Freudian yellow. Turquoise color and female character

What does your favorite color say about you as a person? The meanings of colors and their shades carry a hidden message from ancient times. Experts say that the chosen color determines the character of a person, his principles, values, fears and complexes. Let's briefly analyze the meanings of colors and their influence.

Emotions and color

Psychologists have come to the conclusion that some events are strongly associated with the psychology of color, the meaning of color. So, black, gray shades carry information about grief, mourning and tears. Joyful events are associated with brightness and riot of colors. These include orange, yellow, pink, shades of green, blue, and so on. Let's analyze the meanings of colors from two positions: the characteristics of people who prefer one or another shade, and the overall effect on emotions and mood.

Black

Let's take a look at the meaning of black. It does not always carry only a negative message. Everything depends on the situation. If this shade prevails in the drawings of the child, it is recommended to contact a child psychologist. But everything is not so clear. Let's go to the wardrobe. This shade is preferred by wealthy people. Black makes you feel more weighty. A person who prefers black does not seek to be invisible. Just the opposite. He subconsciously tries to attract attention to himself, preferring to remain surrounded by an aura of mystery. Those who love black love to experiment in the love sphere, and they will not be bored in bed with them.

White

Like black, the meaning of which is not always negative, white combines several characteristics, including, oddly enough, a negative aspect. Everyone knows that he personifies purity, innocence and openness. Also, white is a symbol of freedom and the destruction of stereotypes that prevent you from breathing freely. It acts as a symbol of equality, because it combines other colors. People who prefer it are perfectionists. They love their work with all their hearts and give themselves to it without a trace. They are very open and easily recognize lies. The dark side of this color is that it is able to suppress and personifies emptiness. In some Eastern countries, where there are beliefs about the rebirth of the soul after physical death, white is associated with the afterlife and is considered the color of eternal life. Therefore, clothes of this color are worn at funerals, in contrast to the traditional black in Russia and Europe.

Grey

According to polls, this is one of the most unpopular shades of the wardrobe. He personifies the middle between white and black. If a person chooses it, you can be sure that he puts logic, calculation, mind, and not feelings and emotions in the first place. It is considered a symbol of order and balance. It is recommended to be worn by timid people to increase self-confidence. Psychologists assure that lovers of a gray shade are in crisis, emotional and moral exhaustion, on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

The Grays can help calm those in need. They are very modest by nature and do not like to stand out from the crowd. Although gray is peaceful, it cannot open the prospects for the foreseeable future. It does not have an energy component for beginnings and accomplishments.

Pink

If you are constantly overcome by negative thoughts and emotions, you worry and worry a lot, it is pink that can help. It is a symbol of joy, childhood and carelessness. Those who choose it for themselves love attention and try to stand out from the crowd. People who prefer this shade in their wardrobe are very hardworking, but touchy, tearful and somewhat naive. In anime, you can often find characters whose hair is dyed pink. And this is no coincidence or fiction. They are endowed with heroes who are strong, love to break the rules. If we talk about a darker shade of pink, then we can say with confidence that a person does not tolerate violence and cruelty, takes from life what he considers necessary, but does it with caution, and does not go ahead. Unfortunately, "pink" is hard to build relationships with the opposite sex. Potential satellites quickly cool towards them. Pink lovers are often attached to the past and live in memories.

Brown

Let's take a look at the meaning of brown. Although it is also a dark shade, its influence is much more positive than that of gray and black. If this color predominates in a person’s clothes, then his self-confidence can only be envied. Every person in life has moments when everything seems to go awry, and problems pile up like a snowball. It is on such days that brown will come in handy. It gives hope for the best. It contains red and yellow. Considering the meaning of brown, it is worth noting the following:

1. The person who chooses this shade loves life, but in the first place he has the mind.
2. In love, brown lovers are conservatives, and in the first place they have not passion, but emotional harmony.
3. It combines common sense, reliability and a great propensity for depression.
4. Tip: when going to an interview or a business meeting, choose brown for yourself. Lovers of this color are honest and love their job. And this is the main thing that the employer pays attention to. In addition, the "browns" remain calm even in critical situations.
5. Brown colors are popular in decoration. Gift wrapping looks stylish and expensive. It is he who is used in advertisements for high-quality cigars and expensive coffee, so this shade can be considered a kind of quality mark.

Blue

Initially, this shade was feminine, not masculine, as is commonly believed today. This is the color of calm, harmony, sincerity, and it is a symbol of fidelity. The blue tint has been present in temples since ancient times. It is believed to attract white powers and protect young children.

Blue has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart. Normalizes the general physical and psychological state of the body. Those who love the blue color usually have a phlegmatic character, they express a desire for harmony. They don't show too much emotion. They value stability and security. Another interesting fact: jeans, which have become an integral part of the wardrobe, symbolize freedom, equality and unity. That is why they were so popular among hippies.

Yellow

The meaning of yellow is clear to everyone. It is a symbol of warmth, sun, joy. It disperses a bad mood, relieves melancholy and depression. It has a tonic effect on the body, improves mobility. The meaning of yellow color in psychology expresses the desire to reveal the inner potential, spiritual search, inner freedom, happiness and love. Why are stickers dyed yellow most often? Written text is easier to digest on a yellow background. But you should not overdo it with him. When there is too much of it, excitability increases, and the person becomes more restless. If it is used in clothing, it indicates a strong, driven personality and a high degree of confidence. But there is a negative interpretation of yellow. The meaning of colors is not always clear. So, yellow symbolizes death, illness and the other world, the afterlife.

Orange

The main meaning of orange is in the warmth of brightness and celebration. But it is not the only one. This is human warmth, gatherings with family and friends, fire by the fireplace, tangerines and the New Year. What is the meaning of orange for personality? People who choose this color are homely, friendly, open and warm. They are emotional and lively, have a positive outlook on the world. They love life and get pleasant emotions and pleasure from it. These are strong freedom-loving people. They have high self-esteem. Orange symbolizes dreamers. They quickly become addicted to new things, but quickly burn out. If you need to bring people together, use this shade.

