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Rabbit
Feb 20, 2007 20:34:25 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 20, 2007 20:34:25 GMT -5
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Rabbit
Feb 20, 2007 20:35:19 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 20, 2007 20:35:19 GMT -5
The Rabbit
There are two dozen species of Cottontails in the United States, all with similar characteristics. Rabbits are vegetarians eating the inner bark of saplings and shrubs as well as leaves and fruit. They provide a perfect illustration of Nature's balance. Their rapid rate of reproduction is countered by the fact that almost every predatory animal eats them. Cottontail rabbits are quite timid, never venturing too far from the safety of their warrens. Rabbit teaches us through its timidity, to be gentle with ourselves in all situations.
The rabbit is often associated with fear because of the nervous energy it expends. They move suddenly and unpredictably. They hop and leap through life asking those with this totem to pay attention to their personal movement. Growth is assured if one is moving in balance with what is in their life. If they are moving to fast or to slow an imbalance occurs and growth is stifled.
Rabbits are most visible during dawn and dusk. The sun rising and setting from horizon to horizon holds an air of mystique about it. It is a time when the invisible becomes visible and nature spirits are more pronounced. Because the rabbit and the fairy realms are active during the same time of day it has a strong connection with the magic and mystery of other worlds. To enter this world all that is required is a leap of faith.
Sensitive with keen observation skills, the rabbit has strong reflexes that help them dash to safety quickly protecting themselves from danger. They can be seen, disappear and reappear in the twinkling of an eye. Fast, agile and clever they hold the teachings of spontaneous decisive movement. Always knowing which direction to go and when. When rabbit appears it is enabling you to take advantage of opportunities that may only present themselves for brief moments.
Rabbits are guides into the shadow world, where all of our personal fears lie. When the rabbit appears it is time to examine those deep reflexive fears that hold you back from growing. Do you keep dashing for the safety of your old patterns every time something new or challenging presents itself? If so the rabbit asks you to face your fears with compassion for yourself. Accept that it is part of human nature to feel fear at times, but also believe that our fears need not paralyze our growth and movement.
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Rabbit
Feb 20, 2007 20:35:38 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 20, 2007 20:35:38 GMT -5
Rabbit: fear, timidity, nervousness, humility Rabbit's medicine includes moving through fear, living by one's own wits, receiving hidden teachings and intuitive messages, quick thinking, strengthening intuition, and paradox. Rabbit also represents humility, because he is quiet and soft and not self-asserting. Rabbit reminds us not to be afraid. Fearful thoughts reproduce (like rabbits) and bring the very thing we fear. Rabbit people are so afraid of tragedy, illness, and disaster, that they call those very fears to them to teach them lessons. If you see Rabbit or in any way feel attracted to him, it may be telling you to wait for the forces of the universe to start moving again, to stop worrying and to get rid of your fears. It always indicates a need to re-evaluate the process you are undergoing, to rid yourself of any negative feelings or barriers, and to be more humble. www.crystalinks.com/totemanimals.html
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Rabbit
Feb 20, 2007 20:36:29 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 20, 2007 20:36:29 GMT -5
Rabbit Totems
Rabbits normally live alone in the wild, making their homes by burrowing underground. Rabbits are curious animals who like to explore their surroundings. They live on a few acres of land & become familiar with every square inch. They are territorial creatures who will fight over their piece of land. Their eyes can see in every direction, so they will watch a bird in the air while watching a predator on the ground. When aroused, their ears stand up. All these characteristics combined with their willingness to run away, are what rabbits use to defend themselves against predators.
Rabbit is often connected with fear because they are timid and constantly on guard. Rabbit wants us to learn how to face our fear and know when to defend our space or walk away.
Rabbit shows us that defending ourselves doesn't always involve fighting back. He teaches us to listen carefully to what is going on in our environment so we can accurately use our intuition when in danger.
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Rabbit
Feb 20, 2007 20:37:07 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 20, 2007 20:37:07 GMT -5
THE FIRST RABBITS Japanese Fairy Tale
THE children in the sky were all crying. "Boo-hoo, " said one. "Boo-hoo, " said another. "Boo-hoo, " said the rest.
"Children, children, what is the matter?" asked the fairy mother of the sky.
