Lisa Hunt started drawing as soon as she could hold a pencil in her hand. She
spent her childhood sketching out the stories that she composed in her head.
She loved fairy tales and mythology and derived many of her ideas from
universal themes contained in such stories. She has been a professional
illustrator for over a decade, with many of her publications reflecting her
interest in the feminine divine and the universal themes that are often
connected with goddess mythology.
Renowned psychoanalyst and author James Hillman said in his book Dream
Animals, "The imagination is itself a great animal."
What is it about animals that captivates us and sparks our imaginations? Just
this morning my young children were watching an episode of Nickelodeon's
"Blue's Clues" and the subject of the show was "animals."
Not only was this synchronistic for me as I pondered writing this article,
but my children sat there spellbound as animals paraded around the host and
his companion blue dog showing off their marvelous attributes. These animals
were the teachers and their anthropomorphic displays were entertaining my
children into a state of engrossed rapture.
Imagination can be unleashed if we dissolve the barriers of limited
perceptions. But how can we do this? And how can animals assist us towards a
more imaginative, creatively satisfying life? First we have to eradicate
thoughts that we are superior to animals. Too often we separate ourselves
from the animal world without identifying the important influence these
magnificent creatures can have on our lives and our creative musings. Their
mere presence can generate smiles, allow swells of emotional warmth to
surface or serve as humble reminders of the tenuous nature of all life,
including our own. Animals have a means of elevating our well being and it
has been said that their presence can actually improve one's health. My
mother-in-law brings her poodle Spencer to nursing homes as a means of
elevating the residents' spirits. And it works. People light up when they see
Spencer. His canine presence is a display of pure animated joy. He has the
ability to activate people in a profound, emotional way; enabling them to let
their guard down and enjoy the moment amidst the sterility of their clinical
surroundings. This illustrates the sacred nature of animals; they can affect
us and even change our lives just by being themselves.
Animals have the ability to heighten our emotions because they are
reflections of ourselves. Humanity has a tendency to deny its inner animal
energies, but they remain persistently within. Even as their habitats
continue to be exploited, the animals invade our consciousness with their
ubiquitous presence on TV, sports teams, band names and all manner of public
forums. We derive comfort from our connection with animals because they have
always been here with us (and if we allow them, many will continue to share
space with us because of their ability to adapt and evolve).
So we know the animal energies are there---taunting us from their internal
realm, beckoning us to acquiesce to the muses; yet we restrain ourselves from
crossing the barrier into unknown and possibly uncomfortable territory. We
may feel as though we are unable to shed preconceived notions of who we are
and who they are. How can we break through this block of separation and
become reconnected with the animal spirit? One method is to meditate upon
them and think about what makes them marvelous, what makes them mysterious
and what aspects of them reflect who we are.
Using the Animals Divine Tarot can provide a wonderful way to connect with
the archetypal patterns that reflect our deep connection with animals. In the
Animals Divine Tarot, not only can animals be our guides and teachers, but
they can also serve as muse and counselor. By getting inside the animals
represented in our psyches, we can learn how to channel animal energies in a
productive, creative manner. If you take the time to study the cards, you can
get to know these old familiars-fixtures in our personal and collective
psyches. From the grand nature of the giraffe, to the diminutive wonders of
the elegant ladybug, all animals have gifts to expose to us. However, we need
to learn how to tap into these offerings and channel them accordingly. We
need to learn how to reestablish old ties that were never completely severed.
They have been patiently waiting for us, surfacing in unconscious ways;
through dreams and other methods of subliminal communication.
By focusing on our internal beasts, we are simultaneously stimulating
imaginative thought. Studying the Animals Divine Tarot cards can provide a
window into the wonderful internal habitats of these animals that are yet to
be fully explored. Try to get inside the animal and see the world through its
eyes. How would things be different? How might you feel? What would you see?
By observing animals and seeing the world from their point of view, we can
learn to embrace animal energies on a deeper level and thus become more
intuitive human beings.
If you pick up the Ten of Cups card depicting three whales swimming in a vast
ocean of spiraling energy, you will see how the immediate recognition of the
enormous sea animals will draw you into the card. But upon further
investigation of the image, the symbols and the movement of the design can
reveal latent treasures of the imagination waiting to be fully realized. The
whale is a creature that embodies worldliness and timelessness. It is a
messenger from the universe; reminding us to go with the flow. Many of us see
the whale as an ancient, omniscient creature; an oracle from the depth of the
ocean and our collective psyches. When whales beach themselves, we fervently
try to rescue them; to bring them back to their watery realm from whence all
consciousness originated. Perhaps a beached whale is more than the death of a
magnificent animal, it exaggerates our own helplessness in the face of the
mysterious cosmic workings beyond our conscious understanding.
