In the Merlin Tarot, elemental cards use symbols of creatures rather than the customary Sword, Wands, Cups & Coins. The overall emphasis of the Creation Vision, from which the Merlin Tarot is drawn from, is an interacting set of worlds teeming with orders of life. A major part of the Vision, namely the Celtic tradition, contains a magical world view -- often described as being 'Shamanic in modern day literature.
It is from this tradition that the suites of elemental & number cards in the Merlin Tarot are resourced from -- following the interlace patterns that are so essential to the symbols in Celtic art. In more basic terms, the interlaced patterns of Pictish & Celtic art represent a vision in which energies & worlds are woven together. Thus, is it possible to see aspects of the weaver's pattern through four orders -- these orders or modes are represented in the Merlin Tarot as follows:-
AIR: Birds - Swords, Arrows, Weapons
FIRE: Serpents - Rods, Wands or Staves
WATER: Fishes - Cups, Chalices or Crescents
EARTH: Beasts - Shields, Discs, Coins or Spheres