Praying Mantis Symbolism & Meaning (+ Spirit, Totem & Omens)

Are you interested in the Praying Mantis Spirit Animal? Then this guide is for you!

A close look at the praying mantis teaches you many things about your own life. This insect is the picture-perfect image of patience and balance.

This creature inspires you to get your priorities right. The praying mantis knows what it wants to feed on, and how to achieve this goal.

Do you know what you want to accomplish in this life? How do you go about doing it?

What’s the Praying Mantis Meaning and Symbolism?

#1 – Patience Pays

The praying mantis hunts by stealth. They can stand still for long periods, waiting for the most suitable time to strike.

They are also quite selective in their feeding habits. So, for example, you can never catch a praying mantis feeding on dead insects.

They are patient enough to wait for the right delicacy to come along.

#2 – Prayer and Meditation

The praying mantis always seems to be in a praying position. If this is your spirit animal, you know you’ll get everything you desire through divine intervention.

Remember to tend to your spiritual needs while struggling to make a decent living. Prayer and meditation are powerful tools that can aid you in unlocking your full potential.

#3 – Balance and Harmony

As your spirit guide, the praying mantis urges you to strike the right balance between your desires and your needs.

It will help if you set your priorities right, as this will guide you to use your resources prudently.

#4 – Focus and Concentration

The praying mantis pays rapt attention to its quarry before striking. It has to ensure that the move it executes will be well-spent.

Similarly, this spirit guide calls on you to focus on the crucial aspects of your life. Don’t waste your time and effort on things with no bearing on your future.

#5 – Avoid Procrastination

The praying mantis strikes just at the right moment – not a moment too soon and not a moment too late.

This tells you to acquire the habit of delivering on your mandate without wasting time. Be prompt in carrying out your responsibilities; let others know you keep your word.

Symbolic Meaning of Praying Mantis Spirit Animal in Various Cultures

Praying Mantis Symbolism in Christian Culture

The front legs of the praying mantis are folded to resemble praying human hands. Above anything else, this is a powerful symbol to any Christian.

Seeing a praying mantic reminds Christians that their focus should be on the angelic and spiritual realms.

You can accomplish anything in this world through the power of prayer. By praying regularly, you eliminate negative energies and create room for positive ones.

The praying mantis reminds you that prayer is a foolproof channel for contacting God. Through this channel, you make your needs known to the divine realm.

It is the channels through which you ask for forgiveness of sins and restoration to God’s glory.

The praying mantis featured prominently in early Christian symbology. It was believed that this insect had the power of divination.

In Christian literature and works of art, this insect is featured as a symbol of love and hate, pain, life and death, and ecstasy.

Praying Mantis Symbolism in African Culture

In the African setup, the praying mantis is thought to have a very close relationship with the spirit world.

For example, the Khoikhoi and the Khoisan Bushmen of the Kalahari looked to this insect as divine messenger. Some of these people believed that this insect was God’s reincarnation on Earth.

As such, this insect was treated reverentially (as were all animals).

Village shamans helped the people to decipher the message borne by the praying mantis. A spiritual expert would quickly be sought whenever one was sighted to communicate with it.

In some African communities, seeing a praying mantis signifies you’ll have important visitors. This is good news for any African home because visitors are treasured and most welcome.

Visitors’ arrival allows people to prepare and eat the best foods on the land.

Additionally, it is believed that this insect is sent by the gods to combat evil spirits. Because of its predatory nature, people think this insect is a ferocious spiritual being.

Evil spirits cannot stand in your way if the praying mantis is your spirit animal.

Praying Mantis Symbolism in Native American Culture

In the US, the praying mantis is Connecticut’s state insect. Since time immemorial, this insect has been welcomed by the human population because it helps eliminate unwanted bugs.

The Native Americans believe the praying mantis existed before the first humans. Some communities believe that this insect actively participated in shaping the Earth in readiness for the arrival of our ancestors.

Some Native American myths indicate that the Great Spirit worked with the Grandmother Spider and the Praying Mantis to create the world as it was in the time of our forefathers.

For the role this insect has played in Native American folklore, it has been immortalized in paintings and symbols in cave paintings and rock surfaces.

