My own “way out there” theory
Does this Praying Mantis have an important message for you….
Seems like everyone nowadays is entitled to at least one “way out there” theory — that is if it doesn’t hurt anyone. So, though I’m at risk of being labeled as looney, I’m going to share mine.
Have you noticed how at the end of summer and beginning of fall, you see Praying Mantis almost everywhere? At our home these long thin graceful green insects cling to the screen door staring at us with their huge almond-shaped eyes. They appear to be unafraid of humans and sometimes they even seem eager to interact with us.
I have often wondered if, in their humble way, the Mantis could be trying to communicate? And if we could only understand the message, what might they have to say?
Apparently, curiosity about Praying Mantis is widely shared throughout the world from ancient times to the present. In a book called Animal-Speak by Ted Andrews, there’s an entire section on the Praying Mantis. “Mantis has shown up in mythology and lore. In China, a system of martials arts evolved around the activities of the praying mantis.” According to Andrews, the creature is prominent in tales found in African Lore. To the Kalihari Bushmen, the Mantis is a Bushman. Like coyote lore for Native Americans, the Bushmen believe that whenever Mantis got himself into trouble he would go off and hide, then he’d sleep and dream a solution to his problem.
The stillness of the Praying Mantis is a quality that’s frequently noted as having relevance and value to our culture. We’re so busy all day, every day. While the mantis appears to just wait, to hold fast, to meditate or to dream. Its interiority contrasts strongly with our exteriority.
Google states: “Overwhelmingly in most cultures the mantis is a symbol of stillness. As such, she is an ambassador from the animal kingdom giving testimony to the benefits of meditation, and calming our minds. An appearance from the mantis is a message to be still, go within, meditate, get quite and reach a place of calm.
Maybe, stillness is the only message the Mantis imparts to humans. And it’s a useful one. You have to admit, however, with those huge eyes and slim torso, the creature does resemble a sci-fi character like many film portrayals of aliens. That’s how my “way out there” theory was conceived — that the Praying Mantis is an emissary from outer space (or the deep future) trying to send a message.
Now to be absolutely clear, I don’t imagine all insects have a message. Flies for instance are far too preoccupied by making a buzzing sound, finding crumbs of food on the counter or evading the fly swatter to think up anything worth saying. Mosquitoes are obviously brainless — why else would they warn us with annoying shrill sounds before landing on our skin and sucking our blood. Or ants — ants are on a solitary mission that is only relevant to them.
But Praying Mantis don’t make irritating noises, aren’t interested in crumbs and could have a very important message to impart to the human species. YOU NEED TO BE SMALLER.
I believe that’s a very positive and potent message. If the human species was much smaller — actually much, much, much smaller — we would use up far less of the world’s resources. We’d barely have to worry about population control or that our waste products were destroying the planet.
In other words, the message of the Praying Mantis is: You can survive if you’re willing assume a different shape, a different attitude (more serene, more prayerful) and a significantly different size (both in physique and ego.) Actually it may not be a choice; we may simply evolve in that direction as earth’s resources diminish.
Now, in case you’re poo-pooing my theory, just note how scientists currently believe that dinosaurs didn’t die out as was previously believed. Instead they contend that these monstrously large reptiles morphed into birds. Birds!!! How much smaller, lighter, more mobile, more diverse and attractive birds are than any dinosaur that ever clomped its way across the planet.
So next time you spy a Praying Mantis perching on your screen door (or for that matter when you spy a bird aloft) just think what a happy future might possibly be in store for the ravenously-consuming, endlessly-active, barely-mindful, ever-heedless human race. We could finally be still, prayerful and very, very small. ####
