OPTIONS Tarot Reading

After a long period of deliberately not acquiring new decks, I treated myself to Elemental Power Tarot by Melinda Lee Holm (Cico Books, 2020). I was intrigued by this deck because there are no people on the cards. The deck’s creator explains that this is “because you are the people. Each card is designed to invite you in and give you a starring role in your reading.”

This seems like an excellent deck to use for a situation I am currently experiencing.
This situation is, in many ways, not of my making and not under my control. It’s big. Very big. My Sagittarius Sun wants to take action NOW. Do something NOW. My Virgo Ascendant prefers to analyze the options, partly to determine whether doing something or taking action NOW is likely to have a positive effect – or any effect at all – and at what risk?

To address this, I designed a four-card reading, as follows:
 
OPTIONS TAROT READING
The Request: Please offer some options for me to consider when deciding what I might do about this difficult situation.
1) Option 1
2) Option 2
3) Option 3
4) Something to keep in mind when making a decision about this situation

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1) THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE: “Time moves at multiple rates simultaneously. The one you are experiencing was chosen by the Universe just for you.”

Associated with the planet Jupiter (ruler of my Sun Sign, Sagittarius), this card indicates that one option is for me to trust that the Universe will reveal to me my appropriate role in this situation. I find these words from the guidebook to be particularly meaningful to me: “Whether you feel pushed too quickly or held back needlessly, know that what is happening at this moment is being presented to you because the Universe has deemed this the correct time. Maybe you need to feel pushed to prove to yourself how capable you are under pressure, or maybe you need to wait to receive information that will alter your feelings about your situation.”

From my personal experience with the cards, I also feel that The Wheel of Fortune is pointing out that “What goes around, comes around.” In other words, nothing remains the same forever. Things change, and will continue to change.
 

2) THE HIEROPHANT: “Your Divine nature is reaching out for guidance. Heed the call and step into the Universal flow of wisdom.”

This card is associated with the zodiac sign Taurus, which happens to be my Moon Sign. Meaningful comments from the guidebook: “A tradition, institution, book, or person is calling you. . . Be open to learning, stretching your thinking, and trying new ways of approaching your conception of and connection with the Divine.”

My connection with the Divine – or perhaps I should say my perception of that connection -- has undergone dramatic changes over the years. Some of the “social structures” typically represented by this card (notably organized religion) do not mean the same thing to me that they once did. This option encourages me to examine my spiritual state and inclinations as they relate to the situation I face.
 

3) PAGE OF CUPS: “Earth of Water, the Novice of Emotion.”

This option seems to me to stand in contrast to the “heavy hitters” who appeared as the first two options. There is a lightness here (to me) represented by the Page of Cups, an invitation to be emotionally “open” and “unjaded,” to build or rebuild trust in myself, others, and the Universe. As the guidebook points out, this doesn’t mean ignoring my instincts or ceasing rational thought. I need to keep my eyes open, but also allow my heart to become more open in this situation. The guidebook advises, “Take small steps and remind yourself that you are safe.”
 

4) EIGHT OF CUPS: “Overcoming doubt in Elemental Water”

This card was drawn to represent “Something to keep in mind when making a decision about this situation.” As with the Page of Cups in Option 3, my attention is directed towards my emotions. The guidebook urges me to “take an honest inventory of how you act and react emotionally in your life...” In this difficult situation, I may find myself losing emotional stability or letting emotions overwhelm me. As the guidebook points out, “It can be difficult to accept our ability to shape our emotional reactions to the world around us.”

In looking at this version of the Eight of Cups, I see an opportunity to reach up and take the Cup in the upper right corner or to stoop down and grasp the upside Cup in the lower left corner, perhaps turning it right-side up. An equal number of upright and overturned Cups on the card does speak of balance and stability.

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In summary, I want to first say that I do not see the options presented in this reading as “either/or” or “all or nothing” options. In other words, I can choose a combination of the options presented, depending on which one(s) resonated most strongly with me. At the heart of this (and of myself), emotional balance is key.

Animal Tarot Time: JUSTICE

For this series, I am exploring the choices of animals made by various deck creators to correspond to traditional Tarot cards. My initial goal is to get through the Major Arcana using cards from eight different decks (yes, I’ve added a new deck to the mix: Tarot of the Woodland Wardens by Jessica Roux from Amber/Lotus).

