Colours have a big impact on our feelings and therefore they have been used throughout history to symbolise and emphasise different things. By understanding the meanings of various colours, it will help to understand and interpret the tarot.
For this reason, you probably know more than you can imagine about the different meanings of colours before you even use them in your readings. So whether you’re a newbie tarot reader or if you’ve been studying tarot for years, I hope this article will open your eyes to how paying attention to colours in tarot can deepen your interpretation of the cards.
The Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck is the deck most commonly referred to when discussing tarot card meanings, imagery, and symbolism. It is the most well-known and adapted Tarot system in the world and we also use it mainly here at Tarot Farm. Much of its success is due to the richness of symbolism used in its images that help communicate the meanings of the cards to us, the readers.
If you are working with a tarot deck other than the original RWS deck, please note that colour symbolism or colour choices in different decks may also be purely aesthetic, arbitrary, or follow some other interpretive code or system. RWS colour schemes are typical of Western interpretations of colour culture.
This article does not cover all of the possible colours found in tarot cards or their symbolic meaning, but it does cover some of the more common ones. One thing is for sure, the depth of your tarot readings will increase if you learn the meaning of card colours. Now let’s go through some of the most essential colours. Red, white, yellow, black, green and blue.
When checking tarot cards, you will see the colour red in several cards. Just passing through the Major Arcana, many of the powerful figures such as the Emperor, the Hierophant and the Magician feature the colour red. They are all dressed in magnificent crimson red robes.
This is because red exudes dominance and communicates strength, determination and conviction. It is a sign of leadership and authority.
If you think about it, in our daily lives, what are you trying to communicate with the colour red? Red is authority, telling you to watch out or stop at an intersection. Wear a red dress or lipstick if you want to send a strong, confident message to the opposite sex. Our subconscious understanding of the potency of red is deeply ingrained.
As you can see, learning the meaning of colours in tarot is not as difficult as you might think, especially when you consider how much we already unconsciously know about colours. Since the tarot is intended to represent the human condition in all its diversity, the colour red is used in the same way throughout the RWS deck.
Let’s take a look at another card and how does red represent power and strength in tarot? Take a look at the Eight of Swords.
The Eight of Swords in the minor arcana comes to show that a person is being sabotaged by their own fears and thoughts. The card depicts a figure in a red cloak, a woman blindfolded and bound.
You have to control yourself. It is necessary to remove the blinders from your eyes, see the real situation you are in, analyse the available options and work to change your destiny.
As a symbol of the required bravery and strength, the figure is dressed in red.
By now it should be clear that the associations we make with different colours are deeply ingrained in our culture. The colour white is a great representation of how we all have a preconceived notion of what it means, even if we haven’t paid attention to it. As a result, you can be sure that Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Waite, the creators of the RWS tarot deck, were motivated to start conversations with a variety of colours.
What are the occasions when we dress in white? Rituals such as baptisms, first communions, weddings and New Year’s Eve (at least for us Brazilians) for example. White symbolises new beginnings, chastity, cleanliness and innocence.
Let’s see how white does in the tarot deck.
When I think of white, the first card that comes to mind is Temperance. Does she wear a beautiful white robe? Temperance talks about balance, peace and patience. When it appears in a tarot reading, it’s a sign to get in touch with who you are and what you value.
The Eight of Swords in the minor arcana comes to show that a person is being sabotaged by their own fears and thoughts. The card depicts a figure in a red cloak, a woman blindfolded and bound.
You have to control yourself. It is necessary to remove the blinders from your eyes, see the real situation you are in, analyse the available options and work to change your destiny.
As a symbol of the required bravery and strength, the figure is dressed in red.
By now it should be clear that the associations we make with different colours are deeply ingrained in our culture. The colour white is a great representation of how we all have a preconceived notion of what it means, even if we haven’t paid attention to it. As a result, you can be sure that Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Waite, the creators of the RWS tarot deck, were motivated to start conversations with a variety of colours.
What are the occasions when we dress in white? Rituals such as baptisms, first communions, weddings and New Year’s Eve (at least for us Brazilians) for example. White symbolises new beginnings, chastity, cleanliness and innocence.
Let’s see how white does in the tarot deck.
When I think of white, the first card that comes to mind is Temperance. Does she wear a beautiful white robe? Temperance talks about balance, peace and patience. When it appears in a tarot reading, it’s a sign to get in touch with who you are and what you value.
So let’s take a look at the Fool, which is a card filled with the colour yellow. The Fool card shows a young man standing at the edge of the cliff. The yellow sky behind him means he is prepared for whatever lies ahead. The white sun behind him symbolises enlightenment on his journey.
Seeing the card as sunny, cheerful and hopeful, it is fitting that the background colour of this card is the yellow of the sun. Next, let’s take a look at the Queen of Wands who is wearing yellow. The Queen of Wands is a card that brings extroversion into your personality.
Her yellow dress and a small smile on her face give the impression of positivity, joy and friendliness. If the Queen of Wands were wearing, say, purple or black, we might not be able to infer that meaning so easily from this card.
If Yellow resembles the Sun. Now let’s talk about the opposite – darkness and black colour.
When we consider the colour black, what thoughts come to mind? Death, sadness, loneliness and grief are emotions associated with the colour black, right?
Some of the most feared and unfavourable tarot cards, such as the Tower, Devil and Death, feature a lot of black in them. Even if you cannot identify what the specific meaning of these black cards is, you can be sure that they have a negative connotation. And sure enough, it was planned that way.
The figure of the 9 of Swords is sitting in the dark on his bed. The dramatic black colour in the background highlights the heavy emotions the person is going through. This person is overwhelmed by anxiety that prevents him from sleeping.
Another colour that you can often see in tarot cards is blue. It is often associated with intuition, communication and spiritual understanding. Blue is also often associated with water and therefore has many of the same symbolisms as the element. Water is receptive, purifying, fluid and adaptable.
Take for example The Priestess. A woman crowned with a blue robe is seated facing two pillars. Your spiritual understanding is highlighted with the colour Blue and invites you to make the interpretation that this card wants you to listen to your intuition.
Another card that features a lot of Blue is the Star. It is a card associated with inspiration and spirituality. A lot of blue is present at the bottom and in the water. There is a calming, positive and balanced feeling to the letter.
Finally, let’s take a look at the Green colour. The colour green brings to mind all things that grow. Almost all plants take on the green colour in their early stages. Therefore, it is a colour of abundance, fertility and healing.
If you look at the card 4 of Cups in the minor arcana it indicates the existence of good things in our lives that we cannot notice at the moment. As sad as the picture of the card is, the green of this card is telling us that there is an abundance of good things around you.
Colours in tarot cards can symbolise different things depending on the specific card and the context in which it is being interpreted. Some generalisations of common symbolic meanings associated with tarot colours are:
Now that’s it. You have successfully reached the end of this basic guide to tarot colour symbolism. I hope this deepens your connection to the card illustrations and meanings and shows that there are layers and dimensions to tarot worth delving into.
Good reading!
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