The Spiritsong Tarot represents a unique synthesis of traditional tarot structure with animal spirit guidance, offering a divination tool that emphasizes gentle wisdom and intuitive connection. Created by visionary artist Paulina Fae, this 78-card deck merges shamanic symbolism with classic tarot practices, positioning itself as an accessible resource for spiritual seekers exploring personal growth and energetic harmony. The deck has gained recognition within the divination community, receiving the ATA Reader’s Choice Award for Best Tarot Deck of 2017 (second place), and serves as both a tarot system and an oracle-style guide for those seeking clarity in various life domains.
Deck Composition and Symbolic Framework
The Spiritsong Tarot maintains the traditional tarot structure while reimagining its imagery through an entirely animal-based lens. The deck comprises 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards, divided into four suits that correspond to classical elemental associations. Rather than conventional suit names, the deck employs nature-themed identifiers: Acorns represent Wands and the Fire element, Feathers represent Swords and Air, Shells correspond to Cups and Water, and Crystals align with Pentacles and Earth. This symbolic mapping allows practitioners familiar with traditional tarot to navigate the deck while offering fresh energetic associations through animal symbolism.
Each of the 78 animals featured in the deck was specifically selected based on shamanic symbolism and their perceived ability to serve as spiritual mentors. The artwork consists of hand-drawn, detailed watercolor portraits with a soft, muted color palette that remains vibrant and alive. These visual elements are designed not merely for aesthetic appreciation but to facilitate connection with the healing energy of shamanic medicine and to support meditation practices. The deck’s creator, Paulina Fae, functions as both author and illustrator, ensuring a cohesive artistic and thematic vision throughout the 108-page guidebook that accompanies the deck.
Card Meanings and Interpretive Approach
The interpretive framework of the Spiritsong Tarot emphasizes forward movement and empowerment rather than dwelling on negative situations. The deck’s philosophy suggests that while difficult circumstances are acknowledged, the imagery focuses on highlighting potential pathways forward and encouraging proactive engagement with life’s challenges. This approach aligns with a reading style that prioritizes constructive guidance over dramatic depictions of hardship.
Major Arcana Themes
The Major Arcana follows traditional numbering and titles, with each card represented by an animal whose characteristics embody the card’s core meaning. For example, cards such as The Fool, The Magician, and The High Priestess feature animal guides whose natural behaviors and spiritual symbolism reflect the archetypal energies of these positions. The animals serve as mediators between earthly experience and spiritual insight, offering their unique wisdom to illuminate the lessons of each Major Arcana card.
Minor Arcana Suit Structure
Each suit within the Minor Arcana demonstrates specific thematic patterns:
Acorns (Wands/Fire): These cards represent movement, beginnings, and the Ace through Ten sequences suggest energetic initiatives and creative potential.
Feathers (Swords/Air): The Ace of Feathers through Ten of Feathers addresses mental clarity, communication, and challenges. The 10 of Feathers specifically corresponds to the traditional 10 of Swords, though the Spiritsong interpretation reframes it from the classic image of betrayal or victimhood toward a perspective of transition and resolution.
Shells (Cups/Water): These cards explore emotional landscapes, relationships, and intuitive development, with the Ace through Ten representing the full spectrum of emotional experience.
Crystals (Coins/Earth): The suit of Crystals addresses material matters, stability, and tangible outcomes, following the traditional progression of the Pentacles suit.
The Guidebook and Reading Methodology
The 108-page guidebook provides comprehensive support for both novice and experienced readers. Each card entry includes the card name, the specific animal represented, and the keywords printed on the card itself. The guidebook then expands to include a message section, upright keywords, reversed message, and reversed keywords. This structure offers a dual-layered approach: the keywords provide quick reference points, while the messages offer deeper narrative context for the animal’s relationship to the traditional tarot meaning.
Upright and Reversed Interpretations
A distinctive feature of the Spiritsong Tarot is its interpretive polarity. Upright keywords are consistently positive, while reversed keywords are consistently negative. This clear dichotomy simplifies decision-making and interpretation, particularly for beginners. The guidebook addresses this by providing separate messages for each orientation, allowing readers to understand both the supportive and challenging aspects of each card’s energy.
The guidebook also acknowledges the practice of choosing whether to read reversed cards or keep all cards upright. For those who prefer not to use reversals, the deck remains fully functional through upright interpretation alone. The creator suggests that reading with reversals can incorporate the concept of free will, acknowledging that individuals have agency in how they navigate the energies present in their readings.
Reading Spreads and Practice
The guidebook includes six specific spreads divided into two categories:
Tarot Spreads: - The Spiritsong Single-card Reading - The Spiritsong Star Spread (6 cards) - The Spiritsong Healing Spread (6 cards) - The Spiritsong Tree of Life Spread (10 cards)
Oracle Spreads: - One card oracle reading - Spiritsong Three-card oracle reading
These spreads range from simple single-card pulls for daily guidance to more complex multi-card arrangements for in-depth exploration of life situations. The Star, Healing, and Tree of Life spreads have been noted as particularly valuable by users for their ability to provide comprehensive insight into complex scenarios.
