Salamanders in tarot
In Renaissance natural philosophy the salamander was the creature that could live in fire. Paracelsus made it the elemental spirit of fire, and King Francis I of France used it as his emblem. Smith puts salamanders throughout the suit of Wands: a live one on the dais of the King of Wands, others on the King's throne and robe, some biting their own tails, and more on the tunics of the Page and Knight. In readings the salamander is the spirit of the fire suit itself: creative energy that survives and even thrives in the heat.
Cards that show salamanders
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Page of Wands
Page of Wands: The salamander tunic
His yellow tunic is patterned with black curled creatures, usually read as salamanders, the lizard that old lore said could live in fire. The same pattern appears on the Knight's tunic and the King's cloak.
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Knight of Wands
Knight of Wands: The salamander tunic
Over his armour he wears a yellow tunic patterned with black salamanders curled into rings. In Renaissance lore the salamander was the creature of fire, and the pattern marks him as the suit's man of action.
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King of Wands
King of Wands: The live salamander
A small black salamander crawls on the dais beside the throne. It is the only living one in the Wands court; elsewhere they are patterns on cloth. Here the King's element seems to be present in the room with him.