We have spent the last two days here in the company of small familiar spirits — diminutive creatures often unloved and widely regarded as unlovable, yet who do us great service both in this world and in others beyond our ordinary reach.
One of the things I love about Wings’s work is his ability to take that which is ordinary, even that which is considered unattractive or to be avoided, and show its true beauty. In his hands, a simple spider is transformed, translated, transcended beyond our simple everyday conceptions into works that honor this small spirit’s true identity and power. From its description in the Bracelets Gallery here on the site:
Spider Woman Cuff Bracelet
Our dreams are the threshold between our contemporary existence and ways much older than memory. In many traditions, Spider Woman is the gatekeeper of such thresholds, and today, we still use the gift of her web to protect our dreams. Here, her ancient power is embodied in this spectacular cuff, hand-formed from a single piece of sterling silver and adorned with stones of protection and power. Her eight legs, texturized by hand-stamping extend from the dazzling oval lapis cabochon that forms her body. Hand-cut, hand-stamped pincers and silver spacer beads accent the protective Skystone of Sleeping Beauty turquoise that forms her head. Another view shown below.
Sterling silver, lapis lazuli, and Sleeping Beauty turquoise
$1,200 + shipping, handling, and insurance
This is a work that’s been in our inventory for a while. As with all of Wings’s work, he created it in the belief that Spirit has guided his hands, and intends it for one specific person in need of whatever power it holds. It is a truth that has held throughout his life as an artist, and I have seen it over and over again: Some works find the person who needs them literally within moments of bringing it into the gallery (or of my posting it online); for others, it may take years before fate brings person and piece together. It doesn’t matter. We joke that our world operates on Indian Time, but we’ve both always known that Spirit operates on its own scale of time and sense of urgency, and we’ve long since learned to trust in its eventuality, in the idea that some things occur in their own good time, even if our own priorities would prefer a different schedule.
According to some of our peoples, that is one of the lessons that Spider Woman teaches: patience. It’s one of those virtues that has never been mine; I’ve never been good at waiting. It takes a conscious and concerted effort on my part to force myself to sit quietly, to wait and watch and use the time to learn, when circumstances are beyond my control and action beyond my grasp. Any spirit that can aid me in that process gives me a gift of incalculable value.
This idea of patience, of being willing to accept that some things must happen, can only happen, when they are supposed to happen is one that links up with other traditions’ understanding of Spider, too. From avoiding the wreckage wrought by such trickster spirits to living one’s life in such a way as to ensure sound sleep and good dreams to preparing to meet her at that gate between this world and the next — all of them counsel patience, thoughtfulness, care, and a willingness to take the long view. All valuable lessons, all good guides for a life well-lived.
To have such a teacher, to be able to wear such lessons on one’s own body in such a beautiful form? That’s another gift, one waiting like a protective web for some particular individual who needs a bit of that spirit. As Spider Woman in all her incarnations shows us, eve when we cannot see it for ourselves: Learning, and indeed life itself, all happen in their own good time.
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.