• Animal Tarot Cards (Virtue, Valentine, Hay House)
• The Animal Totem Tarot (Robertson, Smith, Llewellyn)
• The Animal Wisdom Tarot (Brunke, Liola, CICO)
• The Animal-Wise Tarot (Andrews, Dragonhawk)
• The Animals Divine Tarot (Hunt, Llewellyn)
• The Animism Tarot (Cheung)
• Tarot of the Animal Lords (Giannini, Lo Scarabeo)
• Tarot of the Woodland Wardens (Jessica Roux, Amber/Lotus) – Added 12/2025    

To read my previous posts in this series, enter “Animal Tarot Time” in the search field on the main page of the blog or scroll down and click on Animal Tarot Time under CATEGORIES. 

Today I’m exploring JUSTICE in my animal-themed decks. As many of you know, the numbering of the Justice and Strength cards in the Tarot varies, depending on which deck you are using. For this post, I will be viewing Justice as Trump 11. Let’s look at how JUSTICE is portrayed in eight different animal decks.

Animal Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine (Hay House)

JUSTICE / ELEPHANT 

“Fair decisions will be made after all the evidence is reviewed impartially. 
Have compassion for others and try to see all sides of a disagreement.”

The Elephant appears on the Justice card (Key 8 in this deck) because of its intelligence, majesty, and power. Stories abound of elephants caring for their families and community, even risking their own lives in order to save one of their own. If this card appears in a reading, the seeker has every reason to believe that justice will be done in their situation and all will be well.

The Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson; illustrated by Eugene Smith (Llewellyn Publications)

JUSTICE / CRANE

“Do you have any pressing legal issues that need to be dealt with? 
Where are you needing resolution in your life right now? 
How do you bring yourself back to center once your emotions have run high?"

The Crane shown on this card is described by the deck’s creators as being “in a defensive pose… standing his ground, wanting others to know that he cannot be swayed from his own mind.” The fact is, there will always be more than one story or perspective to take into account when trying to settle a disagreement. On this card, the Crane’s beak points “towards the sky,” symbolizing “the higher power at play when it comes to finding the middle ground.” Note that the Justice card (when given the number 11) sits in the center/middle point of the Major Arcana. As a totem, we can see the Crane as one who helps ground emotions and take the sting out of them. This in turn will help find a solution “for the good of all and harm to none.”

The Animal Wisdom Tarot by Dawn Brunke; illustrated by Ola Liola (CICO Books)

JUSTICE / ELEPHANT / Bearer of Justice

“Play fair, love true, live in harmony.”

The creators of this deck state that the Elephant “represents balance, stability, sincerity, and justice.” In addition to removing obstacles that “keep us from seeing our true selves,” the Elephant supports bringing to light anything that is imbalanced. The Elephant calls us to do what is right and a true reflection of ourselves, to achieve “greater balance with ourselves and with the cosmos.”

The Animal-Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews (Dragonhawk Publishing)

JUSTICE / ELEPHANT

Ancient Powers of Justice at Work 

For this deck, Ted Andrews chose the Elephant to represent Justice. He points out that this card is meant to remind us that “spiritual laws of justice are at play within life,” whether we recognize them or not! Elephants display great strength and community. They often rely on their acute sense of smell to discern whether something is “right” or not. Instead of automatically trusting what we see, we might do better to think about what “smells right” when making an important decision. When reversed, this card might indicate an injustice at hand, yet a reassurance that the situation will play itself out in “the time, manner, and means best for all concerned.” Meanwhile, it may help to ask ourselves if we are judging everything on appearance alone or ignoring lessons of the past.

The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide)

JUSTICE

Maat: Egyptian / Ostrich

The Egyptian goddess of truth and justice, Maat, was a judge of the dead in the Hall of Justice, where she weighed the souls of recently deceased mortals. To do this, she balanced the deceased’s heart against an ostrich feather. Maat is always shown wearing an ostrich feather in her hair. (I have not been able to determine exactly why an ostrich feather was chosen to represent truth, justice, and divine connection). 

