Animal Totem Tarot

Animal Totem Tarot - animals instead of people in the Rider-Waite tradition

Where you would see human figures in a classic tarot deck, here you see animals. The structure remains Rider-Waite, but the roles are distributed differently: a wolf, a bear, an eagle. Each animal carries its own meaning that comes from its behaviour in nature.

The deck consists of 78 cards, divided into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Leeza Robertson wrote the texts, Eugene Smith created the illustrations. It is published by Llewellyn Publications and comes with a 347-page guidebook.

What you see on the cards

The images are realistic. Not stylised drawings, but animals in their natural habitat: a bear in a forest, a hawk above a mountain ridge, a salmon in flowing water. The colours are bright and the details are sharp.

The cards are printed borderless. That means the illustrations run all the way to the edge of the cardstock. It gives the images more space and makes the cards calmer to look at.

The finish is matte. The cards are sturdy and shuffle smoothly. The format is 70 x 120 mm, which corresponds to a standard tarot deck.

How the symbolism works

Each animal carries qualities you can link to the meaning of the card. A bear stands for strength and protection, a fox for cunning and adaptation. That connection is not free association: Robertson bases herself on the classic Rider-Waite meanings and finds an animal that fits.

That makes the deck accessible for those already working with tarot. You recognise the structure, but the images give a different angle. Instead of human emotions you look at instinct, survival and natural cycles.

Draw a card each morning and look at the animal's behaviour. What is it doing, where is it standing, how does it move? That often gives more direction than just the card's name.

The 347-page guidebook

The book that comes with the deck is extensive. Each card gets several pages of explanation: the symbolism of the animal, the traditional tarot meaning, and how the two come together. Robertson writes clearly and without fuss.

There are also spreads included, ranging from one card per day to extensive layouts of ten cards. The guidebook is printed in colour, so you can see the cards alongside the text.

About Leeza Robertson and Eugene Smith

Leeza Robertson writes about tarot and magic. She has several decks and books to her name and is known for her practical approach. No vague language, just usable instructions.

Eugene Smith works as an illustrator and has specialised in lifelike animal drawings. His style is detailed and realistic, with attention to light, texture and environment.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
• Card size: 70 x 120 mm
• Finish: Matte, borderless
• Guidebook: 347 pages, full colour
• Language: English
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Author: Leeza Robertson
• Illustrator: Eugene Smith

Questions we often get

Do I need to know animal symbolism already to use this deck?
No. The guidebook explains for each card which animal you see, what it means in nature, and how that relates to the tarot meaning. You learn as you go.

Can I use this deck if I am used to a classic Rider-Waite deck?
Yes. The structure and symbolism correspond. The only difference is that you look at animals instead of human figures. That changes the atmosphere, but not the foundation.