[Art] Amrit Mahal (Cow) as Animal Teacher

The Amrit Mahal (Cow) is one of the animal teachers in the Iconics Oracle Deck, and one of the very last group that I've been working on for this deck.

There have been some last minute shuffles while I've tried to figure out which animals are truly Iconic (like the cow) and which animals I just wish were more Iconic (like the bat, lol, which - as well as the crocodile - I also took out of this deck at the last minute, realising that while they may have been significant historically, there are other animals that hold pride of place as Iconic animals in our culture far more recognisably).

This was an interesting animal to work with, and he led me down the rabbit hole of Indian cow Instagram, where I came to familiarise myself with cow racing tags and much, much more.

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Amrit Mahal Cow/Zebu || Bos indicus || Etsy || Wildspeak Animal Dictionary




Keywords:

Royalty. Uncommon royalty. How are you treating those less fortunate than you? Compassion. Sensitivity. Rumination. Thinking it over. The need for great endurance. The marathon runner. Putting your head down and getting the work done. The sun will take care of you. Sacredness is everywhere.

Description:

The Amrit Mahal is a zebu, a breed of a subspecies of domesticated cattle that are known for their distinctive fatty hump and a large dewlap under their necks. They are well-suited to living in dry, desert conditions with high temperatures, and cows would not always come into season in very wet and fertile lands.

The Amrit Mahal originates from India, in the Mysore state of Karnataka. They are derived from Hallikar cattle, and were originally used for war and transport, due to their endurance and speed. They gained royal protection hundreds of years ago.

Cows in this breed are not known for producing large quantities of milk, and are largely utilised these days in draughting. They are also popular in bull races in India.


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[Art] Arabian Oryx as Animal Teacher

Having just recently illustrated the Springbok (also an Oryx), I was in two minds about illustrating the Arabian/White Oryx, but there's no doubt that it's a significant animal in so many cultures. You might not be familiar with it, but it's the national animal of Oman, Jordan and the UAE, and beloved throughout the Middle East.

I actually really enjoyed working with this Animal Teacher, she was softer than I expected she'd be, though made for endurance and longevity in a harsh environment. There was an equanimity to her energy.

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Arabian Oryx || Oryx leucoryx || Etsy || Wildspeak Animal Dictionary




Keywords:

Rain speaker. Keeping your goals in sight. Sword symbolism. Encounters and battles. Air energy. Defending what matters to you. Grounded but looking towards the future. Reading the weather (literally or etherically). The living unicorn. Unicorn mythology and symbolism. Purity and grace. Always looking for answers.

Description:

A medium-sized antelope with a white colouration (it has sometimes been known as the white oryx), and the smallest member of the Oryx genus. It is also known as the dishon (Hebrew), as well as the maha, baqar al-wahsh, boosolah and wudhaihi in Arabic.

Arabian oryxes live in small herds (around 2-15 animals) of mixed sex in huge ranges (over 3,000 square kilometres/1,200 square miles). They live within desert and steppe environments, preferring gravel or hard sand surfaces, resting within the heat of the day and digging small depressions in the ground to access cooler temperatures. They are fast runners and possess great endurance. Living in such harsh conditions can drastically lessen their lifespan due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Arabian oryxes eat grasses, as well as herbs, tubers, roots and fruit. They can go weeks without water. They have an ability to detect rainfall and will move towards it. Large herds of around 100 have been reported. They tend to be peaceable with each other outside of the breeding season where males can fight and spar with their horns. Their only predator is the wolf, though they are also susceptible to snakebites. They can live for up to 20 years.

The Arabian oryx became extinct in the wild by the early 1970s, only to be saved by dedicated, successfully breeding and reintroduction programs. It was the first animal to go from being extinct in the wild, to vulnerable status. There are approximately 7,000 Arabian oryx in captivity, and around 1,000 in the wild at the time of this writing. The Arabian oryx is the national animal of Oman, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. It is an important part of the Qatar Airways and Al Maha Airways logo, and Orry the Arabian oryx was the 2006 Asian Games mascot. In the Middle East it is a significant, iconic animal.


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[Art] Narwhal as Animal Teacher

For the Unusuals deck, I had to revisit the old illustration of Narwhal (which I hated) and come up with a new concept that Narwhal's energy also agreed to, which turned out to be both not easy, and easier than I thought once I moved way back to an aerial view, and was willing to include more than one, which is very unusual (snerk) in these illustrations.

Revisiting Narwhal once I started was far easier than I thought, especially the actual process of executing the illustration. I really enjoyed having all these other elements to play with, such as the looming/impinging sea ice.

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Narwhal || Monodon monoceros || Etsy || Wildspeak Animal Dictionary




Keywords:

Nourishing others, unicorn symbolism and wisdom, being able to understand the depths of an issue, understanding more deeply than others, an affinity with themes of cold and coldness, the body as a weapon, diving below the surface, ‘deep and meaningfuls’, resisting captivity, poking holes in the theories of others, a desperation for freedom.

Description:

The narwhal is a toothed whale that lives in the Arctic. It’s single long ‘horn’ or tusk (which is actually a protruding tooth) is perhaps one of the most popular examples of a ‘unicorn horn’ in existence. The tusks are used primarily to determine hierarchy and rank; and can be up to three metres long. Some narwhals are double-tusked, and every now and then the females will grow one as well. They do a lot of deep-sea diving. They are hunted for meat and ivory. They have never done well in captivity, and always end up dying within a few months or a year.


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