Animal Tarot Time: DEATH

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, now including 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.

Let’s look at how DEATH (Key 13) is portrayed in eight different animal decks.

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

RELEASE / PEACOCK

“Immortality. Rejuvenation. 
The confidence to move on. Birth and rebirth. 
Rising up from the ashes. The Resurrection of Christ.”

As many of us already know, the Death card does not automatically indicate physical death (television and movies notwithstanding). Instead, our first consideration should be that it represents an ending, the closing of a door, the release of something that may very well turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to us. I can see how a peacock might represent this phenomenon. It is a beautiful bird to begin with, but nothing quite compares to the first time you see one spreading its glorious tail feathers all at once. The “wow factor” is very strong! The guidebook for this deck states that the peacock has “long been a symbol of Jesus and the Resurrection.”

The Animal Totem Tarot (Robertson, Smith, Llewellyn)

DEATH / CALIFORNIA CONDOR

“How many ideas have you had that you have 

rejected outright or been talked out of by other people? 

How many carcasses do you have stacked up in your energy field?”

 

Naturally I assumed that at least one of these eight decks would choose a vulture (or similar bird) to represent Death. The California Condor brings the energy of endings but also reminds us that death is a cycle rather than a one-way trip. It is the cyclical nature of birth/death that we must remember when the Death card appears. An interesting note from the deck creators: “The California Condor not only represents the energy of death, but has come back from the brink of its own Death.” Once an endangered species, this bird is “making a healthy and welcome comeback.”

The Animal Wisdom Tarot (Brunke, Liola, CICO)

DEATH / MOTH

Omen of Death / End, Transition, Metamorphosis, Change / 

Release the old, embrace the new 

“Silence of the Lambs,” anyone? Yes, this is the Death’s-head Hawkmoth we’re talking about for Tarot Key 13 in this deck. In some cultures, moths do symbolize or foreshadow death. They are also seen as “departed souls returned to earth” or “symbols of immortality” (Brunke). As with Death cards in other decks, this one can just as easily represent “the conclusion of a job, relationship, or phase of life” rather than representing actual physical death. We are being encouraged to exchange our fear of change to eager anticipation of transformation.

The Animal-Wise Tarot (Andrews, Dragonhawk)

DEATH / SNAKE

Shedding the Old and Resurrection 

As a “universal sign of healing, life, death, and rebirth” (Andrews), the Snake certainly qualifies for a starring role on the Death card. We all know that snakes shed their skin regularly – replacing the old with the new – in a sense “resurrecting” themselves. Snakes shed their skin because they have outgrown it (and they never stop growing). Just as snakes can move and strike very quickly, changes and transitions in our lives can occur quickly, and we may not feel ready for them. When Death appears, Andrews encourages us to ask, “Are we needing to make changes but aren’t for some reason? Are we trying to force change too quickly? Are we hanging on to and not releasing what is no longer beneficial for us? Are we ignoring opportunities to heal our life?”

The Animals Divine Tarot (Hunt, Llewellyn)

DEATH / Sedna (Inuit)

transformation, rebirth, renewal, new beginnings 

Lisa Hunt tells us that Sedna “was the supreme deity of the undersea world, who was both feared and revered by the Inuit peoples of the Arctic region.” In that role, she determined which of her sea creatures would be “relinquished for mortal consumption,” so she actually controlled the survival of the people who consumed those creatures. Sedna’s story is a terrifying one, in that she became ruler of the undersea world only after her father tossed her into the icy waves to placate an angered spirit. When she tried to climb back into his boat, he chopped her fingers off…. And well, that’s enough of that! But as horrific as the story is, it ends with Sedna on the undersea throne, presiding over whales, seals, and other sea creatures. She was, of course, bitter – but made the best of her situation.

The Animism Tarot (Cheung)

DEATH / THE RAVEN
self-awareness, adaption, wisdom, truth, loss, passage 

I’m not surprised to see The Raven on the Death card in an animal-themed deck. Ravens symbolize illness, ill fortune, and/or death in many cultures. Yet their symbolism is much more complex than that (kind of like the Death card?) I won’t try to explore the many myths and stories about ravens here. I like seeing one on the Death card.

Tarot of the Animal Lords (Giannini, Lo Scarabeo)

DEATH / CROW

fatality, change, end and beginning; sickness, death, bad luck 

Although Crows and Ravens are not identical birds, I think we can agree that both Cheung and Giannini have a similar symbolism in mind when their choices. Both crows and ravens are highly intelligent, black-feathered birds from the genus Corvus. Both are highly adaptable omnivores and scavengers. The symbolism associated with both birds is very similar across many cultures.

Tarot of the Woodland Wardens (Roux, Amber/Lotus)

DEATH / JACKAL

“How do I handle change? What am I ready to let go of?” 

Last (but certainly not least) of all, our newest contributor to this series – Tarot of the Woodland Wardens – features a completely different creature on the Death card from any of the other decks I shared. The guidebook describes the card as follows: “A skeletal jackal stalks the grasslands to collect his dead.” Like others in this series, this deck treats Death as symbolizing endings and new beginnings. “Nothing lasts forever, and Death reminds us that transformation and change can be a good thing.” (Roux) Although the deck’s creators don’t explain their reason for choosing the jackal, most of us are aware that jackals are most famously linked to the Egyptian god Anubis, who guarded cemeteries and guided souls, associating them with the afterlife, embalming, and protection.

