Tarot and Dragons: Celtic Dragon Tarot by Conway and Hunt (1 of 2)

“Celtic Dragon Tarot”

Before purchasing a Tarot deck, I usually review two cards from the deck to get a feel of it.  They are The Fool (0) of the Major Arcana and the Ten of Swords of the Minor Arcana.  For me, these two cards are filled with complex meanings that will reveal the author’s intent for their deck.  Will the author rely on the traditional Rider-Waite (R-W) meanings for the Tarot or will they add their own meanings?  How does the author approach the Fool’s Journey as well as using the Tarot in daily life?

In the Tarot, The Fool is the seeker starting out on his journey.  Heedless of the dangers before him, the Fool is confident in his abilities to overcome obstacles.  What adventures will he have and who will he meet?  To me, this card presents the possibilities of life.

The Fool (0), in “The Celtic Dragon Tarot” by D.J. Conway and Lisa Hunt, is an apprentice wizard, who has arrived at a crossroads within a magickal forest.  This Fool has already undertaken his journey, and now has to decide which path to take.  Three small dragons entice him to go one way.  Meanwhile, several animals and dragons watch in the background.  

D.J. Conway writes, “The Fool is the Dreamer, the novice who is beginning on the path of a new cycle of life.”  She continues, “This person is one who stands at a crossroads in his spiritual growth.”  According to the author, during his journey, the Fool will meet and learn from various dragons.  I interpret the authors’ intention that this deck would be used mainly for the Fool’s Journey.  

Examining this card further, several things stand out for me.  Dressed the white of the Seeker, the Fool is armed with his wizard staff and scroll.  Unlike the Fool of the R-W Tarot, this Fool is prepared and ready for what he encounters.  He does not seem to be a novice to me, but rather someone who is undergoing a new stage in his journey.

In front of him are three small dragons in the primary colors of blue, red, and yellow.  These dragons indicate both the purity of the quest and the future of making many choices.  As the Fool continues on his quest, these primary colors will mix into purple, orange, and green to reflect his continual learning.

At his feet is a forked path.  The Fool cannot go back since the way is blocked by trees and dragons.  The owl and raven (Yin and Yang, the Union of Opposites) in the background reflect his choices.  Conway writes, “If the Fool allows the critical conscious mind to regain control, he will miss the correct path and wander off into the desert of materialism.”  (This indicates to me that the authors intend for the deck to be used for a spiritual journey rather than for everyday matters.)

My feeling about The Fool (0) in this deck is different from what the authors indicate.  I see crossroads as choices to be made, except there is no correct path, only differing experiences.  The Fool has to make a choice on the direction of his journey.  The little dragons enticing him reminds me of the little dog in the traditional R-W version, who tries to get the Fool’s attention to stop him from stepping off a cliff.  The difference between the two is that the Fool of “The Celtic Dragon Tarot” is ready to be guided.  He is ready and able to continue on his journey through the forest, taking with his scrolls and staff.

ENTELODONT (“TERROR PIG”): How to Deal with Bullies

Called the “Pig from Hell”, Entelodont was more than a carnivorous Pig, He was also a top predator during the Eocene epoch (40 million years ago) and the Oligocene epoch (25 million years ago).  One of the biggest meat-eaters on the earth, Entelodont was also mean and ugly.  Besides bumpy growths all over his face, He had also sharp, piercing canine teeth.

            Also known as the “Terror Pig”, Entelodont fought with other Entelodonts over everything.  Many fossil skulls of Entelodont were found with holes in them caused by various fights with others.  Entelodont fought by jamming his rival’s head into his mouth and biting down hard.  Although Entelodont possessed bone-crushing jaws, He and his rivals did survive their combats, to fight again, at another time.

            Entelodont may have resembled a Hog on steroids, but He was more closely related to Hippos and Whales.  Besides eating meat, He scavenged and ate plants too.  Furthermore, Entelodont stored his uneaten food for later use.  Because Entelodont was an opportunistic hunter, He was clever as well as fearsome. 

            Entelodont was a prehistoric bully.  Big and mean, He terrorized whomever He could, including his fellow Entelodonts.  However other Entelodonts could stand up to Him and live to tell about it.  Their secret was to have a thick head.  Like anyone dealing with bullies, you also need to be hard-headed.  Stand up to Entelodont, and do not let Him crush you.  Use your head, and realize that although He may be terrifying, you can defeat Entelodont.

Tarot and Dragons

To understand divination more deeply, one important tool to know is the Tarot.  Although I am not particularly enamored of the Tarot, I have gained much from learning its symbolic system. Also, I enjoy the creativity displayed by many authors of Tarot decks.  Since I am a nature enthusiast, I collect oracle and Tarot decks on this topic.  In addition, I do own four of the decks that feature dragons.

Because many Tarot decks usually follow either the Rider-Waite or Thoth symbolic structures, it is easy to grasp the meanings of cards once these two set-ups are learned.  This makes it easier to understand the topics presented in various Tarot decks.  I like how these decks explore a particular subject in depth through the use of the symbolism of the Tarot.  For me, this both sparks my desire to learn more and allows me to explore in depth each topic.

For example, “Animals Divine Tarot” by Lisa Hunt has the condor represent the Eight of Swords.  For the meaning of this card, Lisa Hunt writes “inflexibility, self-imposed restrictive thinking.”  At first glance, condors would be more appropriate for the Nine of Swords (Nightmare) or the Ten of Swords (Failure), since these birds feast on the dead.  However the condors of the New World are related to storks instead of hawks.  These large birds are going extinct because they are restricted in what they eat and where they nest.  (They evolved to feast on the carcasses of large mammals in the Ice Age.)  Hence “restriction” is an appropriate association for condors.

