Many diviners mistake the creature on the King of Wands for being a generic lizard. However, it is actually a salamander - salamanders represent the element of fire. So, this one on the King of Wands is a node to the fact that Wands are associated with the element of fire in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot tradition. Salamanders are associated with fire because it used to be believed that they can firewalk. RABBIT The symbol of the lion on the Strength card is pretty obvious as lions symbolize mastery, honor, and strength. Sometimes lions also signal important people. Also, the fact that the woman on the card is taming the lion and opening its mouth is a sign of control and the ability to conquer animal instincts, a common theme in Tarot.

note: there are lions on The World and The Wheel of Fortune, but these represent a tetramorph, which has a different meaning.) LIZARD In divination and fortune-telling, rabbits are also linked with sexuality and fertility. One interpretation for the Queen of Pentacles, is that she represents motherhood and the female aspects of the physical world, hence the rabbit. The legend goes that King Minos asked for a sign of approval from the God Poseidon and was sent a white bull. Because the bull was so beautiful, he did not sacrifice it to the God, which angered Poseidon. As punishment, Poseidon made the king's wife, Pasiphaë, fall in love with the bull. She mated with the bull, got pregnant and eventually gave birth to the Minotaur, who was born half-man and half-bull. In Romany Gypsy culture, it is common for horses to represent friends, similar to how dogs do in gorger culture. Therefore, for me, it makes sense that Knights are riding horses because I often interpret them as someone you may have a friendship with. However, I think that in the case of Tarot, the Knights’ horses are supposed to symbolize initiative and hard work, which is another common interpretation for a horse.A lot of readers have never noticed this, but there appears to be something the King of Pentacles has his foot on. Many people have speculated as to what this thing is, but I suspect that it might be a tortoise. Like the tortoise, the King of Pentacles is associated with achievements, wisdom, and expertise. Although the animal on the Queen of Pentacles is probably a rabbit, there is a chance that it is a hare, which I will explain more about under ‘tortoise.’ RAM

But, in the Tarot, dog symbolism is completely different. The dogs are used to reflect growth, animal instinct, and even financial status.I am in two minds about the symbolism behind the Queen of Pentacles. It is possible that the furry creature could represent a rabbit, but it is also possible that it is a hare. The minor arcana cards are divided into classic suits, but here they use their own, feline symbols. The suit of Wands is entirely dedicated to cat toys - ribbons, fish, balls. The suit of Cups is water and drinking bowls. Swords – sharp claws and teeth of pets. And the Pentacles are food in all its forms. Sometimes, horses can signal royalty and achievement. To own a horse is to have some level of wealth and status, and this is probably the reasoning behind the horses on The Sun and Six of Wands cards. People have used tarot cards for fortune-telling for hundreds of years. They read the cards like a storybook to get advice on improving themselves and making decisions. Delightful Temperance card: a red cat tests his patience before temptation (a fish in an aquarium). The symbols of water and radiance around this ginger"angel" are beautifully used here.

From bats to bees to elephants to elk, discover a global collection of animal energy to guide you on your journey through the darkest, toughest times and discover the light and the lessons contained in those moments.The dog and the wolf on these cards are there to remind the seeker to use both intuition and common sense when making decisions. There is no clear-cut way with the Moon, no this and that. All choices must be made on their own merit and dealt with individually at that particular time. There cannot be too much listening to the spirit or too much following to the mind. Both must work in harmony if the seeker wishes to achieve the best outcome. Dogs are read differently depending on where you come from. For example, because I am a Romany Gypsy, I read dogs to symbolize work. However, in the West, dogs are read to represent friends, followers, and confidants. The Strength Card: The cat that catches the mouse is a manifestation of the ancient instinct of the hunter.

Cats were so revered in ancient Egypt that the citizens portrayed several of their deities as cats or cat/human hybrids. The goddesses Mafdet, Bastet, and Sekhmet were all depicted as cats and represented justice, fertility, and power. By the time we make our way to the Ten of Pentacles, the white dog, again, makes an appearance (this time, there are two instead of one). However, in this instance, the dog is controlled, tame, and has had its hair trimmed. The owners of these dogs can afford to take their pets to the groomers. The white dog has now become a symbol of the Ten of Pentacles’ meaning. It is interesting to think that if the King of Pentacles features a tortoise, then what if the animal on the Queen of Pentacles is actually a hare? How do the card’s meanings change in that respect?The cat on the Queen of Wands has always been a bit of a mystery. Cats are obviously associated with intuition and psychic ability, so you would probably be much more likely to see one on the Queen of Cups, not the Queen of Wands.