Wild Life / Rabbit, Rabbit
Lunar New Year
Hi, friends — Happy Lunar New Year! It’s the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac, a year symbolizing calm energy, self-reflection, peace, and empathy. I am ready for it. The Lunar New Year is marked by the second new moon after the winter solstice. The sky may be dark as ink, but last night’s new moon was the nearest in a 1,000 years, flying by silently, lifting tides around the Earth. Here’s to gentle rabbit energy for the many moons ahead. — Amy Jean
The other morning around 6:00 am I saw an eastern cottontail dash out from under the mountain laurel. It was a quick flash, and surprising. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a cottontail in winter, in the gray cold light. It animated the whole scene, and what had seemed like a flat picture in shadows suddenly bristled under my gaze.
There is only a tiny window of graylight in January, before the sun’s orange fingers creep over the horizon. It is a snippet of time when a rabbit can search for food. We haven’t had a lick of snow here in Connecticut, and I wonder if this makes winter life easier or harder for a rabbit. Cottontails only live for about a year, so they wouldn’t remember the snow, the way we do.
The sunrises have been insane lately, with maniacal bursts of orange and red. In a winter without snow, their beauty makes me uneasy. The cottontail I saw in the margins offered some repose, a moment of reflection before dawn. Comfort is rarely found in the shadows, but it is good to appreciate the quietude when it comes.
Year of the Rabbit links—
Photos from around the world at The Guardian.
The Met has an online calligraphy tutorial to write the character for rabbit in four different scripts, here. If you’re in NYC, the museum is hosting an exhibition of rabbits depicted in Chinese art to celebrate the new year [Metropolitan Museum].
“Pick up these favorite foods to celebrate the Lunar New Year” [Los Angeles Times]
Animal encounters in recent comments—
Lots of great raccoon stories involving raccoons making art, raccoon toddlers, and raccoons in hammocks and swimming pools; you can add yours, too! Take a look and enjoy, here.
Wild Life #44 / this newsletter is a place to learn about the life around us, one lunar cottontail at a time. I do this because I’m not sure what to do about the millions of species in danger of extinction. It means something to see and enjoy the life around us. Thanks for reading and sharing. See you next time.