The Animism Tarot by Joanna Cheung (Self-Published)

JUSTICE / CHIMPANZEE

adaption, objectiveness, awareness, compassion, honour, understanding

On the Justice card in this deck, we see two Chimpanzees facing each other, hands touching palm to palm. Joanna Cheung writes: “Understanding is shared in a simple touch, and the realization that what we choose to do from here on out will be more important than we realize. This is the time to right wrongs, a time for change and balance. Things have become clear now.” I did a bit of research, and I discovered that studies and experiments have shown that chimpanzees may have a strong sense of fairness (“inequity aversion”) similar to humans.

Tarot of the Animal Lords with artwork by Angelo Giannini (Lo Scarabeo)

JUSTICE / BARN OWL

agreement, order / lack of freedom, prejudices and misconduct

As a common symbol of wisdom, the Owl can certainly be seen as representing an inclination towards justice, fairness, and balance. Barn Owls, because of their heart-shaped faces, are said to symbolize love as well as wisdom.

Tarot of the Woodland Wardens by Jessica Roux (Amber/Lotus)

JUSTICE / CAPUCHIN MONKEY

“How have my actions affected others, positively or negatively? 
How can I better achieve balance in my daily life?”

Like Joanna Cheung, Jessica Roux has chosen a primate for the Justice card in this deck. She writes, “These creatures have a complex societal structure, use tools, and may even recognize their own reflection.” Capuchin monkeys were named for their resemblance to an order of friars, further supporting the concept of fairness and justice. Roux also writes that determining justice requires honesty and rational thought above emotions.

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To summarize, we have:

Elephant – 3
Crane – 1
Ostrich (Maat) – 1
Chimpanzee – 1
Barn Owl – 1
Capuchin Monkey – 1

I’m going with the majority this time and voting for Elephant as my favorite animal representative for the Justice card. The reasons are expressed very well by the creators of the decks who chose the Elephant. However, I do understand the appeal of selecting a primate for this card!

 

Animal Tarot Time: WHEEL OF FORTUNE

For this series, I am exploring the choices of animals made by various deck creators to correspond to traditional Tarot cards. My initial goal is to get through the Major Arcana using cards from seven different decks:

• Animal Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine (Hay House) 
• The Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson; illustrated by Eugene Smith (Llewellyn Publications) 
• The Animal Wisdom Tarot by Dawn Brunke; illustrated by Ola Liola (CICO Books) 
•  The Animal-Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews (Dragonhawk Publishing) 
• The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide)
• The Animism Tarot by Joanna Cheung (Self-Published) 
• Tarot of the Animal Lords with artwork by Angelo Giannini (Lo Scarabeo)

To read my previous posts in this series, enter “Animal Tarot Time” in the search field on the main page of the blog or scroll down and click on Animal Tarot Time under CATEGORIES.

Today I’m exploring the Wheel of Fortune (Key 10) in my animal-themed decks.

Animal Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine (Hay House)

THE WHEEL / REINDEER (Caribou)
(“Expect a sudden positive change in your life. 
You can now move forward and make great progress.”)

This interpretation of the Wheel of Fortune card focuses on opportunity and blessings, forward movement, and new directions. In an interesting “aside,” the booklet accompanying this deck describes the difference between reindeer and caribou, pointing out that caribou are found in the wild and are somewhat larger than reindeer, who tend to be domesticated and raised in herds. Caribou do cover large distances during migration, in a cyclical manner, which corresponds with the idea of the Wheel constantly turning around, going through stages or phases of our lives.

The Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson; illustrated by Eugene Smith (Llewellyn Publications)

 WHEEL OF FORTUNE /  LADY BUG

(How do you deal with change? 

Does planning for success seem foolish to you? 

What area of your life needs the most luck?)

 

The creator of this deck emphasizes that the Wheel “reminds us that nothing stays the same. . . Everything has a cycle to it and what comes around goes around, again and again, although it may not always come back the exact way you last saw it – and that is rather the point.” In keeping with the idea of “fortune,” we see a lady bug on the card. Lady bugs have long been associated with luck and good fortune.

The Animal Wisdom Tarot by Dawn Brunke; illustrated by Ola Liola (CICO Books)

SPIDER / Sacred Spinner 
(Fate, Karma, Luck, Cycles, Change)

 

In the Animal Wisdom Tarot, the Spider “anchors us in a net of timeless wisdom while revealing the many directions our journey may take.” At the same time, “we weave reality by our thoughts and actions.” Just as a spider sits patiently in the center of its web, we can sit still and centered, “watching life’s drama spin around us,” taking a long-range view and adopting an expanded perspective.

