It looked like a leaf... until it bit me

Hey there,

Do you remember being a kid and catching a praying mantis in a jar? Watching her slow, hypnotic sway—like a leafy ballerina doing tai chi on a stick? You'd stare for hours, wondering what she was thinking.

The praying mantis is elegant, patient, and a little bit terrifying. She’s the bug version of a femme fatale—long limbs, great posture, and a habit of biting off her partner's head after the date. Why? Because she can. And because she’s hungry.

Mantis Mythology

In ancient Greece, people thought mantises had psychic powers. In Japan, they symbolized autumn and samurai precision. But maybe they just represent something we all recognize: stillness before the strike. Quiet confidence. The art of not flinching.

The Power of the Pause

The mantis doesn’t rush. She doesn’t waste energy. She waits. She watches. She acts when it feels right.

That’s your cue this week: if something in your space—or your body—feels off, it probably is. Maybe it’s a weird smell. A flicker of movement you almost didn’t notice. That little voice saying check behind the trash can. Or maybe it’s your dog scratching the same spot over and over, or following you from room to room like he knows something’s up.

Stillness can be strength. But sometimes, it’s a warning. Pause. Pay attention. Then make your move.

Pretty, Deadly, and Kinda Cool

• Mantises can rotate their heads 180 degrees. Which makes them the only insects who can give you side-eye.

• They're master camouflagers—sometimes looking like flowers, leaves, or twigs. Basically, nature’s most fashionable assassin.

• Some species hunt hummingbirds. Yeah. Hummingbirds.

So the next time you’re feeling soft and slow, remember: Stillness isn’t weakness.

Sometimes, it’s strategy.

P.S. Speaking of timing things just right… If only we could all strike with mantis-level precision:

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Until next week, stay sharp,

Gabi & Bea