Color is a powerful tool for evoking emotion, expressing thought, and influencing perception. In Tarot, it becomes an unspoken language—subtle, intuitive, and profound. Yet color is not universal in meaning. Its symbolism depends on context, and its impact is shaped by three layers of response:
- Biological (red = urgency or fear),
- Cultural (red = vitality or good fortune in many Eastern traditions), and
- Personal (our lived experiences and emotional associations).
In Tarot, color adds another dimension to the story. It builds upon the imagery already present, enhancing the mood and message of a card. When a certain color dominates the scene, its energy may be influencing the querent more strongly than anything else.
Each hue carries its own vibration. When used consciously, color becomes a silent companion—guiding the reader beyond form into feeling.
Let this guide help you cultivate a personal connection with the colors most often seen in Tarot. Let this guide help you build a felt relationship with each color and recognize how mood, and message are infused into every shade
🔴 Red
Keywords: Passion, Vitality, Power, Danger
Red is the lifeblood of will. It pulses with desire and heat, summoning strength, seduction, and survival. In Tarot, red excites. It pushes us to act, to fight, to protect. But it also warns: fire uncontrolled can consume.
🟠 Orange
Keywords: Creativity, Confidence, Enthusiasm, Temptation
Orange blends red’s power with yellow’s joy. It is the color of flirtation, risk, and radiant potential. In Tarot, orange signals excitement and charm—but also distractions and impulsive indulgence. It asks, “What thrills you—and what steals your focus?”
🟡 Yellow
Keywords: Intellect, Clarity, Optimism, Caution
Yellow is the mind’s sunlight—bright, analytical, and alert. It brings clarity of thought, cheer, and insight. But too much yellow can blind, leading to ego or over-analysis. It lifts or exposes, depending on how it shines.
🟢 Green
Keywords: Growth, Healing, Abundance, Envy
Green is the color of life’s return. It calms, soothes, and restores. In Tarot, green is hope, the heart, and nature’s rhythms. Yet in excess, it turns jealous, clinging to what it fears to lose. Green teaches us to grow without grasping.
🔵 Blue
Keywords: Peace, Wisdom, Truth, Sadness
Blue slows the breath and steadies the soul. It is the voice of truth, inner calm, and spiritual surrender. Blue in Tarot offers comfort—but it can also mark detachment or melancholy. Still waters run deep, and blue reveals what stirs beneath the surface.
🟣 Indigo
Keywords: Intuition, Mystery, Depth, Transition
Indigo is twilight—a color between worlds. It invites inward vision, dreams, and the unseen. In Tarot, it signals spiritual depth, change, and veiled truths. It asks you to trust what cannot be proven, to seek wisdom in the unknown.
🟣 Violet
Keywords: Spirituality, Transformation, Majesty, Sacrifice
Violet crowns the spectrum, symbolizing divine connection. It speaks of transcendence, mysticism, and sacred purpose. In Tarot, violet marks spiritual callings—but may also hint at isolation or over-identification with the ethereal. It beckons toward the soul’s summit.
⚪ White
Keywords: Purity, Potential, Illumination, Surrender
White is the blank canvas, the open gate. It carries no bias, only light. In Tarot, white is spiritual innocence, clarity, and new beginnings. It clears the path—but beware: white can also conceal, appearing empty where much stirs beneath.
⚫ Black
Keywords: Mystery, Protection, Power, Endings
Black is the cosmic womb—where endings become beginnings. It absorbs all, conceals all, and guards sacred truths. In Tarot, black demands reverence. It is the void before rebirth, the night before the dawn. To fear black is to fear transformation.
⚫ Grey
Keywords: Ambiguity, Balance, Wisdom, Delay
Grey is the color of clouds and crossroads. It neither burns nor soothes. In Tarot, grey is liminality—a pause between certainty and revelation. It invites contemplation, but prolonged grey can become stagnation. Choose, or remain in shadow.
🟤 Brown
Keywords: Grounding, Simplicity, Reliability, Humility
Brown is the earth’s embrace. It speaks of roots, labor, and trust. In Tarot, brown brings realism and support. It centers, stabilizes, and humbles. Though often overlooked, it is the soil from which all other colors rise.
Let your eyes wander next time you read the cards. What’s the dominant color in the scene? How does it make you feel—To read color is to read emotion.