The hidden wisdom of the wild: A guide to animal symbolism in Tarot
(Global Heart) When you look at a Tarot deck, your eyes are often drawn first to the dramatic human figures—the regal Empress, the mysterious High Priestess, or the weary traveler. But if you look a little closer, you’ll find a vibrant kingdom of animals tucked into the scenery.
32 Tarot card animals and their meanings
In the classic Rider–Waite–Smith deck, these creatures aren’t just background decoration. They act as messengers, guardians, and reflections of your own inner instincts. Let’s explore the symbolic language of the 32 cards where animals take the stage.
Animals in the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana represents life’s big spiritual lessons. The animals here often symbolize archetypal forces that guide your soul.
0. The Fool – The white dog: As you stand at the edge of the cliff, the little white dog is your loyal companion. He represents your instincts and your “inner guardian,” reminding you to stay aware of your surroundings as you embark on a new adventure.
I. The Magician – The serpent: The Magician wears a belt shaped like a serpent biting its own tail (the Ouroboros). This symbolizes eternity and the constant cycle of renewal, showing you have an infinite source of energy to manifest your goals.
VI. The Lovers – The serpent: Behind the woman, the serpent is coiled in the Tree of Knowledge. It represents the awakening of the senses, the descent of spirit into matter, and the power of choice.
VII. The Chariot – Black & white sphinxes: These represent “dualism.” The white sphinx represents conscious will and purity of intent, while the black sphinx represents subconscious urges. To move forward, you must balance these opposing forces.
VIII. Strength – The lion: The lion represents your raw passions and ego. By gently holding its jaws, the woman shows that you don’t need to suppress your animal nature with violence, but lead it with love and inner fortitude.
X. Wheel of Fortune – Bull, lion, eagle & serpent: In the corners are the fixed signs of the zodiac (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio/Eagle). They suggest that while the wheel of life turns, there are universal laws that remain constant. The snake Typhon represents the descent of life-force into the world.
XIII. Death – The white horse: Death rides a majestic white horse. This symbolizes purity and the inevitability of change, reminding us that every ending is a clean slate for a new beginning.
XV. The Devil – The goat & bat-wings: With the head of a goat (Capricorn), this card represents earthly desires. The bat-wings suggest things that haunt you in the dark, warning against being “chained” to toxic habits.
XVII. The Star – The bird: A small ibis perches in the background. It represents the soul and spiritual freedom—the “higher perspective” you gain when you find hope and healing after a storm.
XVIII. The Moon – Lobster, wolf, & dog: This shows the evolution of the mind. The lobster (primitive fear) crawls out of the water, the wolf is wild intuition, and the dog is the civilized mind. All three must be navigated to find the truth.
XIX. The Sun – The white horse: A symbol of total joy and vitality. It carries a child, representing the feeling of being completely “carried” by the positive energy of the universe.
XXI. The World – Bull, lion, & eagle: These animals reappear to signify the completion of your journey. You have integrated all lessons—stability, courage, and spiritual vision—into your whole self.
Animals in the Minor Arcana
In the Minor Arcana, animals ground the energy into your daily life, career, and emotions.
Wands: Fire – Action, passion, inspiration
Page of Wands – Salamanders: The Page’s tunic is covered in salamanders, symbolizing the spark of a new idea and the very beginning of a transformation.
Knight of Wands – The horse & salamanders: The charging horse shows impulsive, passionate energy. The salamanders represent the drive to keep moving even when things get “hot.”
Queen of Wands – The black cat & lions: While the lions show strength, the black cat represents independence, intuition, and a connection to the “hidden” parts of life.
King of Wands – Lions & salamanders: The lions represent royal authority, while the salamanders (biting their tails) represent the eternal fire of the King’s spirit.
Cups: Water – Emotions, relationships, intuition
Ace of Cups – The dove: A white dove descends into the cup, representing spiritual peace and divine love entering the emotional world.
Two of Cups – The winged lion & serpents: Above the couple, the red winged lion represents the fusion of passion and spirit. The serpents on the Caduceus symbolize healing and perfect balance.
Seven of Cups – The dragon & the serpent: The serpent represents hidden wisdom or jealousy, while the dragon symbolizes supernatural power, temptation, and the dangers of unbridled fantasy.
Page of Cups – The fish: A fish pops its head out of the cup! This is a sign of unexpected news or a quirky new creative idea surfacing from the subconscious.
Knight of Cups – The white horse & fish: The horse walks gracefully (calm approach), while the fish on his cloak represents deep emotional intelligence and “flow.”
Queen of Cups – Mermaids & fish: Her throne is decorated with mermaids and fish, emphasizing her mastery over the emotional and psychic realms.
King of Cups – The jumping fish & amulet: A fish leaps from the sea while the King wears a fish amulet, showing he is aware of his deep emotions but remains calm and controlled.
Swords: Air – Thoughts, conflict, intellect
Page of Swords – Birds & butterflies: Birds represent soaring thoughts, while the butterflies on his clothes symbolize the “flighty” but exciting nature of new mental growth.
Knight of Swords – The horse & butterflies: A horse in a frantic gallop represents a racing mind. The butterflies on the harness represent the swift transformation of thoughts.
Queen of Swords – Birds & butterflies: Decorated with butterflies, her crown and throne suggest she has “metamorphosed” through experience into a person of great clarity. While butterflies on her throne show metamorphosis, a solitary bird soars high above. This represents her ability to remain objective and detached, seeing the truth from a great height.
King of Swords – Birds & butterflies: Butterflies on his throne signify his mental agility. While these small creatures show his flexibility, the circling birds high in the sky symbolize the high-flying, sharp intellect and far-reaching vision required to reach a fair and honest judgment.
