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by Sharon Anne Klingler
Pamela Colman Smith spent years studying Celtic and Irish folklore with her friend W.B. Yeats. And she brought those Celtic symbols to the tarot cards she painted. Most books give those symbols traditional interpretations. But when you discover their Celtic meanings, you’ll see the greater depth and feeling they add.
Starting at the top, the snowcapped mountains shown in the distant background in the Fool card and the Judgement card are holy Celtic symbols. It’s not surprising that the Hermit seems to stand atop them, too. These were considered the sacred places—so high and close to God—places of peace and pure thought (seen by the white) going back to Celtic lore in primeval times.
Of course, all mountains lift. And so do towers, one of W.B. Yeats’ favorite symbols. They both represent the process of initiation—climbing to a higher power and wisdom. Pamela painted towers in many of her cards.
But now, let’s take a look at some Celtic animals, which were often connected to moon phases and were nocturnal—including rabbits; cats; wolves; snakes; dogs; and owls.
A rabbit can be seen in the Queen of Pentacles card. And because the rabbit was one of the holy animals in the Celtic regions of early Britain, it wasn’t eaten. (That was true of some other animals, too.)
There are many stories in Celtic and Irish lore that tell of warriors or special magical people who were able to shape-shift into many different animal forms, with rabbits often among them.
Later, after Christianity appeared, people were told these stories were about witches, and the cats and rabbits with those people were their familiars.
Well, the Queen of Pentacles isn’t a witch, and her rabbit isn’t her familiar. The rabbit was a holy animal. And for the Celts, just as today, rabbits did represent fertility. But Pamela also knew that the Druids saw them as showing the intuitive direction to be taken. So, if you get this card, and you’re strongly drawn to that rabbit, just feel with your deepest intuitive heart which way you are meant to go (or action you’re meant to take). Then hop to it!
Often horses traditionally symbolize strength. But through the ancient world, the horse meant too many things to enumerate. (Though it’s not surprising that it often recalled Mars, the god of War, since it was so key in winning battles.)
In the Celtic world, it’s one of the most frequently found animals on ancient coins and sculptures. And it was connected to the horse goddess Epona, the patron of mounted troops, horse-breeders, and horse trainers. But she isn’t the only horse goddess. Two others were Macha and Rhiannon. Some feel these were just different versions of Epona, because they were from different countries (Macha – Ireland; Rhiannon – Wales). But their unique stories show that they are truly their own people.
Of them all, Rhiannon is my personal favorite (and not just because of Stevie Nicks’ song, which is great!) Rhiannon was the fastest rider alive. Human or god, male or female—no one could ride a horse better or faster than she. Even her husband, Prince Pwyll, couldn’t keep up with her.
Rhiannon was a goddess and a princess. There are no cards in this deck that portray a princess. For that, a Page (for a younger princess) or a Knight (for an older princess) would have to be used.
Now, please draw your own conclusions, but this Knight shows the greatest speed in the whole deck. And, certainly, the rider looks masculine. (It would be hard to look otherwise in full armor.) But here it’s the action that most recalls the great rider, Rhiannon, as she drives forward atop her white steed, almost flying. And it may be that Rhiannon’s birds are flying overhead, her black and mystical birds that fly beyond the shores—high above the sea.
And still—there are other white horses in this deck. The Sun card is a significant Celtic card with the horse itself being a strong Celtic symbol of the sun. But while the horse brings the sun, his white coat adds much more Celtic meaning. And so do other important additions of a white theme or focus to important cards.
In ancient Celtic literature, wearing white was reserved for kings, Bards, Druid, priests, and those on a spiritual mission or journey. But Colman Smith would’ve also known—because of her Celtic Revival classes with W.B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory, who translated the language from the old Irish myths—that the Middle Irish word find means both “white” and “holy.” And the Welsh word gwyn means both “white” and “blessed.”
Taking a quick look at another white horse in the Six of Wands. 
This card is called the Laurel Wreath of Success, and it shows a Triumphal parade. It portends great success in your endeavors (whether on your own or with others). But if you’re strongly drawn to the white horse during a reading, know that your work may take a spiritual turn. Notice, too, that the horse’s body is draped. Only the head is shown. Remember—in the cards, and in any intuitive experience, what you see on or around the head (including the coloring there) is a message about the thoughts. This tells you—no matter what success comes your way or what direction your journey may take—keep your head focused on your highest truth. And keep your thoughts holy and blessed, like the Druid priests before you.
There are great Celtic animals to discover. (The snakes were pretty cool, too!) And so many Celtic symbols fill this deck. You can find them when you keep your Celtic eyes open!
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For more on the Celtic symbols and the Collective Unconscious, see Sharon Anne Klingler’s book, The Truth of the Waite-Smith Tarot.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Sharon Anne Klingler is a bestselling author, medium, and an inspiring speaker and teacher. The Huffington Post declared her book, Power Words, “…my kind of book, as it gives us all extraordinary super-power tools to help uncover our highest selves.” (B. Fonger) And author Denise Linn described it as “…perhaps the most profound, transformative book ever written on the influence that…language has on our lives.” Some of Sharon’s other titles are Intuition & Beyond for Random House London; the best-selling Akashic Tarot; Answers from the Ancestral Realms; Intuition & Beyond for Random House London and many others.
One of the world’s leading intuitives, Sharon has worked with television news anchors; film writers and producers; Emmy, Tony, Oscar and Grammy winners; the FBI; and high-profile clients around the world. She has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network; CNN; BBC and ITV London; BBC Scotland; the Discover Channel; NBC, ABC, and CBS; and on major outlets across the globe. She has also been featured in The London Daily Express and in many other newspapers and magazines worldwide. Sharon is a Registered Medium in Lily Dale and an ordained Spiritualist minister.
ON THE WEB
https://sharonklingler.com
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BOOKSHELF
THE TRUTH OF THE WAITE-SMITH TAROT:
UNLOCKING PAMELA COLMAN SMITH’S VISION
AND THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS TO REVEAL
HIDDEN MEANINGS OF THE CARDS
BY SHARON ANNE KLINGER,
pulished by Hay House UK,
Paperback (304 pages)