To summarize:

Peacock – 1
California Condor – 1
Moth – 1
Snake – 1
Sedna – 1
Raven – 1
Crow – 1
Jackal – 1

The closest we come to a consensus is the use of black carrion-eating birds on three of the Death cards. I’m fine with those. I also kind of love the jackal and snake, though!

Animal Tarot Time: THE HANGED MAN

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, now including 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.

* * * * * * *

Let’s look at how THE HANGED MAN (Key 12) is portrayed in eight different animal decks.

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

AWAKENING / GIRAFFE

“Look at things in a different way, and all will make sense. 

Don’t worry if your progress is halted temporarily: 

things will soon start moving again.”

As the tallest land mammal, the Giraffe certainly does see things from a different perspective than most. In this card, the Giraffe “has flipped her head down to have a good look at you. . .  Both of you see things in a whole new light.” 

The Animal Totem Tarot (Robertson, Smith, Llewellyn)

THE HANGED MAN / HONEY POT ANT

“What areas of your life, right now, is your head interfering with? 

If you were to let go of your need to be right in your current situation, what would happen?”

This is certainly an unusual and interesting “take” on The Hanged Man card. From the description in the guidebook, we learn that due to the social structure of honey pot ants, large members of the group store water and nectar in their abdomens, then spend the rest of their lives hanging upside down, regurgitating nectar for the rest of the colony. Fortunately for us humans, even though some things in our life feel imposed upon us, we still have free will. We can willingly choose to surrender to our “divine destiny.” The guidebook adds, “Inversion poses in yoga are used to place the heart above the mind. . . to allow better blood and energy flow throughout your body.” Surrender and sacrifice are the key concepts offered by the Honey Pot Ant.

The Animal Wisdom Tarot (Brunke, Liola, CICO)

THE HANGED MAN / BAT 

Master of Suspension / Surrender, Release, Sacrifice, Renew

On this card, the Bat hangs upside down from the Tree of Life, resting peacefully, sensitive and aware. We are being guided inward to “hone perceptions, identify illusions, face fears calmly, and release the non-essential.” Bats seem to be equally comfortable upright or upside down or flying through the air, taking in a “bird’s eye view.” This is the energy we are being encouraged to adopt when The Hanged Man card appears. A Message from Bat: “Go within, and then let go.”

The Animal-Wise Tarot (Andrews, Dragonhawk)

THE HANGED MAN / BAT

New Truths and Perceptions

In the guidebook, Ted Andrews notes, “Bats sleep with their head down, the traditional posture of the Hanged Man in the tarot. This reflects a new perspective, the awakening of new truths.” Andrews points out that “mythically, the bat is an animal associated with the promise of rebirth and a time of coming out of darkness.” Taking a new perspective can mean letting go of the past, releasing or changing some aspect of our life. Questions we might ask ourselves include, “Are we avoiding facing what is inevitable? Are we letting our fears rule us? Are we not seeing things for what they truly are?”

The Animals Divine Tarot (Hunt, Llewellyn)

THE HANGED WOMAN

SPIDER WOMAN (Native American)

In this deck, Spider Woman represents “stagnation, inertia, repetitive cycle, the need to grow, life crisis forcing change, sacrifices.” Interestingly, spiders often dangle head-first from their webs. At other times, of course, they wander all about the web checking out what might have been caught. When The Hanged Man card appears, we may need to examine our own “web of life” to see if repairs are needed. 

The Animism Tarot (Cheung)

THE HANGED MAN / THE OPOSSUM

patience, introspection, focus, courage, opportunity, creativity

On The Hanged Man card in this deck, an opossum hangs upside down from a branch by its tail. Joanna Cheung writes, “Why he is suspended, why he watches in reverse, only he understands. His reality might not make sense, but sometimes life needs to not make sense, and sometimes views must be shifted in order to achieve clarity. And so he holds on and on until he finds his release.” 

Tarot of the Animal Lords (Giannini, Lo Scarabeo)

THE HANGED MAN / BAT

altruism, enlightenment, sacrifice, suffering, punishment

The “animal-person” chosen to represent The Hanged Man in this deck is a bat-man (not Batman!) He has human legs, so he hangs by one foot from the branches above like the man on the traditional Hanged Man card. Being part bat, he is quite comfortable in this position, able to observe and reflect from a different perspective. 

Tarot of the Woodland Wardens (Roux, Amber/Lotus)

THE HANGED WARDEN / OPOSSUM

“What are the benefits and drawbacks of the different paths I can take? 

How can I change my perspective?”

As most of us know, opossum’s have the ability to “play possum,” remaining quiet and pretending to be dead as a means of avoiding predators. To be honest, I don’t really see the connection between that trait and the traditional meaning of The Hanged Man card, although the interpretation given by the deck’s creator states: “Perhaps it feels like danger approaches from all sides and your only option is to curl up and hide.” Instead, Roux continues, “But by taking a step back and looking at your current situation from a different angle, you’ll come to a deeper understanding of your past, present, and future.” The “placid energy of the opossum” is seen as something to use to our advantage when a change in perspective is needed.

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To summarize, we have:

Bat - 3

Opossum – 2

Giraffe – 1

Honey Pot Ant – 1

Spider Woman - 1

Once again, I feel inclined to go with the majority in choosing the Bat to represent The Hanged Man. As I mentioned above, bats really do have the ability and opportunity to view things from many perspectives and positions. And all of it is very natural for them, not forced or traumatic. We humans, on the other hand, may be quite uncomfortable in that upside down position – hence the words “sacrifice” and “suffering” might apply to our experience. 

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!