They say the jackalope was born in the hills of Wyoming in the 1800s.

But this mystical creature goes back in time. A horned hare appears in an early-17th century work of natural history. There are real hares with nubs and growths on there forehead.

Turns out, they aren't horns, they are tumors. A rabbit version of the HPV virus.

Despite the oddity, the jackalope has been absorbed into culture, showing up in museum curiosities, folklore, America’s Funniest People, and hipster art.

No longer deformed, this creature is embraced. Like it's furry brethren the hare, it's transformed into the trickster.

Trickster is an archetype creating realities in the duality of time and illusion. In mythology it can be a god, goddess, spirit, human or anthrophmorphic animal who plays tricks disobeying normal rules and conventional behavior.

I was re-listening to a brilliant podcast conversation between Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert (two of my favorite heroines).

Brene recounted her process with writing. It’s hard. Painful. Martyr making.

For her latest book she invited trickster energy and turned the whole process upside down.

She invited some of closest confidants to a long weekend away; she’d sit in front of her team talking and working through the words, laughing her way to a finished book.
So brilliant.

Listen to the podcast; it’s worth it to Brene tell the story.
https://soundcloud.com/riverheadbooks/ep-12-big-strong-magic

So while the jackalope may not be an “real” animal, the energy is very real.

Be like the jackalope: play with realities and transform your experience.

The rare and wonderful Lepus antilocapra.