The Hares of Salvation: A Story of Symbols, Destiny, and Divine Humor by Lina Fedorenko
This story is as mystical as a fairy tale, just like everything happening around us!
I perceive life’s space as a constant flow of dense energy and events. One must always be alert—watching, listening, opening the heart, and paying attention, for the speed is immense! And, of course, one must not hesitate at the crucial turning points—dive in bravely, not just cautiously dipping a toe.
The Tattoo That Chose Us
About ten years ago, my eldest son Vasyl told me he wanted to get a tattoo. He didn’t ask for permission—he simply informed me, as we have always had a relationship built on respect and love.
My first reaction? What a shame! Such a handsome young man, and tattoos are for life! But I quickly switched to a different mindset: if a rebellion cannot be stopped, it must be led. I agreed, but with one condition—the design had to be meaningful. No “random roses on the hip,” but something truly symbolic.
Vasyl searched for designs and showed them to me, but nothing felt right. I decided to look myself, realizing that if I kept rejecting his choices, one day I might wake up to see a questionable tattoo he got out of impatience.
The Symbol That Found Us
During my research, I discovered a mysterious ancient symbol—a circle with three hares running in it, their ears forming a central triangle. Each ear belonged to two hares at once.
- This symbol dates back to Ancient Egypt and appears in various places throughout history.
- It was found on Jewish tombstones, in Persian art, and even in European medieval churches.
- Its true meaning remains unknown, as interpretations are much younger than the symbol itself.
I loved it immediately. Its presence on tombstones didn’t bother me—if anything, it reassured me. Throughout history, people have only taken the most sacred and important symbols with them into eternity.
To me, the circle represented the Universe, the triangle—divine unity, and the three hares—my three children, forever interconnected.
Vasyl also loved the symbol and my interpretation of it. For over ten years now, this tattoo has been on the inner side of his left forearm, close to his heart. He later got other tattoos, but he still says that the hares are his favorite and most meaningful one.
The Revelation: "The Hares of Salvation"
Years passed. One day, I was listening to a lecture by A. Filonenko about metaphors, when suddenly, I heard something that shook me to my core.
The lecturer shared a story about an art historian, an expert in ancient civilizations, who had seen depictions of hares in various cultures but could never decode their meaning. She understood the grapevine as a Christian symbol, but what did hares have to do with it?
One day, while helping her daughter with a biology assignment, she came across an old scientific atlas. Inside, she read:
"The hare is an animal that grows wiser toward salvation."
The article described extraordinary survival abilities that hares display only in life-threatening moments:
🐇 Running in large loops to jump into their own footprints and confuse predators.
🐇 Pretending to be sick, tricking hunters into leaving them alone.
🐇 Performing sudden somersaults to escape danger.
🐇 And the most unbelievable—leaping onto the hunter's chest as he takes aim!
I was stunned. It was as if this story was meant for me. The hares were more than a symbol—they embodied survival, salvation, and divine wisdom.
I immediately called Vasyl, breathless with excitement, sharing this incredible revelation.
When Destiny Sends You a Sign (Literally)
The next morning, I received a package notification. It was from a woman I had never met in person, someone who sold vintage jewelry and trinkets online. I sometimes bought things from her for my creative experiments.
I had completely forgotten I had ordered something. Curious, I picked up the small package on my way to work.
Usually, these parcels contained broken brooches or strings of beads. But when I opened this one, there was only one item inside:
A ring… with a hare’s head.
A Divine Sense of Humor
When I ask the Universe a question, it always answers. And I must say, the Creator loves me deeply… and has an incredible sense of humor!
This was the final sign. I decided it was time to paint the symbol.
In my artwork, I wanted to capture everything:
🎨 The three hares, each under its own constellation, within its own season.
🎨 A circle of prayer, embracing them like a cosmic shield.
🎨 A golden field of wheat beneath them—a tribute to their father.
🎨 A central star of hope and salvation, surrounded by twelve smaller ones.
A Universe of My Own
For me, this painting is more than art—it is a manifestation of my hopes, unity, and salvation.
A symbol that chose me long before I even knew its meaning.
A story woven by fate, whispered by history, and sealed with the divine humor of the Universe.