I’m a bit stuck on this one and just wanted to know everyone’s thoughts. I have a few guesses:

• the Birds, because of their chatter and everything. However, it’s also a card I use to represent the eyes, so it already creates a conflict.

• the Fox, because of the nose and ears and how those two can be connected; however, I’m in doubt.

• the Dog; same reason as the Fox, because of the closeness of the mouth and throat to the auditory system… but that could also be the Whip, since it’s the voice and anatomically the vocal chords go deeper into the neck and throat. Agh.

As is evident, I’m no anatomy expert and of course would not use these to diagnose. I’m just curious because the majority of my resources don’t point out what the ears could be represented by (I’ve only seen Rana George give that attribute to the Lilies and that doesn’t resonate with me because I don’t read the card as “oldness” or “possessing vision and wisdom”, etc.) It’s similar to my other dilemma about what the neck and shoulders could be represented by- I’ve seen the Cross being referred to before, but I feel awkward if I were to take away its association with the lower back area and lumbar discs. Aside from this I’m fine with everything else.

I’d deeply appreciate any help/ideas. Thank you.

Hi @Moon-Hermit -

mine are dog for the nose, fox for the ears (said to be eachs most well-evolved sense).

Works well enough for me - others read fine with the roles reversed.

Thank you for your reply, @Mister . You're right. Both the Dog and the Fox's associations seem quite close and your point is logical. I think I should do more readings on myself to decide for sure; I've been having some swelling in my ear for the past week and the Whip has been showing up frequently to describe the ache. I'm leaning more towards the Birds myself but have to find a way to separate that from the eyes as that is my main problem with using this card. I think both Caitlín and Elvira use the Sun for the eyes, but if I change one thing my whole system would have to change, lol. Let's see where this goes and if the Fox would work for me; I'll experiment with that...

Edited September 5Sep 5 by Moon-Hermit

If of interest, Andy B's book lists the Fox as the nose and the Dog as often a carer but anatomically the mouth and teeth. I didn't see one for the ear.

If I had to narrow it down to one card, although it's not traditional, the Ship comes to mind first, since my husband has had many bouts of Labyrinthitis. It affects the ears' function of maintaining balance and can lead to hearing problems. Although he lays still he feels miserably 'seasick', like he's being thrown back and forth on a boat in a storm. For infections, fluid in the ear works for the Ship as well.

Another plus for me personally is that there are rarely business ventures and travel as part of a health reading, so I'm unlikely to be torn on how to read the Ship. I agree Fox has the best sense of hearing, and is a natural association for the ears, but its meanings of wrong or misleading is relevant so often in a health reading, that I'm leery of going there. I really feel the loss of cards going from tarot to Lenormand. So much is handled by 36 cards that I struggle to pin things down to a single card and find it much easier to read combinations of cards. I'd read Tree (close to Sig) + Ship + Mice as hearing loss. Clover + Tree, when Clover is with bad cards, can come up as minor, localized conditions - anything from a mild ear infection to a skinned knee.

Edited September 6Sep 6 by Rose Lalonde

Wow, I just did not know there are so many different views on health associations. Good thing I asked!

8 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

If of interest, Andy B's book lists the Fox as the nose and the Dog as often a carer but anatomically the mouth and teeth. I didn't see one for the ear.

Yes yes. I have his book and he’s the #1 I follow. On his blog* though, he associates the Dog with “the nose and mouth, including the teeth and tongue”. He says further that “the card governs smell, taste, speech, oral health, and conditions affecting the upper respiratory passages”. So, overall I think that the cards can be very flexible regarding what we anatomically associate them with.

9 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

If I had to narrow it down to one card, although it's not traditional, the Ship comes to mind first, since my husband has had many bouts of Labyrinthitis. It affects the ears' function of maintaining balance and can lead to hearing problems. Although he lays still he feels miserably 'seasick', like he's being thrown back and forth on a boat in a storm. For infections, fluid in the ear works for the Ship as well.

This is actually making a lot of sense as well. I had never thought of the ship in that way before. My only question is that whether you read that along with the pancreas, spleen, etc associations, or is that another card for you altogether, like the Fish?

9 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

Another plus for me personally is that there are rarely business ventures and travel as part of a health reading, so I'm unlikely to be torn on how to read the Ship. I agree Fox has the best sense of hearing, and is a natural association for the ears, but its meanings of wrong or misleading is relevant so often in a health reading, that I'm leery of going there. I really feel the loss of cards going from tarot to Lenormand. So much is handled by 36 cards that I struggle to pin things down to a single card and find it much easier to read combinations of cards. I'd read Tree (close to Sig) + Ship + Mice as hearing loss. Clover + Tree, when Clover is with bad cards, can come up as minor, localized conditions - anything from a mild ear infection to a skinned knee.

True. And I agree that the Fox has always been one of those trickier cards (so true to its own nature!). I myself had occasions in which I struggled to see if it’s talking about the nose or something being wrong in general; I really had to squint.

Thank you for the combinations and your reply, @Rose Lalonde ! I will definitely experiment with all the suggestions in my own practice and see what comes up.

