Tradition: Aztec Mythology, Mexican Mythology
Alternative Names: None recorded
Category: Insect
The Myth
The Pinaviztli is an ill-omened insect resembling a spider the size of a mouse. Its body is fat, smooth, and hairless, with a striking red-and-black coloration. Its appearance inside a house is considered a warning that misfortune may soon befall the household, although the exact nature of the coming trouble can vary.
When a Pinaviztli enters a home, one way to interpret its arrival is to draw a cross on the floor, with its four arms pointing toward the cardinal directions. The insect is placed in the center, spat upon, and asked, “Why did you come? I want to know, why did you come?” The direction in which it moves is then taken as an omen. If it heads north, it foretells an approaching death; movement in any other direction indicates a lesser affliction. Afterward, the insect is dismissed with the words, “Go your way, I don’t care about you,” and left at the nearest crossroads.
A second ritual involves passing a hair through the Pinaviztli’s body and tying it to a stick, leaving the insect suspended for an entire day. If it has disappeared by the following day, harm is believed to be certain. If it remains, the household members spit on it and take this as reassurance that no misfortune will occur.
Despite its reputation as a creature of ill omen, the Pinaviztli does not always foretell disaster. On some occasions, its appearance is believed to predict the arrival of good food. Its presence therefore serves as a supernatural sign whose meaning must be interpreted through ritual, with the possibility of either misfortune or an unexpected blessing.
Sources
“Pinaviztli.” A Book of Creatures, March 11, 2019. https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/03/11/pinaviztli/