Energetic Qualities and User Experience
Practitioners describe the Spiritsong Tarot as possessing a warm, inviting, and fun-loving energy. The deck is characterized as approachable and easy to read intuitively, even for those without extensive knowledge of animal symbolism. The card dimensions (approximately 3×5 inches) and standard playing card thickness contribute to ease of handling and shuffling, making the deck practical for regular use.
The deck’s energy is described as gentle rather than overwhelming, positioning it as a supportive tool for ongoing spiritual practice rather than a dramatic oracle for crisis intervention. This quality makes it particularly suitable for individuals seeking consistent, compassionate guidance rather than intense or alarming revelations.
Animal Spirit Integration
The integration of animal spirits as the primary symbolic language represents a bridge between traditional tarot and shamanic wisdom traditions. Each animal was chosen not randomly but based on established shamanic symbolism and the animal’s perceived spiritual attributes. This approach allows practitioners to engage with both tarot archetypes and animal medicine simultaneously, potentially deepening the interpretive richness of readings.
For readers already familiar with animal symbolism and spirit animals, the deck offers immediate resonance and layered meaning. For those new to animal medicine, the guidebook provides sufficient foundation to begin developing this kinship, with the invitation to research and deepen understanding over time.
Practical Applications for Holistic Living
While the Spiritsong Tarot is primarily a divination tool, its design and philosophy support various aspects of holistic living and personal development:
Intuitive Development: The deck’s emphasis on animal symbolism and intuitive reading encourages users to trust their inner guidance and develop their intuitive capacities.
Meditation Support: The detailed, visionary artwork serves as a focus for meditation practices, allowing users to connect with the healing energy of specific animals and their associated qualities.
Gentle Guidance: The forward-looking, empowering approach of the deck aligns with therapeutic and coaching frameworks that emphasize growth, resilience, and positive action.
Spiritual Connection: By facilitating connection with animal spirit guides, the deck supports a sense of relationship with the natural world and its wisdom traditions.
Quality and Production
The Spiritsong Tarot is produced with attention to durability and user experience. The cards feature superior card stock that withstands regular shuffling, and the artwork is printed to maintain clarity and color integrity. The deck is presented in a sturdy two-piece box, and the guidebook is designed to be card-sized for convenient reference during readings.
Creator Background
Paulina Fae (also known as Paulina Cassidy) is a recognized visionary artist who creates art prints, books, and inspirational card decks. Her work is collected internationally, and she operates the Restless Moon Gallery as an online platform for her creative output. Her expertise in both illustration and deck creation ensures that the Spiritsong Tarot maintains artistic and thematic coherence across all elements of the system.
Considerations for Potential Users
The Spiritsong Tarot may be particularly well-suited for individuals who: - Are drawn to animal imagery and nature-based symbolism - Seek gentle, empowering guidance rather than dramatic or fear-based messages - Value artistic beauty and aesthetic pleasure in their spiritual tools - Prefer clear, straightforward interpretations with positive orientation - Are beginning their tarot practice or expanding their divination toolkit - Wish to integrate shamanic animal wisdom with traditional tarot structure
The deck may be less suitable for those who: - Prefer traditional tarot imagery and symbolism without animal substitution - Seek intense, dramatic readings for crisis situations - Are uncomfortable with the clear positive/negative polarity in upright/reversed interpretations
Integration with Holistic Practices
The Spiritsong Tarot’s design philosophy supports its integration into broader holistic wellness practices. Its emphasis on gentle guidance aligns with compassionate self-care approaches, while its connection to animal spirits resonates with nature-based spirituality and earth-centered practices. The deck’s structure allows for use in conjunction with other divination systems, meditation practices, or energy work, serving as one component of a comprehensive spiritual practice.
The artwork and meditative quality of the deck can support mindfulness practices, and the animal symbolism provides a framework for exploring personal qualities and challenges through the lens of natural wisdom. For those engaged in holistic living, the deck offers a way to connect spiritual insight with practical daily life navigation.
Conclusion
The Spiritsong Tarot represents a thoughtful evolution of traditional tarot that maintains structural integrity while offering fresh symbolic language through animal spirit guidance. Its combination of beautiful artwork, comprehensive guidebook, and empowering interpretive approach creates a tool that is both accessible to beginners and meaningful for experienced practitioners. By bridging shamanic animal wisdom with classic tarot practices, it offers a unique pathway for spiritual exploration and personal growth. The deck’s gentle energy and forward-looking philosophy position it as a supportive companion for ongoing holistic development, providing compassionate guidance for those seeking to navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace. Whether used for daily reflection, in-depth readings, or meditation support, the Spiritsong Tarot offers a rich, animal-centered approach to divination that honors both traditional tarot wisdom and the healing power of animal spirit guides.