Customer Reviews

The Animal Wise Tarot

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a professional Spiritual Consultant and Welsh Thaumaturgist for over twenty-five years and it's extremely rare that I am impressed with a Tarot book and deck to the extent that I am with Animal Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews. The book alone makes a fascinating read but I have to admit that initially I avoided the cards due to the "artwork." Psychic Readers in general seek a visual connection with the Tarot decks they use and I am more accustomed to cards that consist of hand paintings or drawings rich in subliminal and Spiritual symbology. Animal Wise Tarot, however, utilizes genuine photos of the vast array of creatures who reside in the animal kingdom - without any additional symbols or "hidden" meanings to explore.

A while back I read a review on Animal Wise Tarot which stated: "Don't be put off by the photos on the cards. This book and deck are uncannily insightful and accurate." This prompted me to give them a trial run. Wow! Am I delighted that I did. I used a good friend who resides in another state as a guinea pig for my first "test" reading and both of us were amazed at the in-depth psychological analysis the cards provided into her husband, as well as the underlying dynamics of their marital union. We won't be able to assess the accuracy element of the reading until more time transpires but I have a very good hunch it will exceed my expectations.

I drew the Grackle as being representative of her husband's current nature and was quite fascinated when my friend expressed to me that where she resides Grackles are abundant. In fact, her husband has taken notice of one in particular which seems to repeatedly cross his path. It is mentioned in the book that there is a relevant message for us when we run into a certain animal and the meaning of the Grackle (reversed) was definitely applicable to the emotional state my friend's husband has been enduring.

The more familiarized you become with the Animal Wise Tarot book the more intrigued you are by the concept that our beloved creatures have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to impart simply by us studying their nature and relating said to our Inner Being and Outer Actions. Suffice it to say that I would absolutely recommend Animal Wise Tarot Book and the Deck, too, to everyone. However, the cards would be particularly beneficial to more advanced Tarot Practitioners because amazing readings can be accomplished by combining traditional Tarot knowledge a wee bit with the animal interpretations.

Tarot is for the birds, you say? Yes, and the bees and reptiles too! This Tarot deck is totally devoted to the imagery and symbolism of animals. Those who work with animal totem energies will really get into this deck, not necessarily for the cards themselves, but for the way author Andrews instinctively linked appropriate animals to what he believed to be their corresponding Tarot energies. Andrews has worked extensively with animals and claims to have a long history of working with the tarot. This does seem to be reflected here in this work. He chose a particular animal for a particular card because he believed it most strongly reflected the meaning of that particular card. Some connections are very obvious, such as the Snake for death. To me, others seemed a bit more subtle, such as choosing the bees (fertility / spiritual choice) to represent the lovers. Card suits are -- four-leggeds:mammals (Pentacles), winged ones: birds (Swords), shapeshifters: insects/arachnids (Cups), and the ancients: reptiles (Wands). It is a worthy effort, Andrews has put a lot of heart and soul into this work. He creates some wonderful connections between the animal kingdom and tarot card symbology. I would have liked it better if Andrews had done a more artistic interpretation of the animals and their energies on the cards, instead of what looks to be beautiful stock photo images of them. Also, I wish more had been done to address how to use the cards in totem work. It might also prove difficult for novices to learn with these cards because there is no familiar Tarot imagery present.

I love Ted Andrew's work anyway and when I saw the Animal Wise tarot that a friend bought, I knew I had to have a copy of it. He's put a lot of research and work into this deck, and as a professional reader--I can only say he succeeded. For my own use, I tend to use it as an oracle rather than a tarot deck; i.e: I use it in specific circumstances and not for everyday readings, but it's well worth the money. If I were reading for a client, I would use this for my clients who tend to be more connected with earth-centered religions and native/aboriginal belief systems.

