(Koala)
This Tarot deck is a companion to Wisdom of the Australian Animals (which explains Ann Williams-Fitzgerald’s concepts regarding the animals). In this Tarot deck, Australian animals represent the Major and Minor Arcana cards. For those unfamiliar with Tarot cards, Major Arcana cards are major life events, represented by symbols such as the “Moon”, “Sun”, “Tower”, and “The Lovers”. The Minor Arcana cards are divided into four groups of “Wands”, “Cups”, “Swords”, and “Pentacles”. (Each of these groups have particular meanings.) The author uses “Earth” for “Wands”, “Water” for “Cups”, “Fire” for “Swords”, and “Air” for “Pentacles”. Finned and Water Ones represents “Water” and Winged Ones, “Air”. "Fire" and "Earth" suits feature all the animal groups. People unfamiliar with the Tarot can still use these cards for animal teachings. (For further explanation of the Tarot, go to A Brief Note on Tarot and Animal Cards.)
The cards are keyed to “Stages of Inner Growth”, which Ann Williams-Fitzgerald calls the “Tasmanian Tiger’s Journey”. Every card is beautifully drawn, with each animal in a typical scene for that animal. For example, wary Koala is presented in the brush. Included on the card is the New Age crystal and number associated with Koala: tiger iron and seven. The teachings of Koala are written around the card: “Selectiveness, Purpose, Movement, and Change”. Any other New Age lore associated with each animal, such as the sign of the Zodiac, is also featured on each card. The little booklet included with the deck discusses briefly the Tarot meanings of the various cards.
Although the deck is meant for Tarot use, you can still use it to learn animal teachings. Ann Williams-Fitzgerald features a wide variety of Australian animals, not usually discussed in other “animal wisdom” books. Not only that, but she also includes many Winged Ones and Crawling Ones. Furthermore, Australian Animal Tarot Deck is one of the very few “animal wisdom” materials that features Finned and Water Ones.
Please note that the teachings are different for many animals in The Wisdom of Australian Animals and in Australian Animal Tarot Deck. For instance, Koala's teachings in The Wisdom of Australian Animals is “Holding On, Selectiveness, Save Havens, Calm, Support, and Nurture.” The varied teachings enrich what the reader can learn from Koala.
A companion to The Wisdom of Australian Animals and Australian Animal Tarot Deck is auz astrology. This book further explains the signs of the Zodiac and other symbology for several animals. These Australian “animal wisdom” materials complement each other. Use them together as a set for learning from Australian animals.
You can obtain the deck directly from Ann Williams-Fitzgerald at her website: Australian Animal Tarot Deck. At her website, she presents the deck and several of the animals' teachings as well as explanations of the deck itself.
You can also buy the deck from Amazon.com.
OR
Return to Individual “Animal Wisdom” Book Reviews page
Return to the Main Animal Page
Va. Carper
August 24, 2004