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Tarot SymbolismThe Meanings of Colors
Color symbolism is widely used in older Tarot decks such as the Rider-Waite or Thoth decks. Its not likely to be used in many of the more modern decks, and those modern ones that do employ color are likely to use aural or astrological color meanings instead of those expressed here. (Check the booklet that comes with your Tarot deck to be sure.)
Black: Fertility, unknown, can also represent disease and intrigue or wisdom
White: Idealism, purity, also "starvation", barrenness
Grey: Things that are indestructible
Brown: Tradition, custom
Red: Family, lineages, posterity
Green: Growth, development, also can mean money
Orange: Thoughtless selfishness/self-centeredness. Being forceful and grabby and not realizing one is stepping on others' toes.
Maroon: Crafty, clever selfishness. Knowing one is stepping on others' toes and doing it anyway.
Yellow: Physical objects. Can also represent thoughts made solid/true or ideas given form
Blue: Piety, guidance from the Divine or with thought to the Divine.
Purple: Logic, rational thought.
Indigo: Deep meditation
Silver: Imagination, thoughts, ideas
Gold: Fundamental, indisputable facts
Peach: Humanity, people
Mixed Colors
In older decks, the "mixture" happens as lines or a profusion of outlines. The most common color mixed is black, which represents the meaning of the other color put to practical purpose. (Red + Black = practical use of family. Green + Extensive black outlining = growth put to practical use as in investments or vegetable gardening (versus flower gardening etc.)
The Meanings of Select Images
Butterfly: Rebirth, drastic change in personality or situation.
Rabbit: Growth, reproduction
Deer: Grace, gentleness
Serpent: Snares of vice, also wisdom or traps
Lion: Strength, courage, also represents summer.
Eagle: Strength. Also represents fall.
Angel: Piety, the Divine. Also represents winter.
Ox: Industriousness, ambition, steadfastness. Also represents spring.
Birds: Unknown birds can represent thoughts, ideas, or, in the Rider-Waite deck, add black to the sky to indicate practicality.
Sun: Represents consistency, energy, regularity, masculinity.
Full Moon: Fullness of intuition, strength of instinct (which might wax or wane). Represents feminine powers at its peak.
Crescent Moon: Chaos, changeability, mystery. If it is at the top of the card, it is governing and controlling the meaning of the card. If it is at the bottom & especially at the foot of one of the characters, it is controlled or understood. Represents feminine powers especially their tendency to wane and grow and be rather unpredictable. Represents the same about intuitive powers as they're seen as similar.
North Star: The Divine. Something especially consistent, stable, and trustworthy.
Morning Star: Linked to Diana, represents the proud but chaste aspects of femininity. (is Venus)
Evening Star: Linked to Aphrodite, represents the sensual and sexual aspects of femininity. (Is Venus)
Stars In General: Minds, thoughts, people, influences. Something that seems minor yet catalyzes a major reaction or pulls much influence.
Rainbow: Promises, spiritual bridges.
Grapes: Luxury, wealth, affluence
Apples or Pears: Sin, vice
Wild, Twisted Trees: The supporting factors of the situation are troublesome and possibly weak. The past was rocky and unstable. The situation is wrought with fighting & instability. Things aren't/haven't been taken care of properly. They're in new territory.
Tame, Cultivated Trees: Care, stability, lack of fighting, lack of instability. Any problems are against the backdrop of successfully resolved conflicts. Can add the influence of domestication or diplomacy.
Vines/Creepers: Wild, untamed, new.
Flowers: Unexpected beauty or goodness that may not be physically practical but lifts the spirits nonetheless.
Mountains: Obstacles, difficulties
Cliffs: Sudden removal of support or drastic differences cut through the situation
Rivers/Flowing Streams: Mild obstacles, maybe disapproving energy
Rapids: Chaos, danger
Wild Ocean: Chaos, complete lack of stable points, complete lack of control. Confusion
Stagnant/Still Sea: Helplessness (without wind, a sailboat can't do anything). Being stranded and forgotten
Stone: Hard, unforgiving, but also stability and solidarity
Large Stones: Immovable obstacles, things that can't be fought head-on.
Small Stones: Individualities within a group of people making themselves known, trying to exert influence.
Clouds: Thoughts, ideas, what's on the mind
Bridges: A way over or around an obstacle
Castles: A place of protection and refuge
Cities: Represents city, also commerce, banking, hustle & bustle, culture
Towers: Controlling aspects, or positions of power and control, usually held by someone other than the querant
Ships: Commerce, trade
Yachts: Entrepreneurs, risk-takers
Small Boats: Dabblers, the curious
Mills: Local production, also the change from an emotional (watermill) or an intellectual (windmill) situation to a real, physical situation. Emotions are thoughts given real, physical form. Also can represent independence
Flags: Egotism, individuality
General Meanings of the Tarot Suits
Pentacles: Money or education
Swords: Ideas, honor, obligation, dedication
Cups: Family, friends, emotions
Wands: Work, day-to-day activities, production, productivity, accomplishments, day-to-day life
Meanings of Card Sections
Top of Card: The factors dominating the mind, dominating people's thoughts or concerns
Bottom of Card: The factors that caused the situation, or cannot be changed
Left Part of Card: The past
Right Part of Card: The future
Center of Card: How the four previous areas join. Usually the center is the character.
This page courtesy of §håðów Ôƒ Thë wîtçh and is an Indigo Bridge Cooperative shared page.
Tarot Intro
What IS the Tarot?
What do the cards mean?
What is a Tarot spread?
HOW and WHY does the Tarot work?
What kinds of questions can I ask while working with the Tarot?
Can the Tarot tell me WHEN something will happen?
Is a Tarot reading always right?
What does it mean when the reading doesn't seem to answer my question?
Will another reading about the same problem give me the same information?
What kind of information can I obtain from a Tarot reading?
Tarot and Your Future
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