Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
- Why symbolism matters in tarot
- Common tarot symbols and their meanings
- What tarot colors mean
- How to read symbols in a card
- Direction and placement
- Learning symbolism step by step
- Frequently asked questions
- See more in every card
Tarot is a visual language. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck in particular is packed with deliberate symbols: roses and lilies, lions and dogs, pillars, mountains, rivers and stars, all painted in carefully chosen colors. Once you learn to read these symbols, you no longer need to memorize every card, because the picture tells you what it means. This guide explains the most common tarot card symbols, what tarot colors mean, and how to read symbolism in any card you draw.
Why symbolism matters in tarot
Pamela Colman Smith, who illustrated the Rider-Waite-Smith deck in 1909, worked with A. E. Waite to fill the cards with symbols drawn from astrology, Kabbalah, Christian imagery, alchemy and folklore. These symbols repeat across the deck, so learning one helps you read many cards. Symbolism also lets you read intuitively: when a detail catches your eye, it is often the part of the card speaking to your question.
Common tarot symbols and their meanings
Nature
| Symbol | Meaning | Example cards |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Joy, clarity, vitality, consciousness | The Sun, The Lovers |
| Moon | Intuition, dreams, illusion, the subconscious | The Moon, The High Priestess |
| Stars | Hope, guidance, inspiration | The Star |
| Water | Emotions, intuition, the unconscious | Cups cards, The Star, The Moon |
| Mountains | Challenges, goals, higher wisdom | The Fool, The Lovers, The Hermit |
| Clouds | Thought, confusion or the divine | Aces, Swords cards |
| Trees and plants | Growth, abundance, life | The Empress, Ten of Pentacles |
| Wheat | Harvest, fertility, abundance | The Empress |
Flowers
- Red roses: passion, desire and worldly love.
- White roses: purity, innocence and spiritual intention (The Fool carries one).
- Lilies: purity of thought and spiritual truth (seen on The Magician's table).
- Sunflowers: joy, loyalty and devotion to the light (The Sun, Queen of Wands).
Animals
| Animal | Meaning | Example cards |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Courage, strength, passion, Leo | Strength, The World |
| Dog | Loyalty, instinct, companionship | The Fool, The Moon |
| Horse | Movement, energy, freedom | Knights, The Sun, Death |
| Eagle | Spiritual vision, Scorpio | The World, Wheel of Fortune |
| Bull | Stability, earth, Taurus | The World, Wheel of Fortune |
| Snake | Transformation, temptation, wisdom | The Magician, Wheel of Fortune |
| Butterfly | Transformation, the soul | King and Queen of Swords |
| Crayfish | Emerging from the unconscious | The Moon |
The four creatures in the corners of The World and Wheel of Fortune (a human or angel, an eagle, a lion and a bull) represent the four fixed signs of the zodiac: Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo and Taurus.
Objects and figures
- Pillars: duality and balance, often black and white (The High Priestess, The Hierophant, Justice).
- Crowns: authority, mastery and achievement.
- Thrones: power, stability and responsibility.
- Scales: fairness, balance and truth (Justice, Six of Pentacles).
- Infinity symbol (lemniscate): infinite potential (The Magician, Strength, Two of Pentacles).
- Keys: knowledge and access to hidden wisdom (The Hierophant).
- Lantern: inner guidance and wisdom (The Hermit).
- Chains: attachment and self-imposed limits (The Devil).
- Blindfold: avoidance, inner sight or impartial judgment (Two of Swords, Eight of Swords).
- Walls: boundaries and protection (The Sun, Ten of Pentacles).
- Wreath: victory and success (Six of Wands, The World).
- Angels: divine messages and higher guidance (Temperance, Judgement, The Lovers).
What tarot colors mean
Color is one of the quickest ways to read a card's mood.
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Passion, action, desire, energy, courage |
| Orange | Enthusiasm, creativity, vitality |
| Yellow | Optimism, intellect, consciousness, joy |
| Green | Growth, nature, fertility, abundance, health |
| Blue | Calm, intuition, emotion, spirituality, truth |
| Purple | Wisdom, spirituality, royalty |
| White | Purity, innocence, spirit, truth |
| Black | The unknown, mystery, endings, the subconscious |
| Gray | Neutrality, wisdom, uncertainty, the in-between |
| Gold | Divinity, success, wealth, enlightenment |
Notice how the bright yellow sky of The Fool, The Magician and The Empress conveys optimism and awareness, while the dark gray skies of the Ten of Swords and the Three of Swords set a heavy, painful mood.
How to read symbols in a card
- Take in the whole picture. What is the general mood: bright or dark, calm or chaotic?
- Notice the colors. Which colors dominate, and how do they make you feel?
- Find the figures. Who is in the card? What are they doing? Which way are they facing?
- Spot the key symbols. Look for any symbols from the lists above.
- Ask what catches your eye. The detail you notice first is often the one most relevant to your question.
- Connect it to the meaning. Use the symbols to confirm, deepen or personalize the card's traditional meaning.
Try it with The Magician: red and white robes (passion and purity), the infinity symbol above his head (limitless potential), the four suit symbols on his table (all the tools he needs), and lilies and roses at his feet (pure intention and desire). Together they spell out the card's message: you have everything you need to manifest.
Direction and placement
- Facing left: often linked to the past or looking back.
- Facing right: often linked to the future or moving forward.
- Looking straight ahead: presence, directness, the here and now.
- Above and below: higher matters (spirit, thought) appear in the sky; earthly matters at ground level.
In a spread, some readers notice whether figures face toward or away from each other, which can describe how two areas of life relate.
Learning symbolism step by step
- Study one symbol at a time and find every card that contains it.
- Keep a "symbol dictionary" in your tarot journal.
- Compare how a symbol changes across cards: water is calm in The Star but rough in the Six of Swords.
- Retell the Fool's Journey and notice how symbols recur across the Major Arcana.
Frequently asked questions
What do roses mean in tarot?
Red roses represent passion and desire, while white roses represent purity and spiritual intention. You will find both in many cards, such as The Fool and The Magician.
Why are there pillars in tarot cards?
Pillars represent duality and balance, such as light and dark or knowledge and mystery. They frame The High Priestess, The Hierophant and Justice.
What does the color yellow mean in tarot?
Yellow represents optimism, consciousness, intellect and joy. Bright yellow skies appear in many positive cards.
Do all tarot decks use the same symbols?
No. Rider-Waite-Smith based decks share most of these symbols, but modern and Marseille-style decks may use different imagery. The principles of reading color and symbol still apply.
See more in every card
Symbols turn tarot from a list of meanings into a living language. Next time you draw a card, pause before checking its meaning and read the picture first. Practice with our free One Card Tarot reading and see what details speak to you.