Because I am visually oriented, I enjoy looking at and collecting Tarot decks.  I like to see how various people exhibit their creativity about particular subjects.  Because of my orientation, I can glean a lot of information from each card beyond the usual Tarot meaning.  Therefore the visual aspect of each Tarot card is important to me in divination and meditation.  The Tarot cards that I enjoy meditating on are usually colorful and modern in their artwork.

I believe that my experience with the various Dragon Tarot decks would be similar to the decks I already have.  When I read a Tarot card, I usually tap into the imagery of the card.  Because I regard the Tarot to be a road map to other worlds, I usually follow its direction in these matters.  For me, the Tarot delineates landmarks and places to go.  In addition, the Tarot helps me to safely explore these other worlds.

I think that the Dragon Tarot decks would offer a gateway to the world of dragons, and would further my understanding of dragons.  These Tarots can offer clear pathways to the world of dragons.  Since the Tarot offers the way in and the way out, I feel safe in exploring the world of dragons.  Moreover, each card can act as a gatekeeper to watch over my interaction with the dragons.  Through these Tarots, I can discover more about these magnificent creatures.

Works Used

Drury, Neville, “The Tarot Workbook”, Thunder Bay: San Diego, 2004.

Fontana, David, “The Essential Guide to the Tarot”, Watkins Publishing: London, 2011.

Hunt, Lisa, “Animals Divine Tarot”, Llewellyn: St. Paul (MN), 2005.

Perrins, Christopher, ed., “Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds”, Firefly Books: London, 2003.

Zerner, Amy and Monte Farber, “Tarot Secrets”, Zerner/Farber Editions: New York, 2009.

Bird

TITANIS WALLERI (“TERROR BIRD” OF NORTH AMERICA): Dare to Explore

First found in a cave in Florida in the 1960s, Titanis walleri became known for being the only “Terror Bird” to leave South America and head north.  Since Titanis walleri was the size of a person, She hunted Lizards, Snakes, Rodents, and small Birds in North America.  As the last of the “Terror Birds” of South America, Titanis walleri became an apex predator of Southeastern United States.

            Titanis walleri was a remarkable Bird, an able predator who hunted alongside Mammals, and thrived.  Many believe that She was one of the first Animals to take part in this Interchange between North and South America.  By living in North America from five mya to two mya, She also demonstrated the complexities of the Great American Faunal Interchange.  Titanis walleri was believed to go north before the land bridge was fully formed between the two continents.  She island-hopped and swam, activities unexpected in such a Bird. 

            Titanis walleri was an explorer, who left her familiar home and went to unknown regions.  She thrived in areas ruled by Mammals, on her own terms.  She can help us leave our familiar but unhappy situations to seek more for ourselves.  Titanis walleri can show you way out, and prod you on with her sharp massive beak.  Let Her give you the courage to dare to explore.

PHORUSRHACID FAMILY (“TERROR BIRDS”): Pay Attention

After the extinction of the Dinosaurs, for a brief period, Birds ruled the world before the rise of Mammals.  The Phorusrhacid Family (known as “Terror Birds”) ruled South America which was isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years.  Because of this, “Terror Birds” were dominant there during the late Miocene and Pliocene epoch (25 million years ago (mya) to 2 mya), while Mammals dominated other continents.  Moreover, during the Great American Faunal Interchange, one “Terror Bird” went north to the Southeastern United States to compete with the Mammals there.

The Phorusrhacid Family was called “Terror Birds” because of their heavy sharp beaks.  These giant flightless Birds would wait in ambush, and either slash or stab their prey, and then wait for the unfortunate victims to die.  Instead of grasping and shaking their prey, “Terror Birds” used their fearsome beaks as hatchets for killing.  They slashed downwards with their sharp barbed beaks on the skulls of their prey.

When the fossils of the first Phorusrhacids were found, people did not consider them to be those of Birds.  In fact when the bones of Phorusracos were first discovered, scientists thought that they were from a large Mammal.  Only when a skull of this “Terror Bird” was found, did people realize that She was a giant Bird.  Meanwhile in Patagonia, a huge skull was determined to be a new species – Kelenken, who became named for a fearsome spirit of the Tehuelche people.  As the tallest “Terror Bird”, She ran faster than the others.  The newest member of the Phorusrhacid Family, Titanis made her way north to the United States, by swimming and island-hopping from South America.

During the Pliocene epoch (about two mya), “Terror Birds” went extinct.  Some people have suggested the Great American Faunal Interchange for the reason, since many predatory Mammals went south.  However, “Terror Birds” in regions where there were no predatory Mammals went extinct also.  Perhaps climate change was the culprit, when many parts of South America became drier.  Not much is really known about the demise of these Birds.

For a brief time, Birds ruled the earth.  However what most people remember is the Age of Dinosaurs and the coming of the Mammals.  Many forget about the Birds, and regard Them merely to be a place holder between Dinosaurs and Mammals.  “Terror Birds” are largely relegated to an interesting sideshow.

“Terror Birds” urge us to pay attention, to discover things that we may have overlooked.  For example, “Terror Birds” ruled a part of the earth that we may have not known much about.  They tell us to give up our sketchy ideas and become more attentive to the details.  “Terror Birds” give us a choice: Notice things closely or risk being stabbed.

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Science Notes:

1.       “Terror Birds” are not related to “Monster Birds” (Dromornithidae) of Australia or Gastronis of the Paleocene epoch.