Spirit Animals –Hare or Jackrabbit

White Tailed Jackrabbit found in western Canada – from Wikipedia.

Do you remember which Bugs Bunny cartoon is your favorite? Did you read any Br’er Rabbit stories as a kid? Or, did you read Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Perhaps you have read them to your children? Any of us who grew up in the ‘60’s will remember the famed

song “White Rabbit” by the rock band Jefferson Airplane (a psychedelic commentary on using drugs by comparing the experience to fantasy story “Alice In Wonderland” Remember that the White Rabbit in “Alice” was a March Hare). These stories are all great examples of Hare or Jackrabbit as a trickster. Carl Jung states that the trickster archetype is: “a primitive cosmic being of divine-animal nature, on the one hand superior to man because of his superhuman qualities, and on the other hand inferior to him because of his unreason and unconsciousness.” So, what does this mean if you have Jackrabbit appear as a spirit animal?

First, Jackrabbit is the master of camouflage. He is seen and disappears in the blink of an eye. Jackrabbit is also very active at dawn and at dusk. This time of day is filled with wonder and is usually when fairies, spirits, orbs, and other things we associate with supernatural are most likely to be seen. Since Jackrabbit is about during this time of day, he is associated with the magic and mystery of the other worlds. Indeed, Faeries are said to ride jackrabbits between dimensions. For us, Jackrabbit reminds us that a leap of faith will take us to new worlds, and that just because something is unseen does not mean it is not real.

We know Jackrabbit for her speed and keen eyesight and for her sudden movements and unpredictable behavior. We judge her rapid movements away from anything that “seems” to frighten her as being a “fearful” behavior. Jackrabbit asks you to pay attention to what is around you. When you “leap and bound” through life, you must be alert for opportunities that will help you or harm you. High energy is often associated with nervous behavior. In fact it is speedy decisive movement. Moving too slow can cause imbalance and growth is stifled. One may even end up in a rut. If you move too fast without stopping and looking, as Jackrabbit does, you may end up as “dinner” for someone else.

With Jackrabbit’s ability to move between dimensions, you may see him in your dreams, in the shadow world. This is where are fears are stored. Is your reflex action in most situations to “jackrabbit” back to your old, familiar habits/patterns/environment? If you keep dashing for safety, how will you move forward? Jackrabbit stops and faces what scares them to determine which way to move. This is a good lesson for us! We need to accept that we have fears, honor them, hold our selves with compassion, and know that fear need not paralyze us in our movement forward.

Remember, too, that Jackrabbit loves to play. She will tease other animals and make friends with them. It may be that Jackrabbit is appearing now to remind you to take time to play with your friends – to leap with joy and celebrate life. After all, life is worth celebrating!

For those of you who sort of remember the song, "White Rabbit", here are all the lyrics.

White Rabbit –

Jefferson Airplane

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Recall Alice
When she was just small
When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said;
"FEED YOUR HEAD

FEED YOUR HEAD!"

 

© May 2008 Judith Hirst-Joyeux. Judith is a Sage-Healer-Shaman who works with the Goddesses and Gods, Great Spirit, and angelic realms to move quickly to the source of issues or blocks.