A card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot featuring a couple of people riding horses.
Tarot decks

The Unbridled Spirit Tarot

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I had been eagerly awaiting the Unbridled Spirit Tarot since the first time I saw it mentioned on the Llewellyn website. Even though it wasn’t released until 2025 this deck made it on to my “Decks I’m excited for in 2024” list. I was just so thrilled to see a horse-themed deck in the works. I pre-ordered it as soon as I could and even up against all my internal hype, I can say it has not disappointed.

Horses were a huge part of my life when I was younger, so much so that my first full-time job was working with them. I have so many memories wrapped up in them and this deck brought them flooding back. I won’t lie, that has meant that some readings have been very emotional for me. Nevertheless I see that as a good thing. But let’s get on to talking about the deck rather than me.

A smiling woman sits cross-legged on grass beside a brown horse in this Unbridled Spirit Tarot card. Papers with various objects and symbols float around them, creating a bright and cheerful scene. The card reads 7 of Cups.
A smiling woman in a red cap holds a magazine by a fence adorned with lights. Two horses graze in a green field near a blue barn. The Unbridled Spirit Tarot card reads 9 of Cups at the bottom.

The Unbridled Spirit Tarot Deck

The Unbridled Spirit Tarot is a straight-up, easy reader. There is a story around why I say this. The other day, my husband and I were sitting in the food court having lunch before going to the movies and I got on to talking about how fortunate I feel to have the tarot decks I do. Over twenty-five years in, I still find it incredible that in opening a deck I get to hold seventy-eight amazing pieces of art in my hands. That quickly moved me on to this deck. Dianita’s art is exceptional.

Now my husband is supportive of my tarot obsession but I try not to overwhelm him with it. On this day, while sitting there trying to eat his crepe, I struggled to rein in my enthusiasm. In the end I failed. Needless to say, this meant I sat there showing him photos of these cards.

A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot labeled 10 of Swords shows a fallen jockey in red and white beside a horse with number 10 on its saddle, before a broken jump, capturing a powerful scene of defeat or exhaustion.
An older man and a young child stand beside a grave marked by a white cross and flowers in this Unbridled Spirit Tarot scene. Three cups are spilled on the ground, two remain upright, with a brown horse and barn under a pink sky.

That day is why I am confident in saying that this deck is accessible to everyone. I showed him the 10 of Swords and I asked him what the card said to him and his thoughts came freely. Next I showed him X The Wheel of Fortune (pictured later) and he was able to quickly draw meaning simply by describing what was in the image.

Another reason I’d say this deck is for everyone is because, while it doesn’t shy away from big emotions, (I find it highly emotive), it doesn’t use swords piercing body parts to show them. The scene tells the story. Each suit is represented to its full extent still but they are not the focal point of the image. Scroll back and you’ll see the swords form part of the jump on the 10 of Swords and on the 9 of Wands below you’ll see the wands are there, albeit in tree form.

A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot titled IX - The Hermit shows a person in a long coat and wide hat standing beside a horse, illuminated by a lantern on a pole, against a softly colored, rocky landscape.
A man in a blue shirt and hat rides a dark horse beside a white bull, framed by two palm trees, with orange hills behind. The card is labeled 9 of Wands from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot.

The structure

The Unbridled Spirit Tarot follows the RWS system so it is easy to layer pre-existing knowledge over the cards. But, it adds so much as well. Due to the way Tina Tack Anderson has structured this deck I have learned a lot both in terms of how I view certain cards and about horse related topics.

A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot titled The Wheel of Fortune shows a man in a suit by a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage wheel features letters, and Egyptian motifs and statues are visible in the background.
A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot titled XVII - The Star shows two white horses, one standing and one lying down, in a desert scene with a tent, palm tree, woman, water jug, and stars shining above.

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana depicts “elements in the history of the relationship between humankind and horses.” She covers some ground here. For example, The Wheel of Fortune shows the introduction of the automobile, (this happens to be one of the cards that has expanded my thinking), whereas The Star shares The Legend of the Bloody-Shouldered Arabian. The Emperor taught me about Alexander the Great’s training of his black stallion Bucephalus and The High Priestess led to me discovering more about Joan of Arc. I could have plucked many more examples but you get the idea.

