Animal Symbolism

That is a picture of a Praying Mantis. The Mantis is a species which takes up residence in various temperate and tropical habitats throughout the world. It is thought to be indigenous to the Asiatic region. They are endangered/threatened in a few of their habitats. In my life before this past week, I had seen only one Praying Mantis and that was a dead one outside of a little league baseball field. In the span of two days, I have seen four separate Praying Mantises.

Considering this odd coincidence, I have decided to look up the symbolism regarding these creepy little things. I found some of what I found to be appropriate for my current situation, though I am no steadfast dedicatee to that realm of belief. Here is a few selections of what I have found:

One article referred to the Mantis as a symbol of deity:

-The praying mantis is the oldest symbol of God: the African Bushman’s manifestation of God come to Earth, “the voice of the infinite in the small,”* a divine messenger. When one is seen, diviners try to determine the current message. In this culture they are also associated with restoring life into the dead. “Mantis” is the Greek word for “prophet” or “seer,” a being with spiritual or mystical powers. The praying mantis shows the way. In the Arabic and Turkish cultures a mantis points pilgrims to Mecca, the holiest site in the Islamic world. In Africa it helps find lost sheep and goats. In France, it's believed that if you are lost the mantis points the way home. "Follow Mantis" means putting that core aspect of yourself, your foundation of Spirit, at the helm and let it direct your intellect and ultimately your life.-

Another article (the one I found more reasonable and situationally appropriate) regarded the Mantis as a sign of stillness and meditation:

-The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we've flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we've created. 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. It may also a sign for you to be more mindful of the choices you are making and confirm that these choices are congruent.-

Along with the odd number of Praying Mantises, on the way home from the Galleria Mall I spotted a wild turkey in the middle of the road and both on the way to and from New York I saw a deer in the middle of a highway. In fact, one ran right across the road in front of the car I was traveling in.

Turkeys, according to a "Power Animals" website apparently represent:

-Shared blessings and harvest. Another name for the turkey is earth eagle. Turkey is about combining spirituality and the blessings the earth gives us, harvesting and using them to make your life better.

Just because I read this little blurb describing the symbolism of turkeys, I will forever refer to these delicious birds as Earth Eagles. I am already looking forward to November when I can explain to my Grandmother (after she has had a few glasses of wine) that she is in fact eating the Eagle of the Earth. Her response will undoubtedly be, "Oh Nicholas!"

Deer, according to the same "Power Animals" site symbolize:
"gentleness and unconditional love. The power of Deer medicine is that of unconditional love. Only love, both for ourselves and for others, can dissolve the barriers which prevent us from realizing wholeness. Be gentle with others and self."
Again, this animal symbol is rather situationally appropriate. What the hell, why is my life a novel full of animal imagery? Why couldn't I be living in some pulp fiction novel or a Harry Potter book or maybe even a good spy thriller?

Continuing with the theme of animal symbolism, I had a rather creepy and vivid dream during a mid-day nap a few weeks ago. In it, I was at a grill with a gaggle of individuals surrounding me and I was cooking lobster heads. The lobster heads were not cooked through yet so someone suggested that I turn the heat up to "sear", so I heeded their advice and did it. As the heat rose, the lobster heads began to shudder and out from inside of them poured hundreds of cockroaches. They started to fly around and crawl all over everyone who was standing around the grill and people including myself started to scream. Thankfully, that is all that I am able to remember.

Do I really believe in Animal Symbolism? Not especially, I just believe it can be nice to feel as if something is out of our control for once and can rely in the hands of something as strange as an Earth Eagle or as creepy as a praying mantis. Sometimes it's just nice to believe that your life or well being is in the hands of an omniscient, non-personified being. That can be an especially nice feeling for someone like myself who does not have much of a theological faith (or a complete lack of faith, it usually depends on the day).

Another day passes, another entry is written. I leave with a quote:

"Real gangsta-ass niggaz don't flex nuts Cuz real gangsta-ass niggaz know they got em And everythings cool in the mind of a gangsta Cuz gangsta-ass niggas think deep Up three-sixty-five a year 24/7 Cuz real gangsta ass niggaz don't sleep"

-Geto Boys




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