Tarot cards are rich in symbolism and rely on symbols and cultural references to showcase a wide variety of outcomes or circumstances. Many of them depict people, but there are also animal representations with unique interpretations.
Every card has a metaphor or reference. Mythological creatures are extremely important and can indicate particular elements. But then, what do these mythological references in tarot actually mean? Here are the most popular symbols out there and how they can be interpreted.
Dragon
Dragons appear in all kinds of cultures, including tarot designs. In Christianity, dragons are referred to as sea monsters, apart from the New Testament, where a dragon is considered one of God’s enemies. European mythology is different because here dragons are associated with chaos and havoc.
Most dragons tend to hoard treasure, a myth that’s also common in cinematography. For instance, in medieval times, some European cultures believed that dragons indicate greed, as well as the idea of hiding treasure from others.
In tarot cards, the dragon stands out on the Seven of Cups. There’s a man with seven cups. Some of them are filled with nice gifts; others are filled with creatures like dragons or snakes.
In this particular card, the dragon can be seen as a hiding disadvantage. What you wish for may not necessarily bring what you need. Even if you truly want something, it could be a nasty situation in disguise.
The card also tells you that value is extremely important when making choices, so false promises should be left behind.
Sphinx
The sphinx appears in two different cards, both of them in the Major Arcana. First, you have the Wheel of Fortune, but the same figure is also shown on the Chariot. The sphinx is a creature from the past with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Some sphinxes in mythology may have wings as well.
In both of these cards, the sphinx is associated with a guardian. In Egyptian cultures, sphinxes were seen as males. Sometimes, they had pharaoh heads, showcasing power. In Greece, they had a feminine profile and used to challenge people with riddles.
In the Wheel of Fortune, the sphinx holds a sword, indicating the power and intelligence needed to be on top. In the Chariot, you can see two sphinxes pulling a chariot. The warrior in the chariot doesn’t hold anything, meaning he directs them with his personality rather than physical strength.
Sphinxes are drawn in two different colors. They usually go in the same direction, so they’re dual, but they’re differently colored, too, so they’re opposites. This means you’ll have to face challenges from more directions in order to reach your destination.
Tetramorph
The tetramorph is basically a mix of other animals and shows up on the Wheel of Fortune. The card shows an eagle, a lion and an ox in each corner, as well as an angel. All of them have wings, so they have a mystical profile. Altogether, these four corners are seen as a tetramorph.
A tetramorph is the symbolic representation of four elements. It’s also common in Christianity, but at the same time, all these symbols have fixed representations in the zodiac, too: Scorpio, Leo, Taurus, and Aquarius.
A similar figure can also be observed on the World card, yet there’s a difference. They don’t have wings.
When it comes to their representation on the Wheel of Fortune, they signify the stability of the world while people move in a chaotic manner around the wheel.
Chimera
The chimera is one of the popular mythological references in tarot. Similarly, to the tetramorph, it represents a mix of other elements. In classic Greek mythology, a chimera is an evil lion with a goat head that breathes fire. Furthermore, it has a snake instead of a tail.
Chimera was also the daughter of Typhon and Echidna, both of them with monstrous characteristics. It took many heroes to defeat this monster until Bellerophon finally did it. The hero was sent there on a suicidal mission, but he succeeded with help from Pegasus.
Chimera is represented on the Two of Cups, but it’s slightly different from the Greek monster. It has a lion head and a snake tail, but instead of a goat head, it comes with wings.
In a reading, the card showcases love, harmony, and solid connections between people. It’s depicted in a positive manner, floating above a couple and sharing a toast.
Jackal
The jackal is also represented on the Wheel of Fortune. Such creatures are similar to dogs, but they were associated with graveyards in Egyptian mythology. Later on, they related to Anubis, one of the significant gods for the dead and the main protector of their graves.
Anubis played a very important role in mythology because he was often depicted participating in ceremonies for the dead just before deciding whether or not they were worth a greater future in the afterlife.
The jackal shown on the Wheel of Fortune card features human-like characteristics. The card is part of Major Arcana, so it’s an important representation regarding major aspects of life. Other fantastical creatures are shown in the card, each of them with a meaning.
Anubis is also represented on the right side of the wheel.
While it may sound a bit grotesque, death is showcased as one of the main elements in life. It’s part of the cycle and defines the transition from a physical being to a spirit.
In more common interpretations, death is seen as a good sign in a tarot reading because it doesn’t signify physical death. Instead, it relates to an ending, and like every other ending in tarot, it’s synonymous with a new beginning as well. The direction of the card depends on the type of reading, too.
As a short final conclusion, these are the mythological references in tarot, often depicted on traditional tarot cards. While they’re certainly inspired by mythological cultures, they’re often depicted in different ways. Moreover, their meanings often have nothing to do with the old associations.
