Rabbit: Spiritual Symbolism & Meaning

If rabbits have been appearing in your life—whether as a beloved pet, a fleeting glimpse on the roadside, or even a recurring symbol in your dreams—pay attention. This gentle yet powerful creature may be bringing you a message. In the realm of spirit and symbolism, Rabbit is more than just an adorable, twitch-nosed being; it carries deep wisdom and medicine for those who are ready to listen. Could it be urging you to embrace new opportunities, sharpen your instincts, or move through life with a little more curiosity and playfulness? Let’s explore the deeper meaning of Rabbit and what it might be trying to tell you.

The Year of the Rabbit

2023 was the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Rabbit. I never realised 'til recently that my Dad was born in the Year of the Rabbit back in 1939! Other Rabbit years include…1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011. So, if you or anyone you know were born in these years then 2023 could be particularly auspicious for them. Rabbits have often been linked to fertility and abundance. They seem to do very well at creating babies - symbolising passion and sensuality combined with putting energy into endeavours so that new things can be born into the world.

Rabbits have burrows and are often seen at dawn and dusk sitting on grass verges or at the edges of fields. Some will say this symbolises the connecting the lower and middle worlds of the shaman, and as crepuscular creatures they are sometimes linked to the in-between times and that of portals, multidimensionality and time travel.

Other Dimensions

I remember reading somewhere, right at the start of my 'shamanic learnings' some 20+ years ago that Rabbits were symbolic of entering into other realities or dimensions. We've all experienced those times when we feel like time has raced (or dragged) and we often lose track of time when we're totally engaged in something creative or that we love doing - even just talking about stuff that fascinates and excites us can make time race by. But I think Rabbit's appearance can bring a whole different experience of 'time'.

I remember sharing this information about rabbits and timeslips with a friend one evening as we travelled back from Glastonbury and we subsequently saw loads of rabbits on our journey back that night. We left around 7pm for our destination and the SatNav had given us a journey time of about three and a half hours (so eta around 10.30pm). We got detoured on route due to roadworks and so wasn’t expecting to arrive back in Kent ‘til about 11pm - we joked that we’d likely arrive at 11:11! When I dropped my friend home it was about 9.30pm. We’d somehow managed the trip in well under three hours - not physically possible, even if we hadn’t had a detour and I’d have been speeding the whole way (which I hadn’t!). Curious…

Did we BOTH mis look the clock on numerous occasions on that return journey, or did the rabbits (who popped up numerous times on the journey, including on two occasions by fields with crop circles in!) assist us and take us through a portal/timeslip or few!? I still can’t explain it to this day!

Good Fortune

Many years ago, Celts used to offer up an actual rabbit’s foot for good luck and to this day some still say “pinch, punch, first day of the month, white rabbits” before midday to invoke good fortune for the coming weeks.

Flipping Fear into Love

One of Rabbits most well-known associations is fear. The phrase “like a rabbit in the headlights” instantly brings to mind a frozen, wide-eyed creature unsure of which way to turn. As prey animals, rabbits must stay alert, swift, and responsive, constantly tuning in to their surroundings to survive. But here’s the magic—when we flip fear around, we find love.

Think about it—rabbits thrive in the company of others. They nuzzle, play, and form deep bonds. For many of us, a childhood pet rabbit brought feelings of warmth, comfort, and joy. Rabbits remind us that even in a world full of challenges, love is always present when we choose to focus on it.

If Rabbit has appeared in your life, it could be a sign that you’re navigating uncertainty—perhaps feeling lost, overwhelmed, or tumbling down a metaphorical rabbit hole. But Rabbit also brings a solution: shift from fear to love. Fear is often just False Evidence Appearing Real, a trick of the mind that keeps us stuck. It vibrates at a frequency of contraction, keeping us small and paralyzed. Love, on the other hand, is expansion—Lightness & Laughter, Openness & Oneness, Vitality & Vision, Excitement & Ease.

You cannot hold onto fear and embrace love at the same time. So the next time you feel fear creeping in, call on Rabbit’s wisdom. Shift your energy. Choose love. And watch as the path forward suddenly becomes clear.

Summing Up Rabbit

So, if Rabbit shows up it could be to do with:

• Overcoming fear

• Moving swiftly

• Being alert

• Good fortune & abundance

• Fertility & productivity

• Birthing new ideas

• Excitement

• Retreating/going ‘underground’ for a bit

• Time as an illusion

• Multidimensional travel & portals

If you enjoyed this and would like to develop a deeper connection with the animals you encounter, you will love our Journal into Animal Wisdom.