SPIDER WOMAN'S LEGACY
LIKE SO MUCH ELSE IN NAVAJO TRADITION, THE SUPREME ARTISTRY OF TRIBAL WEAVERS HAD DIVINE ORIGINS. LEGEND RECALLS THE MANY DEEDS OF SPIDER MAN WHO TAUGHT THE NAVAJO HOW TO MAKE THE LOOM, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY OF SPIDER WOMAN, WHO TAUGHT THEM HOW TO USE IT.
IN ONE TALE A NAVAJO GIRL WAS WALKING THROUGH THE BARRENS WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE RISING FROM A TINY HOLE IN THE GROUND. LOOKING INSIDE, SHE SPIED AN UGLY OLD CRONE. SPIDER WOMAN. "COME DOWN AND SIT BESIDE ME AND WATCH WHAT I DO," SAID THE OLD WOMAN. SHE WAS PASSING A WOODEN STICK IN AND OUT BETWEEN STRANDS OF THREAD. " WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO, GRANDMOTHER" ASKED THE GIRL? "IT IS A BLANKET THAT I WEAVE," THE ANCIENT WOMAN REPLIED.
OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE NAVAJO GIRL WATCHED SPIDER WOMAN WEAVE THREE DIFFERENT BLANKETS OF WONDERFUL DESIGN. SHE THEN WENT HOME AND SHOWED HER PEOPLE ALL SHE HAD LEARNED. LATER SHE VISITED SPIDER WOMAN AGAIN AND TOLD HER HOW EVERYONE WAS NOW BUSY WEAVING. "THAT IS GOOD THE OLD WOMAN REPLIED." BUT SHE ALSO GAVE THE GIRL THIS WARNING: "WHENEVER YOU MAKE A BLANKET, YOU MUST LEAVE A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. FOR IF YOU DO NOT, YOUR WEAVING THOUGHTS WILL BE TRAPPED WITHIN THE COTTON -- NOT ONLY WILL IT BRING YOU BAD LUCK , BUT IT WILL DRIVE YOU MAD." SINCE THEN NAVAJO WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS LEFT A SPIDER HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR BLANKETS.