Date:         Sat, 27 Mar 1999 11:02:32 EST
From: "Barbara J. Harris" <BarbHare@AOL.COM>
Subject:      [WRITERS] INT: Inspiration!  Haven for Hopeful Renaissants

        Barbara had tried again to wake Bunny, it being warmer outside, and daffodils
breaking through the ground while little crocus blossoms danced in the wind.
Bunny said, "But it's Saaaaturdaaaay.  I wanna sleep in!"  Hibernating sisters
were no help at all!
        She decided not to bother Hagatha either... after all, with that big bonfire
last night and that Warlock Jeffrey coming so close to being burned, Hagatha
GoodWitch might be feeling a tad touchy if she heard about it, though she'd
hate having missed out on the S'Mores.
        Instead, she turned to HARE in her symbol book, trying once again to provide
a little inspiration for the contest (and anyone is free to jump in and add
things!  hint, hint!  Suggestions: know anything interesting about THE
Renaissance that you aren't going to use in a sub yourself?  Earth Day
preparations for 1999?).  Hares seemed applicable for both the Renaissance
categories, and the April Fool's category...

From: _An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols_ by J. C. Cooper:

HARE: A lunar animal, attribute of all moon deities; as closely connected with
the moon it represents rebirth, rejuvenation, resurrection, and intuition,
'light in darkness.'  It is often associated with sacrificial fire and 'life
through death.'  It is universally a fertility symbol and typifies feminine
periodicity; it is a love gage; timidity; the inverted; crafty wisdom;
fleetness.  the hare in the moon is almost universal and, as lunar, with the
dog and lizard it acts as an intermediary between lunar deities and man.  In
the West the white hare symbolizes snow; the March hare madness.  A hare's
head or foot is a specific against witchcraft, but the hare is often the
servant of companion of witches.

African: Associated with the moon by the Hottentots.

Amerindian: The Great Hare, Manabozho, father and guardian, is a creator and
transformer, changing man's animal nature.  He is the Hero Saviour, a
demiurge, Hero of the Dawn, the personification of Light; the Great Manitou
who lives in the moon with his grandmother and is 'provider of all waters,
master of winds and brother of snow.'  A later development of Trickster into
Hero signifies integrated man.  As Trickster it is also nimble min outwitting
dull brute force.  He slew the snake, or fish, devouring the people.

Buddhist: The hare in the moon was translated there by Buddha and symbolizes
total sacrifice of the self since, when Buddha was hungry, the hare offered
itself as a sacrifice and jumped into the fire.

Celtic: An attribute of lunar and hunter deities, often held in the hand of
hunter gods.

Chinese: The moon; a yin animal; the feminine yin power; the imperial female
consort; longevity.  The hare is the fourth of the symbolic animals of the
Twelve Terrestrial Branches.  The hare in the moon, with pestle and mortar,
mixes the elixir of immortality.  The white hare is divinity; the red, good
fortune, peace, prosperity, and virtuous rulers; the black, good fortune and a
successful reign.  Figures of hares or white rabbits were made for the moon
festival.

Christian: Fecundity; lust.  A white hare at the feet of the Virgin Mary
depicts triumph over lust.  The defenselessness of the hare represents those
who put their trust in Christ.

Egyptian: The dawn; the beginning; the opening; uprising; periodicity; an
emblem of Thoth; also associated with the moon.

European: The Easter hare, rabbit or bunny symbolizes dawn and a new life; it
is an attribute of the hare-headed moon goddess, probably Oestra [Teutonic] or
Eostre [Anglo-Saxon] who gives her name to Easter; hence rebirth and
resurrection as the rebirth of the moon.  The Easter hare lays the Easter egg.

Graeco-Roman: Fertility; lubricity; a messenger animal; attribute of
Hermes/Mercury, also of Aphrodite and Eros.  Cupids are often portrayed with
hares.

Hebrew: The unclean.

Hindu: Appears with the crescent moon in Hindu and Buddhist art.

Scandinavian: Freyja has attendant hares.

Teutonic: Holda, Harke, or Harfa, the moon goddess, is followed by hares as a
train of torchbearers.  The Easter hare is connected with Oestra.

                        -- J. C. Cooper

Love & Light, Barbara