My Reaction to “Charlotte’s Web” Being Named as a Banned Book

“Why did you do all this for me?’ Wilbur asked. ‘I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’ ‘You have been my friend,’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die… By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle.

Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”

~From Charlotte’s Web by Elwyn Brooks, “E.B.

Honestly. Banned?! What the heck?!

When I saw this post on Facebook the other day I was sad and mad all at the same time.

Then I was happy to see the reason to read the book included on the banner.

One of my all time favorite books as a child, and yes, I’ve even re-read it a few times in my adult years, as well as watched the film a few times also. I know I’m not alone.

Still thinking about this two days later it flashed through my mind the beautiful healing I had a few years ago with Spider that led me to uncover a deeper meaning and in relation to Charlotte’s Web. I felt called to write about this and shed some more light on the profound power of animal wisdom.

Because honestly, really, one of the reasons this book is banned is due to the “portrayal of talking animals?” What has happened to encouraging and instilling imagination in our children?! This is what creates the potential of a world where adults can live from the core of their hearts and be who we truly are. Something we have been sadly lacking in many cases for many years.

And as someone who has had (and continues to!) deep and meaningful connections with animals, and yes ‘hearing’ them, this just really has me shaking my head in deep disappointment. I wouldn’t be where I am today were it not for the animals that share the planet with us. They’ve been my confidants, my healers, and my companions who have loved me unconditionally.

Okay. I think you can tell this has me a bit fired up.

So, back to Spider and Charlotte’s Web and a healing that occurred for me.

It was back in 2019 when I agreed to take part in an exercise for a book that was being written by my friend, Dawn, called Shadow Animals.

The animal I feared that I chose to work with was spider.

I was taken through a series of questions.

When asked what I most dislike about spiders I said that they are fast, sneaky, and creepy.

I then shared with Dawn how spiders are creepy that had me drilling down deeper and how this makes me feel dirty. I was surprised by my sharing that and wondered what that was about.

Describing spider as sneaky made me feel like they are hiding something from me. And fast for me was about a control issue because I feel as if I can’t control them when they move toward me so fast.

As we explored this more, I shared, in part, how trust is big for me and that it takes a lot for me to trust another person.

Upon further reflection describing spider as creepy which led to my sharing that they feel dirty led me to the memory of my childhood wound of abuse. Because the situation was creepy and felt dirty plus fast and sneaky. I also felt no control over what was happening.

It was a rush of emotions that moved through me quite quickly.

After the initial exercise Spider would continue to bring insight for me.

Spider in one aspect represented trauma. But something that surprised me when invited to reflect on what Spider may offer as a gift or teaching, I was reminded of the book and film, Charlotte’s Web. How I loved that Charlotte was an advocate for Wilbur, listening to him, and assuring him all would be okay. She was just so kind and loving.

It was during that time that I’d watch the film again and found myself in tears for the unveiling of yet another layer of the trauma that was ready to be released.

And over time with inner work and reaching out for help, I realized how I became the Charlotte of my own life, listening to the scared little girl within me. The one who couldn’t speak or share her feelings of what had happened.

So spider, while yes, can represent the difficult and shadow aspects of self, Charlotte being the gentle and kind teacher helped set me free with another layer of pain that was released.

And I come full circle now to the line in the quote above that has my eyes filling with tears as I write this:

“By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle.”

This is what animals have done time and time again for me and for so many others too. And I will always take a stand to share their wisdom.

And why banning Charlotte’s Web does so much more harm than good. And I just had to share my thoughts. Because seriously, the world is not black and white or this or that. The world speaks to us in so many extraordinary ways and I really feel the banning of this book – and the censorship of so many other things too – is a wake up call to each of us.

Thanks for listening!

XO

Barb