“Until we have seen someone’s darkness, we don’t really know who they are. Until we have forgiven someone’s darkness, we don’t really know what love is.”

who wouldn’t like a woolly sheep-like spider as their zodiac? not much is known about this species, but it’s really cute. at present, the ballinae subfamily comprises 13 nominal genera and three of them are very new. these spiders are found in south africa alongside other species in the ballinae subfamily - the specific spider in the photo is from the mount coke state forest, eastern cape.

thyene imperialis is widely distributed in southern europe, north and east africa, across the middle east and central asia. measuring about 9mm, horned jumpers are found in shrubs and plants these little guys are pretty brave, sometimes invading the webs of other spiders in order to steal prey from other spiders. taurus signs aren’t always the best at socialising and it’s probably not really good spider etiquette to steal either.

phidippus regius adapts well to new environments and is well known for its friendly nature. these spiders are naturally curious and need lots of mental stimulation to be happy. much like a gemini, the regal jumping spider is also known for having different personality types (no shade) and some are noticeably more social than others.

simaetha is a genus of australasian jumping spiders. this purple and gold gem is found in the sraburi province of thailand. the golden scales of simaetha species are often rubbed off in larger and older invidivuals through wear and tear. the most golden individuals tend to be younger. cancers are guided by their emotion and heart, and can have a hard time blending into the world around them - the same could be said for this bright purple spider.

much like how leo is ruled by the sun, heliophanus cupreus seems to need sunny conditions in order to truly thrive. it has a palearctic distribution, being found throughout europe except for iceland. they’re known for being pretty friendly, bravely approaching people to investigate, but often aren’t noticed because of their tiny size. they can also be found in bogs if that appeals to any adventurous leos out there.

virgo is historically represented by the goddess of wheat and agriculture. phidippus apacheanus is found in agricultural areas including barns and fence posts. these spiders exhibit forward-planning and take a logical approach with most things they do. except for the part where they can be found standing on roads. not so logical. also, virgos love to help people and this species is very good at reducing pests in agricultural habitats. bit of a reach but listen this is hard

people born under libra dislike being alone, making partnerships important for them. they can also be perfectionists who seek balance in all aspects of life. well, the same goes for peacock spiders. these guys strive for perfection when dancing for other spiders and can’t afford to get things wrong. luckily, they’re pretty good at what they do! (otherwise there would be none left because disgruntled females would eat them all)

scorpio. scorpion mimic. original right? these spiders are found on leaves, tree trunks and rarely inside buildings in malaysia, australia, and several pacific islands. not much is known about these, ahem, scorpions, but it’s pretty gutsy to pretend to be a potentially deadly animal - a predator might just call your buff. thankfully, bavia are pretty adept at this since they’re common in their habitats; bold and powerful just like scorpios.

just like how sagittarians tend to be well-liked by others, arrow jumpers are often found chilling with other phidippus species on the same plant in the wild. they are highly active and can be seen running along branches from mid-morning till dusk most days. they are also keen explorers and make sure to take everything in as they dart from place to place.

ambitious, relf-reliant and hard-working. the capricorn and the portia have this much and more in common. portia is known as the most intelligent jumping spider, able to count, trick other spiders out of their webs, ambush bugs and plan complicated detours to get to where they need to be. also, they look as if they have tiny horns. like a goat. capricorn is goat. ok moving on

this species is one of the very few communal jumping spiders in the world. much like how a pisces is tolerant, highly tuned to everything around them, and considerate of others’ feelings, these jumping spiders live in large social groups and must keep the peace in order to coexist. different pseudicius species have varying courtship displays and different types for when they’re in the nest and away from the nest.

aquarians are known for being forward-thinkers, original, and sometimes a bit eccentric. first spider that came to mind was this rainbow guy. some species in this genus are incredibly rare, with one actually going “missing” for 150 years only to be found again in 2018. chrysilla spiders live in the rainforests of burma, china, india and vietnam and tend to make intricate nests inside green leaves.

@dismalsheen submitted: These silly guys like exploring the kitchen sink sometimes! I try to be careful but I don't always spot them right away. This one's just drying off on my hand and chilling 🤣