Deck Interpretations by Ann Williams-Fitzgerald; Card Design by Tracy Hinschen

© 2000 AGM AGMuller

When I saw this deck, I immediately thought of the Animal Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews.  Both decks portray a variety of animals, mammals, bugs, and reptiles to symbolize the 78 Tarot images.  The animals and other creatures in the Australian deck are ones common to Australia.
Ann Williams-Fitzgerald believes there is much we can learn by opening ourselves to the gifts and special wisdom offered by the variety of animals presented in this deck.

As with Ted Andrew's Animal Wise deck, this Australian Animal Tarot deck could perhaps be considered a "misnomer" (at least to me) when it comes to using the word "animals."  A variety of creatures are included in this deck, from the furry four-leggeds, to reptiles, rodents, sea mammals, and bugs.  For those who love all kinds of animals, this will be an enchanting and workable deck.  The images on the cards are drawn in color, while the Animal Wise deck is illustrated with photographs.  The art and presentation differ from the Animal Wise deck, but the common theme is animals -- and other creatures, too :-)

This would be an excellent deck for children.  They are sure to be fascinated with the many animals among the cards.  And while the comparison deck of Andrew's Animal Wise might leave children asking where the kitties and puppies are (because there are none), the Australian Animal deck does include these much-loved animals.

The card backs show a night sky with shooting stars.  The design is not reversible, which means for those of us who read with reversals, we will know before the card is turned over that it's a reversed card.  I can personally live with it, but some readers greatly dislike this -- it's a matter of personal preference.

The Major Arcana of the Australian Animal Tarot are presented with a mauve colored border, while the Minor Arcana have a purple border.  In the center of each card is a picture of the animal and its name.  At the top of each card is the traditional Tarot title -- and all of the cards do have traditional names listed.  At the bottom, the number of the card is shown, as well as the corresponding gemstone.  Four keyword meanings are given on each card -- two per side.  I think the keywords would be helpful to some with less experience in card meanings.  The quibble of having card meanings printed right on the cards themselves is that not everyone agrees with a certain meaning or interpretation.  So some readers find it distracting or even annoying.  However, I think for the most part, the meanings offered are fairly traditional.

With that said, I will add that there is a noticeable deviation in the structure of the suit correspondences when compared to traditional Tarot.  In the Australian Animal deck, the following correspondences are used:
 

Earth = Wands:  "Represents the essence of Enterprise, Inspiration, Distinction."
(The number of each card is shown in a green square at the bottom of each card.)

Fire = Swords:  "Represents the essence of Strength, Struggle, Animosity."
(The number of each card is shown in a red triangle at the bottom of each card.)

Air = Pentacles:  "Represents the essence of Finances; Money, Business Interests."
(The number of each card is shown in a yellow circle at the bottom of each card.)

Water = Cups:  "Represents the essence of Emotions, Happiness, Abundance."
(The number of each card is shown in a blue heart at the bottom of each card.)
 

It is somewhat confusing initially, and as this is a new deck for me, I haven't yet had the opportunity to try it out in an actual reading.  I do think that with the keywords listed on the sides of the cards, one can quickly pick up on the system used with this deck.  I have a knack for being able to go from one deck to another and read the cards, but I know some people don't and have no desire to do so.  Again, it's all a matter of personal preference -- what works for one might not work for someone else, and vice versa.

I think the cards are designed to speak for themselves.  As I understand, there is/was a companion book for this deck, entitled "Wisdom of the Australian Animals" -- but it seems to be Out-of-Print at this time.  Upon looking at the LWB (Little White Book) that accompanies the cards, I am left wishing to know more about each of the animals and why they were chosen for particular cards.  Some are obvious, but others are not as clear.  For example, cats are often associated with the High Priestess, so I can relate to that card which shows us cats.

I cannot say much about the gemstones listed on the cards or why Williams-Fitzgerald chose the ones she did.  Her Little White Book does not explain it, but only lists which gem is on each card.  However, information on stones in general is readily available on the internet.  I do intend to research that for my own purposes.  It's certainly not essential in order to use the cards, but probably worth exploring.

