A close friend of mine recently shared they lost their father. The best I could do in that moment of sharing was to hold space for deep listening and to simply be present. During our conversation I asked him, has there ever been a symbol within nature that you’ve connected to in relation to your father? He took a moment to ponder and then responded, yes! a praying mantis!

To further show my support and love, I’ve decided to create artwork in honor of his father’s spirit and dig deeper into the symbolic meaning of the Praying Mantis.

Here is what I found….

• You have the power to adapt to any situation, however painful. Take a deep breath and make the adjustments needed.

• Embrace space to yourself so you have time to receive peace, quiet and calm within your life.

• Take the time to be more conscious of your choices.

• Embrace the virtue of patience.

• Achieve goals with precise action.

• Cultivate a balanced lifestyle of work, play and rest.

• Adopt graceful movements and contemplative ways.

• According to South African National Biodiversity Institute, finding a praying mantis inside your home indicates the presence of ancestors.

I’d say for the transition my friend is experiencing, this is a great symbol to have close to his heart and within his home.

cover photo by David Clode from upslash.com