What TF do Colors Mean Anyway?

Let’s talk colors. They can be beautiful and awe inspiring or maddening and anxiety inducing. Their ‘symbolism’ can have a very wide range in what they can do and be used for, and in understanding their meanings, we can further understand how they affect people, places, and things.

So, what is ‘Color Symbolism’?

Color symbolism refers to the use of a color to influence mood, emotion (and culture), and to suggest meaning, or reinforce certain themes or concepts of thinking as well as reactions and decision making.

Color symbolism has not only been used to influence thought, whether it be in real life or a movie, in artwork as well as marketing, but it has also been used in magic and in furthering spiritual awareness. We use certain colored candles or colors, in general, to ‘influence’ our spells and reinforce intentions.

By acknowledging “that colors influence doings, it makes way for -also-…regaining some control of how we react to colors.” “With a healthy dose of awareness, you can somewhat manage the moods and emotions that colors produce.”

This leads into last week's conversation about the Aura and understanding that each aura color has its own meaning, and this can shed light on certain individuals' personalities or energy fields as well as on how they may be impacted by their surroundings.

By understanding how to use colors, we can then figure out how to adjust, or again, influence, someone else’s energy fields, especially if they are in a state of imbalance. 

Example, If someone is feeling gloomy, they may be prone to surrounding themselves with darker or duller colors or their aura may be a dim or muddled combination of colors rather than the vibrant colors we tend to associate the aura with, but in understanding and utilizing color symbolism -on some occasions- we can help change a person's state. In this example, by bringing that 'gloomy' individual into a different place or surrounding them with bright colors or “happy” colors we can see how it can aid in shifting their mindset and mood, making it easier for them to ‘get out of the funk.’ So, basically, we can hypothesize that if someone had a dull aura, the act of surrounding them with positive colors or things with positive or brighter auras would impact their mood in a positive way.

*Note, this is not true for every situation. And yes, there are more **complex issues at hand for certain circumstances, but in a more basic way, we can see the correlation.

{**On a more sinister note, you can see how certain corporations, governments, and empires use color to control how the masses act/think/feel/react, etc. Example, in certain food chains, they have certain colors that induce hunger. On another scale, the way capitalism has conditioned society, it has created a mass consensus around certain colors being ‘bad’ vs good’...this delves into something much deeper which we will most likely get into in future entries, but you get the brief point I’m making here, right?}

So, What does each color mean according to color symbolism and magical intent?

*Also, note that different Hues can have different meanings but we are just focusing on the basic and primary colors for the purpose of this entry*

RED- LOVE, ROMANCE, LUST, ANGER, COURAGE/CONFIDENCE, ENERGY, PASSION, BLOOD, URGENCY, POTENCY, STAMINA, WILLPOWER, STRENGTH, DETERMINATION

GREEN- HEALTH, GROWTH, NATURE, JEALOUSY, ABUNDANCE, MONEY/WEALTH, BALANCE/HARMONY, MONEY MAGIC, GOOD LUCK, PHYSICAL, FERTILITY

BLUE- CALMING, FOCUS/CLARITY, TRUST, LOYALTY, TRANQUILITY, STABILITY, SADNESS, COLD, AUTHORITY, INSPIRATION, EMOTIONAL HEALING, CREATIVITY

PURPLE- MYSTERY, LUXURY, SPIRITUALITY, MAGIC, ILLUSION, ROYALTY, FUTURE, UNIQUENESS, BRAVERY, PSYCHIC POWER, MEDITATION, DEEPENING SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE

YELLOW- JOY, HAPPY, ENERGY, CAUTION, FRIENDLY, WARMTH, CREATIVITY, MADNESS, ILLNESS, SUN, LEARNING, FOCUS, NEW IDEAS, LOGIC

ORANGE- SUCCESS, FUN, SUN, STIMULATING ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM, DANGER, YOUTH, WARMTH, GOOD LUCK WITH CAREER, LEGAL AFFAIRS, INTELLECT

PINK- LOVE, SELF LOVE, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, PLAYFULNESS, ROMANCE, SWEETNESS, INNOCENCE, DELICATE, NURTURING, MATERIALISM, IMMATURITY, DECEPTION, AFFECTION, FRIENDSHIP, RECONCILIATION, INTIMACY

BLACK- AUTHORITY, ELEGANCE, DARKNESS, MYSTERY, POWER, LONELINESS, FEAR, HOPELESSNESS, OPPRESSION, VOID, YIN, REPEL NEGATIVITY/ BANISHING, PROTECTION

WHITE- COLD, INNOCENCE, LIGHT, HOPE, YANG, SPIRITUALITY, ISOLATION, EMPTINESS, APATHY, CLEANSING, PEACE, PROTECTION

BROWN- WARMTH, EARTHY, RELIABLE, STABILITY, COMFORT, FOUNDATION, SECURITY, WHOLESOMENESS, HOME PROTECTION, ANIMALS, FAMILY

GRAY- MUTE, CALM, NEUTRALITY, STABILITY, DULL, LIFELESS, ABANDONMENT, STRENGTH, SHIELDING, SELF-DEFENSE

SILVER- GLAMOUR, GRACE, MOON ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY/METAL, WEALTH, PURITY, INTUITION, FEMININE ENERGY, INNER CONFLICT RESOLUTION

GOLD- LUXURY, WEALTH, SUN ENERGY, MASCULINE ENERGY, ILLUMINATION, TRIUMPH, SUCCESS, PROSPERITY, ENLIGHTENMENT, POWER

Now that we understand a little more about the general meanings of each color, we can look at the symbolism assigned to each color in regard to the Aura:

RED- root chakra, well-grounded, energetic, strong-willed, passion, determination

ORANGE- sacral chakra, adventurous, thoughtful, considerate, excitement, leadership, vitality

YELLOW- solar plexus, creative, relaxed, friendly, optimism, laughter, inspiration

GREEN- heart chakra, social, communicator, nurturing, healing, generosity, service, responsibility, nature

BLUE- throat chakra, intuitive, freethinker, spiritual, communication, self-expression, clarity

INDIGO-  third eye chakra, curious, spirituality, connected, gentle. Intuition, wisdom, insight, sensitivity, inner knowing

PURPLE/VIOLET- crown chakra, wise, intellectual, independent, spiritual awareness, higher consciousness, visionary

>>So, you see, based on both lists, there are plenty of meanings/symbols that overlap, and by knowing each meaning and how individuals associate colors, it can become easier to:

            1. Figure out how to use those colors in life and in dealing with people,     

            2. Understand how someone may be using colors to influence you, 

            3. Know what colors to use in magic based on your intentions, and 

            4. Understand what someone may be going through or what their personality may entail based on the colors of their aura or even the colors they choose to wear or surround themselves with.

*On an additional Sidenote: Different colors have different meanings, yes, and ‘new meanings are always coming to light,” but it can also depend on the individual's (as well as cultural and universal) interpretation/experience/connection/basis as well as some colors being able to hold similar/ or the same meanings. For example, while red can mean love to one person, to another it can mean anger. The color itself holds both these meanings but based on the person looking at it or based on how the color is being used, it can have very different or oppositional interpretations. So, keep this in mind.

I hope, as scattered as this entry may seem, that you can now understand a little bit more about colors and their symbolism as well as their impact on everything around us. Let me know what you think as well as maybe even telling me your favorite color and how it seems to correlate with you as a person? Perhaps we can learn more about one another as well as learn more ourselves.

Blessed Be 

[color-meanings.com, wikipedia-color symbolism, interaction-design.org, pagangrimoire.com, serenaarchetti.com,  and via google images]