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MankyCat
September 11th, 2006, 01:15 PM
Okay, this is something I've noticed since I was young. Honestly, it's not a good situation for a child or young woman who was arachnophobic. I have this phobia mostly under control now (though ticks are another story and with good reason!).

Why is it that spiders seem to seek me out. Almost all the time. If there's a spider in the house, it's in my room or the room I frequent most. Now that I have my own apartment, the spiders decided it would be a good idea to set up home around the outside entrance (which leads to a shared stairway with the person below me... though they never use that door). Webs slowly being put up everywhere, even when I try to move the spiders outside (or have my boyfriend do it more likely) and sweep out the webs. My neighbors below and beside me don't have that many spiders, but they are all over where I'm at. We don't live in a way that would be thought to be conducive to spiders. I even found one in my pantry... one that we use often (I would have been less surprised if it were one of the pantries we rarely use).

Now, none of that might seem odd, even when taking into account that it's always where I live that these little critters seem to take up home. (Heck I remember at my fathers house when my room was infested with baby spiders... I was farely young at that time too... maybe 10 or so.)

The odd part is that when the spiders actually seem to seek me out. They run towards me, even when I try to shoo them the other way. They seem to prefer running to me over running to anyone around me. I've had them lower themselves over me, crawl along a wall or the ceiling towards me... If there's a web, I'm always the one that walks into it (sometimes picking up a little hitch hiker along the way). Doesn't matter where I'm at or how many people are around, I'm always the one that the spiders head for.

Keep in mind, I do appreciate what spiders do for us and what they symbolize. In most cases I find them absolutely beautiful, but that doesn't make me feel any more comfortable around them, even though I'm to a point where I can look closely at them to get a better view of their markings and such. Then again, if they jump at me or move suddenly (you know, that fast moving around they can do), I just might run away with a possible scream included.

As a side note, they are around all year round, so it's not just the cooling of the weather though I tried to believe that for some time.

(Now ticks, even though I don't think they are closely related to spiders, have been noted to do the same with me. Others won't get a single tick from being in a location for hours, but I'll end up with 5+ whether I'm out there the same amount of time or only who up for a small fraction of that time.)

So if anyone can shed some light on this, I'd appreciate it.

(And if this belongs in another area, I apologize.)

Meadhbh
September 11th, 2006, 02:19 PM
Well on a totally mundane level maybe it just seems like the spiders are running at you because your so scared of them. Or maybe its a sign that its time to face you fears even if they are small and move forward with your life and with out them holding you back. Spiders are also know to deal with fate here's some info on spider totems:
http://www.animaltotem.com/spider.html
http://wolfs_moon.tripod.com/SpiderTotem.html
http://www.tarotstar.net/totem_animals.htm

MankyCat
September 11th, 2006, 02:44 PM
Well on a totally mundane level maybe it just seems like the spiders are running at you because your so scared of them. Or maybe its a sign that its time to face you fears even if they are small and move forward with your life and with out them holding you back. Spiders are also know to deal with fate here's some info on spider totems:
http://www.animaltotem.com/spider.html
http://wolfs_moon.tripod.com/SpiderTotem.html
http://www.tarotstar.net/totem_animals.htm


Ah... like I said, I have worked long and hard on the phobia and it's not nearly as strong. It's to the point that a spider surprise will get a reaction. Then again, I get that way with most surprises anymore. *laughs* Usually, if the spiders leave me alone, I'll leave them alone. If they happen to be in my apartment, I escort them out (or have someone escort them out). I'd say that's facing the fears pretty well. 8O

Most people now don't realize I have this problem. The last time we found a spider hitch hiking in my hair (from my walking through another spiderweb a few minutes before), my boyfriend told me to stay still as there's a spider in my hair. He knows my problems with spider surprises (even though we just passed the stairway of spiders). He wasn't sure how I'd react. I just looked at him and said calmly and with slight annoyance, "Fine. Just get it out." I felt like it was no more than someone pulling lint out of my hair or taking some cat fur off my shoulder.

I guess I wasn't clear on that part (the phobia and the progress I made at getting mostly past it).

But the info on fate is much appreciated. I shall look that over in detail. Thank you.

Editted to add: One thing that I forgot to mention is that I have always been drawn to the story of Arachne. Not sure if that plays a part in it or not. And this little rhyme from my youth about spiders (about letting spiders live or something. I'll have to post it when I find it).

MankyCat
September 11th, 2006, 02:51 PM
Just a thought, and it's something I wondered in regards to this...

Is it possible that your spirit animal or totem or whatever you want to call it can also be the one that you feared in your youth? It just struck me. All thoughts are welcome. (Mind you, I'm have no problem with foxes and cats and have no strong fear of bears though I'm sure I'd be terrified if one started charging me or came up sniffing at me... but that's a scared for of respect for the fact that the bear can probably kill me in one hit.)

Though... spiders would be the only one that imposed itself on me rather than just giving nice little signs or some such.