Green

The value of green has long been associated with nature. This color is considered the most cheerful among others, symbolizes growth, development and vitality. He is especially revered in Muslim countries. The Prophet is often depicted wearing green robes. It restores strength, normalizes the psychological state. In psychosomatic diseases, green normalizes the general condition of the body as a whole. Doctors also found confirmation of the meaning of green in psychology.

Red

Aggression, impulsiveness, sensuality, passion. You do not need to understand the meanings of colors to understand that all these epithets describe the color red. Psychologists attribute it to the most ancient shade of all existing. Historically, it expresses blood, fire and a fiery feeling of love. Experts note that it is red that ranks first in popularity. Previously, only priests and representatives of the highest authorities could afford to wear it. This color can both warm and excite at the same time. It fills the body with energy, increases blood pressure. The person becomes more mobile. Red color has always brought good luck in battles. It is worn by leaders with an active mind and a vivid imagination, they love to take risks and strive for victory. They have a strong will and independent character. The other side of the coin is that the "Reds" are often selfish, overly stubborn and cruel even to close people. Another negative property of the color red is that it quickly tires if you look at it for a long time.

Lilac

The meaning of lilac color is associated with the period of growth. When the personality is not yet fully formed and goes through the path of formation and maturation. Another meaning of the lilac color is in the craving for self-expression, for vanity. It expresses the ease of life, openness. These are creative people who set striving for perfection as their life goal. They are very flexible and prone to improvisation. "Lilac" is easy to recognize from the crowd. They seem to radiate from within. This is how specialists, psychologists and masters of art define them. They give others love, warmth and comfort. But lovers of lilac color themselves tend to fall into depression, which can last for quite a long time. Despite the fact that they give the warmth of communication, at such times they need the help of loved ones. They cannot find a way out of depression on their own, or it costs them a lot of effort. They cannot stand painstaking work that requires sitting still for a long time. They love to invent. They make excellent writers, actors and artists. "Lilac" are very vulnerable, tend to underestimate self-esteem and incredibly gullible. They take care of things and memories. Moreover, both to the good ones and to those that hurt them.

Violet

The meaning of purple is debatable and ambiguous. It was once considered the color of wealth and aristocracy. He expressed sensuality and passion. But the meaning of colors changes under the influence of time and culture. Violet retained an aura of mystery and tenderness. That is why many books of the genre of fantasy and mysticism are designed in this color. People who prefer this color are melancholic natures, with a pronounced sense of dignity. They are not like the others. They have a rational mindset. Purple is recommended for those who suffer from low self-esteem. Violet people find it difficult to get along with themselves due to the fact that they are too critical of themselves. This shade also indicates that a person needs approval and support. Some people have a negative tolerance for the color purple, because gay people love it very much.

Blue

Consider the meaning of blue. If you are going on a date, or you have important negotiations ahead of you, and you want to win over the other person, put on something blue. It inspires trust and respect. It is recommended to use it to emphasize your social position and status. What is the significance Experts believe that this shade has a beneficial effect on employees, causes a desire to work productively, and motivates. People who prefer this color are straightforward and stable. Blue color gives strength to fight physical ailments, which is why it is popular in the design of hospitals.

burgundy

The burgundy hue combines the willpower and determination of the red hue and a penchant for philosophy, the inner core and resistance from brown. He is chosen by strong-willed individuals. They are conservative and self-confident, good organizers. At the same time, such a person is not inclined to show emotions. Burgundy color can give a person the missing stamina and determination. If it is too much, then this leads to depression and an oppressed state.

Turquoise

Turquoise refers to cold tones. It creates an atmosphere of freshness and coolness. It is also called the color of sterility and purity. Lovers of this shade are strict with others, but it is even harder for them with themselves. They like to lead and live by strict rules. Turquoise speaks of isolation. A dark shade is depressing, especially if a person is prone to neuroses.

Benefits for the individual

The psychology of color, the meaning of color, as already mentioned, can say a lot about the nature of a person, but that's not all. Knowing the messages of shades, you can find out strengths and weaknesses, achieve success in business, get a long-awaited promotion, attract the right people and find common ground with others based on their color choices. All you have to do is find out the meaning of each color. The key to closed doors can be hidden in the little things. You can improve your life by simply choosing the right colors in the workplace, in clothes, or by arranging a few items in the room.

Every person has their favorite color. The one that calms him, gives pleasure, uplifts or is simply pleasing to the eye. But few people know that he can characterize not only the person himself, but also his temper. The fact that color has a meaning remained unknown for many years, but now, thanks to the development of such a science as psychology, you can find out the characteristics of a person by his favorite shade.

The psychology of color

It is worth talking about the meaning of colors in psychology. The facts are well known, how marketers use colors to increase store sales, how stylists select not only the clothes themselves, but also their shade for a person in order to attract the attention of others. These and other phenomena are studied by the psychology of color. The definition of colors in psychology and their influence on a person is primarily due to their effect on her mood and emotions. For example, when a person looks at dark blue, the number of beats of his heart per minute decreases, breathing slows down. From this we can conclude: dark blue is a calming color, it gives peace and tranquility. Orange, on the contrary, increases blood pressure, speeds up the heartbeat, gives a person some kind of stimulation. Of course, colors act on the nervous system, on which all human life depends.

Visual perception of color

The constant addiction of a person to one or another shade is explained by his character. The man has always liked red, but suddenly he buys a gray thing, regardless of the meaning of the colors of the clothes. In psychology, this phenomenon is explained simply: here he is used to red and wears it all the time, and he bought gray, because at that moment his mood, a certain surge, prompted him. It turns out that with the help of color, you can change your mood. Those who have recently had a bad one most often look at dark shades. The choice is made intuitively. If the mood is high, then a person needs bright colors.

Luscher color test

Max Lüscher is a professor and psychologist from Switzerland. He devoted his scientific activity to the study of the provisions of color diagnostics. It was he who came up with the test, named after him, built on the basis of functional psychology. So what is the meaning of color in psychology according to Luscher? First of all, the professor emphasized that the structure of color, and hence its meaning, remains unchanged. This means that regardless of whether a person likes dark blue or not, it still means “peace”. Luscher decided to consider the very attitude of people to colors. And if each person sees it in his own way, then, perhaps, the meaning of colors in psychology also varies.

