Lions and Lambs

At a pivotal scene in the 2010 movie Robin Hood, the character Robin Longstride [played by Russell Crowe], is guided to remember an episode with his own father when Robin was a young boy.

There was a message engraved in a stone that read, Rise and Rise Again Until Lambs Become Lions. His father instructed him to commit the words to his very soul. The father was murdered shortly after.

Some sources claim that these words were taken from an older Sanskrit text, despite no clear evidence. Nonetheless, the message is powerful.

And when they seek to oppress you
And when they try to destroy you,
Rise and rise again and again
Like the Phoenix from the ashes
Until the lambs have become lions
And the rule of Darkness is no more

~ Maitreya The Friend of All Souls, The Holy Book of Destiny

The theme of the lion and the lamb is found throughout human history, across numerous cultures and religions, from the ancient world to modern times.

The contrasting attributes of strength and power vs. peace and innocence provide the raw material of artwork, literature, allegory, metaphor, and mythology.

The lion symbolizes:

In Egyptian mythology, we see the lion in the goddess Sekhmet and the Great Sphinx.

The Lion of Lucerne sculpture by Bertel Thorvaldsen commemorates the bravery of Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution in 1792.

The lamb symbolizes:

In Christian artwork, we see Christ as the Lamb of God.

Despite these contrasting attributes, or perhaps because of them, we find motifs of the lion and the lamb together in peace – particularly in literature and storytelling, where opposing forces must reconcile.

Shakespeare gave us the phrase, the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, in his work As You Like It. Many others have explored this counterintuitive concept across cultures.

Some examples from literature are:

Political parties often align with the lion or the lamb based on particulars of their platforms and intended messaging.

The month of March is said to come in like a lion and out like a lamb.

The prevalence of these themes suggests that the lion and the lamb live within each of us.

Indeed, they have become archetypes, and we struggle to balance these conflicting aspects of ourselves.

On a philosophical level, the lion becomes the emblem of authority and triumph of good over evil, where the lamb signifies purity and sacrifice.

Strength and gentleness can coexist.

This can help us in interpersonal relationships, leadership, parenting, conflict management, and professional growth.

On the macro or world scale, I think there is another important insight.

Lions have sovereignty. Lions cannot be ruled.

Lambs are defenseless. Lambs are sacrificed.

Be healthy. Be strong. Be free.

The lion and the lamb may possibly sometimes lie down together; but if you'll notice carefully, when the lion gets up, the lamb is generally missing. ~ Josh Billings