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Colors sensation association psycho-energetics1

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Introduction
In Africa the children correlate the color black to the south, in Europe to the north. European children associate the south to bright colors. There is no global color association. Wagner's favorite color was violet. At Goethe's lifetime people were used to be dressed in a rather colorless, white clothing, which might be associated with higher spirituality and impeccability. At that time bright red colors must have been considered vulgar2. Red is a signal for actively contacting persons. The combination red and black is signaling authority. In Islamic cultures green signals fertility and growth, which cannot be observed in Europe. Newton's rotating segmented disc with the 7 primary colors did not produce white, but gray3, because he added painted colors, and not the rays of light. The pigments and the material carriers absorbed large portions of the light, which resulted in a gray impression. A mixture of material paints results in subtractive process, in which each paint subtracts components and will darken the result. Goethe observed Newton's rotating disc and merely saw the gray result. He concluded that the mixture of primary colors might produce white is an absurdity. Goethe4 considered yellow, red and blue as the primary colors, from which each other color (except of course yellow, red and blue) could be synthesized. In mixing colors however other laws are to be applied, in which the primary colors are green, orange and violet. Goethe did not believe the colors of light might behave differently from what happened with his painting experiments, although Schopenhauer already 1815 5 correctly had explained the behavior of subtractive and additive mixtures of colors. In archaic eras colors had been associated with religious cult symbols 6, which has been lost in modern times. The Catholic Church uses a great spectrum of symbolic colors to express ecstasy, suffering and festivity. Although the royal and the religious symbolism seems to be vanishing the colors' symbolism still remains alive as signals in modern advertising. The symbols loose their divine power and will be used to push up the sales numbers. Even simple, and sometimes harmful products may be upgraded with gold-attributes, turning a simple ballpoint or a cigarette into an expensive piece of luxury. The psycho-energetic power of colors may make us gay, enchanted, fearful or depressive 7. Seeing red colors may suggest us to feel warmth, but depending on previous associations also to correlate this feeling with blood and pain. Our memory will be activated to generate the correct associations.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bedeutung Der Farben by Franz Immoos pdf-Page 6 Pdf-page 10 Symbolism in Antipodal Colors - explaining the backgrounds to Goethe's Color Theory Farbenlehre Pdf-page 11 Pdf-page 12

Black
A black square seems to be smaller than the same square area in white. A black room seems to be smaller than the same room in white. A big black box seems to be heavier than the same box in white. Seeing black is associated with pessimism. A black look is a bad look. Black humor is cynical. Indian goddesses (Kali & Durga) in black symbolize death, the same goddesses in red symbolize fertility and rebirth. In China Yin and Yang are symbolized with black (receiving, earth, female) and white (giving, sky, male). In Europe the mystical matrimony had been depicted in black (female) and white (male)8. Mourning people wear black, whereas the dead wear white ( rebirth). Black Madonnas are found in Einsiedeln (Switzerland) and Tschenstochau (Poland). From the middle of the 15th century the color symbolism lost its restrictions for the common people. The previously religious colors, which had been restricted to sacred objects like statues and paintings, were to be used for other common applications. Clothing rules which regulated the allowed colors for clergy, royalty and nobility vanished. In Spain an improved production process promoted the color black to a symbol for nobility.

Red
Red expresses nearness in contrast to blue, which signals remoteness 9. Bright (burning) red is associated with aggression, fire and male activity, blue relates to female passivity and water. Dark (glowing) red however associates to female attributes, like fertility and blood. In the desert areas red is associated with heat, in the cold north with comfortable warmth. In Russian language red is a synonymous with beautiful and valuable. In Spanish red is colorado (colored). In archaic languages red is the oldest and most original dye. In Hebraic language the words red and blood share a common root. Eskimos define red as an expression for like blood. In liturgy red symbolizes the bloodshed. In medieval paintings the loving Mary Magdalena as well as the beloved John the Baptist will often be dressed in red10. The dark purple coat had been reserved for the Lord, the King of Kings. Purple contains some elements of blue11, which is related to honoring distance. War and the warrior god Mars are associated with blood and red symbolism 12. The old ancient Irish warriors were named Ruadh (the red ones). In ancient Rome the emperor and battling generals did wear and painted themselves red, the Byzantine emperor did wear purple. Up till the 19 th century red was a popular color for military clothing. In the Middle age a red banner signaled a day for judgment. Death penalties had to be written in red. In the Middle Age most dyes have been unstable, except scarlet (from the kermes-lice) and Rubia tinctorum, which also were the most expensive of all colors. Therefore these red colors were the most popular for banners. Up to the Middle Age red robes exclusively had been reserved for noble castes13.
8 9 10 11 12 13 Pdf-page 21 Pdf-page 25 Red and Blue in the Middle Age Pdf-page 29 Pdf-page 26 Pdf-page 28

Up to the French revolution the clothing restrictions reserved bright colors for the rich nobility and the dull dark colors for the lower classes. Purple red had to be made by gathering gigantic numbers of kermes lice. In the 16th century the Dutch developed improved methods to cultivate the Rubia tinctorum plants, which made red clothing cheap enough for mass production. After the discovery of the Americas the cochineal lice (imported from Mexico and used to produce crimson red colors) replaced the kermes insects ( scarlet) as a source for red color production. In the 17th and 18th century the coloring process required 17 production phases to paint red materials. In Rome roses had been used as a decoration for Dionysos 14. In nature red fruit signals ripeness and green unripened fruits. Red is extrovert (warm-blooded) in contrast to the introvert (cold-blooded) blue.

