A Greater Ecosystem

A greater ecosystem: 

even my home holds a certain wilderness, an extension of the greater ecosystem found indoors and smaller form. I am always happy to find spiders living with me, knowing that they keep me safe by preying on insects that are less friendly to my peace of mind. Spiders are only occasional visitors, I will find one in a more remote corner of my home, spinning a small web and preparing for a stay. Generally, I'll leave them alone, knowing that it's only a short while for their stay and that eventually they'll find their way outdoors after spending just a few days here. 

these spiders show me that there truly is a greater ecosystem involved and we're not at all removed from its hold, and that yes, even my home is a certain wilderness, a spider's hunting ground, a place for it to roam or build a web. Some spiders, such as the wolf spider, eschew building a web for a more active hunt, they might be seen in dark corners or traveling across a basement floor. They're on the hunt, active in pursuit, stalking insects that might be seen as a pest and less welcome in my home. Wold spiders might prefer to be outdoors, better suited to the wilderness of my yard where prey is more plentiful. If I see one inside and able to catch it without doing harm I might capture and release it outside. 

my rule in every ecosystem is to do no harm. 

or as little as possible, not purposely causing any pain. 

it's the webs that most particularly fascinate me, intricate in design, purposeful, and that a single spider can construct such a thing from its own body. It would be a shame for me to wreck a work of effort and beauty, especially know that it works in my favor, capturing insects that might prove more harmful in my home, most especially if a mosquito finds its way indoors. Webs have a deep significance and meaning for us, a micro example of the universal design. That Indra's Web contains jewels that reflect the entire universe into existence and every strand vibrates with energy and purpose. String theory proposes that particles are thin filaments of energy that vibrate the universe into matter, and with that we find ourselves existing in an infinite web of our own and that every strand vibrates with great meaning. 

an with this, a house spider shows me my connection to the world, the greater ecosystem to which I most truly belong, an intricate web of deep meaning and design. What a spider teaches me is that everywhere is home, and every inch of it is a wilderness too, seamless from fields and woods to indoors, all strands of an infinite web, vibrating in the pure potentiality of existence. 

a greater ecosystem...

home. 

~

Peace, Eric