Viewing a card can trigger many thought processes. Not only can cards help us
to identify problems but they can initiate deeper thoughts that go beyond the
confines of self analyses. Viewing these animals can help put things in the
context of the big picture. The High Priest card portrays the elephant-headed
god Ganesha with his companion rat. In this card, the rat is a positive
symbol. On an immediate level, you may wonder how a rat could possibly bring
good when they have such a fixed reputation of destruction and disease. But
when you really think about it, their ability to evade detection, to get
through small crevices, to live in pockets of the city and thrive despite
such worldwide revulsion of their presence attests to the power, creativity
and cunning of the rat. Maybe its keen ability to adapt can teach us how to
see areas of our own life in new ways and to thrive in the most challenging
of circumstances. Smaller, less conspicuous animals deserve no less attention
and respect than the more behemoth members of the animal chain.
If you take the time to look and think about animals, you will start
identifying many of the same traits that you yourself possess. Similes like
sly like a fox, quick as a rabbit, slow as a snail, proud as a lion and so on
are indications that we do in fact relate to our animal brothers and sisters.
They are more similar than some of us are willing to admit. But it is
important to take it to the next level; beyond the superficial and to the
sacred realm of imaginative thought.
Animals appear in all manner of creative expression. Our world cultures are
overflowing with images and stories about animals. They serve as characters
in fairy and folktales and have entertained humanity with timeless messages
and thought provoking parables. In the Animals Divine Tarot, I have included
mythological associations to help expand the universal and timeless nature of
animals. Not only have animals graced our oral tellings and literary
expositions, but animal traits as metaphors have become an intrinsic part of
our cultural literacy and play influential roles in ways we may not
consciously recognize. The phrase "spreading your wings" invites
all manner of positive imagery that nearly everyone understands. Not only is
it a beautiful description that reflects some of our deepest desires, but it
connotes a right of passage, the crossing over into the realm of the
unexplored with renewed beauty and grace. Psychologically speaking, this can
be a transcendent process. We cannot truly spread our wings until we have
embraced all the variables of our being. Connecting with animals and becoming
one with their essence can create a psychological and emotional environment
that is conducive to the actuating of self and eventual achievement of
wholeness. The road to self-understanding can unleash creativity and allow
you to become more self-empowered in the process.
The Animals Divine Tarot was created out of my deep reverence for the animals
of this earth. They have always driven my muse and have been an integral part
of my artistic calling. Animals serve as messengers in my paintings and
writings. They have guided my paintbrush and directed my prose. Their
presence challenges me to push myself and discover as yet uncharted creative
terrain. We can learn to sharpen our senses and follow our intuitive hearts
by following the same guttural instincts that enable animals to survive and
thrive in a changing world. Like them, we too can thrive despite lingering
fears that may prevent us from "spreading our wings." Once we learn
to trust our internal animal voices and identify them as an integral part of
who we are, we can learn to embrace all facets of our being; utilizing them
in new and inspiring ways.
Biography
Lisa Hunt holds a M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on
Jungian Psychology/Art & Drawing. Over the years she has illustrated numerous
products including collectible gaming cards, book covers, interior book
illustrations, magazines, calendars and a co-authored children's book. She is
also the author/illustrator of Celestial Goddesses (Llewellyn 2001). Lisa
illustrated both the Shapeshifter Tarot and The Celtic Dragon Tarot
(Llewellyn 1998, 1999). Her new tarot deck, the Animals Divine Tarot, focuses
on Lisa's love for animals and how they play an important role in our lives.
Lisa lives with her husband, Kort Kramer, and their family in Florida. You
can learn more about Lisa and her work by visiting her websites,
www.lisahuntart.com and www.animalsdivinetarot.com
RECOMMENDED TITLES BY THIS AUTHOR AND OTHER RELATED TITLES:
ANIMALS DIVINE TAROT SET:
Access the wisdom of the animal kingdom and mythology, for divination, meditation, or dream work.
ANIMAL MAGICK:
Provides practical meditations, rituals, and power chants to access the spiritual powers of familiars-real or imagined animals-for personal enrichment.
ANIMAL SPEAK:
One of the most complete references to the animal powers with in-depth information on lore and shamanic powers. Perhaps the best all around animal power book in print.
ANIMAL SPIRIT:
Animal spirit guides and how to recognize them, animals in history and folklore, and more about our fine feathered, furred and fishy friends.
ANIMAL-WISE:
Find your animal guardians and messengers and awaken the inner totem pole. Through this book, you truly will become animal-wise.
DRUID ANIMAL ORACLE:
Like the Native Americans, the ancient Celts saw the animal world as a source of great power and influence. The book's beautifully illustrated cards, fascinating background information and easy-to-follow instructions make it a simple and highly effective system for self-development and self-awareness.
These title and others can be found at Isis Books & Gifts! With over
500 Wicca and Witchcraft book titles in stock, your sure to find one right
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