For those of you that have not seen the Animal Wise Tarot it is pretty unique. It does not look like most tarot decks. It is made up of 78 cards that have real photos of animals. The pictures are not "doctored" or computer-altered in any way... Are just real photos in an oval shape surrounded by lilac-colored card stock... He has renamed the suits as follows: The Ancients (wands), The Shapeshifters (cups), The Winged Ones (swords), and The Four-Leggeds (pentacles). But cards also reference themselves to the usual 4 suits.

Andrews says in the forward to the book included with his deck "Nature has a mystical wisdom that we may ignore but ultimately cannot deny. We live in a time in which we become so wrapped up in our daily lives we often lose our sense of wonder at life."

This deck is not just for the usual tarot purposes, but can be used as an educational tool to make you more aware of the animals you encounter, their relationship to Life, and to you... So don't let the simple presentation "fool" you ;-) This is a very powerful deck. Ted Andrews "knows" his animals & he has created a deck that "feels" like tarot... and then some.

0 The Fool - Coyote - "Wisdom and Folly"
Coyote looks out from this card and seems to look into your eyes as he pauses while crossing a stream. . .

Ted Andrews:

"The coyote teaches the balance of wisdom & folly and how they both must go hand in hand. The most successful people are those who learn to have fun at their work. These people maintain a simple trust in the fact that all things happen according to some plan, even if that plan is not entirely known. They trust it will all work out, simply relying upon their ability to handle whatever comes their way. If coyote has come into your territory, it is time to find a balance between work & play.

Although often seen as a pest, the coyote has expanded its range and learned to adapt to a multitude of different environments. For this reason, it serves as a reminder to remain adaptable and for the greatest success to continue to extend eddeavors in spite of opposition.

The coyote is difficult to pin down. It is an animal of paradox, but at the heart, its message is to balance wisdom & folly for true fulfillment. It reminds us that we have much more power and control over our life & the decisions within it than we realize. Be flexible, laugh, and choose what is best for you, even if it seems the most difficult thing to do.

If Coyote has shown up for you, remember that you are at a crossroads, and the decisions you make now are very important. It is time to trust in what is right for you. Maintain your childlike poise amidst the chaos around you. Keep your sense of humor. Become again as a child, following your heart's desires & trusting in your childlike perceptions.

There is always hidden wisdom about when Coyote wanders into our lives.

Questions to Ask:
Are we making things too complicated?
Do we need to simplify?
Are we outsmarting ourselves in our activities?
Have we forgotten that playtime is essential for overall health?
Are we being too inflexible?"

Valerie
ShamnAar@aol.com