Oriens tarot
The Oriens Tarot was created by Ambi Sun, a Malaysian Chinese designer and illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia, who holds a Diploma of Graphic Design from RMIT Australia and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design. Ambi first encountered tarot at age 12, and after moving to Australia in 2016, dedicated time to studying tarot while freelancing as a designer. The deck was initially funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign and has gone through multiple editions, including a 3rd edition indie release. It was subsequently picked up by Rockpool Publishing for worldwide distribution as the "Oriens Animal Tarot," with a pocket edition released in 2024.
Official Website →Art Style & Visual Character
The deck features 78 unique digitally rendered animals in a luminous, cosmic aesthetic. Ambi's masterful use of color and contrast lifts subjects clear off their canvases — animals appear phosphorescent, moonlight creeps from behind mountains, and whole scenes glisten. Clean lines and thoughtful composition reflect her graphic design background, while fine detail and playful storytelling speak to her innate creativity. The overall aesthetic is ethereal, nature-based, and richly colorful with a mystical, almost bioluminescent quality.
Core Concept & Symbolism
Each of the 78 cards features a unique animal whose card meaning grafts onto the nature and behavior of the animal itself — not what is popularly represented about the animal in culture. This zoological approach to tarot symbolism means that the deck maps animal behaviors, habitats, and natural characteristics to the traditional tarot archetypes. The result is a nature-first interpretive framework where understanding the animal's real-world traits illuminates the card's meaning. Ambi's copious guidebook notes explain the reasoning behind each animal assignment.
Reading Experience
The deck is praised for being suitable for beginners, enthusiasts, and advanced tarot readers alike. Community forums and review sites express enthusiasm for its cosmic aesthetics and detailed animal illustrations. The Tarot Tarts review highlights the deck's beauty and thoughtful animal-to-card mappings. Ambi has also used community support to increase charitable donations to organizations helping minority groups. Readers are advised to study the artist's detailed notes to fully understand each card's animal correspondence, which adds an educational dimension to the reading experience.
Best Used For
- Animal lovers and nature-based spiritual practitioners
- Readers who appreciate cosmic, luminous digital art
- Beginners seeking an intuitive, visually engaging first deck
- Study of animal symbolism and behavior as a tarot framework
- Those who connect with nature spirits and animal guides
- Collectors of indie and Kickstarter tarot decks
Not Ideal For
- Readers who prefer traditional human-figure-based tarot imagery
- Those seeking classic RWS or Marseille-style artwork
- Practitioners wanting established esoteric correspondences (Kabbalah, astrology)
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The 22 trump cards representing life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
The 56 suit cards reflecting day-to-day events and practical influences
Wands
Fire element — passion, creativity, ambition, and spiritual growth
Cups
Water element — emotions, relationships, intuition, and inner feelings
Swords
Air element — intellect, conflict, truth, and mental clarity
Pentacles
Earth element — material world, finances, health, and practical matters
