Color
Philosophy
Symbolism
of Remaining Shades
While color symbolism is
universal in its application, not all of its exponents agree
as to its uses. However,
it is true that the purity of a color will have its
counterpart in the purity of its symbolic meaning.
Thus primary colors will correspond to primary
emotions (such as those of children or basic types), while
secondary or more subtle colors express meanings of further
complexity.
White is the color produced by reflection of
all the rays of the solar spectrum, and it is from White
Light that all color radiates.
White multiplies and projects the properties and
powers of light. Everywhere
accepted as the symbol of goodness and purity, it also
indicates holiness, pardon, and innocence of the soul.
When used for religious habits, it signifies
innocence of soul, purity and holiness of life.
White light is both the synthesis and the
negation of color. Any
color can be diluted with white almost to the extent of
obliterating it. In
like manner the grosser elements of man can be visualized as
being gradually transformed into finer and finer essences
through the spiritual power of white light.
White light can only be used imaginatively by the
effort of visualization, picturing it, for instance, as a
fountain of water with the sun sparkling on it, or a beam of
radiant light shining down on the patient, producing a
unifying and harmonizing effect.
Visualization:
The visualization of white light in connection with
respiration has had interesting results in conducted
experiments. Patients
are asked to visualize the colors of the spectrum in their
order from red to violet.
The red increases the respiration in the upper part
of the chest; the green affects the epigastric expansion;
the violet produces deep abdominal breathing.
If the response to the various colors is normal the
breathing will be smooth and regular from the upper part of
the chest downward. If
the patient fails to respond to any one of the colors, the
breathing will become jerky or irregular as the color is
visualized. But
when contemplating white, such as white flowers, or a
snowfield, the breathing will be fuller and deeper than when
thinking of any of the colors.
White is stimulating to those who respond to its high
rate of vibration. It
is the end product of color.
There are many variations of white, dead white, bone
white, snow white, pearl white, foam white.
It speaks of virginity, purity, peace, and holiness.
As the color of Light itself, it represents
illumination, ascension and revelation.
Black, on the other hand, negates and
absorbs the powers of light.
Having no brightness or color, reflecting no light
– in absorbing, it “takes” rather than gives light,
and thus symbolizes the opposite factors, the absence of
light, or darkness. Some
of its symbols are: matter,
Symbolism of Remaining Shades, page 2
fermentation, putrefaction,
occultation, ignorance, and penitence.
Mineral life, fertilized land, germination in
darkness, Prime Matter, and the mystery of the Unknown.
Black and white, when used together for
religious habits signify humility and purity of life.
Gray: Any two lights of exactly opposite color
unite to produce white light, but two pigmentary colors,
being opaque in nature, when mixed with direct opposites
produce gray. For
this reason, gray is said to be the symbol representing the
perfect blending or neutralization of any two pairs of
opposites.
There are many tones of gray, each with its own
significance. The
color of ashes, it has been used to portray humility,
inertia, or indifference; neutralization: depression or
sadness; death of the body and immortality of the spirit.
In Mystery teachings, as the union of opposites, it
represents Wisdom.
Each color causes a reaction on the retina of the
eye, which tends to arouse the activity of its opposite or
complementary color.
One can test this by staring hard at any strong color
for a moment in bright light, then closing the eyes or
looking at a blank white sheet of paper, and watch the
opposite color appear. Sometimes
one will see the rim of this opposite color around objects,
an effect of his own visual perception.
Brown is the color of earth, a dark color
combining red, yellow, and black.
From an external or negative standpoint brown
signifies worldly status, materialism and sometimes decay.
Golden brown indicates worldly pleasures.
Dark dingy brown signifies greed or miserliness.
Muddy brown is earthiness.
Clear, pleasing shades of brown are warm and
comfortable to the eye, with a feeling of friendliness.
Brown used in religious habit signifies renunciation
of the world.
Pink is a pale hue of crimson, the color of
flesh. It
suggests affection, light emotion, or sensuality.
Silver symbolizes the Moon, and the lunar
currents in the nervous system.
Gold symbolizes the Sun, the states of glory,
the solar rays and currents.
The usual spectrum colors have already been
discussed, except for their symbolism in religious garb,
which is given as follows:
In
Religious Vestments:
Red signifies Power and fire; blood
and sublimation; charity and active love.
It is associated with emotions, love and hate.
Among the Romans it meant sovereign power.
The Cardinals
Symbolism of Remaining Shades, page 3
dress in red.
It is the color ascribed to
Blue is the color of the sky, and
suggests the unveiling of Truth, as the heavens with clouds
pulled back. It
also represents heaven and heavenly love.
It suggests prayer as an ascending scale of blue
light; or aspiration with stars flying upward.
Blue is the traditional color used in the church to
represent the Virgin.
Indigo
relates to higher metaphysical thought.
Yellow poses opposite meanings: of the
Sun and divinity on the one hand; or when murky, it relates
to Judas’ deceit and treachery.
A pure yellow also represents revealed Truth, and St.
Peter is some- times depicted robed in yellow.
Orange-Yellow:
in the Orient, carries the meaning of renunciation.
Green garb relates to vegetation and
spring, and to the immediate or natural life – growth and
sensation. It
also represents triumph of life over death, as spring over
winter. In pagan
initiation rites it symbolizes water.
Violet:
stands for Love, Truth, or passion and suffering.
Purple is for penitence, sometimes
sorrow. Also for
royalty and imperial power, as well as spiritual power.
It is sometimes related to God.
