Color Meanings and Attributes Within the Tarot
Color meanings within the tarot – what can they tell us? Colors tell us direction, or whether something is warm or cold, they can offer us insight regarding personality traits, and they can even relate to planets and zodiacal signs. Colors can tell us a myriad of other things as well once we understand how their various definitions apply to our card readings. Read on, the descriptions and attributes are provided farther down the page.
Color is like many other things pertaining to cartomancy… you may or may not choose to work with it. Like all card readers, you will work with the specific properties of tarot that you feel apply best to you; and of course you are free to add to your tools of choice at any time you choose.
It’s safe to assume that most tarot decks are designed to provide an impact of meaning within each and every color used. It’s a good idea to work with those attributes – to give them life as it were. This article covers much of what you need to know to begin integrating color meanings into your readings. You only need to know the attributes of the colors and pay attention to them when you read. In the end, it’s all a matter of applying your intuition, as well as the knowledge you’ve gained through experience.
I had performed an in-depth study to derive my own meanings from color within tarot images some time ago; I now share the results with you. I went broad-spectrum within this presentation.
Color Meanings
White: Refers to the feminine aspect of the Moon, positivity, purity, innocence, wholeness, new beginnings, spirituality, virginity, kindness, cleansing, completion, faith, renewal, peace, safety, communication, coordination, organization, versatility, illumination, brilliance, Heaven, spirit, aether, cleanliness, softness, winter, putting one’s best presentation of self forward, is representative of white light (which contains all other colors); and clarity of logic and thought.
White Negatives: May refer to being high strung, sterility, blandness, feelings of anxiety, or mourning.
Chakra: crown.
_____________
Black: Mystery, night and darkness, potentiality, distance, regeneration, exploration, responsibility, subconscious, buried deep within the psyche, transformation, renewal, rebirth, reflection, meditation, hidden strengths, spirit, aether; and a breakthrough revelation after a period of difficulty.
Black Negatives: Feeling bound within authority, slow change, slowness, limitations, restriction, destructiveness, dark secrets, concealment, negativity, pessimism, upheaval, obsession, a thirst for power, void, fear, oppression, death, mourning, ignorance, and evil.
Chakra: root/base.
_____________
Red: Fire, heat, energy, force, strength, courage, passion, ambition, motivation, enthusiasm, justice, urgency, speed, activity, intensity, sacred, affluence, abundance, sexuality, wealth, power, prestige, love, blood (as a life source), inspiration, vitality, instinctual urges, protection (offered us by Christ’s sacrifice); and is representative of virtues.
Red Negatives: Defending one’s life or survival; lust, embarrassment, anger, warning, sacrifice, ‘stop’, danger, and death.
Chakra: root/base.
_____________
Orange: Courage, fire, energy, motivation, vibrant, vitality, joy, flamboyant, uninhibited, drive, activity, attention-getting, extrovert, creativity, change, the season of autumn, ambition, enthusiasm, spontaneity, warmth, sociable, friendly, kind, tolerant, stimulation, attraction, plenty, assertive, excitement, thoughtful, outspoken, free-spirited, compassionate, passion-fired, curious, adaptable, sympathetic, encouragement, happiness, balancing sexual desire with logic, open, demonstrative, communicative, successful, and healthy.
Orange Negatives: Deceit, distrust, lacks patience, show-off, disloyal, dislikes being alone, aloof, arrogant, self-centered, pessimistic, superficial.
Chakra: sacral.
_____________
Yellow: Life, life force, the mind, air, fire, creativity, imagination, brilliance, joyfulness, happiness, glowing, spirituality, optimistic, peace, logic & reason, cheerful, clarity, hope, identity, friendship, heat, summer, intellect, vitality, self control, purposeful, organized, proud, idealistic, in control, confident, energetic, and enthusiastic.
Yellow Negatives: Caution, stern, impatient, controlling, overly critical, judgmental, cowardice, betrayal, and deceitfulness.
Chakra: solar plexus.
_____________
Green: Growth, earth, life, freshness, energy, healing, quick change, peace, vigor, hope, the season of spring, nature, refreshing, youth, rejuvenation, material possessions, generosity, prosperity, learning, balance, ambition, charity, money, renewal, resurrection, health, affluence, harmony, fertility, Christmas, finances, environmental concern, abundance, luck, success, wellness and well-being, safety, stability, forgiveness, endurance, compassion, true unconditional love; and it’s a sign to proceed (as like the traffic light color). Within nature, all that is animal, vegetable, and mineral.
Green Negatives: Greed, jealousy, envy, inexperience, unfortunate, and misfortune.
Chakra: heart.
