Do you say ‘White Rabbit’ on the first day of the month? In my family we have this tradition. We do it as a fun competition. The first one to say it wins. (We don’t actually win anything — but if you say it first you are the smartest smart guy and get to feel superior to the others. )
I got to thinking about this tradition and wondered if anyone else practiced it, where it came from, and if it makes any sense at all. Actually, it always made sense to me, because as an Alice in Wonderland fan, I knew Alice found all her adventures by following the White Rabbit!
I did some sleuthing and found out that the rabbit utterance apparently started out as an ancient Celtic tradition. It was used at the beginning of the lunar month to honor the sacred animal. This animal was not exactly a rabbit, but something other-worldly that resembled a rabbit. The image of this rabbit-like animal could then be found in the full moon.
In some parts of Scotland and northern England, children are still taught to say ‘White Rabbit’ at the beginning of the month as a magic charm to attract money through unexpected means.
This quote comes from a ‘Notes and Queries’ book dated 1909:
“My two daughters are in the habit of saying ‘Rabbits!’ on the first day of each month. The word must be spoken aloud, and be the first word said in the month. It brings luck for that month. Other children, I find, use the same formula.”
Another tradition holds that ‘Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits’ should be spoken as the first words at the beginning of the month, and ‘Hares, hares, hares’ as the last words at the end of the month.
Interestingly, the tradition was also adopted by RAF bomber aircrews in WWII, who believed uttering ‘white rabbit’ as their very first words upon awakening would keep them from harm.
I found this quote from the 1922 novel ‘Solomon in all his Glory’ by Robert Lynd:
“Why,” the man in the brown hat laughed at him, “I thought everybody knew ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.’ If you say ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit’—three times, just like that—first thing in the morning on the first of the month, even before you say your prayers, you’ll get a present before the end of the month.”
So let’s say you are a seventeen year old girl and you live in Puritan New England, circa 1630. Your family are radical separatists. In fact, they are so pure, even the Puritans can’t handle them. Your family is banished from the colony. For being too religious.
Forced to live out in the wildest of wilderness, your life pretty much sucks. You do non-stop chores from dawn till dusk. This includes stuff like washing clothes in the river and grinding corn. You have no time to yourself, no chance to voice your own opinions, no creative outlets. “Women should be seen and not heard.” Then of course, there is that pesky problem of your budding sexuality…
Your father is clearly nuts. All he does is chop wood and quote the Bible. All day long. Your young siblings are acting strange. Your mother is also nuts. She talks of sending you off to be a maid for some other family, where you will have even MORE chores to do.
Your family are Calvinists. They are very concerned with Heaven and how to get there. They insist upon living a pious (read: dull, boring, repressive) life in order to reap their heavenly rewards. The only trouble is — God has already chosen His elect and you may not be one of them. You will not find out until you die. All your piety could be a big fat waste of time and you just may end up in Hell. It’s a real game of Russian roulette, eh?
Then along comes this goat named Black Phillip…
The question here is not WHY would a Puritan woman sign a blood contract with the Devil. The question is WHY WOULDN’T SHE?
This film is beautifully shot, meticulous in historical detail, and a spine tingling, psychological thriller! Now out on DVD.
Four names people call me other than my real name: Ms. V
Aunt Krissy
The Rabbit
Stine
Four Movies I’ve Watched More Than Once:
Midnight in Paris
Last Tango in Paris
A Streetcar Named Desire Interview With The Vampire
Four Books Or Authors I’d Recommend:
Anything by William Shakespeare
Anything by Anne Rice The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Four Places I’ve Lived:
Only ever the Midwest, U.S. A.
Four Places I’ve Visited:
England (for Shakespeare, Stonehenge and more)
Paris (hoping to time travel back to 1920’s, hmmm…)
Spain ( for Flamenco, Tapas, and general all night hell raising)
New Orleans (because it is the best place on earth!)
Four Things I’d Rather Be Doing Right Now: I amwriting, aren’t I? So this is pretty good 🙂
Four foods I don’t like:
I like everything!!!
Four of my favorite foods:
I like everything!!!
Four Shows I Watch:
Game of Thrones
Outlander
American Horror Story
Poldark
Four Things I’m Looking Forward To This Year:
Summer!
