Totem: Hare

Hares are fast moving mammals which are typically shy. They are similar to rabbits but have some differences, such as living in nests above ground rather living underground and being about to fend for itself soon after birth.

 The hare teaches of knowing when to move faster in life, or to slow down. Not only is it is moving faster or slower of importance, but so is double checking, just to be certain if all is done and nothing is missed.

 The hare is an animal found active at night, where it is willing to show the world of the night. As the night is mysterious the hare tells of the fine features of being mysterious.

 To be independent and vigilant is needed for the hare, where it’ll teach the importance of the two. The hare will rely on itself for survival, becoming independent. To survive, vigilance is to be on high guard. He hare will teach how to become both.

Cat Grass

Cat Grass is a plant that gives cats essential vitamins and minerals, which can easily be missing from their diets if spent indoors. For cats, it is eaten for its nutritional value and is known to be suitable to be fed to dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits.

The botanical name of cat grass is Dactylis glomerata and is an annual which fruits in late summer. It is also a frost tender plant which can be grown within small containers. At 7-10cm, cat grass is ready to be consumed and be used as a distraction from nibbling on houseplants.

If grown indoors, the seeds can be sown all year round and do not have to worry about frost. However, as a plant growing indoors it needs to be placed by a well lit window and turned daily. Grown outdoors, sowing is to occur within spring, summer or autumn. Cat grass grown outdoors should be kept out of both full sun and shade, where it is best grown in semi-shade.

Totems: Rabbit

Rabbits are famous for their ability to have so many children in such a small amount of time amongst other things including its relation to Easter, the moon and of gods and goddesses (such as Chang E and Eostre).

Amongst its lessons, one is of vigilance as one doesn’t know what will happen in life. Keeping vigilant is useful, as keeping alert to one’s surrounding helps keep an idea of what’s going on and who’s around which can be of importance.

Fertility is an obvious lesson of the rabbit, it however does not necessarily relate fertility in the sense of creating babies. Fertility can very much relate to all life in general, it can be of a large tree dropping leaves (which fertilizes the ground and said fertilizing of the ground helps keep the tree healthy along with whatever close by plant there is). Such a lesson can make one ask, “Am I bringing fertility to this earth?” and there is always a way to bring fertility such as composting.

The rabbit teaches of fear and how it has to be dealt with. While fears are obviously of what one wouldn’t usually want to face, the need to face fear is always there and will be until the very fear is dealt with.

Agility and quick thinking is of the rabbit. Whomever who has seen a wild rabbit before knows they can move fast and act quickly. Being able to use one’s own agility and to literally think fast is useful even if not used often as the rabbit tells.

Examination of diet is of what the rabbit suggests. One may need to get a better diet and it is always a great thing to do. Taking a vegetarian diet like rabbits do themselves is to be tried, even if it is not for a long period of time.

Many fruits and vegetables can be offered to the rabbit, cilantro, carrots (especially the tops) and parsley would make great offerings. Hay and straw also make good offerings, the choice of hay being slightly green with a pleasantly fresh smell.