The Animal Elders Oracle

The Animal Elders Oracle - indigenous imagery and animal medicine

There are oracle cards with animals, and there are cards in which animals are carriers of a specific spiritual tradition. The Animal Elders Oracle falls into that second category. The 44 cards are created by Asha Frost, a medicine woman from the Ojibwe community, and follow the principles of that tradition.

The illustrations are executed in the Ojibway art style. This is not a decorative choice. The imagery tells something about how animals are viewed within this tradition: as elders, teachers, carriers of specific powers. Each animal represents a particular type of medicine, a term that in this context refers to healing energy or wisdom.

What you see on the cards

The drawing style is recognizably Ojibway: clean lines, clear color fields, a graphic approach that feels both contemporary and traditional. Each animal is depicted with attention to the symbolic meaning it carries within this culture.

The 128-page guidebook goes beyond card meanings alone. Asha Frost describes the message of each animal, but also places this in the context of ceremonial use, intention and connection with ancestors. The text is personal and written from her own practice as a medicine woman.

What this deck asks of you

This is not a deck you casually take out of the box and start using. Frost indicates in the guidebook how she herself purifies the deck before use, for example with cedar or sage smoke, and how she sets intention. These are not instructions you must follow, but they do indicate the context in which this deck was created.

If you are interested in indigenous spirituality or shamanic practices, this deck offers access to the Ojibwe vision of animals as guides. If you are mainly looking for a light, intuitive animal deck, this may be too ceremonial.

Draw a card and read the accompanying text completely. Frost describes not only what an animal brings, but also how you can recognize that energy in your own life.

About Asha Frost

Asha Frost is a medicine woman within the Ojibwe tradition and gives ceremonies, talks and workshops. Her work focuses on restoring connection with ancestral knowledge and making indigenous spiritual practices accessible to a broader audience. This deck is her way of passing on the wisdom of the animal elders.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 44
• Guidebook: 128 pages
• Language: English
• Publisher: Hay House Inc
• Dimensions: 98.6 x 33.3 x 136.7 mm
• Weight: 371 g
• ISBN: 9781401978181
• Creator: Asha Frost
• Art style: Ojibway

Questions we often get

Is this a deck for beginners?
That depends. If you are familiar with oracle cards but new to indigenous spirituality, the guidebook provides enough context. If you have no affinity with ceremonial use or ancestral traditions, the tone of the deck may feel too specific.

Can I use this deck without knowledge of the Ojibwe tradition?
Yes. Frost writes in a way that is accessible to people outside her community. She explains what the symbols and animals mean within her tradition, without assuming you already have that background.