Spending time with animals
Hiking/ swimming
My ‘to read’ list
Four Things I’m Always Saying:
It’s possible.
It’s OK.
Everything is the opposite of what it seems to be.
“To thine own self be true.” (Will’s line, not mine.)
*** If you like this and want to join in the fun, consider yourself tagged! *** Just copy and paste to your own blog and fill in your own answers.
I can’t wait to read All About You, my pretty ones 🙂
They told me not to open it. Well now. If Zeus did want me to open it, he should not have given it to me in the first place. A women’s curiosity? Bah! They always need someone to blame, don’t they? But don’t believe everything you hear.
Come closer. I will tell you the TRUE story.
It was Zeus, my uncle, who gave me the box. All the while he ordered me to leave it clamped shut. “Do not touch it, Pandora,” he commanded, his voice full of curmudgeon contempt. “If you dare open it, the consequences will be great.”
I paid him no heed. Zeus! I owed him no favors! Had he not raped and pillaged and punished? There was Leda the swan, his own wife Hera, my mother Demeter. He had sent many a plague upon my kin. He deserved no obedience from me, nor anyone else!
I sat in silence for awhile, mesmerized as I examined the box.
Oh, such a beautiful thing it was! A clear glass full of sparkling liquid crystal. Every color of the rainbow exuded from it. Such joy lie within it! Miracles were contained beneath its very walls. That I knew somehow, without being told. And all of this wonder was at my tingling fingertips!
I fondled the box, pressed my hands upon it, felt its warmth. I smelled its great smells of honeysuckle and lavender, felt the stirrings inside myself as my heartbeat quickened. Inside that box, I thought, must be love itself.
Finally, I could stand it no longer! I jiggled the lid. The stubborn box remained shut but I jiggled again, prying the top. At last it opened and nearly exploded, its rainbow of colors cascading across the sky. Oh, what a marvelous sight it was! I watched, dumbfounded and speechless.
It was then my mother Demeter found me.
“Pandora!” she shouted. “Foolish girl. The contents of that box are all my sacredness, all my secrets! And you have let them go.”
In a fluster Demeter reached to the sky, attempting to gather up the spilled rainbow. But alas, it was too much to contain! Such a thing it was, seeping through the clouds, spilling into rocks and water and plants, into the steam of hot springs and the forgings of fire. Into the trees and the wind itself.
“Oh daughter,” Demeter scolded me. “You have made a chaos! Such knowledge, acquired by the wrong factions…” She hesitated and scowled.
My mother put her hands on her hips, watched as the colors dissipated far into the earth’s hidden places. She shook her head and thought a long time. Finally she looked upon me, held up one finger and said, “I know a solution.”
By then I was ashamed of my brash actions. I had succumbed to the temptation of beauty, of that bright and shiny thing within my reach. “What solution will it be, mother?” I asked sheepishly.
Demeter smiled. “I will create covens of women. They will be of a special blood, and they alone will be privy to the box’s magick. They will find it in rocks and plants and fire and sky as it has dispersed itself over the world. They will create potions and use my sacred knowledge. Only they shall have the power to save humankind.”
I gasped. Such a race? It seemed unimaginable. But Demeter only looked at me, her eyes glittering and rich.
“These women,” she said, “shall be called Witches.”
This post is in response to The Daily Prompt ‘open’ pingback
My original post was going to be an angry rant. I had a picture of that very disturbed young man and my title was: “Who the f*ck sold him a gun?”
I am still wondering that. I mean — the guy was questioned by the FBI (more than once!) plus he was a bona-fide racist, homophobe, anti-Semite, misogynist, wife beater, connected to ISIS and the Boston bombers, a veritable powderkeg of terror… And they sold him a gun?? Really??
Really??
But I will contain my angry rant. It seemed as good a time as any to post this video, to remember this lesson, to actually take these words seriously:
We all remember the Berenstein Bears, right? That wacky family of talking bears that got into all sorts of mischief? They even had their own cartoon show. The Bears were outlandish, witty and fun. I remember their name distinctly. It was Berenstein. Such clever alliteration. As I got older, I even pictured the Berenstein Bears as Jewish comedians, right up there with Seinfeld or Larry David. I am certain — positive — I mean, lie detector test SURE — that the name was Berenstein! Stein with an ‘e’. However, it seems I am wrong.
