"In the Dream Arc System, every fear has a name, and every underworld creature represents a specific fear. The 19th Gene Key is the fear of feelings. Its symbol is the Tarantula. For such a relatively harmless creature, the tarantula has been a favourite target of the media and cinema as a totem representing a deep human fear. This fear is the fear of being physically touched by the creatures of the underworld. The human fear of having a tarantula crawl across one’s body is especially poignant in societies that have lost touch with the wilderness experience. The process of meeting such fears is all about opening up one’s deep sensitivities to others and to all beings. The tarantula itself has very poor eyes but an incredible heightened sense of touch through its body hair. Much of this key is about the fear of nature, of sexuality and of being emotionally hurt. The more one closes down one’s feelings from others, the more powerful we allow fear to become deep within our unconscious. The tarantula represents a portal between the human realms and the other natural kingdoms, and embracing the deep fear of being physically touched by our fears can open up a deep cellular memory within us of our inherent unity with all creatures."

- Excerpt from The Dream Arc Totem Codex (unpublished - coming 2021)