The Tale of Hare, Elephant, and Hippo... as Told by Charms

One day, Hare looked out over his field. If he was going to have enough food to eat, he would have to plant a crop. But if he was going to plant a crop, first he would have to clear the field. And that was a lot of work ~ far more work than Hare wanted to do.

But Hare was clever.  He sat down to think.  He thought and thought and thought, until he came up with a big idea.  First he dragged a length of rope into the field.  Then he waited patiently.  Pretty soon a  big African elephant came lumbering along.

Hare hopped up to make a deal with Elephant.  He bet Elephant that he could beat Elephant at tug-of-war. Elephant laughed at the idea.  How could a little animal like Hare beat him at a game of tug-of-war?  It sounded like a no-brainer.  Quickly he scooped up the rope with his trunk.

Hare picked up the other end and hopped through the bushes, across the field.  There he hid behind a row of bushes and waited.

Soon Hippopotamus waddled through.

Hare hopped up to Hippo and dared Hippo to beat him at tug-of-war. Hippo, without another thought, picked up the end of the rope with his teeth.

Then Hare hopped into the bushes and gave the rope a tug.

When Elephant and Hippo felt the rope move, they each started to pull.  They were both strong and big and powerful.  Back and forth they dragged the rope. Back and forth.  Back and forth.  The sun rose in the sky, and started to dip down.  At last night fell.

Still Elephant and Hippo pulled at the rope.

Back and forth.  Back and forth.

And each time the rope moved, it plowed another row in the field.

Hare never had a finer harvest.

 
Hare, Hippo, and Elephant can be found here and here.

To see Hare's field, you will have to travel to Africa.

Spring Training... for Bunnies

In spring, all thoughts turn to spring training for the bunnies.  After a long hard winter, they're ready to start Bunny Boot Camp at a remote site hidden beneath blankets of flowers.

It is there that the bunnies decide which career options to pursue.  Their choices are many, and bunnies must choose carefully.  Many of celebrity rabbits, like Bugs or Thumper, require the bunnies to work an internship program where they are generally mistreated and overworked for little compensation, all for the lure of fame.

The literary rabbits keep to themselves, and foster only the finest rabbit minds.  Each mentors one of the new rabbits.  Peter Cottontail, for example, looks for a somewhat rebellious type.

The Velveteen Rabbit is always scouting for new bunnies filled with love.

The March Hare is, not surprisingly, always in a hurry and tends to make snap judgments, which has led to disaster on more than one occasion.

Rabbit of the Hundred Acre Woods is always too nervous to make a thoughtful decision, and accepts hordes of hares.

Then there are the bunnies better known for their physical attributes.  The Energizer Bunny commands a vast squadron of rabbits, and they can be seen from the crack of dawn, until late at night, doing cardio and weights.

There are assorted Trickster Bunny Mentors... everyone from Anasazi...

...to the Trix Rabbit.

They're on the lookout for a particular kind of rabbit.  It's not the breed, they explain.  It's how the harebrain works.

Then there are imaginary rabbits, like Harvey, who train with their imagination.  Their graduating classes lack a certain visibility.

There are, of course, many specialty rabbits needed.  Peter Cottontail is always in need of new recruits, and is thankful that rabbits breed like rabbits, because it takes a lot of hopping to deliver all those eggs.

Little Bunny Foo Foo used to recruit at spring training...

...until his fairy godmother turned him into a ghoul.

(They always said he was mad as a March hare.)

Magician's rabbits are considered a specialty, and they attend secret seminars.

And of course many train to be garden variety rabbits, which are known at training camp as garden-eating variety rabbits.

But by the time spring is sprung, they're ready to hop to it.

It's a busy season, and the coaches have no time to pull rabbits out of their hats (or to split hares).

On the final day, after culmination exercises, everyone makes quick like a bunny...

...to embark on new careers.

If you hop to it, you can catch them hare...er, here.

The Hare and the Elixir of Immortality

In both the Chinese and Japanese culture, the hare (Chinese, Tu; Japanese, Usagi) is sacred to the moon, where the Taoists believe it lives, mixing together the ingredients that form the elixir of life, or longevity.  

In the Chinese culture, the greatest desire is long life, which prolongs  enjoyment of this world's goods, and ensures receiving the respect paid to old age in a country governed by the maxims of Confucius. Longevity is therefore the first and greatest of the Woo Fuh or " Five Blessings." 

 Legend tells us that the rabbit's fur turns white at the age of 100, and blue at the age of 500.  

When the Chinese goddess Ch'ang-O drank too much of the magical elixir, she floated away to live on the moon, too light to return to earth.  

Year of the Rabbit charm can be found here.  Ch'ang-O can be found on the moon.

The Year of the Rabbit

1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 

1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

A person born in the year of the Rabbit possesses one of the most fortunate of the twelve animal signs. The Rabbit, or Hare as he is referred to in Chinese mythology, is the emblem of longevity and is said to derive his essence from the Moon. 

When the Chinese look at the Moon, they see the Moon Hare...

...standing near a rock under a Cassia tree...

 

and holding a bottle...

...with the Elixir of Immortality in his hands.

During the Chinese mid-Autumn festival when the Moon is supposed to be at its loveliest...

...Chinese children still carry lighted paper lanterns made in the image of a Rabbit and climb the hills to observe the Moon and admire the Moon Hare.

The Rabbit symbolizes graciousness, good manners, sound counsel kindness and sensitivity to beauty. His soft speech and graceful and nimble ways embody all the desirable traits of a successful diplomat or seasoned politician.

Likewise, a person born under this sign will lead a tranquil life, enjoying peace, quiet and a congenial environment. He is reserved and artistic and possesses good judgment. His thoroughness will also make him a good scholar. He will shine in the fields of law, politics and government.

But he is also inclined to be moody; at such times he appears detached from his environment or indifferent to people.

The Rabbit is extremely lucky in business and monetary transactions. Astute at striking bargains, he can always pop up with a suitable proposal or alternative to benefit himself. His sharp business acumen, coupled with his knack for negotiation, will ensure him a fast rise in any career.

Thanks to the Holiday Spot for the rabbit horoscope.  More can be found there.

And the bracelet can be found here.