Praying Mantis
Praying mantis
Let me see
What spinning circles
Of time can be
With your round vision
Absolute witness stillness
Cut through illusion
With utmost precision
In a flash of lighting
Realizing what’s mine
Break the loops of pattern
To jump into a new lifeline
When praying mantis comes into your life, get ready for seeing a full picture and open up to breaking the chains of illusion. The master of martial arts, she spends hours in stillness, observing the surroundings with the full circle of her eyes, which can see all around. Mantis teaches you to not miss anything and gets a full picture of the situation. Have you been stuck in tunnel vision? Insisting on your version of reality, which keeps you stuck in repeating loops of emotions, thoughts and situations? It is time to jump out of this reality and move onto a new one, by the action of pure awareness that arises as a result of stillness.
When the mud settles, the water becomes clear and we can see where we have been holding rigid beliefs and expectations that created the spinning circles of patterns. Mantis invites you to slow down, look at yourself from the outside and carefully examine all the pieces before taking action. Act only when you are sure, and use the accumulated stillness to fully execute your choice, without the slightest hesitation.
Mantis spirit is very precise in the timing of appearing and how and why it does. Consider this when interacting with it, there is absolutely no accident or coincidence when these insects cut through your awareness to notice them. When it's the right time and space and your own vibrational resonance is ready, the mantis will make its move. It is not a shy spirit. It will make itself known. You will not see it, until you do, and then you will know this is the time of massive transformation and falling of old structures.
Three things that you can thank the mantis for which are part of her spiritual gifts are: awareness, vital force and the art of being unseen.
Awareness comes from entering the stillness - daily meditation and learning to take on a role of an observer of your life, rather than reacting to every circumstance with compulsion. When emotions and thoughts arise, learn to look at them without attachment, knowing you are not them, but you are just looking at them, without adding any meaning. Mindfulness meditation can be done either with your eyes closed or as a movement through your daily tasks: pay attention.
Vital force of mantis' ability is evident in swiftness of her moves. The precision of movements come from keeping your body nimble and supple, so if you don’t do it yet, consider adding Qigong and Tai Chi to your physical body maintenance. Excess movement, constant strength and endurance training can tire the body. The explosive strength of the mantis comes from times of rest, moments in between. It is the accumulative power that conserves energy. Tai Chi and Qigong train your body to allow flow of energy, without causing unnecessary physical stress to the joints and muscles.
Mantis can only be seen when she chooses to - this means that she is the artist of invisibility. How many times did you walk the paths in nature and never saw a praying mantis? You won’t know, but she does. She did see you, but chose not to be seen. It can be years in between and some people may never see it. Then suddenly, at the exact time you need it most, she appears.
Consider showing up only for those who are ready, so your gifts are not wasted or ignored. Have you been feeling invisible and trying so hard to be seen? Being invisible is a gift, that means that the time is not right, nor the people who are able to see your uniqueness are ready. Step into the empowerment of the invisibility cloak: you can safely be yourself without risking misunderstanding. Beware of pulling away or hiding though, this is not the point. The mantis is always one with its environment and the sudden burst of her appearance are when the recognition of being received and recognized is there.
Contrary:
When mantis comes upside down, it is time to reconsider your relationships and where you have been putting blame on others. Are you expecting something of someone instead of blessing them on their chosen path? Are you imposing your will too strongly? Mantis doesn’t beg for attention and recognition. She sees everyone where they are and herself within this.
If you are a projector, mantis invites you to withdraw your energy away from others, who you perceive are not seeing you into the things you like to study and what brings you joy. When you focus on your own unique gifts, the right people will be able to see you. It will be like you all of the sudden will emerge from the blended environment, just for enough time to make them aware of what you see.
If you are a generator, mantis is asking you to stop initiating or committing your energy out of obligation and allow yourself to respond only to what brings you joy. When you are involved in your own sacred joyful energy, you are like a magnet for the right people and events. You don’t need to chase them, they will come directly to you and see you, for who you are.
written by Izabela with the guidance of Praying Mantis, based on lived experiences
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