Tarot of the Divine: Yoshi Yoshitani

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Finally, it’s crucial to appreciate the global tapestry of mythology reflected in the tarot. From Egyptian to Greco-Roman, Eastern, and Celtic influences, the tarot embraces a diversity of spiritual traditions, each contributing to its rich and universal wisdom. By honoring and respecting these different traditions, we embrace a more inclusive and holistic approach to divination. Major Arcana: Traditional titles, with the exception of: High Priest (Hierophant), The Wheel (Wheel of Fortune), Hanged Woman (Hanged Man), Challenge (The Devil). I especially love Lisa's choices for the court cards; White Buffalo Calf Woman, Poseidon, NaNa Buluku, Ahau Kin and Quetzalcoatl to name a few. These mythic figures capture an archetypal energy that offers another layer of interpretation and meaning; perhaps a more pure one.

The Minors are made up of the traditional suits of Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles, and these are linked to the most common elemental attributes, for the most part. So, Cups feature water-based animals (though the Three is a swimming polar bear). Swords are air-based, mainly birds apart from the Five, which shows bats. Pentacles show a variety of earth-based mammals, while Wands are the most eclectic, featuring six insects, an amphibian and three reptiles. I found myself smiling and nodding in recognition of some of the visual interpretations, whilst others were a bit more difficult to grasp at first. Further pondering upon those more difficult to grasp has proven to be very rewarding. The animals are wonderful teachers. I am delighted by the new understandings that Lisa Hunts fresh use of symbols has facilitated. So, what of the structure of the Animals Divine Tarot? The Major Arcana generally follow traditional RWS numbers and names, though X (The Wheel of Fortune) is simplified to just The Wheel, XII (The Hanged Man) becomes the Hanged Woman, and XV (The Devil) becomes Challenge. Each Major is also attributed to a deity from around the world, and there is generally a strong link to traditional RWS meanings for the cards. The Queen of Swords is represented by the Greek Goddess Athena. We see a full moon behind her, with an owl, representing wisdom, perched on a limb over her right shoulder. The tree roots are there to ground us, and the very visible snake that appears to be coming down from her left arm speaks of transformation - of leaving behind what no longer serves us to make room for the new.Another choice I find particularly meaningful for humanity today is her use of Sedna for the Death key. Other favorite majors include Tara as Strength, Thunderbirds as The Tower, and Xochiquetzal as Temperance. Favorite minor arcana animals include Tiger as the Three of Pentacles, Firefly as the Ace of Wands, Whale as the Ten of Cups, Crow as the Nine of Swords and Alligator as the Five of Cups. Altogether the animals, myths, and legends weave a magical tapestry of wisdom that speaks to the Soul. The path to enlightenment is unique for each of us, but many of the lessons we learn are shared stories passed among cultures and generations. With rich, vibrant art and a keen understanding of traditional tarot archetypes, illustrator Yoshi Yoshitani infuses Tarot of the Divine with worldly insight and an intriguing selection of fables and folktales from cultures across the globe. Unraveling the history of tarot cards is akin to embarking on a journey across time and cultures, traversing continents and delving into the human fascination with divination and the divine. Tarot cards, as we know them today, have their roots in the mid-15th century Europe, primarily used for playing card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot. However, the use of these cards for divination only started in the late 18th century, aligning with the rise of interest in occultism. A world veiled in darkness after a cataclysmic collision that stilled the earth. Millennia have passed and only humankind has survived—through the divine gift of dreams.

The cards are rather stunning. I liked Death (Sedna), the Knight of Cups (Venus), the Ten of Cups (Whale), Ace of Wands (Firefly), and Ten of Pentacles (Rabbit) the most. Also noteworthy were the Moon card, which shows Odin and a wolf in a desolate landscape lit by an enormous full moon, and the Eight of Cups, which is (of course) an octopus with a cup in each tentacle. The only slightly jarring card for me personally was Gaia on the World card, who, with her heavy-lidded eyes, looked like she’d had a really long, hard night. It is my goal to help inspire you to look at animals in a different light by gazing upon the art in Animals Divine and seeing the variety of ways animals can be portrayed, rendered and celebrated. And in doing so, perhaps this will enable you to see yourself in new and refreshing ways. Animals have something to tell us and the more we open ourselves up to their divine essence, the more we can learn to live more fully and passionately in the moment." – Lisa Hunt The Nine of Pentacles is represented by the Bear. Pictured is a large bear, walking towards us on all four feet. He is walking through a tunnel of spiraling energy representing the four elements - Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The Bear is a symbol of protection, according to Hunt, but it also has a strong shamanistic and healing connection in Native American mythology. The suits of the minor arcana have standard elemental attributions and are: Swords/Air, represented by avian creatures; Wands/Fire represented by reptiles, lizards and insects; Pentacles/Earth, featuring mammals; and Cups/Water illustrated by aquatic animals (both cold and warm blooded). The numbered cards tend more to realism than the dream-like majors or courts, but are lovely nonetheless.

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Even accepting a female imbalance, there are some choices which seem distinctly peculiar. For example, the Animals Divine Moon isn't a female deity!! Instead we see Odin, accompanied by a wolf. The explanation? He followed his intuition and drove warriors berserk. The fact that the text tells the story of Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, the world tree, begs the question: why not have Odin as the Hanged Man, and have a female deity for the Moon? There are plenty of goddesses that would fit the bill!