmed by the hot Big Bang theory of creation. For those so informed, the spiral motif may even suggest something of the Christogenic pattern of evolution, Alpha to Omega, in individual psycho-spiritual development and collective history. More on that ahead. 

Astrophysicists tell us the cosmos was spin-shaped into being by a massive explosion of light and heat from a tiny “hole” in space no bigger than a pinhead. In like fashion, from this tiny hole in the center of things at all scales — from atoms to humans to galaxies — God appears to create, coordinate, direct, complexify, and commune with all things — like a conductor centrally positioned within his semicircular orchestral arrangement.  

Consistent with the Word (logos), God creates, re-creates, and renews ex nihilo, meaning “out of nothing,” and from apparent voids in empty space. That is, from the innermost (spirit) of things, s-he creates with empowered subtly, like someone in hiding who clears their throat. Or, like the spider who hovers in silence over the tiny hole in the center of her silky orbed universe upon creating same. 

By now, the reader no doubt notices reference to the divine as feminine in the cosmos, nature, and in the spider spinning a living “web,” her little matrix of life (from L. mater, or “mother”). Unintended by the author, such was realized by mere happenstance, a surprise at this very juncture in the text.  

“There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding” (Job 32:8). 

Small things are replicated in big things called fractals, and conversely, repeating patterns that show up at all scales of creation, micro to macro. As such, it is plausible to conjecture that via tiny voids (pinholes) in the space-time field everywhere, Spirit gives rise to created forms of all sizes, shapes, and colors, spin-signing them into existence from their invisible center points, imaged in the spider web weave. After establishing her anchor points, observe how the spider first spin-spirals her web clockwise from its small center point of origin, innermost to outermost, then repeats the pattern, this time in a counterclockwise direction from the rim back to the center again, finally coming to rest over the tiny hole at web center. Perhaps a glimpse of how, when, and where God came to sabbath “rest” after creating (incarnating) the entire universe — in the hidden places where s-he inspirits, ensouls, or “fills all things.” (Eph. 1:23).  

“Energy moves in cycles, circles, spirals, vortexes, whirls, pulsations, waves and rhythms – rarely if ever in simple straight lines” – Starhawk. 

Enhanced by the time-lapse video, note how the spin-spiraling geometric pattern woven into the spider web invites the eye to move from its tiny center point (in evolution), back again to center in reverse fashion (in involution), choreographed so that the entire length of silken strand (and spider) ultimately comes to rest where they began, completing the entire web circuitously in total repose and stillness. That is, “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the first and the last,” the source and destination of the spider’s web of life are one and the same, appearing to emerge and incline toward the same void of origin, spiraling back again like water down a drain. Such mimics the growth-decay-renewal choreography that is the hallmark of all nature’s cycles, including the death-resurrection of Christ, and of all redeemed souls, celebrated at Easter this time of year. 

“.  .  .unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again” (Ecc. 1:7) 

The spider and her web also out-pictures the locus of contemplative or centering prayer; a silently innermost, wordless, quiet, and listening posture that waits with patient expectancy at the inner door, gate, or void, where Spirit breathes vitality, inspiration, and energy into the soul and all things. This is the challenge of our existence, to read through our temporal images and existence to the eternal life we are experiencing in the field of time. 

At an astronomical cost of $10 billion, and with the capacity to view what the spiraling universe looked like when the first stars and galaxies began to form almost 100 million years ago, the Webb telescope has revealed much toward the scientific understanding of the origins of our universe. At the same time, contemplating how a common garden spider constructs her spiraling web may reveal as much, if not more, about the sacred geometry, choreographed patterns, and inner meaning of the created order than no man-made device ever can.   

The simple things are the most profound, and spirituality is all about seeing. In this season of renewal and resurrection, know that all things great and small image the divine, and are widows to the eternal for those with eyes intent on a closer look.  

[Note: A more detailed study on the role of sacred geometry in the created order, and the spiral motif as divinity’s spin-signed signature found in the cosmos and nature at all scales, can be found in the author’s book, The Ambient Christ, The Untold Story of God in Science, Scripture, and Spirituality, Christian Faith Publishing, listed under Amazon books] 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Joe Masterleo, LCSW, DCSW is a clinical social worker in private practice in Syracuse, NY. His nearly half-century of service as a therapist in the mental health care field includes faith-based counseling, with a specialty in integrating psychology and spirituality. His vast clinical experience and rich knowledge base are augmented and informed by Integral Theology and Creation Spirituality. His articles, columns and commentaries on various subjects, including sports, have been published in local newspapers and magazines. Currently, his practice is listed on the Psychology Today website in Syracuse, NY. More detailed information as to the nature and scope of his practice, areas of expertise and types of service provided by contacting Joe at jmasterleo@hotmail.com.