Colour as a Spiritual System
In tarot, colour is more than decoration—it is a symbolic system that shapes the emotional and intuitive meaning of each card. Every hue carries a psychological vibration, a spiritual resonance, and a narrative role. This colour logic guides the way we read archetypes, understand symbolism, and sense the energy of a spread. In my surreal artwork, I draw from this same chromatic language. Acid greens, soft blacks, crimson reds, glowing yellows, and mauves behave as emotional cues, echoing the spiritual structure found in tarot while transforming it into contemporary visual expression.
The Emotional Intelligence of Tarot Colour
Tarot cards use colour to communicate mood and depth long before the viewer identifies imagery or symbolism. Deep blues evoke introspection and emotional depth. Gold and yellow communicate illumination. Black represents mystery and the fertile unknown. Green speaks to growth and inner knowing. Red captures intensity, desire, and transformation. These colours act as emotional shortcuts—they name the feeling before the mind has processed the narrative. In my surreal wall art, I approach colour with the same intention, letting hues guide the emotional entry point of the viewer.
Contemporary Surrealism and Tarot Logic
One of the reasons tarot symbolism blends so naturally with surreal art is that both forms rely on intuitive meaning. Surrealism does not ask to be interpreted literally; it encourages a felt response. Tarot operates in the same way—its symbols speak through the subconscious rather than through rational explanation. In my artwork, the spiritual logic of tarot appears through glowing seeds, portal-like eyes, mirrored botanicals, and colour gradients that behave like emotional frequencies. These elements turn each piece into a quiet symbolic environment where colour becomes the primary language of feeling.
Red as Transformation and Inner Fire
In tarot, red represents power, desire, urgency, and the fire of transformation. It appears in cards like The Magician, The Emperor, and The Tower, marking moments of motion, pressure, or profound change. In my work, crimson tones glow inside botanical forms or pulse along surreal shapes, softening the intensity while keeping its emotional truth. The red becomes the warmth of inner fire—gentle but undeniable—allowing the viewer to hold emotional tension without overwhelm.
Blue as Intuition and Depth
Blue, especially deep or muted shades, is tied to spiritual reflection, dreams, and intuition. It dominates cards like The Moon and The High Priestess. This colour invites stillness and emotional curiosity. In my art, blue appears in soft gradients or dreamlike shadows, forming a quiet foundation that steadies the more electric colours layered above. It adds depth and introspection, echoing the internal landscapes that tarot often explores.
Green as Spiritual Awakening
Green in tarot often relates to the heart, growth, and internal unfolding. Acid green—its contemporary counterpart—brings immediacy and alertness to that symbolism. It acts like a psychic spark, amplifying intuition. Many of my botanical pieces use green to highlight inner movement, making emotional awakening feel electric and alive. This modern adaptation keeps the tarot’s meaning intact while giving it a vibrant surrealist edge.
Yellow as Illumination and Clarity
Yellow is the colour of recognition, truth, and awakening. In tarot, it belongs to The Sun, The Star, and moments of clarity after confusion. In my work, yellow glows through seeds, petals, and radiant forms, acting as a soft light that guides the viewer toward emotional insight. It becomes a quiet form of illumination, not harsh or overwhelming, but warm and unfolding.
Black as Sacred Mystery
Black in tarot is never empty; it is potential. It represents the hidden, the subconscious, the fertile ground before manifestation. The High Priestess sits between black pillars, embodying the importance of the unknown. In my surreal pieces, soft black backgrounds or shadowed gradients create an atmosphere where symbolic colours can shine more vividly. Black becomes a container—holding emotion, grounding intensity, and deepening the artwork’s ritual quality.
Colour as Emotional Portal
When colour is used with intentionality, the artwork becomes more than an image—it becomes a portal. Tarot achieves this by layering symbolic hues over archetypal figures; contemporary surrealism does so by using colour as emotional architecture. In my art, each hue becomes a subtle guide. Reds lead toward transformation, greens toward intuition, blues toward reflection, yellows toward clarity, and blacks toward depth. These combinations create symbolic tension, harmony, or awakening depending on how they interact within the composition.
A Shared Language of Intuition
Ultimately, the spiritual logic of colour in tarot and the intuitive use of colour in surreal art share a single purpose: to bring the viewer closer to their inner world. Both forms rely on atmosphere, symbolism, and emotional truth rather than linear meaning. By carrying these chromatic traditions into contemporary wall art, I create pieces that feel both modern and mythic—visual spaces where intuition awakens, emotional resonance deepens, and colour becomes a form of subtle spiritual guidance.
