The Goddess Eoster and Her Chosen Animal

Merry Meet!

It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that’s the case, then we Pagans get more flattery from the major religions than you can shake a stick at! Even when they actually shake sticks at us to chase us a way.

Let’s take the most recent holiday, Easter. For Christians, it symbolizes renew, resurrection, new beginnings, and the like. The egg symbolizes new life and the rabbit…

The rabbit???

This was always the question I asked as a child. What the heck does the rabbit have to do with eggs? I’d get vague answers or a change of subject in most cases. When I was older, people told me the rabbit symbolized life because of it’s fertility.

Yep. I could see that. Maybe the poster child for population overgrowth. There may, however, be another explanation. Christians copied or took over these symbols from Pagans. For many of us, the egg does symbolize life and, boy oh boy, does the rabbit symbolize fertility!

But there is still another reason. One of our myths tells of the Goddess Eoster, calling all of the animals together. She wants them to search the world to find the greatest gift for her. The one gift that best symbolizes life. The animal that brings her the one most worthy will be her chosen animal.

The animals scurry away only to return with elaborate gifts, each one more fantastic and ornate than the next. The Goddess despairs of every finding a truly remarkable and worthy gift capable of expressing how wondrous a life they live.

Just as she begins to weep, a small bedraggled mess comes limping up to her. As it nears, she can see that it is the rabbit covered in mud and footsore. The bunny pulls an object from a tiny sack and places it before the Goddess. All the animals burst into laughter. The bunny has a plain, small egg.

“Nothing remarkable about an egg,” the birds caw. “We can make those any time we want!”

“Nope, not a thing,” agree the snake and the turtle. Soon all the animals take turns telling the shamed rabbit how bad a gift he has.

As he hangs his head, the Goddess whispers a single word that rolls across the world like rumbling thunder.

“Silence!”

The animals back up a bit, not understanding. They look up and see tears in the Goddess’ eyes. They watch her reach down and gently take the egg from where Rabbit has left it. Then she bows to him.

“Rabbit is the only one of you who understands the meaning of life,” the Goddess’ quiet words reach every ear. “It is fragile and delicate. It can be crushed in an instant, yet it gives its bounty as it may. From life we have beautiful flowers, abundant food, and joyous companions.”

With that she touches Rabbit, and he is clean. His fur fluffs up. His feet no longer ache. He takes his place at the Goddess’ side as her chosen animal.

Since then, Pagans have celebrated life with the symbols that nature gives us. The egg and the rabbit. Flowers and food. So next time you see the Easter Bunny, congratulate him on being so clever!

To think about:

Sit in a quiet place and try to imagine the symbols of life. What do they have to teach you? How can you share this with others?

Simple Spring Ritual:

Boil an egg. You may want to invite friends and family over to share in your ritual, boil an egg for each person.

Tell the story of the Goddess Eoster. Make a small blessing of thanks to the earth and her animals for the food she provides. Pour out some water. Peel the egg and eat it, being sure to keep the shells. Crush the shells and spread them around the plants to help feed them.

By sharing some of your rituals with those who love you, you build a bridge of understanding that they can cross to get to where you are. With understanding comes acceptance. And this is just one of the ways you can help your non-Pagan friends and family understand the reverence you hold for nature and all the things the Creator gives us.

Bright blessings and merry part ‘til merry we meet again!

Asha