Panther- The Power You've Always Had

Deck Credit Spirit Animal Oracle- Colette Baron Reid and the Chrysalis Tarot by Toney Brooks. Panther research credit

To start this reading, I want to make mention that I chose the animals from an oracle deck I have, which is credited above in this post. I’ve always loved cats as animals and have been fascinated by how wild big cats like lions, panthers, and tigers live and have adapted to their environments. I went ahead a shuffled the deck as I normally would if I were to do a reading with it and got rather excited when I pulled it out of the deck. So, before I give any further ramblings on my process, let's get into some of the interesting facts about the panther.

Black panthers are powerful large cats that tend to appear as a spirit animals to those that fearlessly walk their path with courage and fierceness. Perhaps you or someone you know has the knack for facing and chasing down their fears. It is in this regard that panthers are praised for their guardianship and bravery. Panther mothers are known for being territorial and extremely protective of their cubs. Panthers as an animal are melanistic leopards. the names cougar, puma, panther, leopard, and mountain lion are interchangeable and are all part of the Pantera family.

Interestingly enough, the word “panther” has roots in Greek mythology in that it means “all-beast” and was the symbol of Dionysus (who was the god of wine, merriment, and theatre.) It is also suggested that Freya rode a chariot pulled by a panther as well. Honestly, I’m just imagining how powerful that image would be... In some Native American legends, the panther can be seen as an omen of death. Some tribes believed that seeing these beasts as spirits was to see a being that was meant to bring back the souls of the dead. On the other side, some legends state that panthers were healing omens and symbols of wealth while still others regarded the animal as a wicked and evil spirit.

Some general symbols for the panther include self-reliance, intuition, grace, expression, and self-determination. If you’re lucky enough to see one in person, perhaps it's a call to action for you to take some time in reflection to embrace your darkness and what you can do to embrace your fears.

cards pulled from various decks

Panther: reclaim your power

The Corsair (Knight of spirals [wands]): someone who takes action and is motivated by their inspiration and passions and can help others find what motivates and inspires them.

4 of Spirals (Wands): celebration and a firm foundation on which to build on your inspiration and passion, you’re working to build a safe place to do this work

The Visionary (Knight of Scrolls [swords]): someone who takes action on their mental and intellectual pursuits, dreamer, sure-footed and swift,

Okay so... I really like to see this post, especially if you find yourself resonating with this energy right now. What I’m seeing here is that you’re taking action on your motivation and inspiration but also you’re able to take action in your mentality and thought processes as well. You have faced a lot during this, and whether you’re close to finishing your goals, or whether you’ve just started the process, you have done the work of building a sure foundation on which to continue working. What this has done for you is made you better able to stand tall in the face of adversity and reclaim the power you’ve frankly always had.