Hare Painting and The Meaning of Hare

Here's how I came to include hare painting into my art collections and how hare meaning and wisdom can help you.

 

The hare is an exquisite animal that has been cloaked in mystery for thousands of years, popular with new age and the pagan community and those of us who believe in magic. Many cultures believe that hare can travel freely between worlds, perhaps this is because of the way they live, very privately, suddenly appearing in Spring or popping up out of hedgerow, or perhaps that is because they really can.

Hare hopped into my life nearly four years ago now. I was painting a magical winter tree, full of love and gifts, and then hare appeared below the tree smiling…. Soon after this painting was in an exhibition and someone said, “so what happens next?”, as they looked at the hare, and the tree, and that was the beginning of my children’s book series to feature Hare and his good friend the wise old apple tree. I sat down soon after late Christmas eve and the story of ‘Hare and the wise old apple tree’, fell out onto my page in just about an hour..

 

I felt hare had wisdom to share, and what better way than through a children’s book illustrated with hare paintings. This was the beginning of my dreams turning into reality as many years before whilst taking teachings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I had received a light bulb moment! When asked at the end of the teachings how we could stop all the terrorism in the world, HH the Dalai Lama replied, “we cannot change the past but we can change the future by teaching our children of love, kindness and compassion…”. Suddenly I knew my purpose in life, to help change this world of unrest and bring more love, kindness and compassion, and children’s books was my tool, and Hare was my messenger. He was fluffy and friendly, but wise and magical. Hare is often associated with Goddess Ostara - the story featured in book two, ‘The hare and the song bird’ (to be published soon), and also with Lady moon, of which I have close connections being a Scorpio…

Hare is said to shape-shift and travel between worlds. He brings us wisdom and understanding, magic and wonder. Hares are believed to be messengers and for me that is true. I always see them at times of great importance. When I last was feeling very sad about the passing of my beautiful canine friend and angel Saffey, and walking back from her burial site, as I slowly made my way up the field, out dashed a huge hare, he ran across my path, stopped, looked back at me for a moment, then was gone…. I knew my angel Saffey was with me, and all was well.

 

 

Hare is also linked with rebirth, and springtime, the birthing of mother earth as the new shoots sprout up after a long rest which I believe give us great hope. Hare represents illumination and intuition, promise and balance. Many also believe they are incredibly lucky. Hare often appears when we need to look within, listen to our hearts and take a moment and listen to our real voice.

For me they are beautiful and wise, magical and mysterious. Messengers and story tellers, and I am forever grateful Hare hopped into my life.

You can browse my hare art here: Hare paintings

Blessings annie b. xxxx