Mantis Prayer poster

The Mantis Prayer. Printed on a parchment-style sheet in AzureGreen's prayer-print line.

8.5 by 11 inches. Standard letter size, so it drops into an off-the-shelf frame.

Small enough for a desk. An altar, a wall, or the space above a workbench.

• Size: 8.5 by 11 inches
• Printed paper, sold unframed
• Publisher: AzureGreen
• SKU: EPMANP

The praying mantis gets its name from the posture, the forelegs folded as if in prayer, and the resemblance was noticed early and everywhere. What the insect is actually doing is waiting, absolutely still, until the moment arrives. Then it is very fast.

That is a better lesson than the piety the name suggests. Stillness that is not passivity, patience that is not resignation, and the readiness to act decisively when the moment comes: those are hard things, and the mantis is a surprisingly good emblem for them. Modern practice reads it that way, and it is a modern reading rather than an old tradition, which we would rather say than imply otherwise.

1. Choose a spot where you will actually look at it: above a desk, an altar, or a workbench.
2. Frame it in a standard 8.5 by 11 frame, or pin it up as it is.
3. Keep it out of direct sun and away from damp.
4. Read the prayer when you need the reminder, which is usually when you are about to rush something.

• Mouse Prayer Poster: another animal prayer print from the same series.
• Lake Prayer Poster: the still-water print, for the same register.
• Green Aventurine Worry Stone: something to hold while you wait.
• Light Blue Chime Candles, Set of 20: the calm register as a flame.
• White Sage Smudge Stick: to clear the space where you hang it.

What is on the poster?

The Mantis Prayer, on a parchment-style sheet from AzureGreen's prayer-print line.

What does the mantis represent?

Stillness that is not passivity, and the readiness to act decisively when the moment comes. The insect holds perfectly still and then moves very fast, which is the whole lesson.

What size is it?

8.5 by 11 inches, standard letter size, sold unframed.

Does it need cleansing?

No. It is a paper print. Do not put salt on it.

How should I care for it?

Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from moisture. Framing behind glass is the best protection.