Pentacles: Earth – work, money, the physical world
Knight of Pentacles – The black horse: This horse stands still, representing patience, reliability, and the commitment to doing hard work until the job is done.
Nine of Pentacles – The snail & bird of prey: The snail reminds you that slow progress leads to success. The falcon on the woman’s hand represents a “tamed” and disciplined intellect.
Ten of Pentacles – The dogs: Two dogs symbolize the safety of home, the loyalty of family, and the comfort of long-term stability.
Queen of Pentacles – The rabbit: A small rabbit symbolizes fertility, abundance, and the fruitful energy of a well-tended home or business.
King of Pentacles – The bull: Adorned with bull heads, his throne represents Taurus energy: immense patience, stability, and the ability to build wealth.
Navigating the flip side: Animals in shadow (reversed)
When a card is reversed, the animal’s energy is no longer in “flow.” It becomes blocked, distorted, or exaggerated.
Reversed Major Arcana: Archetypal blocks
- The Fool (reversed dog): You might be ignoring your “inner guardian.” This suggests you are being reckless or ignoring red flags that your intuition (the dog) is trying to bark at you.
- The Magician (reversed serpent): The cycle of renewal is stalled. You might feel “stuck” in an old skin, unable to shed the past and move into your next phase of transformation.
- The Lovers (reversed serpent): A choice is being made based on pure impulse or physical desire without regard for the higher soul. The “snake” is causing discord.
- The Chariot (reversed sphinxes): The black and white forces are pulling in opposite directions, and you’ve lost the reins. This often feels like total lack of control or inner conflict.
- Strength (reversed lion): Your “wild side” might be taking over, leading to outbursts of anger or impulsivity. Alternatively, it can mean you lack the confidence to face your fears.
- Wheel of Fortune & The World (reversed bull, lion, eagle): The cosmic balance feels off. You might be resisting the natural cycles of life or feeling like you’ve lost your groundedness (the bull) or your vision (the eagle).
- Death & The Sun (reversed white horse): Instead of purity and momentum, a reversed horse suggests a “stagnant” transition. You might be resisting a necessary ending or feeling a temporary loss of vitality and joy.
- The Devil (reversed goat/bat-wings): Interestingly, this can be a positive sign! It often suggests you are starting to break free from the chains of earthly attachments and shadow thoughts.
- The Star (reversed bird): Your hope might be momentarily dimmed. The bird is grounded, suggesting you feel disconnected from your spiritual guidance or “higher self.”
- The Moon (reversed lobster, wolf, dog): This is a state of deep confusion. The primal fears (lobster) are overwhelming your trained mind (dog), making it hard to tell what is real and what is an illusion.
Reversed Minor Arcana: Daily distortions
In the Minor Arcana, a reversal often means the natural “flow” of an element is either blocked (too little energy) or overflowing (too much energy).
Wands: Fire out of control
- Page, Knight, King (salamanders): The fire of transformation has turned into burnout. You are either moving too fast and making messy mistakes, or your creative spark has completely fizzled out.
- Queen & King (lions): A distortion of leadership. This represents a “predatory” abuse of power, acting like a bully, or a total loss of the courage needed to lead with heart.
Cups: Emotional imbalance
- Ace (dove): The messenger of peace is blocked. This signifies a lack of inner peace, emotional emptiness, or refusing to let divine love in.
- Two of Cups (winged lion): Broken harmony. The “lion” of passion has become aggressive, or the spiritual bond between two people has vanished, leading to a falling out.
- Seven of Cups (dragon & serpent): A positive shift! The fog clears, and you are finally seeing through frightening fantasies. The dragon of temptation and the serpent of jealousy lose their power over you.
- Page, Knight, Queen, King (fish): You are “a fish out of water.” This represents an emotional flood where you feel overwhelmed, or a state where your intuition feels dry and confusing.
- Queen (mermaids): You are drowning in a fantasy world, becoming so detached from reality that you can no longer function in the physical realm.
Swords: Mental turbulence
- Page, Knight, Queen, King (butterflies): Your thoughts are like butterflies that never land. This is scatterbrained energy, where a lack of focus and “flighty” behavior prevent you from reaching the truth.
- Page, Queen, King (birds): You have lost the “bird’s eye view.” Instead of seeing the big picture, you are pecking at tiny, irrelevant details and losing your sense of mental freedom.
Pentacles: Physical stagnation
- Knight (black horse): The steady pace is lost. This is either paralyzing inertia (refusing to move) or being so “work-obsessed” that you’ve become a robot.
- Nine (snail & falcon): The Snail represents frustrating slowness or missed deadlines, while the Falcon shows a loss of self-discipline and mastery over your daily routine.
- Ten (dogs): A betrayal of loyalty. The safety of the home feels threatened, and there may be disputes over inheritance or family traditions.
- Queen (rabbit): A “dry spell” in abundance. Instead of a fruitful garden, you feel a sense of scarcity or realize you’ve neglected your physical well-being.
- King (bull): The bull’s stability has turned into extreme stubbornness or a blind obsession with money and material possessions.
By connecting with these creatures, you can tap into a deeper, more instinctual layer of the Tarot’s wisdom.
How to use this in your readings
The next time you pull a card, take a moment to look at the animal tucked away in the corner. Ask yourself:
- “What is this animal’s temperament?”
- “Is it calm, like the Strength lion, or charging, like the Knight of Swords’ horse?”
By paying attention to whether these animals are standing tall or hanging upside down, you can get a much clearer picture of whether you are in flow with your instincts or if it’s time to make a course correction.
Source: Global Heart
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