The psychology of gray

Gray is a sign of neutrality, the middle. A person who chooses it for himself does not take into account the meaning of colors in human psychology. She wants to stay away from everything outside. Such people prefer not to open up to others, they keep everything to themselves. This does not mean that they are tense or relaxed, they are just in the middle, in neutral territory. This desire to isolate oneself from everything, to remain untouched.

Those people for whom gray is in last place consider it very boring and monotonous. They prefer to enjoy life and enjoy bright colors. It has something to do with the irresistible desire to be constantly involved in some kind of activity.

The psychology of blue

Blue color has always symbolized peace and harmony. Scientists have proven that when a person looks at objects made in blue tones, he calms down. At this time, his body is preparing for rest and relaxation. This shade carries a harmonious state and symbolizes unity with the world. The meaning of colors in psychology, especially blue, dark blue, indigo, blue, contains associations with silence and peace.

Blue finds a correspondence with calm waters, a phlegmatic person, femininity, tenderness. Many scientists believe that it has material completeness. Obese people most often give their preference to this particular shade. If during the test a person rejects the blue color, it means that he runs away from peace and trust, his need for this remains unsatisfied. This may indicate that he does not want to become attached to something and cannot afford to spend time on this, since, in his opinion, such an act entails the rejection of something very important. Relaxation can lead to depression, which many try to stay away from. Usually they are constantly tense, and are in search of external stimuli, they do everything so that the state of rest never comes, because this can lead to a lifestyle that is devoid of meaning.

The psychology of green

The action of green is also considered an important component in the interpretation of the concept of "meaning of colors". In psychology, it is believed that people whose emotional attachment is unsatisfied try to compensate with this paint. She symbolizes independence. Sympathy for her is often found in young people who want to quickly become independent. She is a symbol of constancy and perseverance, a certain degree of cruelty, firmness and perseverance. People who choose green are very wary of change. They seek to increase self-confidence, in their skills and abilities through self-affirmation. They can win the sympathy of others, for example, at the expense of their financial situation.

This shade to some extent controls the person. A person can feel pride, superiority over others, a desire to control other members of society. Green lovers tend to think a lot about health and how to increase the length of their lives. They defend their principles, sometimes suffer from the fact that they do not receive recognition from other people. As for those who have green in last place, we can say that they have lost the strength to fight. This can lead them to blame others for their mistakes. Those who reject the green color are people who have lost their self-control and patience, due to which impulsiveness appears in their behavior.

The psychology of red

People who want to experience sexual intoxication choose red or its shade of crimson. Significance in psychology shows that they are, first of all, looked at by individuals who crave exciting experiences and emotions. Shades of red symbolize vitality. They increase blood pressure, improve appetite. People who love red want to experience the fullness of life. Those who put it in the first place are attached to sports and wrestling. This is the color of masculinity, aspiration, fire, spiritual forces, conquest. Also signifies sexual desire. People who have red in last place are threatened by it, because they have a lack of vitality. As a color to compensate for it, they most often choose blue to enhance the calm. At the same time, attachment to him becomes painful due to failures in love.

The psychology of yellow

Often, the rejection of blue causes a person to choose yellow. Significance in psychology is associated with aggravated attachment, requiring relief in order to eliminate depression. Unsatisfied emotionality makes a person constantly look for a way out of the situation. This is a search for satisfaction and harmony, an attempt to find the meaning of life and a place where you can use your capabilities to the maximum. Yellow is the brightest, liveliest and lightest color. Associated with stimulation. The pulse and respiration become more frequent, as well as with red.

The main advantage of yellow is its brightness and unconscious positive. It indicates a person's desire to free himself from heaviness, from something that oppresses him. People who have this color in the first place hope for happiness, and wait for it in all forms and manifestations. They want recognition and respect. Well, those who put yellow on the last, as a rule, were disappointed in life, in hopes, in people. They stand face to face with emptiness. Due to the brightness inherent in yellow, it can be rejected due to overexcitation, as a result of which a person feels irritable, angry, distrustful of people, and is constantly in a bad mood.

The psychology of purple

People choosing a color scheme may not appreciate the meaning of lilac. In psychology, he points to the increased emotionality of a person, as a result of which he can anticipate some actions or events. Purple is a mixture of red and blue, unbridled energy and calmness. Two opposing forces. For the love of magic and the desire to possess it, it is the purple color that is responsible. Significance in psychology is explained, on the one hand, by a person’s dreams of sensual merging with a partner, and on the other hand, by isolation, because there are no prerequisites for this.

The psychology of brown

Scientists have long studied the psychology of color. The meaning of color in the clothes chosen by a person describes his essence very well. Brown is a mixture of yellow and red with shading. All the wildness of red in it is muffled, crushed. In the first place it is put by people who lack vitality. Everything around them is perceived passively. Brown symbolizes the sensory perception of the world and makes it clear how a person relates to physical sensations. He has an increased need for rest, to create comfort and peace around him. If brown is in last place or the color is rejected altogether, the person is seen as a person trying to distinguish himself from the crowd. As a result, it can cause the attention of obsessive sexual people.

The psychology of black

Black expresses the highly controversial meaning of color. Meaning and psychology, combined into a single whole, give the idea that it is the darkest and is always associated with mourning and depression. Since for many this color symbolizes a certain border, it expresses “nothing, complete denial. Black gives a person a desire to defend himself and displace irritants. It is a rejection and a contradiction at the same time. A person who has this color in the first place is able to give up everything. Those who put black in last place are unwilling to endure hardship, make excessive demands on themselves and avoid danger.

Any color can be read as a word, or interpreted as a signal, sign, or symbol. The "reading" of color can be subjective, individual, or it can be collective, common to large social groups and cultural and historical regions. An exhaustive description of color symbolism would require a huge amount of textual material and for this reason is impossible on this site. Here we will limit ourselves to a list of symbolic meanings of primary colors and give several typical examples.

Red

Means:

1. The tension of forces, the concentration of energy- hard work, struggle, war, conflicts, tragedy, drama, anger, cruelty, rage, passions.

On the expanses of endless waters, Cloaked in purple by the sunset, She broadcasts and sings, Unable to lift the confused wings ... The yoke of evil Tatars broadcasts, A series of bloody executions broadcasts, And a coward, and hunger, and a fire, Villainous strength, death of the right ... (A. Block)

The red color was the emblem of chaos destroying Russia (Andrey Bely).

