The Spider

We all heard of them.

Whether in movies.

Books.

Comics.

And we see them in real Life.

For centuries Spiders have been the source of Fear, knowledge, and inspiration, in our human culture. In some cultures it was depicted in deities which were the spinners and weavers of destiny. In African culture, and Lakota culture, the Spider is depicted as a Trickster. Interestingly enough, the Lakota incarnation of the Spider, the Trickster god Iktomi, has the ability to Control people with his silk. There is a legend that he would one day return to spread his Web all across the land. I believe he already has. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Spider can be a Creator rather than a Trickster, as depicted in the Navajo myth of Grandmother Spider.

But beware. Spiders are more or less, Tricksters and Thieves. In Japanese mythology we are given the tale of the Tsuchigum, an ethnic group who take on the visages of humans, and derogatory term for Bandits. The story of Minamoto no Raiko portrays some of his encounters with these human-Spiders. The Jorōgumo is another variation of the Japanese shapeshifting Spider most common in the Edo period, the term literally meaning "Spider whore". As Edo legend had it, they would entice men into a shack playing beautiful Music, devouring the unaware Victim while they were too distracted by their Song.

Spiders are oddly similar to the Vampires in their predatory nature. Both lure and ensnare their prey before sucking the life out of the Victim.

What I'm speaking of, however, are those who spin Webs of lies. Trapping us and the entire world in a warped version of the truth. These are the Spiders you need to be wearer of. For if they catch you, they will make sure you are silenced. I am sure you are already aware of one of them, the FBI agent known as Fisk. Him and those who are similar to him are like that of the False Prophets. They will continue to spin webs until they have captured a Butterfly. Beware. Beware I say! They will say to you that the world has ended. They will say that the Bird does not exist. But He does, and He grows ever stronger still!

The day that they cease to be Iktomi, and become protectors of the Jōren waterfall will be the day they descend from their Webs, and save those who are Victims from drowning, as we all will one day.

Beware the Spider who spins Webs out of Lies instead of the Truth.