Overall, I think the cards are well done and attractive.  It's a nice deck, and aside from the suit card deviation, my only real regret about this deck is that it deserves a book to accompany it -- one that would talk about each of the animals and gemstones in greater detail.  I think it would add a lot of meaning to the cards and their use -- but perhaps this book will become available again in the future.

Number of Cards in Deck: 78 cards (22 Major/56 Minor)

Size of Cards:  2-7/8" x 4-1/4"
Deck shuffles a bit stiffly, but should "break in" through use.

Included with deck: LWB (Little White Book) which includes 5 different spreads.

Major Arcana:
The Major Arcana have been assigned the following animals and gemstones:
Fool - Tasmanina Tiger - Alexandrite
Magician - Australian Raven - Larimar
High Priestess - Cat - Lodelite
Empress - Dugong (Sea Cow) - Celestite
Emperor - Kangaroo - Diamond
Hierophant - Wombat (Hairy-nosed) - Hematite
Lovers - Sugar Glider - Prehnite
Chariot - Koala - Tiger Iron
Strength - Lizard/Gecko - Lapis Lazuli
Hermit - Echidna - Aventurine
Wheel of Fortune - Beetle - Bloodstone
Justice - Cockatoo - Emerald
Hanged Man - Moth/Catepillar - Rhodonite
Death - Spider - Turquoise
Temperance - Kookaburra - Topaz
Devil - Goanna - Onyx
Tower - Bat - Rutilated Quartz
Star - Emu - Garnet
Moon - Platypus - Angelite
Sun - Peacock - Peacock Ore
Judgement - Cassowary - Moldavite
World - Peace Dove - Sunstone

Suit of Earth:

Ace - Bandicoot - Pearl 2 - Dunnart (Fat Tailed) - Amber 3 - Numbat - Amazonite 4 - Potoroo - Aurora 5 - Camel - Unakite 6 - Bilby - Variscite 7 - Chicken (Woodhen) - Apatite

8 - Praying Mantas - Staurolite 9 - Green Tree Python - Chrysophase 10 - Dragonfly - Apophylite Page - Green Ant - Chrysocolla Knight - Australian Cattle Dog - Sapphire Queen - Braham Cow - Thunder Egg King - Brumby - Jasper

Suit of Water:

Ace - Dolphin - Rose Quarts 2 - Australian Fur Seal - Amethyst 3 - Jellyfish - Boji Stones 4 - Shark (Great White ) - Gypsum 5 - Blue Ring Octopus - Lepidolite 6 - Mud Crab - Sugilite 7 - Star Fish - Kyanite

8 - Giant Green Tree Frog - Jade 9 - Humpback Whale Albino - Aquamarine 10 - Manta Ray - Moonstone Page - King Penguin - Chalcedony Knight - Swan - Diopside (black star) Queen - Loggerhead Turtle - Smoky Quartz King - Sea Dragon - Gold Coral

Suit of Air:

Ace - Butterfly - Malachite 2 - Pelican (Austraian) - Petrified Wood 3 - Golend Bowerbird - Opal 4 - Willie Wagtail - Marcasite 5 - Parrot - Zircon 6 - Brolga - Aqua Aura 7 - Crow - Dioptase

8 - Hawk/Falcon - Ruby Red Aura 9 - Wedgetail Eagle - Gold 10 - Tasmanian Masked Owl - Azurite Page - Superb Lyrebird - Pyrite Knight - Brush Turkey - Fluorite Queen - Australian Magpie - Obsidan King - Seagul (Pacific) - Labradorite

Suit of Fire:

Ace - Tasmanian Devil - Red Tiger Eye 2 - Aussie Bush Fly - Cuprite 3 - Possum - Tourmaline 4 - Dingo - Sodalite 5 - Bee - Citrine 6 - Fox/Flying Fox - Copper 7 - Bush Thick-Knee Curlew - Silver

8 - Rabbit/Hare - Howlite 9 - Quoll (Native Tiger Cat) - Kunzite 10 - Orca Killer Whale - Ivory Page - Mosquito - Tin Knight - Saltwater Crocodile - Crocoite Queen - Wasp - Rhodocrosite King - Scorpion - Mica

Court Cards:  King, Queen, Knight, Page

Back Design of Cards: 
 

AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL TAROT This Tarot Deck is Available from Amazon.com -- availability may be limited.

You can easily locate other types of decks from here:

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