2. magical effect- attracting a partner (love magic), ensuring fertility, health, protection from evil spirits, demons, the evil eye, damage, illness, to decorate one's appearance and habitat.

Multi-colored sleeves Ladies from the "high chambers" I see a lot ... But dearer to me than all one color: Scarlet paint of love! (Yamato Monogatari)

Rice soul spell to ensure its fertility:

Oh rice, I carefully awaken your soul... I touch your soul... We smear you with the blood of a rooster, a tinganga rooster, We rub you with a substitute, Taken from a rooster, from a rooster from a height... (E. V. Revunenkova, in the book: " Myths, cults…”)

3. Insignia in society- clothes and surroundings of the king, emperor, priests, warriors, judges, executioners, wizards, courtesans, revolutionaries ...

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the scarlet robe. And Pilate said to them: Behold, Man! (Jn 19:5) And having undressed Him, they put on Him a purple robe and mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! (Matthew 27-29)

4. - painting of temples and decorations in them, sacrifices to temples and sanctuaries, images of gods and saints, scenes from sacred books, religious emblems.

I invoke Agni as placed at the head, As a god of sacrifice, a priest As a hotar, bringing the greatest treasures... ...You soar with scarlet winds, Bringing blessings to the hearth... In your desired color, all beauties are seen at once... (Rigveda, Agni's anthem) In the eastern part of the dark invisible space The mother of cows raised (her) banner ... This youth sent down (to the earth) a radiance in the east. She harnesses a train of scarlet cows. Let it erupt now! Let him put up his banner! Let there be fire in every home! (Rig Veda, Ushas hymn) Who is this coming from Edom, in scarlet robes from Bosor, so majestic in his clothes, acting in the fullness of His power? “I who speak the truth, strong to save.” Why, then, is your garment red, and your robes, as those of one who trampled in a winepress? “I trod the winepress alone, and none of the nations was with me, and I trod on them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their blood splashed on my garments, and I stained all my garments; and I trampled down the nations in my anger, and crushed them in my wrath, and poured out their blood on the ground ”(Isaiah 63: 1-6) died at sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and fountains of water: and there was blood ... Because they shed the blood of saints and prophets, You gave them blood to drink: they are worthy of it. (Rev. 16; 3-6)

5. The language of rituals- holidays, weddings, funerals, carnivals, processions, demonstrations, parades, purification.

- And to cleanse the house, he will take two birds, a cedar tree, a scarlet thread and hyssop, and he will kill one bird over an earthen vessel, over living water ... - And he will cleanse the house with the blood of a bird and living water, and a living bird, and a cedar tree, and hyssop and scarlet thread ... (Leviticus, 14; 49-52) Crimson color instills joy in the heart, Sweetness is hidden in ruby ​​​​wine. Crimson buds color the garden, Crimson sunrise, and bright scarlet sunset. For those whose lives are rich in joy, Lanites are bright, like the color of a pomegranate. Ibrahim's garden was in bloom, and Musa's fire burned like a sunset. (Amir Khosrov Dehlavi. Eight Gardens of Eden)

6. Signs and signals - danger, prohibition, sin, greed, ambition, pain; conditional color on emblems and heraldic signs.

…and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, and held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abomination and the uncleanness of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name: mystery, Babylon the great, mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. (Rev. 17, 3-5) On the breastplate of the high priest Aaron, a servant of the Tabernacle of the Assembly, there were four red stones - a ruby, a carbuncle, a yachont and a jasper - identification marks and talismans of the four tribes of Israel.

The state symbols and heraldry of many countries are very rich in red.

Yellow

Means:

1. States associated with positive energy: fun, relaxation of tension, joy, holiday, game, beauty.

The yellow slave from the fairy tales “1001 Nights” praises her beauty in this way: “My color is dear in this world, like pure gold. And how many advantages I have, and the poet said about someone like me: Her yellowness shines like a beautiful color of the sun. She is equal to Dinara in appearance beautiful.

An Arabic poet of the 9th century sings of the beauty of a woman dressed in a yellow dress:

She put on a yellow dress - and charmed us And captivated, conquered many hearts and eyes.

In the poem "Eight Gardens of Eden" by Amir Khosrov Dehlavi, the main character, the shah, visits the yellow palace on Sunday, the most joyful day of the week. At the conclusion of this chapter of the poem, the praise of yellow is sung:

The noblest color! Lovers have this color Lanita without an answer. Gold heals us from ailments, Because the color of saffron is poured in it. …and the sun, coming out from behind the mountains, Colors the expanse in gold. And fat pilaf on a dish smells spicy, Seasoned with a smile of saffron.

2. magical effect- immortality, happiness in marriage, treatment of diseases that cause yellowness of the body, a sign of the earth and the feminine yin.

In ancient China, the abode of the dead was called the "Yellow Keys", but the yellow crane was an allegory of immortality. (E. V. Zavadskaya, 1975). In India, the newlywed covers her hands with yellow in order to ensure happiness and unanimity in marriage. (D. Foley, Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols, 1997).

Treatment of jaundice in ancient India: “... the basis of the magical operation was to drive the yellow color from the patient to yellow beings and objects to which the yellow color stuck, such as the sun. (The rite was accompanied by spells that sent "jaundice in the sun"). The same healing power was attributed to one yellow variety of jackdaws, and especially to its huge golden eyes. It was believed that if you look closely into her eyes and the bird responds with the same look, then the person will be cured - the disease will pass to the bird ... Pliny ... ascribes the same property to some yellow stone, similar in color to the complexion of the patient.

In Greece, this disease is still called the “golden disease” and a golden amulet or ring supposedly helps to cure it ... (D. Fraser. The Golden Bough).

3. Insignia in society- the clothes and headdress of the king, the ritual clothes of the priest, the signs of royal and priestly power - the rod, the orb, the cross ... Here, the yellow color is shown on precious textures and materials - such as gold, silk, brocade, gemstones.

The main Chinese demiurge god Huang-di was called the "Yellow Emperor" (E. V. Zavadskaya).