"We've nothing to play, " replied one. "There's nothing to do, " said another. "We can't play for there's nothing to do, " said the rest.
"Why don't you twinkle the stars?" asked the fairy mother of the sky.
"The star lights are all put out, " sobbed one. "The sun is shining and the star lights are out, " sobbed another. "We can't twinkle the stars when the sun is shining and the star lights are out, " sobbed the rest.
"Why don't you beat the thunder drums?" asked the fairy mother of the sky.
"The thunder drums are all broken, " sighed one. "We've beaten all the thunder out of them, " sighed another. "We can't beat the thunder drums for the thunder is all beaten out of them, " sighed the rest.
"Why don't you shake the snow out of the snow sieves?" asked the fairy mother of the sky.
"It won't shake through the sieve, " said one. "We've made the snow into balls, " said another. '' We can't shake the snow through the sieve when its all made into balls, " said the rest.
"Why don't you roll the snowballs?" asked the fairy mother of the sky.
"Oh, we will!" cried one. ''Yes, we will, " cried another. "Of course we will, " said the rest.
Away they ran to the snowball field.
"Let's throw them, " said one. "Let's toss them, " said another. ''Let's catch them, " said the rest.
Up and down, this way and that way, back and forth, how the white balls danced and flew!
"Oh, look! They're falling through the sky floor, " cried one. "They're all falling through the twinkle holes of the stars, " said another. "They're falling through the holes down on to the earth, " said the rest.
Away the snowballs jumped and bobbed. The star children all began to cry again.
Just then the fairy mother of the sky came with a torch to light the star lamps. "Crying again?" she said. "What's the matter now?"
"Our snowballs all fell through the sky floor, " said one. "They all fell through the twinkle holes of the stars, " said another. "They've fallen though the holes down on to the earth, " said the rest.
''You naughty, naughty snowballs, " said the fairy mother of the sky. So she threw her torch after them, but it only scorched their tails and turned them black.
Down on the earth they are hopping still, these soft white balls with their little black tails, and you children call them the rabbits.
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Rabbit
Feb 20, 2007 20:37:34 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 20, 2007 20:37:34 GMT -5
From Ainu Folk Tale
—The Origin of the Hare.
Suddenly there was a large house on the top of a mountain, wherein were six people beautifully arrayed, but constantly quarrelling. Whence they came was unknown. Thereupon Okikurumi came and said: "Oh! you bad hares! you wicked hares! who does not know your origin? The children in the sky were pelting each other with snowballs, and the snowballs fell into the world of men. As it would be a pity to waste anything that falls from the sky, the snowballs were turned into hares, and those hares are you. You, who dwell in this world, which belongs to me, should not quarrel. What is it that you are making such a noise about?"
With these words, Okikurumi seized a fire-brand, and beat each of the six with it in turn. Thereupon all the hares ran away. This is the origin of the hare[-god]; and for this reason the body of the hare is white because made of snow, while its ears—which are the place where it was charred by the fire-brand, —are black.—(Translated literally. Told by Penri, 10th July, 1886.)
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Rabbit
Feb 21, 2007 6:58:13 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on Feb 21, 2007 6:58:13 GMT -5
Thanks Lala, I'll get started on the Rabbit's Celtic ties asap for you as promised.
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Rabbit
Feb 25, 2007 20:58:50 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on Feb 25, 2007 20:58:50 GMT -5
The Rabbit as a Celtic totem while limited in the texts though can be found is an animal who usaually associates it's self with the British Goddess Andraste, who is an earlier association with the Irish Goddess An Morrighan. The Celtic warrior woman Boudica would release rabbits from under her skirts before her final battle with the Roman legions, and divined the future from it's movements. As An Morrighan associates herself with Andraste so to does Andraste associate her self with the rabbit. The Rabbit becomes a figure of sexuality, transformation/shapeshifting, uncovering hidden truths in being, as well as journies inward. The rabbit looks into the soul and in it's movements from there past, presant and future can be read. I have heard stories of faery rabbits who would lead hunters astray never to be seen or heard from again, and in this way the rabbit also becomes a trickster. ~More to come...
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Rabbit
Feb 26, 2007 0:51:11 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Feb 26, 2007 0:51:11 GMT -5
That picture is beautiful.. Thankies for adding to the thread, I look forward to reading more
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