The Animal-Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews (Dragonhawk Publishing)

WHEEL OF FORTUNE / BEAR 
(Heeding Inner Voice and Cycles) 

Ted Andrews writes that “bears teach us to follow our inner voice and to follow a new and more natural rhythm.” Certainly the bear’s cyclical behavior of hibernating every year reinforces this idea. In keeping with the natural cycles of life, we need to move naturally through these cycles, from period of high activity to periods of low activity, through changes and familiar patterns or circumstances. Bears “teach us that a new cycle is at play within our life. For the greatest success, we must adapt to that new cycle. The wheels are turning anew for us. It is time to change our patterns.”

The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide)

THE WHEEL / All Animals: Universal
(cycle of change, the opportunity for growth due to change in fortune) 

In The Animals Divine Tarot, Lisa Hunt’s Wheel incorporates a large assortment of animals “rotating together in a confluence of elements (fire, air, water, earth). In addition, we see illuminated orbs representing the phases of the moon, reminding us that life is cyclical. It is important that we experience and understand the rhythm of life, as seen in nature and symbolized by all of the different animals in our world.

The Animism Tarot by Joanna Cheung (Self-Published)

WHEEL OF FORTUNE: The Orb Weaver Spider
(fate, wisdom, rebirth, balance, creativity, design) 

Joanna Cheung tells us: “This is the weaver of time and fate. Every thread has a destination. Every connection has a purpose. Every movement causes a ripple throughout. The weaver understands balance: threads that fall can rise up again, and though some may come undone, they can be rebuilt once more, better and stronger than ever before.”

Tarot of the Animal Lords with artwork by Angelo Giannini (Lo Scarabeo)

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE / Butterfly 
(the natural cycle of things, fortune, love, return of enemies) 

The artist offers a “wheel” reference by depicting the man-butterfly completing a circle formed by tree branches. The butterfly’s metamorphosis from stage to stage --  egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly – is appropriate for a card that represents cycles and changes. It is easy to imagine how we might see ourselves as being in one “stage” or another of the butterfly’s progress, on our way to an accomplishment or completion of an aspect of our life.

 

To summarize, we have

• Reindeer/Caribou - 1
• Lady Bug – 1
• Spider – 2
• Bear – 1
• All Animals – 1
• Butterfly - 1

The Spider probably resonates strongest with me for the Wheel of Fortune. A spider web often has a circular pattern to it, and I really like the idea of the spider remaining still, watching and waiting, and then making its move based on what is happening around it – as opposed to scurrying all over the web, frantically trying to control every detail of what’s happening. I often interpret the Wheel of Fortune in a reading as expressing the importance of remaining centered and stable in the midst of change as the wheel turns around and around, up and down.  What do you think?

 

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Animal Tarot Time: THE HERMIT

For this series, I am exploring the choices of animals made by various deck creators to correspond to traditional Tarot cards. My initial goal is to get through the Major Arcana using cards from seven different decks:

• Animal Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine (Hay House)
• The Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson; illustrated by Eugene Smith (Llewellyn Publications)
• The Animal Wisdom Tarot by Dawn Brunke; illustrated by Ola Liola (CICO Books)
• The Animal-Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews (Dragonhawk Publishing)
• The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide)
• The Animism Tarot by Joanna Cheung (Self-Published)
• Tarot of the Animal Lords with artwork by Angelo Giannini (Lo Scarabeo)

To read my previous posts in this series, enter “Animal Tarot Time” in the search field on the main page of the blog or scroll down and click on Animal Tarot Time under CATEGORIES.

Today I’m exploring THE HERMIT (Key 9) in my animal-themed decks.

 

Animal Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine (Hay House)

THE HERMIT / FIREFLY 

“Take time for contemplation – to retreat and go within. 
Be a beacon for others on their path to spiritual enlightenment.”

