The combination of white and black has particular meaning in Western mysticism, the school of thought that greatly influenced the design of the Rider-Waite decks. White has additional meanings when paired with red or black, discussed below. Death rides in on a white horse, symbolizing the purity of heart needed for this transition, and carries a flag of a white rose on a black background, symbolizing rebirth after a passage through darkness and the unknown. White is also the symbol of cleansing and rebirth, and this is particularly emphasized in the Death card (UW Death). A white or silver color also represents the light of the Moon, and the feminine principal associated with the Moon (yellow or gold being the sunny, masculine counterpart). In the Robin Wood deck, white crystals at the tips of Wands are often used to symbolize clarity of thought and purpose (RW Seven of Wands). In the qabalistic Tree of Life, white is the color of the uppermost sephiroth, from which all creation emanates. White represents the source of all things and unity, since white light contains all colors. The central figures in the High Priestess, Strength, and Temperance cards (not shown) all wear white robes, representing their purity and virginity. White traditionally stands for innocence and purity, and is most often seen in the form of white clothing (UW Strength) or white flowers (UW Six of Cups). In the list below, I make use of examples from decks in which the colors were chosen for specific reasons, such as Universal Waite (UW) and Robin Wood (RW), along with a few others.

Rider waite tarot cards meanings