There currently exists not one book, not one cartoon, dvd or vhs of the Bears in which their names are spelled Berenstein. Look ‘em up on Wiki. Their name, it seems, is Berenstain (like a grass stain or a stain in your blouse.) It has, apparently, always BEEN Berenstain.
Huh? This actually freaked me out. How do you remember the name?
I had some of the books, like this one:
I first became aware of this of few days ago while perusing youtube for parallel universe vids. The one I happened to find stated several ‘matrix glitch’ incidents which could be explained as parallel universes. But the spelling of the Berenstain Bears really hit home for me, because I DEFINITELY remember them as ‘Berenstein’. And so do a lot of other people.
I am a believer in parallel universes. Even before this Bear phenomenon, I have been certain they exist. As I have stated in other blogs, recent findings of quantum physicians suggests that there may be as many as eleven different dimensions existing on unseen microscopic planes. If these multi-dimensional planes exist, why not parallels of space and time? Past, present and future could all actually be happening at once, cutting through distance in a super-imposed matrix of reality.
Cool, huh?
Some psychics and paranormal observers have suggested that humankind actually move through several different parallels on any given day. The problem is, the parallels are so similar that we do not notice the slight differences. Like the spelling of a bear’s name, for example 🙂
This matrix glitch has become a bit of a pop cultural phenomenon. There are TONS of other videos out there exploiting the theme and declaring that all sorts of commonplace items have ‘mysteriously’ changed names. Take Jif peanut butter. Was it always Jif? Some claim it was Jiffy.
For the record, and as a bona-fide peanut butter connoisseur, I contend it was always ‘Jif’! There was, however, ‘Jiffy Pop’ popcorn. There is also Jiffy Lube and Jiffy Cakes. Memory is selective. Memory is peculiar.
Here are some more examples of the so-called matrix glitches: Is the product Fabreze or Fabreeze? Coca-Cola or Coke-Cola? Sex in the City or Sex and the City? Captain Crunch or Cap’n Crunch? Fruit Loops or Froot Loops? What was Forest Gump’s famous line — either ‘Life IS like as box of chocolates’ of ‘Life WAS like a box of chocolates’?
Yeah I admit it sounds a bit contrived.
I contend it was always Fabreze. It was always Cap’n Crunch. It was always Froot Loops. This being because advertisers, like rock bands, know the value of bad spelling. It draws attention to the product. That is why we had The Beatles, not The Beetles. (Interestingly I notice as I type, my spell check does not even pick up Beatles as a misspelled word! Way to go Lennon 🙂 )
I contend it was always Sex AND the City – this being because the city of New York was considered a character in the show as much as Carrie, Samantha, et al.
Coca-Cola? You know the story and it is true. In the 1920’s when cocaine was still legal in America, this soft drink did indeed contain strains of the substance itself. It was always Coca. (At least I think so…)
The doomsday theorists have taken this whole parallel thing one step further. They are claiming the King James Bible itself has been tampered with. Pop quiz for Bible enthusiasts: Does the Lord’s Prayer ask ‘Forgive us our trespasses’ or ‘Forgive us our debts’? Do the ‘Lion and the Lamb’ sit together in the peaceable kingdom, or is it the ‘Wolf and the Lamb’? Well now. The poor old Bible has been interpreted and translated from Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew and Latin so many times, it would actually be strange if we did NOT have some ever changing words in it.
Here is where Dana Carvey pops in, purses his lips and asks: “Could it be… SATAN??”
Although there are a plethora of youtube clips exploring this phenomenon, I will include the following because it makes an interesting comparison to Star Trek. (Incidentally, I remember ‘Interview With THE Vampire’, not ‘A Vampire’, which is apparently correct in this current matrix… but I am a huge Anne Rice fan 🙂 )
At any rate, I also contend that no matter how you remember any these words, parallel universes DO exist and they always have existed. It is only now that they are actually coming to the surface in tangible, pop culture type ways. Finally! (Thanks, Berenstein Bears!)
What starts out as tiny, seemingly insignificant words can grow to greater awareness, paradigm shifts and life changing phenomena.