The Praying Mantis symbol is also featured in tattoos, jewelry, jade artwork, and headdresses.

Praying Mantis Symbolism in Celtic Culture

The praying mantis is associated with many positive attributes in Celtic symbolism and mythology.

It is held in high esteem for its prayerful nature. It is also seen as courageous, patient, tenacious, and persistent.

Some fables portray the praying mantis as a cunning hypocrite. This is because this insect hides its greed, gluttony, and cruelty behind a religious demeanor.

While the praying mantis wants everyone to believe it is innocent and kindhearted, it devours other insects when it thinks no one is looking.

Celtic pagans appreciate this insect for the value and beauty it adds to nature. From this incest’s lessons, the ancient Celts learned the importance of prayer and adoration as worship tools.

Praying Mantis Symbolism in Eastern Culture

The praying mantis is named kamakiri – a moniker for bravery and confidence. The ancient Japanese Samurai learned a great deal by observing this insect in nature.

Key among these lessons are patience, bravery, and balance.

This insect is also regarded as the symbol of autumn in many eastern cultures.

The praying mantis was a powerful symbol of greed and cruelty to the ancient Chinese.

Although the Chinese military looked to this insect for inspiration, the general population hated how this insect devoured other insects.

All the same, the praying mantis gave inspiration for a whole form of martial arts aptly called the praying mantis style.

When the Praying Mantis is Your Spirit Animal

The praying mantis spirit animal comes into your life to reveal the seer or prophet in you. You have unique gifts that few other people can match.

Your praying mantis spirit animal wants you to understand that these gifts are not for you to keep. Instead, they are meant to enlarge your territories and make the lives of your family and friends easier.

This spirit animal opens your mind’s eye to your healing abilities. As a result, you have been blessed with the ability to spread peace, love, and light.

This is your cue to reach out to those needing your healing.

To fully unleash your potential, you need to take stock of your life and change a few things. So the praying mantis calls on you to contemplate your life.

What do you think needs to change? What should you retain, and what needs modification?

The Praying Mantis Power Animal

The praying mantis power animal is a powerhouse of defense mechanisms. Call on this power guide when you feel under threat.

The Chinese have developed whole martial arts forms based on this insect. For example, it is featured prominently in judo, karate, and Kung Fu.

This tells you that this power animal will help you ward off attacks from all types of invaders. It is your shield against spiritual, emotional, and mental attacks.

The praying mantis power animal also helps you channel your prayers and supplications to heaven. It teaches you to make meditation and prayer part of your worship ritual.

Listen to your intuition and inner wisdom when the praying mantis locates you. You can go wrong when you pay attention to these divine tools.

The Praying Mantis Totem Animal

People born with the praying mantis totem are lucky. If this spirit animal chooses you, it means you’ll get the best possible advice concerning your life.

Identifying with the praying mantis totem means you are well-schooled in the art of stillness. As a result, you appreciate that you don’t have to rush through life.

The praying mantis spirit totem teaches you to move through life at your own pace. Everyone has their own race to run.

You just need to identify yours and focus on it. As long you are moving forward, you are good to go. The question of your pace is neither here nor there; the important thing is to produce stellar results.

Praying Mantis Encounters and Omens

The appearance of a praying mantis is considered a fortunate event in many cultures. An encounter with this insect is believed to cancel out bad luck and replace it with good luck.

Seeing a praying mantis just before you implement an important project means that your plans will succeed resoundingly.

This spirit animal is a good omen. It alerts you of the routes and places you should avoid not to fall into danger.

An encounter with a praying mantis in your doorway or window reminds you to be grateful for the blessings in your life.

This insect opens your mind’s eye to all the good things in your life. So take a moment every day to thank your divine guides for their excellent work.

The praying mantis graciously teaches you there is power in prayer.

Final Thoughts…

Has the praying mantis come into your life? This signifies that specific vital changes are about to take place.

Before this happens, however, you need to take up a few lessons from this insect.

The praying mantis spirit animal wants you to appreciate the value of maintaining the right balance in your life.

It would be best if you were focused, patient, and resilient. You’ll need these qualities in the next phase of your growth.