A woman wearing a cowboy hat rides a galloping horse around a pole, kicking up dust. The Unbridled Spirit Tarot Ace of Wands card features painted blue horses in the background.
A child and an older man watch lovingly as a mare nuzzles her foal in a cozy stable. Straw covers the floor, and a cup sits atop a stool near a decorated blue blanket—the Unbridled Spirit Tarot Ace of Cups.

The Minor Arcana

Rodeos and charreada-type events represent the Wands suit. For example, the Ace of Wands shows a woman competing in Pole Bending. Cups show the connection between horses and family life. The Ace of Cups is so beautiful and I love the nod to the overflowing cup in the background. I remember how emotional we all were when a foal was born at the stables I worked at. And, I remember how my horse pranced around like he was the father. It was a special time.

The Swords suit shows sporting competitions and Pentacles shows horses and/or people at work.

A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot titled King of Swords shows a judge reading a book behind a fence with red roses. In front, a person leads a black and white horse past the judge, framed by tall green trees.
A person wearing a hat and red apron stands in a workshop beside a table with a red tool, while a horse looks in through a window. Saddles and leatherwork hang on the walls, evoking the craftsmanship of the Unbridled Spirit Tarot. A pentacle is above the window.

And, as you can see above, much thought has gone into the court cards. Each is open to a range of interpretations. The King of Swords is a competition judge. To do so successfully he needs to know his stuff and he needs a discerning eye. This paints a well-rounded picture as does the use of the leather worker for the Knight of Pentacles.

Seeing the western saddle in the foreground reminds me of a saddle my Mum had. The intricacy of the leather stamping was incredible and I can imagine the time and effort that went into both the learning and the application. Therefore, yet again, for me, this is both a personal and a relatable image. This deck does not allow me to separate the two.

I love cats and for most of my life I have lived with, and drawn comfort from them. But even though I have five cat-themed tarot decks (Mystical Cats, Black Cats, Soul Cats, Pagan Cats, and Grimalkins Curious Cats) none have the same effect on me. The Unbridled Spirit Tarot evokes memories and those memories now speak to me in ways they haven’t previously. This deck forces me to reflect on specific aspects rather than generalisations.

Illustration of two mirrored horse heads with flowing manes, surrounded by pink flowers, a sword, gold cup, and pentacle coin on a yellow background. This symmetrical design is inspired by the Unbridled Spirit Tarot.
Three horses stand together in a sunlit meadow with purple flowers. In the background are hills and a bright sky. At the bottom, the Unbridled Spirit Tarot card reads VI - The Lovers in gold text on a horseshoe design.

Physical aspects

The borderless cards of the Unbridled Spirit Tarot are printed on linen cardstock. This makes them a dream to shuffle albeit a bit clumpy to fan and flip through. They feature reversible backs and measure 7 x 11.75cm. The one slight complaint I have is that the font size on the title banners could have been bigger and maybe a different colour combination. I like that they don’t chunk into the artwork and that they suit the theme and art style but I feel they are more difficult to read than they need to be.

Some card pairings

A miner with a headlamp leads a donkey pulling a cart of coal out of a tunnel. Four pentacles are arranged above the entrance. Set in vibrant, earthy colors, this Unbridled Spirit Tarot card reads 4 of Pentacles.
A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot shows the 8 of Swords: eight horses, mostly in gray tones, charge forward. One horse and its rider in red stand out at the center, surrounded by mist or fog.

4 of Pentacles & 8 of Swords

The first thought I had when I saw these cards together was paying a high price for security. The 8 of Swords shows harness racing but I can only see the one boxed-in rider because the dust is preventing me from seeing the full picture. I interpret this as thoughts keeping you trapped so you just can’t move on. As a result you end up carrying a heavy load that, as indicated by the cart tracks on the 4 of Pentacles, has you doing the same thing day in day out with little chance for change.

But, on a positive, dust settles. Therefore there is hope. You can choose to lighten the load, physically or mentally. Then even if you decide to continue on your current path, your beliefs and attitude will be different. A certain situation or circumstance shouldn’t be internalised to such an extent it is seen as a way of being.

A woman walks away from a group celebrating a graduation, with rolling hills and a yellow sun in the background. The group holds congratulatory signs. The Unbridled Spirit Tarot card is labeled 8 of Cups.
Three horseback riders, each wearing vests with the number 6, traverse a grassy landscape in this Unbridled Spirit Tarot card. Two ride uphill while one fords a shallow stream. The bottom of the card reads 6 of Swords.

