Landscapes of the Sacred (2): Skylar Minick
Chapter 9:
The story of the spider in this chapter was particularly interesting to me. The student who let the spider cast its web on him was obviously participating with nature, however I am sure he did not know the symbolism the spider carried at first, he was just captivated by the spiders quiet methodical activity and related with his desire for a quiet action in his life. Apparently the spider is a historical symbol of varying meanings from quiet contemplation to moral weakness; however, as Ricoeur says there is a double-intentionality to these symbols, the direct meaning and a deeper analogical meaning. I have actually experienced a situation similar to this when I was younger. Quite a few years ago I was on the beach with my mom and I was just laying in the sand by my beach towel when a butterfly comes and lands right on my hand. I could not wait to show my mom so I actually got up and walked very carefully over to her with the monarch still perched on the backside of my hand. I do not know the Philosophical symbol meaning for butterflies but my mom associates monarchs with her late father so I found the experience to be rather special to me.
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