Working in a spiritual shop, I hear quite a lot about power animals – in fact, we even sell various tools to help customers find their own animal guides. Yet somehow I’ve always felt removed from power animals, simply because I have no idea how to even begin finding my own, and I’m often plagued by my own questions about them: is a power animal forever, or just for right now? Do I have to follow a shamanistic path, or am I enough just as I am? Can a power animal be a psychological/archetypal tool as much as a psychic one?
All those questions often paralyse me with uncertainty, and so I never manage to continue the search past an idle curiosity as to what my power animal might be. But today, I had a small epiphany (more a firefly than a firework, on the Richter scale of realisations): I am making it too complicated. I can find my animal guide using what I know and what I know is Tarot.
Here, let me show you what I mean.
Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams
What is a power animal?
Power animals are very similar to spirit guides: it is believed that every person has the spirit of an animal walking with them that empowers them in their day to day lives which also protects and guides them in any spiritual work they may undertake. Power animals represent a person’s connection to all life, their qualities of character, and their personal power. It is believed that the power animal either compliments the personality of its ward (i.e. someone who is loyal might have a wolf for their animal guide), or else balances their character traits – for example, a person who is small and easily scared may have a bear for their power animal. In this instance, the spirit of the bear will aim to teach its ward strength and courage.
It is possible to have more than one power animal in your lifetime: to use the previous example, once the timid person has become strong, the bear will move on and allow a new animal to take its place so that their ward can continue to learn and grow.
How does one find their power animal using Tarot?
I wanted a relatively simple way for me and my readers to contact their animal guide using a tool we already have: a Tarot deck. Because this tool can occasionally be quite limited so far as depictions of animals go, this exercise is to find your guide for a specific situation (a job interview, a date, or a first day of school) rather than your guide for life. This means that this particular animal guide can be used either as an archetype, or as a literal spirit guide, depending on your belief system.
Wild Unknown Tarot
What to do
All you need for this exercise are your Tarot cards – preferably a relatively modern deck that is quite well illustrated.
- Hold your cards and allow yourself to relax – if you have a preferred meditation technique, use it now. Alternatively, you may want to use the empowerment ritual before you begin, or even just allow yourself to breathe slowly and deeply until your mind quietens and you feel more calm.
- Focus on the situation ahead of you and request an animal to appear that will guide you for your best good.
- Begin to shuffle your cards. When you’re ready, deal a card: if there is neither animal nor insect on the card you’ve chosen, return it to the deck and keep going.
- Be observant! The animal might not be depicted as an actual animal within the card, but could perhaps be embroidered onto clothing or emblazoned on a shield. Be receptive and keep your eyes open.
- Once you have found your animal, look it up (I’ll be creating a brief list below of the most common animals in Tarot). The animal represents the strengths you will need to find within yourself to face the situation ahead and the card it appears on will tell you how to put the strengths of your guide into practice. If there are two or more animals on your chosen card, pick the first one you saw; don’t be tempted to go with the ‘cooler’ animal – that’s your ego talking, not your spirit guide!
- Place your card in the centre of the following spread (your card counts as number one) to get more information about you and your animal:
- The animal you need to embody.
- Why you need its help.
- What it can teach you.
- The truth about the situation ahead.
- How to work with the animal.
Your Animal Guide.
Here is a brief list of the animals, insects, birds and beasts you’re most likely to find within a classic Tarot deck (decks like Shadowscapes will have a wider range of animals and more of the mythic variety). If your animal guide isn’t listed here, a quick google or a glance in a dream dictionary will tell you all you need to know.
Bird
Freedom and the ability to overcome struggles.
Bull
Strength and masculinity. The strength and energy to carry you further in your endeavours than you’d be able to manage alone.
Butterfly
The need to be more outgoing and to find more joy in life. Emphasis on transformations and spirituality.
Cat
Independence and power, access your more feminine attributes. Be careful to be authentic in your words and not to be ‘catty’ about others.
Cow
Warmth, patience and kindness. Be more nurturing of others.
Crab
Persevere and be tenacious. Cultivate the ability to be in touch with your inner world while still remaining aware of the world around you.
Dog
Generosity, friendship and protection. You can go out into the world and find success.
Eagle/Bird of Prey
Wisdom, insight and power. Try to see every angle of the situation.
Fish
Valuable insight. You will gain clarity on an issue within your subconscious that is causing you trouble in the world around you.
Fox
Cunning trickster. Use your wits to assess the situation, but keep your sense of humour.
Goat
Toughness, perseverance and a strong libido. Be careful to stay calm and not allow anyone to ‘get your goat.’
Horse
Power, virility, sexuality. Rein yourself in, but don’t lose your wildness.
Lizard
Renewal and emerging creativity. Remain well grounded.
Mouse
Attention to detail and caution. Don’t get caught up in dramas, just focus on the task at hand.
Owl
Wisdom and expanded awareness. Stay in tune with your intuition.
Rabbit
Luck, magic and abundance. Be charming and positive.
Snake
Wisdom, problem solving and renewal. Allow outdated ways of thinking to pass and focus on the new.
Wolf
Courageous and wise. Have the strength to face your fears.
Ace of Wands – Shadowscapes Tarot
Animals are never used by accident in a Tarot card: they’re there to represent a wilder, simpler side of our personalities. The use of animals can add an extra layer to your Tarot work. Next time you’re reading a spread, take a look at the animals that have appeared and ask yourself: why is this animal in this particular card? What does this animal mean to me? What does it illustrate in this reading? Could the animals in this spread get along, or would they fight?
