Powerful and Potent

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Hare:

Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

The flower arrangement on this Ace of Swords is a reminder that words can be encouraging, supportive and beneficial just as they can be provoking, cruel and poisonous. This Ace advocates for clarity, for seeing beyond our preferences and prejudices, our plans and plots. Hare is a symbol of fertility; it gives us notice that the bend of our thoughts and words will continue to curve in a certain direction unless we change them. We can choose to build a beautiful life or wind up sitting alone in a pile of rubble.

Don't Pull Down the Shade

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Ace of Fire; from the Green Wheel Tarot, Hare:

          With its soft, flannel-like leaves, mullein might seem like a strange herb to use as the Ace of Fire/Wands. But in its second year, it produces a flowering stalk than can grow six to eight feet in height - quite an eye-catcher. Sometimes things must catch our eye to spark our interest. But once noticed, that spark can turn into desire that leads to taking a chance on something new. Yet as Tom Peters once said, "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." Those favorable circumstances won't last long. Hare, being a prey animal, is known for its speed and reproductive capacity. Get moving, it encourages. If you don't know what will work, throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. Then you'll know where to shine your focus.

Inspiration and Revivification

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Magician; from the Druid Animal Oracle, Hare:

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.

~Michael Jordan 

It can feel like rolling Sisyphus' boulder when we try to move from inspiration to manifestation. But the worst obstacle is often a fear of failure, so we easily convince ourselves our idea is not worth the effort. But the Magician suggests we gather our resources, make a plan, and do it anyway. If we don't get the results we want, we haven't lost anything, and we might discover a flaw that we can correct and try again. The Hare represents renewal, a good practice when one is involved in a challenging project. The revival of one's spirits might come from a good night's sleep, a long walk, or laughing with a friend. If those eggs are going to hatch, the hare tells us, we need to make time to revivify ourselves.

Staying Grounded

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Druid Animal Oracle, the 'Hare:'

           The Queen of Cups is known for her compassion and her intuition. The companion book states "she does not depend on outside validation for her purpose in life." While she might develop deep relationships, she doesn't become emotionally fused with folks, losing her own integrity. One foot may be in the water, but the other stays firmly on the land. Harmony might be important to her, but she won't 'go along to get along.' She maintains her individuality alongside her compassion, using intuition and mindfulness to stay connected to what is at her core. The Hare, associated with the Spring Equinox, represents rebirth and new beginnings. It is a reminder that emotions are impermanent; they may come back, but they will always go again. The drama that seems important and all-consuming today won't be a blip in our awareness a week or month from now. Take a lesson from the Queen, and keep one foot grounded.

Triage for the Heart

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from the Beasts of Albion, "Hare:"

          The Ace of Cups represents an offering of deep joy, love, devotion and compassion. But it is a gift I must be willing to use, to take the time to sip from it. Above all, I must not let others drink as much as they'd like from my cup if I'm parched myself. Sound selfish? There's a saying in 12 Step groups: First Things First. Before I help others, I need to take care of myself - do what will enable me to survive and thrive. This is my responsibility, not the duty of someone else; I must attend to my own emotional and spiritual needs. There's no way I can be of benefit to others if I'm running on empty.  

          Because of its natural habit of being able to reproduce at astonishing numbers, the hare has often been seen as a symbol of fecundity and abundance. Gray also brings up the saying "Mad as a March hare," and likens it to wild inspiration that rises like sap. But for it to be expressed in a useful way, this fertility must have some boundaries. There needs to be some kind of support that will sustain what is produced. A starving animal will not be able to care for its young, and they too will die. Don't think of it as selfishness, think of it as triage for the heart and soul.