And David took the crown of their king from his head - and in it was talent of gold and a precious stone - and David placed it on his head ... (2 Sam. 12:30) And the king stretched out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand him, and Esther came and touched the end of the scepter. (Esther 5:2)

4. Language of communication with gods and spirits- glory, divine power, attribute of Apollo, Zeus, Chinese emperors, Roman victors, sacrifice to Allah, statues of Buddha and his saints, clothes of Buddhist preachers and monks; light, sun, God, wisdom, righteousness.

“And Musa said to his people: Behold, Allah orders you to slaughter a cow ... She is a yellow cow, her color is bright, she pleases those who look.” (Quran, sura 2). “And all the people took out the golden earrings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took them out of their hands, and made of them a molten calf, and worked it with a chisel. And they said, Behold your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt! (Ex. 32:3, 4) “Golden apples in transparent silver vessels are a word well spoken. A gold earring and pure gold jewelry is a wise reprover for an attentive ear. (Prov. 25:11, 12).

5. The language of rituals- initiations, holidays, rituals, ceremonies.

Indian rite of passage into a disciple: “On the night before the ceremony, the boy was smeared with yellow powder and a silver ring was put on his forelock. After that, he was ordered to spend the whole night in absolute silence. It was a mystical rite that prepared the boy for his second birth. The yellow powder symbolized being in the womb, and absolute silence meant that the child again became, as it were, a dumb fetus. (R. B. Pandey, 1982).

In China, the Earth Festival was celebrated in yellow clothes (Sychev L.P., Sychev V.L., “Chinese costume”). On the altar of the Earth is honey-hued amber.

6. Signs and signals- a warning, a warning, yellow and black - a sign of prohibition, yellow in the form of gold - a sign of the high cost and high quality of the goods.

Yellow card - distrust, warning; "yellow acacia" in the language of flowers means "love is gone." In China, "yellow films" and "yellow literature" are pornographic products (D. Foley, p. 438)

"Yellow ticket" - an identity card for corrupt women.

In nineteenth-century England, the yellow hats of insolvent debtors, yellow rings on the raincoats of Jews from the ghetto.

7. Negative symbolism of yellow and gold- sin, betrayal, venality, madness, withering, sadness, decay, despair, illness.

Such expressions as the yellow press, yellow trade unions, the Yellow House are well known; "Yellow Jack" - the flag that was raised on ships as a sign of quarantine. In medieval Spain, heretics were dressed in yellow when burned at the stake of the Inquisition.

Judas Iscariot was portrayed in a yellow cloak as a Christ seller. In France, yellow was a sign of deceived husbands, cuckolds. A number of negative meanings of yellow are associated with the color of dying autumn foliage and a sad mood about the end of summer.

Japanese verses:

The branch that I broke for you turned yellow; Spring, and on it there is already a trace of autumn! (Manyoshu)

Anna Akhmatova: The circle from the lamp is yellow, I listen to the rustle. Why did you leave? I don't understand... From your mysterious love, As from pain, I scream, I've become yellow and convulsive, I can hardly drag my legs...

Sergey Yesenin:

I do not regret, I do not call, I do not cry, Everything will pass like smoke from white apple trees. Withering covered in gold, I will not be young anymore ... ... They drink here again, fight and cry Under the harmonics of yellow sadness ...

S. Eisenstein quotes F. Portal:

“The Moors distinguished opposite symbols by two different nuances of yellow. Golden yellow meant "wise" and "good advice", and faded yellow meant betrayal and deceit ... "

“In heraldry, gold stands for love, constancy and wisdom, and yellow stands for its opposite qualities: inconstancy, envy and adultery…”

A funny example of the negative influence of yellow on the fate of a person is found in Teffi's story "Life and the Collar". The yellow bow on the collar of her blouse turned a decent woman into a frivolous spendthrift and an unscrupulous liar.

However, examples of the negative symbolism of yellow are so numerous that the reader himself will add to this list.

Green

1. This is the color of vegetation; hence all its positive meanings: growth, spring revival of nature, hope (for the harvest), youth. The color of the Garden of Eden (Eden), an oasis in the desert, a Muslim paradise.

“The green color caresses at noon with a shadow, It gives peace to the soul and vision. And the grasses are green, and the darkness in the forests, Green light fluctuates in the eyes. Green color is the outfit of any garden, And for the jasmine, the stem is like a reward ”(Amir Khosrov Dehlavi)

In Japan, green is a symbol of spring agricultural rites (May ivy is a bed for participants in spring orgies); in Europe it is a sign of earthly love and hope: “Green clothe yourself, that is, the clothes of lovers,” writes the Sicilian Herald, author of a book on color. A knight-errant who professes the cult of a beautiful lady must dress in green. “And with the onset of May, I don’t want to see any other colors than green,” Gerold concludes. (quoted from the book by J. Huizinga "Autumn of the Middle Ages").

2. sacred symbols: in China - spring, tree, Jupiter, Green dragon; in the Middle East - Osiris, Tammuz, (Gods-cereals), in Greece - Demeter, Persephone (goddesses of fertility); in India - Buddhas from the kind of Karma, as well as a karmic type of person. In Christianity, it is a symbol of the earthly life of Christ and the saints. In Judaism, the signs of the two tribes of Israel.

One of the first Christian churches (and the most remarkable) is St. Sophia in Constantinople - built on pillars of green marble, which were taken by Byzantine builders from the temple of Diana in Ephesus.

And to all ages - the example of Justinian, When the Ephesian Diana allowed to steal for foreign gods One hundred and seven green marble pillars. (O. Mandelstam)

3. The language of communication between people: in ancient Rome, the green color in men's clothing meant delicacy and unnatural inclinations; in modern times in Europe - irony, buffoonery, bourgeoisness (as a condemned property).

G. S. Knabe gives examples of the semantics of green in ancient Rome (in the book “Ancient Rome - History and Everyday Life”, 1986): “In the house of Trimalchio, where everything is absurd and unnatural, guests are met by a doorkeeper in a green tunic. A certain Boss, a roguish and impudent acquaintance of Martial, appeared at the theater "in a grass-colored dress." The reasons for this perception are obvious. Green ... was a "feminine" color, and the use of it in men's clothing was a sign of femininity, effeminacy, a hint of unnatural depravity. There was an expression "greenish (that is, pampered, perverted) morals."