Not only do most of the cards really connect with the concepts they are meant to symbolize, but the pictures are clear, crisp and vivid. I was happy to see the use of actual photographs rather than illustrations--the animals are so beautiful they need no art to 'pretty them up'. I recommend this deck for anyone who takes a more shamanistic view of the world. Yasmine Galenorn-author of Embracing The Moon.

I loved it. This is THE tarot book for all of you who cannot stand doomsday news in your tarot readings. This deck and companion book is beautiful as well as useful. I, personally, have trouble with negative and difficult readings. Mr. Andrews' book and deck still gives bad news. However, with this book he shows you how to move past the difficulty. You are given direction and guidance when something bad is showing.

This book and cards are easy for my beginning friend as well as the more experienced reader because it takes you in a different direction. The representative animals are easier to relate to than the traditional deck. In short, I loved it and gave it as a gift to two of my friends already.

This is a wonderful tarot deck.I have also used Jamie Sam's "Medicine Cards" which also uses animal archetypes, yet I found Andrews deck to be different enough to rationalize owning both.I have always enjoyed Ted Andrews' work regarding magick and and was excited to see he had pulished a tarot combining both.Upon purchasing this deck, I was NOT disappointed.As usual, Andrews' work is terrific."The Way of Animals" is not just another tarot deck.The cards are fairly simple photographs of various animals, but what makes this a wonderful set is the book. Andrews' interpretations of the cards offer a new perspective on the tarot, which is an unusual thing considering all of the ho-hum -- but pretty -- tarot sets out there.This tarot is great stuff. If you love animals, or the tarot, don't miss this one!

I ended up with this deck because it chose me. I went in looking specifically for a couple other decks that had caught my eye elsewhere. My eyes kept landing on it there were more bright eye catching decks there but I couldn't see them only this one. I have learned in the past through mistakes that you can't always fight the truth the decks can reveal. I fought long battles with my first deck thinking it couldn't be right I was too new. It was. When this deck came in my life it helped me through a divorce and finacial difficulties telling the truth and giving me the hope to continue. I have since become closer to nature and more at ease with myself and the things around me. If you have a connection with nature and animals this is the deck for you. I have understood and been able to follow it's guidance in unexpected ways. Everything just clicks. It has actually guided me into different ways to get my answers to some of my simpler questions.

I was very impressed with the Animal Wise Tarot as I have many of Ted Andrews books and his deck of tarot cards is truly a different way to do Tarot. It can also help you get in touch with the animal spirits/totems that are working in your life at the time you do your readings. This is a great deck to work with. Anyone who is interested in animal and wants more than just an animal oracle this is the one to get.

This is a delightful tarot deck and book set. The author does an excellent job of combining the native american and celtic traditions surrounding each animal -- and then fills it out with actual observation of the animal depicted.

The only reason that I did not give this a full five stars is that it has no other symbolism than the picture of the animal itself and a single word or phrase for hints. This deck is great for those who are serious tarot students and love animals and the symbolism they can invoke. However, for a less serious reader or even someone who just doesn't care much about animal symbolism, I would recommend steering away.

This is a wonderful tarot deck.I have also used Jamie Sam's "Medicine Cards" which also uses animal archetypes, yet I found Andrews' deck to be different enough to rationalize owning both.I have always enjoyed Ted Andrews' work regarding magick and was excited to see he had published a tarot combining both.Upon purchasing this deck, I was NOT disappointed.As usual, Andrews' work is terrific."The Way of Animals" is not just another tarot deck.The cards are fairly simple photographs of various animals, but what makes this a wonderful set is the book. Andrews' interpretations of the cards offer a new perspective on the tarot, which is an unusual thing considering all of the ho-hum -- but pretty -- tarot sets out there.This tarot is great stuff. If you love animals, or the tarot, don't miss this one!

This deck does not feel like a regular tarot deck to me; I had to figure out with its help how to best read it. However, for someone who is very totem-oriented, this is an excellent deck for various workings. Good pictures, excellent symbolisms--if you liked Animal Speak, this will work as well :)