_____________
Blue: Emotion, water, air, truth, logic, reason, intuitive, spirituality, power, authority, psychic, subconscious, cosmic, harmony, peace, balance in spirit, communication, healing, honesty, sky, wisdom, loyalty, fidelity, faith, meditation, religion, growth, affluence, prosperity, money, patriotic, wealth, winning, happiness, fertility of the mind, knowledge, employment, tranquility, serenity, patience, understanding, philosophy, order, orderliness, devotion, sincerity, immortality, sleep, protection while sleeping, twilight, astral projection, optimism, calm, stability, unity, trust, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, and technology.
Blue Negatives: Cold, irresponsible, cruelty, depression, sad, and aloof.
Chakra: throat.
_____________
Purple: Spirit, spirituality, aether, water, compassion, power, luxury, dignity, elegance, spiritual leader or teacher, possessing of a spiritual awareness, nobility, royalty, ceremony, piety, sanctity, sentimentality, abundance, wisdom, grand ideals, independent, strong, spiritual protection, magic, healing, psychic ability, the sub-conscious mind, mystical, mystery, transformation, and enlightenment.
Purple Negatives: Cruelty, arrogance, restlessness, decadence, conceit, tension, sadness, and pomposity.
Chakra: crown.
_____________
Brown: The Earth, earth, stability, grounding, wholesomeness, rooted, down to earth, material possessions, concentration, focus, dedication, commitment, pets and animals, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, responsibility, slow-paced, dependable, physically strong, hard-working, elbow-grease, comfort, endurance, industrious, simplicity, the material world, and the mundane.
Brown Negatives: Stagnant, lazy, dirty, irresponsible, boring, dull, slow to a fault, unreliable, broken, defective, weak.
Chakra: sacral, root/base and earth star; also, when strongly yellowish, the solar plexus.
_____________
Grey: Wisdom, balance, infinite possibility (as a combination of black and white), inner truth/knowledge, practicality, reliability, mature, calm, stability, cool, conservative, neutral, indefinite, modesty, compromise, uniformity, conformity, and advanced in age.
Grey Negatives: Boring, depression, poor health, fear, indecision, stressful, anxiety, confusion, sorrow, dullness, lacking in identity, narrow minded, unwilling to compromise, emotional distancing or detachment.
Chakra: root/base and earth star; also, when silvery, the crown.
_____________
Pink: Innocent love, unconditional love, joy, happiness, affectionate, nurturing, romance, beginnings, new, fresh, intimate, feminine, caring, compassion, innocence, childlike, relaxation, contentment, thoughtful, purity, softness, beauty, grace, tenderness, kindness, calm, young, acceptance, understanding, give and take, idealistic, and nostalgia.
Pink Negatives: Naivete, rose-colored glasses, a childlike outlook, a childish attitude, childlike ignorance.
Chakra: heart.
_____________
Indigo: Wisdom, depth, mastery of spirit and self, religion, integrity, equal justice for all, ability to access inner wisdom, inner knowledge, ritual, intuition, thinking outside of the box, meditation, preferring or needing solitude, management of personal issues, tradition, organization, structure, introspective, an ability to use honed intuitive skill to find answers; sincerity, and devotion.
Indigo Negatives: A tendency towards melodrama, addiction-prone, workaholic, overzealous.
Chakra: pineal/third eye.
_____________
Astrological Attributes Associated with Color in Tarot
Pink:
Astrological attributes – Mercury, Chiron (which is a
minor planet), and the Moon.
Star signs: Virgo and Cancer.
White:
Astrological attributes – Mercury, Chiron; and the Moon.
Star signs: Virgo and Cancer (the same as pink).
Red:
Astrological attribute – Mars.
Star sign: Aries.
Orange:
Astrological attribute – Mercury.
Star sign: Gemini.
Yellow:
Astrological attribute – The Sun.
Star sign: Leo.
Green:
Astrological attributes – Venus and Ceres (Ceres is both a dwarf planet and a comet).
Star signs: Libra and Taurus.
Blue:
Astrological attribute – Jupiter.
Star sign: Sagittarius.
Indigo:
Astrological attributes – Jupiter and Neptune.
Star sign: Pisces.
Grey:
Astrological attributes – Jupiter and Neptune.
Star sign: Pisces (the same as indigo).
Purple:
Astrological attributes – Saturn, Uranus; and the Moon.
Star signs: Aquarius and Cancer.
Brown:
Astrological attribute – Venus.
Star sign: Libra.
Black:
Astrological attributes – Saturn, Mars; and Pluto, which is a
plutoid.
Star signs: Capricorn and Scorpio.
Image Chart: Direction as Associated with Color in Tarot