Friday, October 2, 2009

The Praying Mantis


The other night a most curious voyeur was peeping in the living room window. A praying mantis. Upside down on the windowpane, his world was topsy-turvy. Motionless, he stayed there halfway up the glass. Occasionally I've seen them in the bushes or grass, blending in with its environment, but this one was making quite a spectacle of himself.

The next morning he was still there. What tenacity. I grabbed the camera and tried to turn off the flash. His prayer vigil was suddenly interrupted by a bright light. In Animal-Speak by Ted Andrews, I learned that the praying mantis is all about the power of stillness. Through learning to still the outer mind and go within, we can draw upon greater power. That stillness can be simple prayer, meditation, or even sleep. Then when it comes time to act, we can do so with surety and great power.

I thanked the Praying Mantis for the message. "Be still and know that I am God."

Wishing you a peaceful day,

Karen