There's a praying mantis in my house. I thought he was a piece of wood hanging from the open window in my bathroom. In the morning I saw he'd moved and upon closer inspection he looked like a long brittle brown leaf. I became better informed when I found him in the tub. I scooped him up on a piece of paper and thought he'd be better off back on the window's ledge. I figured he'd take a running leap to freedom. He had other ideas. He seemed to enjoy stretching his legs and strolling the perimeter of the window frame. Enjoy because he just didn't seem to want to leave. I took him for a fugitive. I wondered what type of food to offer: fruit? leaves? chocolate? honey? crackers? cheese? moldy garbage? How long could he survive frozen in his camoflauge?

Yesterday, Sushi, my Siamese cat was sitting in the bathtub, acting all innocent like, "what? I'm just sitting here" Then he stood guard at the bathroom door. It wasn't til later that he was eyeing something on the floor next to my comfy chair. It was the praying mantis and the praying mantis was mad. He seemed ready to strike at Sushi, forewings up and ready to attack. He seemed puffed out, armed and dangerous. He reminded me of a formidable martial artist. Later I learned there is a kung fu form named after my warrior guest. His head reminded me of the Lemonhead guy. He turned his head sideways so I could see the lack of fear in his compound eyes. I scooped him up on a piece of paper and though he resisted my help at first, I didn't want Sushi to eat him. I took him to the kitchen and placed him on one of my ficus trees and hoped he found their leaves to his liking.

Today I learned that they're carnivores and capable of eating beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, small tree frogs, lizards even hummingbirds. He must of spent time sizing up his feline opponent and calculated the number of times he'd have to bite Sushi's neck before he was sufficiently paralyzed and ready for dinner.

I referred to my Animal-Speak book by Ted Andrews, for I believed my visitor had a message for me. I studied Peruvian shamanism for 7 and a half years and the deciphering of Mother Earth's messengers is important to me. Given the fact that I live in the center of the universe, Belmont Ave in the heart of city, well I take these messages to heart. Jaguars come to me in the form of hood ornaments on automobiles. I once saw a young hawk dining on a pigeon in Lincoln Park. Raccoons and possums frequent the alleys on my block and rabbits sometimes visit my yard. While it seems to me that butterflies and hummingbirds are becoming rare.

According to Mr. Andrews the keynote to ponder is the power of stillness. "It teaches how to still the outer, so that when it is time to act (in any form) it is done with surety, accuracy and great power. Mantis comes from the Greek word meaning prophet. If we learn to go into the stillness, we can open ourselves to phophecy."

I will take the lesson to heart and try to extend my morning meditation a bit and attempt to incorporate some stillness before I go to bed. I am grateful for my spindly visitor and hope another finds its way thus I am assured of my place in the universe and that I myself am not so camoflauged as to be invisible to the gifts of the magic in the world around me.