Orange
The Chinese mandarins wore orange robes and therefore the Chinese fruits have been named mandarins15. In heraldic coloring systems orange had been excluded. In Rome orange symbolized earthly (Bacchus') delights. Bacchus and his priestesses wore orange-colored clothing. In China orange symbolizes the transfers between standstill and progress, Yin and Yang. In Buddhism orange symbolizes perfection and the monks are wearing orange-colored robes, dyed with saffron. The Indian flag therefore contains the divine color orange. Henna has been used and well-known in ancient Egypt. The Dutch symbolic color orange has been derived from the French city named Orange and originally the Dutch tricolor did contain orange, white and blue16. Orange is the complementary color to blue. Orange has been used as a symbolic color for the protestants in the war under William III of Orange against the Irish Catholics, which applied green as their symbolic color. Therefore the Irish flag consists of orange, white and green17.

Yellow
Yellow is the brightest color and is associated with gold, which in some expressions is used to express colors as golden. Helios, Apollo, Sol and the Germanic deity Freya (fertility) have been associated with yellow. Yellow could only develop a bright color on silk18. In China yellow symbolizes the center. In Asia yellow always symbolizes something good, but in Europe yellow is associated with evil attributes, such as hatred, envy, vice, etc.19 In English yellow symbolizes a traitor20 and cowardice21. The yellow press is an evil institution. In French rire jaune is a bad, and rather uncertain laugh. Yellow is the color to symbolize vice, evil and insanity. In the 15th century the Habsburg clothing-laws ordered prostitutes to wear yellow veils and in Leipzig (1506) even yellow garments22. In Meran prostitutes were ordered to wear shoes with yellow bands. In Freiburg and other cities yellow garments and hats were also prescribed for women with illegitimate children. On their execution day the condemned heretics had to wear a yellow cross. Those who were in debt had to wear large yellow circles on their clothes. The condemned had their doors painted yellow.
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Pdf-page 29 Pdf-page 31 Etymology for Flags Pdf-page 32 Pdf-page 36 Pdf-page 36 Yellow for Judas Yellow for Saint Peter Pdf-page 36

From the 12th century on Jews were ordered to wear yellow hats in which yellow also had been defined as the color for the Jews. Yellow dye had been extracted from the saffron, from the Crocus and was very expensive.

Green
Green represents a central position between a material, warm-red and spiritual-cool blue. In a physical sense green is complementary to red, but psycho-energetically the complementary color is blue. Immaturity and inexperience is always be symbolized by green. It also may refer to poison. In Islam green is the paradise's color 23. In China green symbolizes growth ( green bamboos) and high ages. In Rome had been attributed to Venus and in Egypt to Osiris. In Europe the medieval garment for young, unmarried women was to be bright green, except for the territories, which had been ruled under Islamic supervision. In 1570 Pope Pius the 5 th defined the liturgical colors for the Church as white, violet, red and green24. Red, blue and green however represent the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). In paintings representing the Trinity and Mary the color-hierarchy had been defined as follows: Mary wears blue, Christ red, the Father purple and the Holy Spirit is represented as a white dove on green backgrounds25. Medieval green has been considered as a bivalent symbol, both representing good and evil. The devil has been depicted as a green snake respectively dragon. Demons were green, greenish yellow or greenish black. In Europe dragons were always depicted as green beings. Green had been symbolizing east, red the south, white the west and black the north. Green clothing had been popular for simple and cheap garments in the Middle Ages.

Blue
Originally the most prominent representation of blue is the sky, referring to infinity 26. In some languages blue represents lying and lies: in French contes blue. In the Middle ages dying indigo-blue materials had to be processed in good weather conditions. That's why the German expression making blue ( translation: doing nothing) refers to dyeing blue materials. Blue had been a color for lower classes27, and red exclusively for upper class people28. Indian Indigo-colored silk however had been introduced to the royals and nobility as well. The royal blue robes for the French kings had been made in the 13th century. In painting the lapis lazuli dyes (ultramarine from overseas) were very expensive, to be used for the protagonist's garments ( e.g. Mary's protective robe) in a painting 29. Mary's protective robe in bright ultramarine however contrasts to the sad symbolic dark blue of a suffering Mary. In symbolic sky-god representations blue is used to represent God's location in the eternal sky. In Indian paintings Krishna is depicted in blue. In Egypt the blue colors were divine symbols. The complementary color to blue is orange.
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Pdf-page 40 - The Symbolic Colour Green in Islam Liturgical (and Royal) Colours Pdf-page 41 Pdf-page 43 Why Blue has been Made an Inferior Color (explaining the symbolism in positive Red and negative Blue) Summary of some religious Colour Codes Pdf-page 44