Russian cubo-futurist Alexei Kruchenykh intentionally shocks the audience with his appearance:

I have an emerald-indecent every piece Suit: cut shocking. In the mouth is a hot cloud. Steel naughty Eros My flag is an infected rag There is no order in the eyes! ... I am not reflected in the mirror!

From the notebooks of A.P. Chekhov: When I get rich, I will open a harem for myself, in which I will have naked fat women with buttocks painted with green paint. (Works. Vol. XII, M. 1949)

V. Kandinsky about green: “... green in the realm of colors is the same as in the realm of people - the bourgeoisie: it is an immobile, completely satisfied with itself, limited on all sides. It is like a fat, hefty, motionless cow, capable only of chewing and chewing, and looking at the world with stupid, dull eyes. (“On the Spiritual in Art”)

4. magical effect. Best of all, the magical effect of green is manifested in an emerald. Academician A.E. Fersman writes about this in the book “Stories about gems”: “It is difficult to find another gem that would be valued more in ancient times than the emerald, the “stone of radiance” of the Greeks. ... The juicy green color of the emerald was deeply valued as an expression of life, youth and purity. He was credited with the possession of a mysterious power to heal ailments and bestow happiness.

This stone is sung by poets of all countries of the world. The color of the emerald, according to Indian legends, "imitates the color of the neck of a young parrot, young grass, water mud, iron and feather patterns from a peacock's tail." “Zmuri,” the Georgians called this stone, believing that it, like in a mirror, reflects all the secrets of the present and the future.

The Roman scientist Pliny wrote that "this stone of nature is above all earthly blessings, that its beauty is more beautiful than the fragrance of a spring flower, and that it should not be allowed to touch the virgin features of the artist's chisel."

The French poet Remy Bello sings of the green beryl stone:

Green is the best, since it looks like a mountain emerald with its deep color. It is brought to us from the Indian shores, green and golden. There is nothing more useful for the spoiled eyes and liver of the patient; He cures shortness of breath, nausea, heart diseases - and he is also the only guardian of marriage bonds for women and men. He drives away laziness, he returns a friend, before him the haughty enemy is timid with fear ...

5. Negative characters: decay, decay, demonism, disgust, malice, envy, longing, madness, horror of death. These meanings come from the color of mold, rotting organic matter, evil mythological animals (serpents, dragons), mysterious inhabitants of the forests (goblin, Green King), eyes of predatory nocturnal animals and birds, bitter poisonous herbs, as well as some human discharge, indicating illness. . The expressions “green longing”, turned green with anger (or envy), green snake (drunkenness) are well-known. Baudelaire’s she-devil is “a green-faced succubus”, F. G. Lorca’s: “the poison of the sunset is green, but I will drink the potion”; “My raspberry, raspberry ... You were green like a madman, you shook the birds under the sky ...” Description of the drowned woman from the poem “Somnambulistic romance”: “Swaying from the green bottom of the pool, she looked - Silver frost of a look and green hair and body ...”

The green color in the color of the human body (hair, eyes, etc.), of course, is shocking, since here it is unnatural. S. Baudelaire tells about Delacroix: “Once he came to visit, having previously dyed his own hair green, hoping to produce a great effect with this. “What is so special about this, my friend,” said the owner, “they are green for all people.”

S. Eisenstein writes about the symbolism of green: The color of the rebirth of the soul and wisdom, it simultaneously meant moral decline and madness.

The Swedish theosophist Swedenborg describes the eyes of madmen languishing in hell as green. One of the stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral represents the temptation of Christ; on it, Satan has green skin and huge green eyes ... The eye in symbolism means intelligence. A person can direct it to good or evil. Both Satan and Minerva - both madness and wisdom - were both portrayed with green eyes...

As A. Perrusho writes, the French artist Toulouse-Lautrec "saw something demonic in all shades of green."

In Indian poetics, green means disgust. You can read about this in D. Salinger's story "And Those Lips and Eyes Are Green."

In modern Russian science fiction literature, there is a noticeable tendency towards the negative semantization of green. In the stories of V. Pelevin, for example, the gates to the otherworldly "Workshop No. 1" are painted green, where the death of the worlds, including the Earth, takes place. The stories also feature the monster "Green Khidr" - an evil werewolf, a green chair of the director of the plant, in which the director turns into a skeleton; the narrator, who is mentally ill, has a green armchair and a greenish-yellow curtain at home.

In conclusion of this short story about green, I would like to say the best about it with words from the Koran (Sura 55).

46. ​​And to him who fears the dignity of his Lord, two gardens 48. having branches 62. and besides two, two more gardens, 64. dark green 66. palm trees, and pomegranates 70. in them - solid, beautiful, - 72. black-eyed, hidden in tents, - 76. leaning on green pillows and beautiful carpets ...

Blue

The symbolism of blue comes from an obvious physical fact - the blueness of a cloudless sky. In the mythological consciousness, the sky has always been the abode of gods, ancestral spirits, angels; hence the main symbol of blue is divinity. Its associated meanings are mystery, mysticism, holiness, nobility and purity (spirituality), constancy (in faith, devotion, in love), perfection, high origin (blue blood), justice (God's work).

Blue depict: objects of the cult of the gods in Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome (Zeus, Hera, Jupiter, Juno); the cover of the Tabernacle of the Assembly (Old Testament), the clothes of the high priest in the Tabernacle; the clothes of Jesus and the Mother of God in icon painting and painting; In Pseudo-Dionysius, blue denotes incomprehensible secrets. In Christian churches, blue domes symbolized the sky, the ceilings in the temples of Ancient Egypt did the same.

In medieval Europe, blue was the color of a knight's costume, wishing to demonstrate fidelity in love to his lady; "Bluestocking" - the nickname of a woman engaged in science (originated in Venice in the 15th century). In Europe of the New Age (England, Russia), orders and awards were hung on blue ribbons - the "Order of the Garter", awards at the races, prizes for speed, etc. (signs of valor, superiority). The sign of high origin is "blue blood".

The negative symbolism of blue comes from the proximity of this color to black, that is, the color of death and evil. In addition, blue is the opposite of red and yellow, symbols of life, joy and flowering. The transcendence of demonic forces and death itself also gives rise to the negative symbolism of blue.