Would you like to live in another parallel where, for example, the current system of banking is changed? Would you like to live in a parallel where water is abundant? (Yes, California, I mean you.) Would you like a parallel where food, clothing and shelter are adequately provided for all regardless of economics and demographics?
But where would all this stuff come from? you ask. Well now. Where did electricity come from? Where did this very internet upon which you are reading, actually come from? Either the grand Magi pulled it out of her hat, or there are several hidden parallels which are constantly adding to the development of humankind. Which is kind of the same thing, really…
To take it one step further, would you like to live in a parallel where wars are eradicated, where hatred and power-mongering have been replaced with love and world peace? Well then. Follow your matrix. It is the human mind that leads to discoveries, inventions and the archeology of new dimensions. We will get what we think about. Whether we want it or not. We will achieve as little, or as much, as we believe to be possible in human capacity.
Can we change history by traveling back in time? This very interesting question is posed in the new movie Alice Through The Looking Glass. At first glance you might think this is a kid’s film, but don’t be fooled; this is actually a quite complicated story that will most appeal to adults and fantasy/ sci fi fans.
A Steam-punk Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is captain of The Wonder, her deceased father’s ship, circa 1870. After three years out at sea, Alice returns to her home town to find her life in shambles. The evil Hamish has taken over her father’s company. Her mother’s fortune is in jeopardy and Alice must give her up her beloved ship, resign as captain and take a boring job as a desk clerk.
In a moment of confusion Alice retreats to the parlor and follows a butterfly through the mirror. She then lands in Underland where the real trouble begins.
Alice’s best friend the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) has gone into a state of depression regarding his family and painful past incidents. Alice is given a mission by the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) to travel back in time in order to change situations that have created grief — not only for the Hatter, but for many other characters. People in general. You and me probably…
Everyone knows the Grandfather Theory regarding time travel. That is — if you travel back in time and kill your grandfather, you could never be born (because Grandpa wasn’t around to sire your father, hence your father could not sire you.) Which would also mean you would not be there to time travel in the first place. Which would mean time travel is impossible.
Quantum physicists, however, have recently made some new discoveries, and are now theorizing that there may actually be as many as eleven different dimensions, through some of which time travel would be possible. Your grandfather is thus existing in a completely different dimension of space and time. Kill him in one dimension and he still is alive in another. Yes, kind of like Schrodinger’s cat. (This based upon Einstein’s theory and the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum physics, suggesting that particles can exist in two separate states, depending upon a conditional variable and how it is observed.)
“Logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead.” Or have they?
Back to the movie! Alice’s mission involves stealing the magic chrono-meter, which can enable her to travel through time, but can also basically destroy the world if it falls into the wrong hands. And you know it WILL fall into the wrong hands. Enter the evil Red Queen (Helena Bohman Carter).
Time incarnate (Sasha Baron Cohen) is an actual person, or maybe a robot of sorts — like I said, this is all very Steam-punkish. He has some really cool supernatural blue eyes. See this movie in 3D for an awesome surreal experience! Psychedelic gardens, a talking butterfly, weird-funky hats and variety of time pieces which determine one’s death. Plus a disappearing cat. (No coincidence there, Schrodinger.)
I am a HUGE fan of the original Alice in Wonderland books. This movie, however, has absolutely nothing to do with the books. Do not expect a replica of Carroll’s tales. What the writers have done is create a new, thought provoking story revolving around the original characters.
Lewis Carroll was a mathemetician. He was actually an Oxford professor of mathematics, interested in time travel, the subconscious mind, photography and mirror imagery, as well as storytelling and poetry. Alice Through The Looking Glass keeps the magical sentiment of Carroll’s original books and also stays true to the provocative questions he had in mind when he wrote them.
I absolutely LOVED this movie. If you are a fan of fantasy, time travel, Steam-punk or sci fi I think you will like it too. Oh yeah, and the voice of the butterfly iis the late great Alan Rickman in probably his last performance. Which is somehow poetically and metaphorically correct…
Here is a picture of the real Alice Liddell, inspiration for the books. When in doubt, go ask Alice, or perhaps go ask Lewis. In any case, Feed Your Head 🙂
Histories and Mysteries 