Tarot Symbolism: Common Symbols & Colors Explained
The images on tarot cards are full of symbols. Learn a dozen and every card becomes easier to read.
Why Symbols Matter
Tarot is a visual language. When you can't remember a card's meaning, its symbols often tell you — water speaks of emotion, mountains of challenge, the sun of clarity. This guide follows the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition that most modern decks use.
Common Symbols
| Symbol | Common meaning | Seen in |
|---|---|---|
| Pillars | Duality, a threshold between worlds | High Priestess, Justice |
| Water | Emotions, intuition, the subconscious | Cups, The Star |
| Mountains | Challenges, goals, achievement | The Fool, The Hermit |
| The sun | Clarity, vitality, success | The Sun |
| The moon | Intuition, illusion, cycles | The Moon |
| Infinity sign | Limitless potential, balance | The Magician, Strength |
| Lion | Courage, passion, instinct | Strength |
| Roses and lilies | Desire (roses) and purity (lilies) | The Magician |
| Wheel | Cycles, fate, change | Wheel of Fortune |
| Lightning | Sudden revelation, upheaval | The Tower |
Colors in Tarot
| Color | Common meaning |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Optimism, intellect, energy |
| Red | Passion, action, desire |
| Blue | Calm, intuition, emotion |
| White | Purity, truth, new beginnings |
| Black | Mystery, the unknown, endings |
| Green | Growth, nature, abundance |
| Gray | Neutrality, wisdom, ambiguity |
| Purple | Spirituality, mastery |
How to Read Symbols in a Spread
Notice where figures look and move: toward the future (often the right) or the past (left). Repeated symbols across a spread — water in several cards, for example — point to the dominant theme. Learn more in how to read tarot cards.
Directions and Body Language
Figures facing left are often read as looking to the past; facing right, toward the future. Open arms suggest receptivity, crossed arms or blindfolds — as in the Two of Swords — suggest avoidance or blocked perception. Seated figures signal stability; walking or riding figures signal movement and change.
Numbers Hidden in the Art
Count objects in the image: the Ten of Cups shows ten cups in a rainbow, the Eight of Wands eight wands in flight. Numbers reinforce the card's place in the suit — see tarot numerology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all tarot decks use the same symbols?
Most modern decks follow the Rider-Waite-Smith symbolism, but artists add their own. Always check your deck's guidebook.
What does water mean in tarot?
Water usually represents emotions, intuition and the subconscious — it's why Cups is the Water suit.
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