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)
The creators of this deck point out that we traditionally associate reindeer with Santa Claus, which reinforces the idea of this creature representing prosperity or change in a positive direction. It also makes sense to have reindeer represent the movement and transportation. As the authors state, the reindeer and caribou are basically the same animal, with the primary difference being domestication.
In tarot, the Wheel of Fortune is in constant motion, around and around, up and down, never standing still.
The Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson; illustrated by
Eugene Smith (Llewellyn Publications)
LADY BUG
seem foolish to you? What area of your life needs the most luck?”
The Animal Wisdom Tarot by Dawn Brunke; illustrated by
Ola Liola (CICO Books)
SPIDER
Sacred Spinner (Fate, Karma, Luck, Cycles,
Change)
I really like the way the creators of this deck placed a
spider in a web that extends to the edges of a wheel. Think of how a spider
just keeps spinning, and if the web is damaged or destroyed, the spider simply
starts again. With this card we are encouraged to maintain “long-range views
and an expanded perspective to find stability and truth in the midst of change.”
When we sit still and center ourselves, we can watch life’s drama spin around
us without being dragged up and down, around and around.
The Animal-Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews (Dragonhawk
Publishing)
BEAR
Heeding Inner Voice and Cycles
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Ted Andrews offers us the Bear on the Wheel of Fortune card in his Animal Wise Tarot. As Andrews notes, bears “teach us that there is a rhythm and flow to everything, and when we align with it, we are much less frustrated and more successful.” Certainly we see this as we observe the hibernation habits of bears. They adapt to each new cycle as the wheel of the year turns.
The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide)
ALL ANIMALS
cycle of change, the opportunity for growth due to change in fortune
Lisa Hunt neatly sidesteps any arguments over “which
animal” should represent this card by stating that The Wheel represents “All
Animals.” She depicts the animals “rotating together in a confluence of
elements,” incorporating symbolism for Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. With the
animals as our guides and teachers, be can have a glimpse into the ways nature
balances itself and become more active participants in the rhythm of life. From
small to large, each creature shown on The Wheel has something valuable to
share with us, if we will only pay attention.
The Animism Tarot by Joanna Cheung (Self-Published)
ORB WEAVER SPIDER
fate, wisdom, rebirth, balance, creativity, design
Here we see the “weaver of time and fate.” Every thread
has a destination. Every connection has a purpose. Joanna Cheung echoes the
comments I wrote above concerning what happens when a spider’s web is damaged
or destroyed, writing “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)
BUTTERFLY
the natural cycle of things, fortune, love
A person with a butterfly’s head and wings flutters in
the air next to a tree on which we see leaves, eggs, and caterpillars. In this
way, this deck points to the butterfly as a symbol of the “natural cycle of
things.” As we know, the butterfly follows a consistent pattern in its
development, from egg to larva to pupa to adult. Similarly, we may go through stages
of growth in our lives as we mature and gain understanding and wisdom.
TO SUMMARIZE we have:
Lady Bug – 1
Spider – 2
Bear – 1
Butterfly – 1
All Animals – 1
I confess I’m quite partial to the Spider for The Wheel of Fortune card. What do you think?
How lovely to see a new post from you! I've enjoyed reading your blog over the years.
ReplyDeleteI like all these animal-themed cards, and I completely agree that all animals could arguably appear on The Wheel, given that there is a "circle of life" for all living beings. Plus, where animals are concerned, most, if not all, can be considered predators and/or prey, depending on what their relationship is to other animals or humans they encounter.
As an arachnophobe, I always flinch at the sight of a spider in a tarot deck, but aside from that, I do like the idea of a spider representing The Wheel.
Emily
Thank you for your kind words, Emily! I am going to try to continue this series in a timely manner.
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