In China, it is the color of evil demonic creatures (Myths of Ancient China), in Japan it is the color of villains and devils (Kabuki theatre).

In Muslim India - the color of sadness, mourning.

“A week later they grieved, Everyone went in mourning, everyone in blue” (Amir Khosrov Dehlavi)

In the human body, blue and blue are good only as an eye color. Where blue is inappropriate, it denotes vice, drug addiction, a painful condition from cold, hunger, etc.

“I myself, shameful and corrupt, With blue circles from my eyes ...” (A. Blok) “But Blue mouths cringe in blackened faces ...” (S. Yesenin - about convicts)

In medieval Europe, the expression "blue skirt" meant that a woman belonged to the first oldest profession.

“Who has provided me with blue cotton, What pokes everyone with his finger, let him die!” (Johan Huizinga. Autumn of the Middle Ages)

A. Blok has blue - the color of twilight, mystery, cold and sadness.

“You sadly wrapped yourself in a blue cloak, On a damp night you left the house.”

D. A. Prigov’s “blue transparent river” is deceptively beautiful. In essence, this is the Styx - a hellish river in which all people perish.

The symbolism of blue has a slightly different character. In our time, it is either doubtful, or frankly negative. Most often, this color denotes sentimentality, eroticism (of a sodomite persuasion), manilovism (empty dreams), frivolity and problem-free (in the worst sense), philistinism.

Blue is the opposite of pink physically, but is identical to it symbolically. This is how extremes converge.

White

White color has been a multi-valued symbol at all times and among all peoples. Its shitty and original meaning is light. White is identical to sunlight, and light is a deity, goodness, life, the fullness of being.

Symbolic meanings of white:

1. Complete rest, serenity, non-action, peace, silence, purity (sattva), emptiness (shunya), chastity, virginity, concentration.

“White You, undisturbed in the depths, Strict and angry in life, Secretly anxious and secretly loved - Virgo, Dawn, Kupina ...” (A. Blok)

2. magical action- white clothes and coloring - a means that promotes purification, good luck in war (among primitive tribes), long life, health, good. “In the Bemba tribe, initiated girls are covered with whitewash. At the same time they sing a song: - We made the girls white, like white herons. We made them beautiful... They are now whitened from blood stains... "White beads ensure fertility for women." (W. W. Turner. Symbol and Ritual)

3. Sign of social position- nobility, nobility, greatness, prosperity. White clothes of Egyptian pharaohs, priests of the Ancient East, togas of Roman patricians, dresses of women "from society" in antiquity, the Middle Ages and in other eras; "white collars" - a sign of intelligence, white suits, cars, shirts, interiors - a sign of belonging to a wealthy class.

4. Language of communication with gods and spirits- white clothes of gods, angels, saints, righteous people in paradise, the appearance of Yahweh (Sabaoth), Brahman, Atman, Akshobhya - the first Buddha of the Tibetan five-membered mandala (icon); clothes of ministers in the Orthodox and Catholic churches, white coloring of Christian churches.

White color in the Old Testament:

“His head and hair are white, like a white wave, like snow; and His eyes are like a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14)

“And I saw the heavens open, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it is called Faithful and True, who judges righteously and makes war” (Rev. 19:11).

“And the armies of heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white and clean linen” (Rev. 19:14)

According to Pseudo-Dionysius, "The white surplice is the image of the flesh of Christ, the purest passionless garment of divine glory, the garment of incorruption." (Bychkov V.V., Byzantine aesthetics, 1977)

In our time, the white color is accepted as a symbol of the deity in new religious and philosophical teachings - theosophy, agni yoga, "living ethics", ecumenism. So, the Roerichs wrote about the "earthly abode of the gods" - shining Shambhala; its ancient name is White Island, where the White Brotherhood lives. There is also the White Mountain, or White Burkhan. “This is the World Stronghold of Light, which from time immemorial has been fanned with the loftiest hopes and secret aspirations of all peoples of all times”… (Uguns, January 1990)

5. The language of rituals- white clothes are worn during the holidays of baptism, communion, the Nativity of Christ, Easter, Ascension, the consecration of churches. Among primitive peoples, many rituals are accompanied by staining with white paint, putting on white clothes, using white animals and birds. Among the African Banyoro people, white cows were handed over to the sovereign as a sign of loyalty. Participants in the sovereign's coronation ceremony were showered with white powder. White was also the main color of the royal regalia. The royal cook had to cleanse himself before performing his duties. For this purpose, half of his body was covered with white clay. (W. W. Turner. Symbol and Ritual)

An example from Renaissance culture in Italy: The solemn worship service on the occasion of Carlo Malatesta's accession to the city of Rimini was accompanied by a procession of nine thousand white-clad men and eight thousand women. (A. Venediktov, Renaissance in Rimini, 1970)

6. Signs and signal s - in Japan - chrysanthemum, white storks and cranes; in China - a sign of the West, autumn and metal; in India - "the white image of the sun", the color of the Brahmin caste; in Christianity - a white lily, a white rose - the symbols of the Virgin Mary. The white flag is an offer of peace. In heraldry, white is widely used as a symbol.

7. Attribute of supreme beauty— what could be more beautiful than white clouds, chrysanthemums, jasmine, cherry blossoms, white swans? In the Arabian tales “A Thousand and One Nights,” a white slave praises her color in this way: “They say that whiteness said: “I am a brilliant light, I am a rising moon, my color is clear, my forehead shines, and the poet said about my beauty: She is white, with smooth cheeks and tender, like a hidden pearl in beauty.

... My color is like a happy day and a plucked flower and a sparkling star ... My color is a miracle, and my charm is the limit, and my beauty is the end, and any clothes like me are good, and souls strive for me. And there are many virtues in whiteness, such as the fact that snow descends from heaven white, and they convey that the best of flowers is white, and Muslims are proud of white turbans, and if I began to recall what was said to whiteness in glory, the exposition, rightly, would drag on .(The story of the six slave girls, vol. 5).

