spiders + san pedro

Last Updated on October 4, 2025

Almost all of the San Pedro cactuses in my backyard are covered with spider webs. Upon inspection, I can almost always find at least one spider on any given length of cactus. Their webs stretch between the cacti, wrap around them, and catch all kinds of insects, leaves, and whatever the wind blows their way.

Sometimes, when I want my San Pedros to look cleaner, more pristine, I’ll brush off the webs — but of course, they return. Over the years I’ve learned to let them be. The spiders weave an infrastructure, a scaffolding around the Wachumas, protecting them from insects without doing any harm. They live together in harmony.

Once, a long Wachuma stem had a hole the size of a dime. It healed — and a spider moved in. I checked on it each time I passed. Later, when that cactus agreed to become medicine, I brought it inside to prepare. The spider stayed with me the whole time, keeping me company as I cut the plant, quietly witnessing the process.

The spiders and San Pedro coexist peacefully, as far as I can tell. They’ve shown me that protection, companionship, and medicine can be woven in the quietest ways — through webs, through patience, through unlikely friendships.