Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tiny Visitors...

   

This is just so weird in a very cool way!  
I posted a picture I collected off the internet of a praying mantis 
to evoke my manic state the week before my first Arts and Crafts Fair.  
Guess who greeted my husband at the front door Friday night? 
My husband was so impressed by this tiny visitor that he called me out to see him. 
He was in a little fern bush right by my front door and looked right into the camera at me.  
I didn't have time to set up my tripod so it's a tad blurry. 
This is the first time we have ever seen a praying mantis here in Las Vegas 
and it has been so hot I don't know how he can survive.  




He turned to get back to work but when I went in to get my tripod 
and came back out he was gone.
A dear friend gave me a wonderful book- "Animal Speak"
It is a dictionary of Animal, Bird and Reptile Symbolism.  
Whenever I have one of these little close encounters I get it out. 
"Mantis" comes from the Greek word meaning "Prophet".
The Mantis represents the Power of Stillness.  
He is found in mythology and ancient lore especially in China and Africa. 
Stillness is everything from contemplation, meditation to sleep, dreams, 
accessing prophetic events and even death.
The lesson of the Praying Mantis is that by stilling the outer 
we can strengthen and empower ourselves from within.
That was a very clear message for me. 
My outer gets way too busy and I loose my inner peace and wisdom.
 Sure enough I remembered my dreams over the weekend 
and had solutions and ideas for new creations in them. 
Who has visited you lately from the natural kingdom?  
I would be happy to share a little information from this book with you about your tiny visitor,
perhaps you will be able to hear the animals speak to you too!

5 comments:

  1. Hi Heather, Thanks for your nice comment at my site. I don't remember visiting YOUR site before, and it's so appealing I think I would have remembered if I had! I love your Praying Mantis story (and pictures). Perfect that he paid you a visit. I hope that your fair was a rousing success and that you were able to into that Mantis power of stillness. L

    I visited your Etsy shop and love your palette and your work, especially the "Child of the Universe" brooch and the polyclay art beads which, remind me of mini braided garlic and I find very attractive. I look forward to spending more time at your site reading back posts when a get a bit more time.

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  2. Hi Heather,
    Thanks for your comments on my blog. I'm sure you noticed my recent visitor was a hawk. What does that mean?

    By the way, I dated a tall slender fellow in college whose name began with a V, he used his initial to create a Praying Mantis cartoon figure for his signature. Every time I see a Mantis, I think fondly of him.

    Emanda

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  3. Fantasti nature shots. I love the mantis.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  4. Oh yes, Vegas does have a population of preying mantis, and ladybugs, too! My visiting critters of late have been lizards and hummingbirds. Have any wisdom for me? I have been scattered lately, as you saw and heard at the mountain, and I thought the Henderson Art Walk was this afternoon until Sarah set me straight! Geesh!

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  5. It's been *years* since I've come across a praying mantis. Used to see them all the time in Pennsylvania, but much less often when we moved to Massachusetts. One summer, though, they were everywhere. Not since :-(

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