- Deck name: Celestial Unicorn Tarot
- Authors: Calista and Leeza Robertson
- Artist: Eugene Smith
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, August 2025
- RRP: GB £25.26 (Amazon UK)/ US $28.99 (Amazon US)
- ISBN: 073877118X
- Reviewed by: Beth Rees (Instagram: https://instagram.com/neurodivergenttarot)
First impressions
When I saw that this deck was coming out, I was immediately drawn to it and kept checking for updates about its release. This is because for years I’d been looking for a unicorn deck that would resonate with me but hadn’t managed to find one. As soon as it was released and came through the post, I was like a child at Christmas – waiting for the workday to be over so I could get stuck in!
This 78-card deck is beautifully eye-catching and colourful, with an array of detail…and that was just the box. The magnetic closure box is easy to open, and thanks to the blue ribbon, removing the cards is straightforward. On opening the box, the stunning artwork on the inside of the box was revealed along with the message ‘With open hearts and tender hooves, we welcome you to the unicorn realm’. Eugene Smith’s art has such an ethereal quality, blending unicorn imagery with celestial and cosmic themes. I felt like it was almost meditative, and helped me build a deeper connection with the cards. If you enjoy bright, bold and beautiful artwork, you will definitely be drawn to this deck. I feel like every time I use this deck, something else catches my eye in the artwork.
Along with the 78 cards, full page A6 guidebook and sturdy box, we also have a blue card stand so if you do a one-card pull, you can display it somewhere you can see it. I thought this was a nice touch from Llewellyn.
This deck is a hybrid; merging traditional tarot wisdom and structure with the intuitive guidance of an oracle deck, infused with the creators’ expertise and passion. This makes it approachable for beginners while still offering depth for experienced tarot readers.
The Guidebook
As mentioned, there is an extensive 188-page, full colour guidebook with upright and reversed card meanings, practical exercises and tarot spreads to try too. The guidebook doesn’t just explain the meanings; it also provides an opportunity to deepen your connection and gives practical exercises too (like connecting to a guardian unicorn).
I really liked how the ‘Introduction’ explained why this deck was different to others and how bringing together the magic of unicorns with the Tarot helps deepen our connection with the ethereal realm. ‘Entering the Unicorn Realm’ goes into more detail about the history of unicorns while ‘Entering the Tarot Realm’ explains the structure, arcanas and suits. This is why the deck would be great for new readers as there’s a ‘back-to-basics’ approach at the start with ‘How to do a Reading,’ and each card meaning has keywords as well as a longer explanation.
Finally, we are given ‘Unicorn Card Spreads’ to try and enjoy. Again, these are suitable for beginners and more experienced readers too.
The Deck
The cards are standard tarot sized and the usual Llewellyn card stock. The card stock feels similar to that of Good Fortune Tarot by Barbara Moore and Jessica Roux. It’s quite thin, and when the cards arrived and I started to shuffle, I found it a bit difficult as they don’t naturally glide over one another like a glossier deck of cards would. That being said, once I separated them all out to have a look and shuffled again, it was a bit easier. I think with use, shuffling and picking will be less of an effort.
I liked that it was a fully illustrated deck. However, at times, I did have to double check if a card was a Major or Minor Arcana, just because each card is like a mini piece of artwork and can be difficult to tell apart. My favourite Major cards were The Unicorn Priestess (High Priestess), The Empress and Death because the imagery seemed to stand out more. Each unicorn seemed to have their own distinct personality, and I felt these cards were more in my Rider Waite Smith comfort zone.
The Minors are equally as stunning with my favourites (strangely!) being the 3 of Swords, 10 of Swords and 2 of Pentacles. I was drawn to the colours, emotion and hints at the RWS in the imagery.
Normally, the suit of Wands is my favourite due to its fiery and forceful nature. However, in this deck, I found the suit to be quite shadowy and dark, while the Swords don’t seem dark enough. I did love how Eugene Smith incorporated the element of fire into the Unicorn’s mane – very clever!
I think if you’re a reader who uses expression or personality a lot in your readings, then you might struggle with this deck. I found it quite hard to determine so had to really look at the eyes of the unicorn to see if I could connect to the emotion within it. Also, the unicorn theme might not suit everyone and therefore connecting to it might be tricky. However, even if it’s not your thing, the artwork is something to be admired.
I looked forward to selecting a card a day and then using the card stand to display it on my desk while I worked. I found myself contemplating the meaning but also daydreaming while looking at the image. It helped me to have small, meditative moments throughout the day which was lovely.
For example, I randomly selected ‘The Lovers’ card one morning and read the guidebook entry. It felt like a warm hug to start the day with. There was also a ‘Heart Art’ exercise to really channel the feeling of love not just to yourself but onto the page too. Perfect for a creative soul like me! I found these exercises to be helpful in creating a lasting connection to the cards and their meanings beyond the imagery.
I enjoyed getting to know the cards and trying out a hybrid tarot and oracle deck. I think it would be a great tool for meditation before bed to capture the calming essence of the unicorns before sleep. I also think, as a creative writer, I would use this deck as a source of inspiration to help me create outside the box. It almost allows for that escape to a more wonderful and magical place.
The Celestial Unicorn Tarot is a visually appealing, beautifully rich deck that invites you to open your heart and connect with your higher self. Its hybrid format and thoughtful guidebook make it accessible for existing and new readers alike. If you love working with unicorns and want to take a deeper dive, this is the deck for you.
About the Creators
Calista is a holistic healer, founder and teacher of Unicorn Healing®, Angel Healing® and Atlantean Crystal Healing®. A former cancer research scientist, she now provides spiritual attunements and unicorn-based insights. Calista’s background in unicorn healing adds a unique layer to the deck, making the user feel even more supported while using it. Visit Calista’s website here.
Leeza Robertson is an established, international best-selling tarot author, enthusiast and deck creator of titles such as the Animal Totem Tarot, Soul Cats and Cirque Du Tarot. Leeza’s incredible knowledge of the tarot and her important insights create real depth and connection to the deck. Visit Leeza’s website here.
Eugene Smith is an illustrator with a fine-art background, who brings the beauty of unicorns and cosmic themes to life through their vivid imagery. His previous work has appeared in tarot decks such as the Edgar Allen Poe Tarot and Tarot in Wonderland. Eugene’s art really brings unicorns to life and gives them such distinct, majestic personalities. Visit Eugene’s website here.
You can purchase the Celestial Unicorn Tarot from Amazon here.
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