The Empress
Dog Animal CardThe EmpressDog Animal Card
Animal Cards, both Tarot and non-Tarot, are a way of self-discovery, meditation, contemplation, and learning. Each card has a story to tell; every animal has a teaching to impart. They can be useful in gaining spiritual and emotional insights.
The Tarot, on which many animal card systems are based, is divided into Major Arcana (22 cards) and Minor Arcana (56 cards). The Major Arcana reflects the spiritual journey of the person seeking a reading of the cards (the Seeker). The Minor Arcana reflects concerns in the everyday life of the Seeker.
(The Fool)
The Major Arcana represents the archetypes of the human spiritual journey, which is called “The Fool’s Journey”. The Major Arcana starts with “0. The Fool”, which as the first card stands for “a new beginning”. As The Fool travels, he integrates spiritual lessons along the way, until he finaly arrives at “XXI. The World”. As the final card of the Major Arcana, The World indicates spiritual fulfillment. Following his path, The Fool encounters “VII. The Chariot” (forward motion and a need for balance) and “XIX. The Sun” (enlightenment and assurance).
(The Sun)
The Minor Arcana represents the concerns and activities of the Seeker’s everyday life. While the Major Arcana reflects universal themes, the Minor Arcana reflects the mundane forces or patterns at play in the Seeker’s life. Themes of the Minor Arcana can be applied to aspects and events in daily life.
The Minor Arcana is comprised of four groups (suits) of 14 cards each. They are wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. Wands (fire) are associated with enterprise, career, and creativity. Cups (water) are associated with love, emotions, and spiritual experiences. Swords (air) are linked to mental activities and struggles. Pentacles (earth) are linked to money, material things, and security.
(The Queen (a Court Card))
Minor Arcana suits are further divided into Court and Number Cards. The Ace Card is the theme of the suit, while the Middle Cards (Two through Nine) explore the suit's theme. The logical conclusion of the theme is the Ten Card. The Court Cards (consisting of the Page, Knight, Queen, and King) represent the suit’s qualities in rank. In addition, they reflect ways of being. For example, the Page is a fun loving child, while the Queen is a mature woman.
All the cards are shuffled and laid out in a spread or layout. The spreads are used to answer questions. Selected positions of the spread represent certain parts of the Seeker’s question. Various cards in the spread reveal aspects of the answers. An upside down card usually has the opposite meaning of the original card.
(Seahorse)
Most animal card systems follow the Tarot conventions. The major difference between the two is that animal cards are also to be used to discover the Seeker’s “animal totems”. The books, accompanying the cards, discuss spreads for divination, mediation, and finding personal animal totems. The various animals highlight particular teachings of the animal card systems. Unlike the Tarot, animal cards do not have a long history of use. They are a modern way to connect with animals and explore their teachings.
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Va. Carper