Violet
Violet is a mixture of red and blue30. Additional white will produce pink hues. In nature violet and pink are rare. In ancient eras and in the Middle Age purple and violet had been known as the royal and imperial symbolic colors. As a synthesis violet joins the symbolic and psycho-energetic antipodal colors red and blue31. Christ will often be depicted in violet garments. Medieval illustrations often depicted the birth of Jesus at a background of indigo-violet colors. Jupiter has been depicted in purple-red robes. The archetype of androgynous Hermaphrodites has been symbolized by violet32. In Indian philosophy violet refers to a transcendent process and reincarnation. Wagner applied violet for the decorations and furniture in his study. The extremely expensive production process for purple-violet from the murus trunculus snails had been concentrated ever since 1500 BC in Phoenicia33. In the Bible God orders to apply red and blue purple, scarlet and byssos to manufacture the temple's garments. Purple exclusively had been reserved for the priests and royals. In Rome only the emperor and the empress were allowed to wear purple 34. Ministers were allowed to wear purple stripes. In 300 AD emperor Diocletian proclaimed a monopoly to produce purple, which had to be concentrated in Byzantium. The coronation robe for Charlemagne had to be imported from Byzantium. In 1308 in Westminster Abbey (London) a throne has been installed with purple velvet, which has been used for all coronations since that time. Similar purple velvet has been applied for the English coronation crowns. Purple had also be defined for the cardinals' robes. In 1453 however Constantinople had been occupied by the Turks. With this occupation the production of purple came to an end. Purple-violet now was to be used as an alternative. In 1464 Pope Paul II ordered to use kermes to produce purple-red robes for the cardinals and violet (made from kermes & slightly cheaper indigo) for the bishops' robes. If a color may be defined as androgynous it must be violet as a joined mixture of red and blue 35. In fact it is not a unified mixture. In a psych-energetic sense both colors are still separated and allow the elements to be opposites. Only in a unifying process the antipodal forces may be bundled36. Goethe describes violet as an apocalyptic and fearful symbol. Violet may also be understood as a symbolic erotic melting process.

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Paint It Purple - A short History of painting Red and Blue and Another Etymology for Purple Pdf-page 47 - Blue and Red in Medieval Garments Pdf-page 47 Lamentation for Tyre Symbolism of Purple and Scarlet in Greek and Roman Societies Red and Blue as Gender Symbols Pdf-page 49

White
In a subtractive coloring process white is to be seen as the sum of all colors. In contradiction in an additive process black would be the sum of all colors. White is reflecting and does not absorb the heat energy. Opposite to black white expands and is felt like infinity. White colors suggest hygienic cleanness and purity, which is used to raise quality by purification in producing sugar and rice. White also is considered as a divine color. The ultimate white symbol is an egg as the world's alchemical origin 37, which has been symbolized in the Eastern-traditions, immaculate virginity, symbolic innocence and rebirth. In the Middle Age queens and royals used to mourn in white garments (as the symbolic color for the deceased's eternal life in heaven). Priests are wearing white underwear garments named alba, the Latin word for white. Candidates for a secular profession are to be dressed in candidus (Latin: white). White dresses for brides have been introduced in the 19 th century (probably 1840 at the coronation of queen Victoria?38).

Silver
Silver is to be seen as antipodal to gold, but will always be considered as a secondary rank. In a symbolic sense the sun is referring to gold and silver to the moon. Dominant warm gold and cool, modest silver symbolize a couple as man, respectively woman. Silver (Latin: argentum, Greek: argyros) refers to a 1000-eyed giant Argos, representing the 1000starred sky. Luna is the sky-woman, dressed in blue, living at the silvery moon crescent and riding the silver sky. In Chinese symbolism silver Yin is female and golden Yang is male. In acupuncture silver needles are used to sedate and gold needles to activate. In flags and heraldic signs silver may be symbolized by white and gold by yellow. Argentine and Plata have been named after silver findings. A traitor will not be paid in gold, but in silver.

Gold
Gold (Latin: aurum) represents the highest ranks, divine power and expensive luxury. Nub is the Egyptian word for gold and Nubia represented the gold country. In the 12 th - 15th century Bohemia was the richest gold finding location. In Colchis (at the shores of the Black Sea) gold had to be gathered in sheep skins as it has been documented in the Argonauts' legend. The Aztecs considered gold as the sun god's excrement named teocuital39. In icons the background is represented by gold. Brahma's cosmic egg is golden.

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Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................1 Black.....................................................................................................................................................2 Red .......................................................................................................................................................2 Orange..................................................................................................................................................3 Yellow...................................................................................................................................................3 Green....................................................................................................................................................4 Blue.......................................................................................................................................................4 Violet....................................................................................................................................................5 White....................................................................................................................................................6 Silver.....................................................................................................................................................6 Gold......................................................................................................................................................6