When we think of a hermit, we think of someone who hides somewhere and avoids contact with other people. In my experience, THE HERMIT card can represent a need to do exactly that, at least for a time. However, sometimes we forget that the image on the card (in traditional decks at least) depicts The Hermit holding a lantern up as if to illuminate the path. One standard interpretation of this card refers to being a guide who shows others the way. The creators of Animal Tarot Cards write, “And just as the seeker is never alone, our fireflies have gathered in great number in order to show you just how magical life can be!”

The Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson; illustrated by Eugene Smith (Llewellyn Publications)

THE HERMIT /  MANTIS

Do you like being alone? If no, why not? 

What does “standing in one’s own light” mean to you? 
Do you allow yourself the space and time you need to make decisions with certainty? 

In The Animal Totem Tarot, The Hermit (Mantis) stands in the light, holding the ultimate “lamp” – the sun -- between his antennae. This image doesn’t seem to allude to the need for isolation or solitude at all, rather focusing on shining a bright light. In the deck guidebook, however, the creator of this deck does emphasize that “it’s okay to have space between yourself and your current problem . . . as a way of allowing some time and space to help align yourself with the solution you need.” Having done that, we are then encouraged to emerge into the light or to actually provide the light that others may need to find their way.

The Animal Wisdom Tarot by Dawn Brunke; illustrated by Ola Liola (CICO Books)

THE HERMIT / OWL / Keeper of the Light
(Solitude, Introspection, Enlightenment, Wisdom)

It’s common knowledge that an owl’s night vision is quite good, which makes this mysterious creature a fine choice to guide us through the dark. I can also see the owl as representing solitude and contemplation as it sits quietly in a tree, hidden from view. The creator of The Animal Wisdom Tarot encourages us to “take time to refresh and renew your inner self, so you may return to the world enlightened, shining as a beacon for others.”

The Animal-Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews (Dragonhawk Publishing)

THE HERMIT / OWL 
(Silent Wisdom, Vision, and Guidance) 

Ted Andrews notes several things that the owl can represent for us:

* Owls fly silently, teaching us to trust our instincts and silent impressions.

* Owls are creatures of the night, perhaps symbolizing the darkness within, where great secrets and great treasures are hidden. We may choose to access these secrets and treasures through dreams.

* Owls have keen sight and hearing, encouraging us to pay attention to undercurrents and subtleties.

The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide)

THE HERMIT / Cernunnos: Celtic 
(time to reflect, contemplation, solitude) 

Rather than choosing a single animal for this card, Lisa Hunt chooses the Celtic god Cernunnos, who is shown accompanied by all kinds of forest animals. Each animal carries its own symbolism. “At this stage of the journey,” Hunt writes, “it is important to take the time to engage in quiet reflection.”

The Animism Tarot by Joanna Cheung (Self-Published)

THE HERMIT / THE RED PANDA
(peace, knowledge, contemplation, solitude, discovery, adaption)

A quick internet search reveals that red pandas are known to be “difficult to observe in the wild” and are solitary and territorial. People in central Bhutan consider red pandas to be reincarnations of Buddhist monks. The red panda’s qualifications to serve as The Hermit seem pretty solid, although we do not get the idea that this creature is going to “light the way” for anyone.

Tarot of the Animal Lords with artwork by Angelo Giannini (Lo Scarabeo)

THE HERMIT / BLACK BEAR
(wisdom, spiritual search, abandonment, solitude, hidden enemies) 

Although this deck is admittedly “quirky,” its portrayal of The Hermit is true to traditional Tarot, even though it depicts a black bear instead of a human being. The bear, clothed in hermit-style robes, holds a lantern aloft and gazes at the path ahead. I want to comment on one particular keyword provided by this deck: “abandonment.” At first, this seemed odd, but after just a little bit of thought, I can see that The Hermit may signal a need to “abandon” a busy, confusing life (or situation) for a time, and I can also see that to other people, it might seem that The Hermit is “abandoning” them by going into seclusion. Something to keep in mind when interpreting this card in a reading.

To summarize, we have

Firefly – 1
Mantis – 1
Owl – 2
Red Panda – 1
Cernunnos – 1
Black Bear – 1

Of these, I tend to favor the Owl as The Hermit. I like the idea of it being able to guide us in the darkness because of its superior senses and the fact that it does tend to be hidden from us much of the time. I do kind of like the idea of the Black Bear, given that bears hibernate in caves on a regular basis, although I can’t quite picture a bear guiding anyone. What do you think?