8 of Cups & 6 of Swords

Few 8 of Cups cards hit me emotionally, but this one did. Place it next to the 6 of Swords and the emotion escalates for personal reasons. But as a general interpretation, I’d say this — the decision to walk away from all that we love and all that we know is hard. It might be that ultimately the lure of the 9 of Cups ensures that we are prepared to do what needs to be done but that doesn’t make it any easier. Our masculine side might be urging us on because it can see the logic and practicality in the decision. But the expressions on both women show that neither are immune to the emotional toll.

Fortunately, the endurance riders on the 6 of Swords reminds us that we have the power to endure. When my Mum was discharged from hospital the first time, they told her that due to her illness she would need to find some fairly stationary pursuits to enjoy. She opened a guest house and took off on her first endurance horse ride. Ultimately then, this 6 of Swords will always be linked to incredible internal fortitude and a refusal to let someone else tell you, or define, what is possible.

A man in a red vest and hat stands beside a large horse in a field. Seven pentacles are arranged on the ground, with crops and farmland in the background. The Unbridled Spirit Tarot card reads 7 of Pentacles.
An illustrated Unbridled Spirit Tarot card titled XXI - The World shows a woman with leaves and branches for hair, holding a glowing orb with Earth on it, beside a white horse, an open book, and a frog, all surrounded by greenery.

7 of Pentacles & XXI The World

The first two pairings hit me hard so I really needed to see these two cards. The image on the 7 of Pentacles might be referring to the potential harvest to come. But, I look at this 7 of Pentacles and I see a farmer that is pondering a different approach — maybe a change from mono-cropping to permaculture — because the way those vegetables are growing don’t align with his current methods. Therefore this is about looking at your options rather than doing the same thing you’ve always done or you see others doing. The theme of the deck suggests considering more nature-inspired alternatives.

This beautiful World card sitting next to it, with the open story book, the luscious growth, and the unicorn suggest this story will have a happy ending. This is the second deck I’ve reviewed of late that links that idea with the World card. The other was The Fairy Tale Tarot.

It never ceases to amaze me how much decks talk to each other. Earlier today I wanted to clarify a reading I was doing with the Unbridled Spirit Tarot. I was surprised when I instinctively reached for the Everyday Witch Tarot. They are not two decks that I would naturally pair but all the same I went with it. But then I noticed that the stars on the Chariot matched the card backs of the Everyday Witch. Whether that influenced me in some way or it was just the best deck to help me move forward I can’t say. I do know that the cards worked together really well. Thematically, they are very different, but their overall energy aligns — they both ground the magic into the everyday.

This post seems to have a lot of asides but they feel relevant so I’m going to leave them in. I hope that’s okay. For now, I’ll move on to the book.

A card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot titled XX - Judgement features a decorated horse behind a fence, with a man, woman, and child looking on. Signs read “Staff Sergeant Reckless” and “5th Marine Regiment,” set against hills and distant buildings.
A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot shows two large horses pulling a plow through a sunlit forest, guided by a man. Eight pentacles are visible among the trees above them. The card is labeled 8 of Pentacles.

The Unbridled Spirit Tarot Guidebook

The Unbridled Spirit Tarot comes packaged in a solid box with a magnetic closure and a 201-paged, full-colour guidebook called, “Tending the Unbridled Spirit.” The book, written by Tina Tack Anderson, is as easy to read as the deck. I like that on opening the book you get to meet the author and the artist. I’ve mentioned before that I find that a great way to introduce a deck.

In the Introduction Tina Tack Anderson explains that, “This tarot deck and its accompanying guidebook are a celebration of the relationship between horses and humankind,” and it definitely presents that way. Even scenes that depict horses involved in leisure pursuits that I’m not overly comfortable with I can still see how they are part of the story.

After the Introduction you’ll find a chapter on Tarot Basics. Here she answers many tarot-based frequently asked questions such as how to shuffle, where to read, whether a deck needs to be gifted, and so on. To summarise her approach is easy — do as you please.

A man in a yellow jacket and cap places a blue ribbon on a shelf in a barn, beside several trophies and ribbons. A horse looks out from a stall, with a goblet and toolbox nearby. King of Cups from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot is written below.
A richly dressed family stands near a horse-drawn carriage under an ornate archway in the Unbridled Spirit Tarot. An elder waves from the carriage, and a banner with ten pentacles hangs above, suggesting wealth and legacy.

