Animal Card Samples

	Blackbird- Blackbird sits at the gateway between the worlds. Behind Blackbird you can see the twilight world that lies just beyond our own. Blackbird reminds us of the call of that twilight world and the self discovery that awaits us if we heed that call. This card asks us to explore our deepest spiritual nature even if at times we must retreat from the world to do so.
Salmon- Salmon leaps from the water to pluck the seed of wisdom from the air. The druids considered the salmon to be the oldest and wisest animal. The Salmon struggles back to its birthplace to re-produce and then dies. This cycle reminds us to examine our own cycle, to understand our beginnings in the world, and even our world before we entered this one. Salmon also brings rejuvenation and inspiration, reminding us that out of great struggle we can emerge a whole new being.
	Seal- The Seal is love, longing and dilemma. There is a long tradition in the Celtic cultures of the story of the selchie spouse. A selchie is a creature both seal and human. Usually the story is of a selchie woman who is found by a man in her human form, he also finds her skin and hides it from her, trapping her on land. They marry and have children, but at some point she finds her skin and then must face a tragic choice, to return to her home in the sea or remain with her children on land. So the Seal symbolizes this dilemma, the longings of our hearts that can never be resolved.
Earth Dragon- The Earth Dragon symbolizes Power, Potential and Riches. This dragon guards the riches that hide inside us, our untapped potential and power. There are many stories of heroes battling dragons to attain the riches they guard. To battle the dragon, the heroe had to be worthy and ready. Similarly, untapped potential and power lies inside all of us, waiting for the time when we are ready to face fears and limitations and push through to another level of being. This card signals the time when we are ready to meet this challenge.

	Snake- The Snake symbolizes renewal and regeneration, as symbolized by the Snakes shedding of its skin. It also symbolizes transmutation. People attuned to Snake energy are able to change bad circumstances into good, to make poison into medicine. Snakes have long been associated with goddess energy and wisdom. This is the wisdom that realizes that good and bad are part of all things and that to struggle against this is foolishness.
Rabbit- In some Native American traditions rabbits symbolize fear. It is said that through its own fearful nature a rabbit calls its own death. In this tradition is the lesson that what you fear the most will meet you half-way. Fear can be a useful survival tool, but do not let it limit and inhibit you, do not base major life decisions on fear. In the Celtic tradition rabbits symbolize luck, good beginnings and fertility.
	Eagle- Eagle is the spirit. Eagles fly very high in the sky, bringing them close to the Great Spirit. They remind us of the importance of being spiritual in everyday life and to be mindful of the hand of god in all that we do. Eagle urges us to be filled with trust and great courage as we follow our path.