Animal Oracles: Choosing a Card Deck, With Respect

A very old theme, a recent genre

The animal is one of the oldest supports for symbols: Aesop's fables, medieval bestiaries, the animals of the Chinese zodiac or of ancient Egypt. The Physiologus, a Christian text of the first centuries, already linked each animal to a moral lesson; medieval bestiaries took it up. An animal oracle carries this habit forward in a modern way: each card shows an animal (wolf, owl, stag, butterfly, cat...) with a title and a message, for example on patience, boldness or discretion.

These decks developed mainly from the last decades of the 20th century, partly under the influence of neo-shamanism, a modern current of very varied inspiration. There is no single, ancient tradition of the “animal oracle”: each deck is the creation of its author. For animal symbols in dreams, see for example dream of a wolf or dream of a cat; each presents several traditions.

The main types of animal oracles

Respect for Indigenous cultures: the point to watch

The word totem comes from Ojibwe (odoodem) and refers, in certain Algonquian nations, to a clan emblem, that is, an element of a precise social and family system. The popular idea of a personal “totem animal”, which one would discover through a card deck, is a modern creation that does not correspond to these systems. Several readers and members of Indigenous nations criticise decks that present mixed content as “Native American” without naming the peoples concerned. Among the decks often cited in this debate are the Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson, published in the late 1980s.

What you can do in practice:

• Read the booklet: does it name the peoples and sources precisely, or does it speak of a vague “Native American wisdom”?
• Avoid decks that present sacred practices (ceremonies, objects) as a hobby, without context.
• Prefer decks that state clearly that they are artists' creations or modern syntheses.
• If an animal moves you, read the works of ethnologists or Indigenous authors rather than generalities.

There is nothing wrong in buying such a deck; the point is to be informed and respectful. For a related subject, see the cultural respect owed around the dreamcatcher.

How to choose

1. Which animal attracts you? A deck focused on birds, forests or sea creatures will speak to you more than a general overview.
2. Which image style? Photography, watercolour, engraving, drawing: choose what you like to look at.
3. The tone. Avoid a booklet that says “you must” or promises results. Look for open questions.
4. The sources. Does the booklet cite fables, myths, zoology? A card may say that the owl is a nocturnal bird: that is a fact. Saying that it brings wisdom is symbolism. Distinguish between the two.
5. Ethics. Avoid decks that show products of animal origin (feathers, bones) as divination accessories without mentioning the regulations: possessing and selling the feathers of certain protected species is regulated.
6. The language. See cards in French or English.

A gentle way to use it

An animal oracle lends itself well to the card of the day (see one card drawn per day): draw a card, observe the animal, note three words it brings to mind, then read the message. You can also ask yourself which behaviour of the animal inspires you: the slowness of the tortoise, the vigilance of the cat, the flock flying in formation.

An oracle remains an aid to imagination and reflection. It gives no information about an animal's health or behaviour: if in doubt, consult a vet. Nor does it replace observing real nature: an attentive walk often tells you much more. To compare with other families of decks, see tarot or oracle. The oracles and cards shelf presents our oracle decks, whose texts are often in English.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Choosing your tarot or oracle deck.