Next are chapters on Deck Care and Use of Your Cards and Spreads. If you include the ten suggestions given for the Three-card draw, which I am inclined to do, then there are many, many spreads included in the guidebook. Two are created for the deck – The Unbridled Spirit Spread and Go for the Gold Spread. I thought that this latter spread, which “was created to help you ease some of those pre-competition fears,” might be easily adaptable to goals rather than horse events. However, I didn’t find it to be that way in practice.

Card Meanings

The final chapters are dedicated to the card meanings, starting with the Major Arcana. Both the Minor and Major Arcana receive the same attention. The tarot title and card image title are followed by three paragraphs. The first is “Unbridled Spirit of the Message” which explains the card title and the upright meaning. Second is “With Blinders On” which covers the reversed meanings. Finally there is a “Connection Exercise,” which offers suggestions on how to deepen your connection with the card.

A tarot card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot titled The Hierophant shows a bearded man and a horse on stage. The horse spells “JIMKE” with blocks as an audience watches, with charts and a crown displayed in the background.

Example: V The Hierophant

The image title is “Beautiful Jim Key’s Lessons.” 

Unbridled Spirit of the Message:  Beautiful Jim Key and his trainer, William Key, appeared in front of crowds during the turn of the twentieth century. Through displays of incredible tasks completed by the horse, William Key taught others about training through humane methods rather than force. The duo got two million children to join the American Humane Education Society with the Jim Key Band of Mercy. This group set out to encourage the world to treat animals more kindly. The spirit of the Hierophant encourages us to look around at those setting good examples and learn what lesson we can from them. Try to be that good for others in need. The world will be far more beautiful for it.

The Connection Exercise suggests you take time to reflect on the best advice you’ve received. The takeaway is to then consider how you can help others as others have helped you.

I like this approach to The Hierophant. When I read that Jim Keys was a self-taught vet and former slave who chose kindness over a whip it added even more to that impression.

A card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot, XVIII - The Moon depicts a horse with a flowing mane standing in a pond beneath a full moon; its watery reflection forms a fish. Glowing orbs and grassy mounds complete this mystical scene.
A woman in a dark cowboy hat and patterned shirt stands beside a brown horse, gently holding its face. Behind them, ribbons, a rider on horseback, and a heart pierced by three swords evoke the Unbridled Spirit Tarot. The card reads 3 of Swords.

Final thoughts on the Unbridled Spirit Tarot

Through using the Unbridled Spirit Tarot I’ve reminisced, I’ve dealt with some pretty raw emotions, I’ve increased my mythological and general knowledge, and I’ve been amazed by Dianita’s amazing talent. Her ability to capture the essence of the horses she paints is remarkable. Hence my impromptu art show in the middle of a lunch. There are few decks I would confidently do that with and hope to get a favourable response. If you’re curious the other that comes straight to mind is the Forest of Enchantment.

Because of the amazing artwork, this deck would be great for any horse lover, not just those that read tarot. It could even influence the former to become the latter because it makes the tarot so approachable. That might seem fanciful on my behalf, but I had my husband comfortably interpreting tarot cards in the middle of a busy food court, so my experience suggests it’s possible. I fancy that!

Summaries

Unbridled Spirit Tarot cards

ArtistDianita aka Diana Vargas Sampieri
Card Size7cm x 11.75cm
Card StockLinen
ShuffleEasy to shuffle in any manner
Fan & Flip ThroughA bit clumpy to fan and flip through
SuitsPentacles, Cups, Swords and Wands
CourtKing, Queen, Knight & Page
Strength / JusticeStrength VIII; Justice XI
Miscellaneous Comes with a Llewellyn single-card holder

Unbridled Spirit Tarot Guidebook

Written byTina Tack Anderson
Pages201 pp
AppearanceFull colour, A5 sized book
SpreadsSingle-card draw
Three-card draw (10 variations)
Celtic Cross (10 cards)
Horseshoe Spread (7 cards)
The Unbridled Spirit Spread (8 cards)
Go for the Gold Spread (6 cards)
A tarot deck box titled Unbridled Spirit Tarot, featuring Dianita’s vivid illustration of a woman in vibrant clothing riding a black horse. The Unbridled Spirit Tarot is created by Tina Tack Anderson.

