About the Title

The Lore, Numerology and Symbology of the Title: the Red Velvet Web

All women are the creators and the foundation of community. Through thought, feeling and action, we weave a far reaching web, building a network of family, friends and associates to support and nurture each other and ourselves.

Each word we’ve chosen for the title of the film is rich with symbolism and significance to cultures worldwide:

Red

  • Passion
  • Blood
  • The novel, The Red Tent, written by Anita Diamant: The Red Tent is where the women of the time go live in a community, shielded from outside influences during their menstrual cycles. In their isolation from the men of their society, they are given the gift of definitive power over themselves, their thoughts and wellbeing.

Velvet

  • Soft, comforting
  • Durable, resilient

 Web

  • A network of fine threads constructed by a spider.
  • A complex system of interconnected elements
  • Anintricatesetorpatternofcircumstances,facts,
  • The system on the Internet that allows you to find and use information that is held on computers all over the world
  • Synonym: Network

THE NUMBER EIGHT ‘8’

The number eight (‘8’) will be subtly represented in the film, the film title logo, web motif and eight probing questions for each person interviewed.                                                                    

LORE

First Nations

  • Eight is connected to the medicine of Grandmother Spider. Like the infinity symbol, (see below) her two-lobed body is joined at the waist. She also has eight legs.
  • She is the female energy of the creative force.
  • She is the symbol of infinite possibilities.
  • She is the link to the past and the future.
  • She is comfortable in the dark.
  • She sits in the middle of a far-reaching web she has woven for herself and reminds us that we are the centre of our own world.

Buddhist

  • The eight spokes of the ‘Wheel of Law’ symbolize the eight fold path to enlightenment.

Chinese

  • Eight resonates with the eight paths of ‘The Way’

The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali  

  • The yoga system of Patanjali is known as the Eightfold Path, which leads to the final goal of God-realization.

NUMEROLOGY

  • Eight is considered the highest feminine number.
  • Its attributes are giving and receiving.
  • It signifies a strong sense of authority and an ability to make decisions.

SYMBOLOGY

  • Laid on its side, the number eight (‘8’) is the symbol of infinity – two connected circles that continuously flow into each other.
  • The infinity symbol is a continuous spiral of perpetual motion, which is the signature of the Universe and its evolutionary cycles.
  • Eight (‘8’) stands for empowerment, wholeness and completion.

A combination of gentleness and strength, every woman’s truest joy and greatest success is found when maintaining the delicate balance between head and heart; between physical and spiritual, dark and light; and between masculine and feminine energies — all the while negotiating these joined circles of life or holding steadfast and centred in the space between. And like Grandmother Spider, women are brave enough to navigate the darkness — their shadow side — to discover their true gifts.