Animal Totem Tarot
Hello, soul friends!
Today's review is covering a deck that caught my attention when I saw it in a Swap group. I found a few pictures online that endeared me to the artwork and animal-centric deck. I have a special place in my heart for animals (veterinary medicine background) and wanted to have a "fun" tarot deck that I connected with.
I hope you enjoy my review of this interesting deck!
Animal Totem Tarot
I purchased this deck from Amazon on a whim, based on a few images that I saw in one of the Swap groups I am in on Facebook. Shhhh, don't tell my hubs. He will just keep being annoyed as I bug him to get me this or that deck. I loved the whimsical animal images right off the bat - especially the image on the box! I am usually captivated by the images of a deck first, so again - the artwork caught my attention. The animals are whimsical, well-executed, and you can almost see their personalities in the cards they grace.
Amazon's description is:
Journey into the realm of the animals and discover the messages that await in spirit.
Animal totems are powerful allies and guides for those who seek connection to their abundant energy. Soaring above or swimming below, crawling along the earth or silently stalking in the shadows - all the animals have their own spiritual lessons and insights to help you along your way. In all their grace and wild beauty, animals possess wisdom beyond words. Let them speak to the deepest part of you.
About the author
Leeza Robertson deepened her tarot practice many years ago after a temporary blindness induced intuitive visions of cards and spreads in her mind's eye. She is a member of the American Tarot Association and runs a monthly group called Tarot and High Tea in her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. Leeza blogs about tarot for WitchesandPagans.com.
About the artist
Eugene Smith lives and works in Chicago. He has a lovely wife, two daughters plus two not so terrible cats. He has been drawing all manner of strange things longer than he can remember.
My Personal Review
This 78-card deck is meant to be used as any other Tarot deck - it is just themed with animal stories and animal behavior that would represent each of the Tarot card energies.
I was struck by the really fun and detailed artwork. The artist did a fantastic job of representing the animal's personalities and also tying in the energies from traditional Tarot cards.
The images are beautifully illustrated and vibrant. It's colorful. It's detailed. There are so many symbols to read and pay attention to. The book that accompanies the deck is interesting and stands on it's own as another resource in interpreting the cards. Any Tarot reader or enthusiast would love this deck, as it is very easy to use. Any Animal Communicator would love this deck as well.
The lack of borders is great, as it leaves more room for the image and gives a clearer view of each card. The card stock is thick and sturdy; smaller hands like mine may have a more difficult time shuffling, but the cards will withstand long term use, and constant shuffling.
All in all, I found the unique illustrations to be the main reason I would pull this deck out vs other Tarot decks in my current collection. The cards came in a huge box to also make space for the thick and gorgeous guidebook.
The size of the cards is like a traditional tarot card and the overall product dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 2.4 inches (due to the large book) and Llewellyn Publications is who publishes the deck.
The card stock is thick, eggshell matte, and allows you get a nice bend without cracking or flaking of the card stock. They don't bend too much, or hold the bend, which I appreciate in a Tarot deck.This card stock photographs beautifully in natural light.
The backs are reversible, and as detailed as the fronts of the cards. A lot of thought went into this being a beautiful and artistic interpretation of animal totem cards. With the RWS running through it's veins, anyone who is familiar could pick this right up and enjoy the artwork and subtle clues as to the characters of each card.
The guidebook is full of amazing interpretations and stories on the animals that grace the cards. I found it to be informative as a Tarot deck, and also as an animal totem deck. I could understand the behavior better and see why those cards were chosen for each animal.
There was so much more depth than I would have expected from an animal tarot deck. I HIGHLY recommend it, as it is a well executed deck that ties in so many amazing energies and can be used as a wonderful tool, not just for clarity, but also for connection.
My overall opinion is that this deck is a 4.5 star choice.
Artwork - 5 stars
Card stock - 4 stars
Ease - 3 stars
Guidebook - 4.5 stars
I hope that you enjoyed my deck review, and also enjoy other deck reviews that I add to this site. I have a passion for exploring new decks and also finding various ways of connecting to my intuition. I appreciate you checking out my site and taking the time to read my review.
Happy Reading!
