A female marbled orb weaver spider spends most of her life spinning webs. She is known for her robustly shaped abdomen and rich pumpkin orange coloring. The intricate markings on her back attract prey. The delicate design of her web warns predators of the empire she has built. The male orb weaver is despairingly smaller than his female counterpart which makes mating a dangerous game. She is a huntress, and a skilled one at that.

Hiking has always been a spiritual experience for me. The trees, the crisp air in the fall, the sounds of birds singing songs, and the rustling of leaves as squirrels play a game of chase. I enjoy the challenge of pushing my physical limits and reaping the reward of a beautiful view at the top of a mountain. Being in nature brings back that feeling I used to get as a kid when I sat in church with my parents. The feeling of being a part of something much bigger and more complex than we will ever understand.

On my latest jaunt through the woods I packed the essentials—water, snacks, an extra layer…I regretted not bringing a second pair of socks after I slipped a time or two while trying to cross a creek. At the last minute I threw my camera in the bag and off I went. I try to stay mindful when I walk. The most simple things have the ability to fascinate me and I thought for sure I’d find something to inspire my creativity. Alas, after 5 miles and no spark, I thought to myself that this would not be my big break in photography and I succumbed to keeping my camera safely tucked away in my backpack.

Then, I saw her. Smoothly repelling down from her perch in the trees. As I stepped in to get a closer look the leaves crunched beneath my feet and she suddenly stopped. Knowing this was my opportunity, I quickly retrieved my camera to capture this minute in time when nothing else in the world mattered except for me and that spider. As other hikers passed by I excitedly told them to look at her. She was huge, and bright, and so perfectly poised. We shared simultaneous oohs and ahhs as we studied the way she moved across her web.

We’ve heard the saying,

Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

What does this mean to you? Well, the obvious meaning is lying will get you into trouble. Anytime I have pondered this quote I thought of how my words and actions can effect those around me. However, the more I think about it the more it becomes clear to me that I have often deceived myself into low self worth, resulting in some pretty difficult situations.

So, why do we continue to deceive ourselves everyday with self doubt and negative self talk? I believe that is what we are taught from a very young age. To be afraid of failure, to stay quiet when we are hurting, to be tough and not complain—these are the societal norms.

We can change our mindset on the webs we weave. The orb weaver has a calculated plan as she works. In her world, she does not have the luxury of saying “I can’t”. So she survives and not just at the bare minimum. She thrives by utilizing her instincts. That is the beauty of nature. It is a system and each organism within has a role with one purpose, survival. It’s worth noting she looks great while doing it.

I invite you to find inspiration in the spider’s behavior, as I did . Be calculative. Be precise. Be assertive. Be kind to yourself. Spin a positive web that has purpose, create an environment you can thrive in.