Seeing beyond the surface into the language of light
When you look at a tarot or oracle card, what catches your eye first?
Often, before the symbols or the figure or the message… it’s the colour. And that’s no accident. Colours carry energy. They stir emotion. They bypass logic and go straight to feeling — and in divination, they often act as the mood music behind a message.
In fact, colour can shift the whole tone of a reading. Imagine drawing a card that features fire — but it’s set against a pale blue sky versus a black one. That background changes everything.
Let’s explore how colour plays a powerful, often overlooked role in tarot, oracle, and other visual forms of divination.
Why Colour Matters
Colours evoke emotion and instinct. In spiritual and symbolic traditions, each colour carries meaning — tied to elements, chakras, planetary influences, and emotional resonance.
In a reading, colour can:
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Emphasise the energy of a card
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Reveal hidden or intuitive layers
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Guide your interpretation even before you know the traditional meaning
The more we learn to feel colour as well as see it, the more nuanced and intuitive our readings become.
Key Colours and Their Symbolism in Divination
🎨 Red – Passion, courage, anger, life force
Associated with fire, blood, root chakra, and vitality. Red in a reading might call attention to your physical body, assertiveness, or a rising emotional charge.
🎨 Orange – Creativity, pleasure, confidence
The colour of the sacral chakra, movement, and self-expression. It can point to desire, artistic energy, or emotional openness.
🎨 Yellow – Intellect, joy, clarity
Linked to the solar plexus and the sun. Yellow brings mental sharpness, optimism, and personal power — but in excess, it can highlight overthinking or anxiety.
🎨 Green – Growth, healing, compassion
Heart chakra energy, nature, and abundance. A green card may invite you into emotional healing, connection, or a season of new growth.
🎨 Blue – Communication, intuition, truth
Blue connects with the throat chakra and often shows up when expression is key — whether it’s speaking your truth or listening more deeply.
🎨 Indigo / Dark Blue – Mystery, psychic insight, dreams
Tied to the third eye chakra, this colour points to inner wisdom, spiritual messages, and things just below the surface.
🎨 Purple – Spiritual power, transformation, higher connection
A colour of royalty and deep magic. Purple in a card often asks you to look at the bigger picture — or to connect with your higher self or guides.
🎨 Black – Protection, the unknown, shadow work
Black absorbs. It represents mystery, depth, and things not yet revealed. When black appears strongly, it may suggest something hidden or potent beneath the surface.
🎨 White – Purity, clarity, spiritual renewal
Often used in cards that suggest fresh starts, divine presence, or truth. White brings light — and can cleanse or clarify the surrounding energies.
🎨 Gold – Enlightenment, abundance, divine spark
Gold is radiant and sacred. It often appears in cards that speak to destiny, soul purpose, or deep confidence.
🎨 Silver – The moon, feminine energy, reflection
Tied to the tides and intuition. Silver shimmers between what is known and what is just out of reach — a colour of dreamwalking and deep listening.
Let the Colours Speak
When interpreting cards — especially in decks rich in visual symbolism — take a moment to notice which colours dominate. Do they clash or blend? Are they soft or bold? Do they mirror a chakra, an emotion, or an energy you’re holding?
And sometimes, the colour that stands out most to you might not be the most obvious. Trust that. Your eye is being drawn there for a reason.
Because colour doesn’t just decorate the reading —
It deepens it.
With deep roots and an open heart,
Sarah x