Publishing Details

Created by:

Tina Tack Anderson with artwork by Dianita

Pictured Version:

Published by Llewellyn Books in 2025

ISBN 13: 978-0-7387-7166-3

Websites:

Tina Tack Anderson

Dianita

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8 Comments

  • Dianita

    22 June 2025 at 6:10 am Reply

    Thank you so, so much for your support! I felt so excited when you included our deck in your blog, it gave hope that someone was hoping to see it finished 🥰You know, artist mind and weird self steem! It makes me incredibly happy that you enjoy the deck. And of course, extremely happy that you liked the art!

    I wanted to tell you about the details you were curious about in some of the cards:

    For 7 of Pentacles I wanted to show a bountiful harvest framing the preparation of the soil for a future harvest. Since I had been watching lots of shows for growing food at home during the pandemic years (I started working on this deck in 2021), and I did start growing some stuff at home during those years, it weirdly influenced my perception of this card. The preparation of the soil is the most annoying part for me, but there won’t be even a plant coming out if I don’t do it!

    The stars of the Chariot were actually inspired on the RW card! Those cards were my foundation, and I did love those stars. I noticed that it has different styles, so I went with that =) . Funny fact: I LOVE Elisabeth E. Alba and her work! We’re both fantasy artists so we are connected in social media for a few years now. I have to thank her, since she was one of the artists that were my support net during this project and her creativity, dedication and hard work were so inspiring and kept me going every day until it was over. She’s tremendously dedicated and passionate, I’m so excited to see how much love people have for her tarot illustrations!

    Again, thank you so much for all your love and for the time you poured into writing about our deck! It’s not perfect, and I admit that I was learning a lot while I was working on every card and it shows, but it was made with so much love! I hope that this deck keeps reaching people’s hearts ❤️

    Lots of love for you! Big big hugs!

    • Mel

      23 June 2025 at 10:42 am Reply

      Hi Dianita, Thank you for both coming on here and reading my post and taking the time to comment. It means the world and I’m sure people will love reading the additional information you have provided. I understand your artist mind, my writer’s mind is the same.

      I love how things come full circle too. I put Elisabeth Alba’s work alongside yours which felt like such an unusual choice (but I trusted what I felt called to do) and yet I found a connection and then you mention you have a connection with her. It shows how connected we all are and I think that is such an important message. Your artwork has really touched me and as I said in the post the way you managed to capture the essence of each horse is incredible. You brought each one to life.

      Thank you for the time, love and dedication you put into this deck. You and Tina Tack Anderson were a great team. Fantastic artwork supported by a great guide book. I appreciate you both so much. This will be a much gifted deck.

      • Dianita

        24 July 2025 at 10:19 am Reply

        I really appreciate every one of your words! Every day I keep learning from the Tarot community, not only about the cards but also how much meaning and hope they bring to people’s lives. I hope that these cards keep touching people’s hearts in meaningful ways!

        One of the things I can’t grow accustomed to is the uncertainty of not knowing how people are receiving the art. When I got the thumbs up for the last images and wrapped up this project I didn’t know what to expect. Waiting for almost a year and a half to present it to the world was nerve-wracking! Reviews like yours really make every minute of work worth it. I appreciate you and your kindness 🥰Thank you so, so much again!

  • Tina Tack Anderson

    17 June 2025 at 7:46 pm Reply

    Thank you so much for your kindness! I’m so glad that my deck has done exactly what I’d hoped for the readers: sparked creativity, evoked emotion, and made them curious about the images in the scenes! It was truly a work of heart for me, and I’m so eternally grateful that Dianita was able to bring life to the images the way only she can!

    I appreciate you so much. Thank you, and happy shuffling!

  • sbe

    13 June 2025 at 4:25 am Reply

    OH WOW! Just seeing these images made me teary, too. I’m not a rider. I used to be very scared of horses after a frightening experience. But my daughter has ridden for most of her life (hunter-jumper, then equitation/dressage), so I’ve been around them a lot since then. I [mostly] have gotten over my fears, and I love horse energy. I’ve even taken a few lessons! The 3 of Swords and Ace of Cups…just amazing, those made me cry. And that 8 of Cups! I can see that this will be an emotional reader. It is absolutely on my list now. Just beautiful. PS: love that the author’s middle name is Tack. Thanks for sharing, Mel.

    • Mel

      13 June 2025 at 8:51 am Reply

      Hi Shaney,
      My initial reaction when I saw this deck was coming was YAYYYYYYYY!!!! my horse deck but I really wasn’t prepared for what arrived. The only other deck that has hit me so emotionally, but for totally different reasons, was the Under the Oak tarot. If you do add it to your collection I’d love to hear how you find working with it.

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