Colours in tarot quiz: what white, red and blue mean
Blue and red on the Two of Cups, Strength's white gown, staffs glowing in many colours: learn how to read colour on the cards and where each shade appears.
- 5 questions
- ≈ 2 min
- +5 bronze keys for a flawless run
What do colours mean on tarot cards?
This quiz checks whether you notice the colour of clothes, cloaks, horses and fire on the Tayna deck, and whether you can read it. You will match a card to its colour scheme, choose the right meaning and take apart a couple of myths. Every detail comes from the descriptions of our own artwork.
Colour in tarot works like tone of voice. The same pose in white and in black says different things. That is why experienced readers look not only at the story on a card but also at the paint it is told in, and at how the colours argue or agree with each other.
How do you read the main colours?
White usually speaks of a clean intention and renewal. The woman taming the lion wears it, and both the victor's horse and Death's horse are white. Red and scarlet are will, fire, passion and a living wish to act.
Blue belongs to water and air: tenderness, intuition and calm, clear thought. Green is growth and fertility, whatever increases and ripens. Gold tends to stress value and light, while black shows shadow, mourning or depth, which is not the same as disaster.
Things get interesting when colours stand side by side. Blue and red on one couple are tenderness and passion completing each other. Red next to green is a fire that grows things instead of burning them. Different colours of flame on staffs in a scuffle are different characters colliding in one place.
How the quiz works
Each run draws five questions from twelve, with the answers shuffled every time. After you answer, an explanation appears with a link to the card page. Keys come for a flawless run, and you can replay as often as you like. Before you start, recall a few cards where the clothing is especially bright.
All questions and answers
Open after you play: the full question set with right answers and explanations.
1. What do the blue and red of the couple's clothes on the Two of Cups mean?
Right answer: Tenderness and passion
Blue and red are water and fire, tenderness and passion. Here they do not clash; they complete each other.
2. On which card do two people in blue and red raise bouquets to the sky?
Right answer: Four of Wands
Four of Wands: two people celebrate under a flowered arch, with a castle behind them for safety and belonging.
3. Black on a tarot card always means misfortune.
Right answer: Myth
The black cat by the Queen of Wands is her shadow and intuition, and the Chariot's black sphinx is just one of two forces.
4. What does the woman's white gown on Strength tell you?
Right answer: Her intent is pure
The white gown is a pure intention. She does not fight the lion; she calms it with a touch.
5. On which card do the crossed staffs each glow a different colour?
Right answer: Five of Wands
Five of Wands: gold, red, green, violet and blue flame are different characters clashing in one place.
6. What do the King of Swords' grey-blue robes mean?
Right answer: Cool head, warm heart
Grey-blue is the colour of air and a calm sky: a cool head, but not a cold heart.
7. On which card does a woman in a fiery red dress stand blindfolded?
Right answer: Eight of Swords
Eight of Swords: the ribbons are loose and there is room between the swords. The cage is held by the blindfold.
8. What colours do the three dancers on the Three of Cups wear?
Right answer: White, gold and red
A white dress, a gold one and a red cloak: three characters that join into one circle without crowding each other.
9. What does the Page of Pentacles' green clothing in a meadow mean?
Right answer: Growth and fertile soil
Green clothes and a meadow speak of growth and fertile soil: the coin in his hands could grow into real work.
10. Red on tarot cards only ever signals danger.
Right answer: Myth
On the Three of Wands the red robe is will and fire, and the green cloak beside it is the growth of work begun.
11. Which queen wears a red gown with a green mantle drawn over her head?
Right answer: Queen of Pentacles
The Queen of Pentacles: green and red are the colours of living earth and a warm heart, with the pentacle on her lap.
12. What does the white horse under the Six of Wands' rider mean?
Right answer: Obedient strength
The white horse is clean strength that obeys its rider, and the wreath on the staff is victory everyone can see.