*https://thecartomante.com/2026/08/17/a-familiar-entourage-the-hound-card/

Edited September 6Sep 6 by Moon-Hermit

1 hour ago, Moon-Hermit said:

So, overall I think that the cards can be very flexible regarding what we anatomically associate them with.

Yeah, I agree. I think the things that were mentioned in the Philippe sheet or that are in the name itself - the actual human heart - are read pretty consistently by most. Meanwhile other parts of the anatomy have that flexibility, or at least vary more depending on who you ask.

25 minutes ago, Moon-Hermit said:

My only question is that whether you read that along with the pancreas, spleen, etc associations, or is that another card for you altogether, like the Fish?

I only read for people I don’t know in circles here, and I've never done a health reading where those were asked about or might have been a consideration, so I don’t know. but like you, Andy B's info is my go-to, and I'd look up anything I don't know there. Thanks for the blog link. I forgot that's back up. I still use my course notes from years ago. (On a side note, looking at that, I see that Whips + Coffin together could mean deaf.)

Edited September 6Sep 6 by Rose Lalonde

37 minutes ago, Rose Lalonde said:

I only read for people I don’t know in circles here, and I've never done a health reading where those were asked about or might have been a consideration, so I don’t know. but like you, Andy B's info is my go-to, and I'd look up anything I don't know there. Thanks for the blog link. I forgot that's back up. I still use my course notes from years ago. (On a side note, looking at that, I see that Whips + Coffin together could mean deaf.)

It's alright. I do health readings mostly for myself and my parents, so the Ship's yet to come up in a reading under that association.

You're very welcome. Back when the Cabinet Course was done (2012-2013 I guess?) I was in first grade so I wouldn't have had any idea as a kid, lol. Definitely happy to see the blog back so I could learn more. Thanks again, especially for the combo. I'll note that down!

Edited September 6Sep 6 by Moon-Hermit

23 hours ago, Moon-Hermit said:

I've been having some swelling in my ear for the past week and the Whip has been showing up frequently to describe the ache.

I don’t do lenormand, but I hope you’ve seen a doctor for that, you might need ear drops if it is external otitis. Feel better soon ❤️

You’re very kind, @Raggydoll . Yes, I’ve seen a doctor and fortunately feel better now. Thank you a lot 🩷

25 minutes ago, Moon-Hermit said:

You’re very kind, @Raggydoll . Yes, I’ve seen a doctor and fortunately feel better now. Thank you a lot 🩷

Awesome!

@Rose Lalonde , @Moon-Hermit

I like your above discussion a lot - it got good flair.

Sometimes, there's one initial read where something came through clearly, and from that, it often tends to take on the very same meaning/vibe.

What I like to express: Had I an experience similar to yours, @Rose Lalonde , I certainly would be inclined to pay attention accordingly.

For me, one politician was adequately described via the dog, in both behaviour as well as optics, and that was the most prominent nose I ever saw inhabiting a face. Dog-> Nose: check.

Same with the fox: It is a cold-weather-card for me, it often comes round to announce first snow and sudden cold, the red-ear-days so to speak, or problems with the heating. It did take part in foreshadowing an earache. Fox -> Ears, has to be, for me.

Some do use the birds.

Thing is, if something came through in a read clearly just once, it is very likely to stick - if it repeats, you'll use it as such, fancy reason aside - reliability rules here.

And then, we can attempt an explanation, uncover the why, until we think we got it.

Thing is, we won't get it, ever.

What we'll develop is a little more grip on our pack of cards, light shed on a little of our path, and new things to try and verify.

An insight usable for an outlook.

1 hour ago, Mister said:

Same with the fox: It is a cold-weather-card for me, it often comes round to announce first snow and sudden cold, the red-ear-days so to speak, or problems with the heating.

I think the Piatnik deck refers to this as well; the Fox is walking through a snowy scenery, so it's really interesting combined with your view.

1 hour ago, Mister said:

Thing is, if something came through in a read clearly just once, it is very likely to stick - if it repeats, you'll use it as such, fancy reason aside - reliability rules here.

I agree. We carry on with our habits, so to speak. I think that's how different personal styles of reading the cards are created, and that's amazing.

11 hours ago, Moon-Hermit said:

Back when the Cabinet Course was done (2012-2013 I guess?) I was in first grade

Oh, are you trying to destroy me?! 😂 Just kidding. Yes, it would have been a bit premature for you to have taken the course then.

6 hours ago, Mister said:

Thing is, if something came through in a read clearly just once, it is very likely to stick - if it repeats, you'll use it as such, fancy reason aside - reliability rules here.

Yes, this. Once it repeats, it becomes consistent, reliable.

1 minute ago, Rose Lalonde said:

Oh, are you trying to destroy me?! 😂 Just kidding. Yes, it would have been a bit premature for you to have taken the course then.

Oh no of course not lol 😂

I wouldn’t even dream of doing that. All the people here are amazing readers and I respect y’all’s experience. I still have wayyyyyy to go in order to get there.

Indeed 😁