Purple/Violet: The color Purple has long been associated with spirituality, vision, creativity and passion. In ancient times, Purple signified royalty, power, and nobility. Conveys wealth and extravagance.
Cleopatra was said to have loved Purple. Widows in Thailand, wear Purple when mourning their husband's death. Leonardo da Vinci was said to believe that meditating under the light shining through Purple stained glass dramatically increased the powers of meditation
In color therapy, Purple is said to be effective in suppressing the appetite, and for calmness.
Red: Red is the universal symbol for love and passion. In some cultures, red symbolizes purity, joy, and celebration. In China, Red represents happiness and prosperity and may be used to attract good luck. The term "red-letter day" originated with the tradition of marking holy days in a church calendar in Red. Today, the term is used to signify important or fortunate days.
Red is also associated with anger, danger and masculinity. Red became the color of communism, when the Bolsheviks used a red flag as their symbol when they overthrew the Tsar in 1917. Red has also been the symbol for prostitution as in the “lady in red” or “red-light district”.
In color therapy, Red is said to be helpful in stimulating brain wave activity, and increasing the appetite.
Black: The color Black is really the absence of all color. In Western cultures, Black is associated with mourning, death, darkness and negativity. In early Westerns the bad guys always wore Black hats while the good guys wore white ones. Even today, Black is associate with disaster and superstitions and is heard in such expressions as blackballing, black marks and black sheep.
The color Black in social event conveys formality, dignity and sophistication. It is the color of strong drive and purpose
In color therapy, Black is said to be effective in promoting self-confidence, strength and power.
Blue: The color Blue symbolizes eternity, truth, devotion and peace. It is said to be the least materialistic of all colors. Blue represents the element of water and can represent the ocean and sky. The phrase “true blue” means faithfulness and loyalty. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs wore Blue for protection against evil. In China, the color blue is associated with immortality. In Indian art, Krishna is easily identified by his Blue skin.
In some cultures, Blue is associated with sadness and depression. “Feeling blue” or in a “blue mood” are expressions of this energy. The “Blues” is a style of music that is associated with melancholy and hard times.
In color therapy, Blue is said to be effective in calming the nerves and lowering blood pressure.
Green: The color Green symbolizes life, nature and renewal. Considered a healing color, Green is the most restful color for the human eye and helps to improve vision.
Green traditionally has been an important spiritual symbol for the Islamic world, where it was the sacred color of the prophet Mohammed. Green is the national color of Ireland and Libya's green national flag is the only flag with a solid color. In the United States, Green is connected with Christmas and St. Patrick's Day. In China, Green hats mean a man's wife is cheating on him.
Green has also been associated with jealousy, envy, greed and immaturity. Old expressions such as “green-eyed monster” and “green with envy” or “green as a gourd” speak of these energies.
In color therapy, Green is said to be effective with relaxation, anxiety and depression.
Yellow: Of all the colors in the primary spectrum, Yellow has the most contradicting symbology attached to it. It said to represent the energies of the Sun, hope, happiness and joy but has long been associated with betrayal and cowardliness.
In China, it is a color of royalty and merit, but in theatre Yellow make-up represented treachery. In medieval times, a Yellow cross was painted on houses infected with the plague.
Yellow represented courage in Japan, a merchant in India, and it is considered having the highest symbolic value of any color in Buddhist countries due to its connection with saffron colored robes worn by the monks. Yet, Yellow is worn in times of mourning in Egypt, executioners in Spain once wore Yellow and Jews were forced to wear Yellow crosses and armbands under the rule of Nazism.
Yellow was Vincent Van Gogh's favorite color. Yellow ribbons have been worn for years by people awaiting the return of a loved one from war. The term “yellow belly” or “yellow streak” denotes cowardliness.
In color therapy, Yellow is used to energize, improve memory and relieve depression.
White: Throughout the ages, the color White has signified light, truth, purity, and protection.
Although is does have some negative connotation, white is most always considered a symbol of goodness and perfection.
In most western cultures, White is the color of rites of passage, such as marriage, baptism and confirmation, while in eastern cultures White is associated with funerals and mourning.
White has long been associated with spirituality and truth. Angels are usually depicted as wearing white robes. A White flag is the universal symbol for truce, the “white Knight” is said to be a heroic rescuer and the White dove symbolizes peace.
In color therapy, White is used in mediation and to purify the mind.
Orange: The color of Orange is often associated with, joy, sunshine and enthusiasm. It combines the powerful, passionate energy of red with the sunny, happy energy of yellow. In pageantry, Orange is symbolic of endurance and strength. It is said to indicate all things growing and new beginnings. It's been said that when any kind of change in life is needed, burning an orange candle for 7 nights will assist you. Orange also represents the fall and harvest.
In Ireland, Orange hold religious significance and in the United States, it symbolizes Halloween when combined with black.
In color therapy, the color Orange is said to aid in healing low self-esteem and promotes health on all levels.
Gold: The color Gold is the symbol for wealth and prosperity. In ancient cultures, gold was universally associated with the sun and it has been the emblem of glory, divinity, royalty and grandeur. Gold is the masculine, cosmic "Father" energy of Creation.
Gold was the preferred metal for sacred objects or sanctified royalty. The Aztec Sun God, Huitzilopochtli, was depicted with his face made of Gold.
Legend says that the Inca Empire was a magical place where the buildings and road were made of Gold and was ruled by a powerful priest-king, El Dorado (the Gilded One) because even his body was covered in Gold. This is said to be the historical origin of how the Incas began covering incoming rulers with a resin that had been covered in Gold dust.
Gold is used in western cultures as the symbol for a 50th Wedding anniversary.
In color therapy, Gold can be used to balance the masculine and to assist in healing illness.
Silver: The color Silver is associated with the feminine, the moon and lunar influences. Said to be the mirror of the soul, helping us to see ourselves as others see us, Silver was an attribute of the Moon Goddess. It is also connected with wisdom and communication - great speakers are said to be “silver tongued”.
Silver is the feminine, cosmic "Mother energy of Creation. Silver has the ability to energize other stones during the new and full moons.
Silver has long been used in medicine and was commonly used by doctors as late as the 1930's, before the arrival of antibiotics.
In Western cultures, Silver is the color that represents the 25th wedding anniversary. Gifts of Silver jewelry in many cultures are given as a symbol of truth, excellence, insight and love.
In color therapy, silver can help to balance the feminine and to awaken intuition.