The positive meanings of white are succinctly and gracefully stated in Dehlavi's verses:

White clothes - for anyone for the future. “There is no better cover!” the prophet said. We prefer white flowers We write and read in white. Honorable is the whiteness of gray hair, Allah Almighty Himself exalted it. And the day in its wide limits Includes all colors, but he himself is white.

8. Liberation from the shackles of tradition in art. The revolution in painting of the twentieth century changed the symbolism of the white color, giving it unprecedented meanings. Thus, suprematists see white as a symbol (or equivalent) of a non-Euclidean n-dimensional space that immerses the viewer in a kind of meditative trance that purifies the soul like Zen Buddhist practice. This is evidenced by the founder of Suprematism K. Malevich himself: “The movement of Suprematism is already moving in this direction, towards white non-objective nature, towards white excitations, towards white consciousness and white purity as the highest level of this state, whether it be peace or movement.” (Collection of Lenz Schoenberg, catalogue, 1989)

The peak and completion of Malevich's Suprematist painting was the work "White Square on a White Background". “Casimir the Great” himself, as his associates called him, was delighted with his discovery. “I broke the azure screen of color restrictions,” he exults, “and stepped out into whiteness; set sail and follow me, comrade navigators, towards the abyss, I have erected beacons of Suprematism... Rule after me! Free white abyss - infinity - in front of you. Abstractionists of the second half of the 20th century consider K. Malevich their teacher. And, as capable students, they surpassed the master in the field of comprehending the bottomless depths of white. I recommend reading the article by Raimund Gierke in the catalog of the Lenz Schoenberg collection cited above, 1989.

8. Negative white symbolism.

White can mean death, illness, evil, alienation, suffering.

Among the Zairian Comos, white is associated primarily with filth, illness, and death. This is the color of fear, non-existence (Iordansky V. B., Chaos and Harmony, 1982). A black slave girl from Arabian tales recalls that gray hair is a sign of the approach of death, and white is the color of a dead man's shroud, leprosy and lichen, an eyesore. White lime is the cheapest material, while black musk is the most expensive.

In Japanese classical poetry, white symbolizes coldness, separation, the suffering of unrequited love.

The dew washed away the white-woven sleeves. And penetrating with cold, the autumn wind blew.

In the culture of Europe of the New Age, white marks: death, fainting, cold, silence, exhaustion, loneliness, even hatred and cruelty. Suffice it to recall the afterlife images of European novels (ghosts, shrouds of the dead); in the 20th century, members of the Ku Klux Klan wear white hoods; the fury Bernardina Alba lives in the white house (in the play by F. G. Lorca); the heroine of Jean Cocteau, before committing suicide, lives in a room where everything is white; the victim of the cruelty of our time, Marilyn Monroe is also sent to another world from the snow-white room.

In Russian poetry of the beginning of the century, white is associated with negative emotions and with thoughts turned to the other world. In A. Blok, white often means death, melancholy, alienation, trance. “My face is whiter than a white wall. Again, again, I will be shy when She comes ... "

“By a white dream, motionlessly chained To the shore of later times ...” “Thorns crown the humble and wise with the White Fire of the Bush.”

Velimir Khlebnikov's white color combined with gray and black creates a tragic flavor. Here, for example, is a self-portrait of the poet:

“My face book is so unraveled: On white, on white - two gray znya! Behind me, like a gray pigalitsa, A sheet yearns for Moscow.

Black

The symbolism of black in most nations is mostly negative. In the black sky, in the depths of caves, pits, wells, in deep shadows, something mysterious and dangerous is hiding. Black makes a person's vision powerless, which in itself threatens with danger.

1. MAIN SYMBOLS: death, decay, disintegration of matter, night (as a time of passivity), sadness, grief.

“Among the banyoro people of Uganda,” writes V. B. Iordansky, “black is associated with night, death, evil and danger ... White animals were usually sacrificed to the banyoro gods, and the presence of even a black hair in the tail of a sacrificial cow could deprive the entire rite of effectiveness . On the contrary, when a person was possessed by evil spirits, a black goat or chicken was sacrificed to them (the spirits). Black banana fiber was worn as a sign of mourning. The Banyoro god of the underworld ate from dishes covered with soot. His food was smoked and the milk he drank came from a black cow.”

In the Russian folk language, the word "black" means something old, dirty, unfinished, devoid of brilliance: a black old woman, a black woman, a back door, a black floor, a draft; as well as gloomy and gloomy: black humor, "drinking black" ...

According to the research of W. W. Turner, among the Ndembu African people, “blackness” is:

1. evil, bad things, 2. lack of purity or whiteness, 3. suffering or misfortune, 4. illness, 5. witchcraft and witchcraft: if a person has a black liver, he is capable of killing, he is a bad person, 6. death, 7 . sexual desire, 8. night or darkness.

2. Magic symbol: black magic, demonism, witchcraft.

Magic rituals have been an integral part of the culture of all times and peoples (see above). In Europe during the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, etc. distinguish between white and black magic. Calling up the spirits of the dead, killing or inducing "damage" at a distance, instilling love passion or hatred were considered black magic. Occult procedures were usually carried out in the dark, underground, while black clothes, black animals appeared, even black blood was required (we recommend reading the book by E. Parnov "The Throne of Lucifer", M. 1991).

3. Ethical characteristics: pride, secret envy, sinfulness, malice, meanness, vindictiveness. Black is the color of executioners, murderers, pirates; the expressions "black ingratitude, black malice, etc." In ancient India, black color corresponded to the concept of tamas - a state of constriction, oppression. We see impressive images of black in the poetry of A. Blok:

Old, old dream. From the darkness Lanterns run - where? There is only black water, There is oblivion forever... The skeleton, wrapped up to the eyes in a cloak, Is looking for something, grinning with a black mouth... The living sleep. The dead man rises from the coffin. And he goes to the bank, and goes to the court, to the senate ... The whiter the night, the blacker the anger, And the feathers creak triumphantly. (Dance of death)

4. Language of communication with gods and spirits: black is the color of the Mother Earth, the inhabitants of the underworld, demonic creatures. One of the myths of Ancient China speaks of the "underground kingdom of Yudu", in which black birds, black snakes, black leopards, black tigers and black foxes with fluffy, fluffy tails lived. There was also a big black mountain where black people lived. Black is the color of femininity (as a killing and generating principle, similar to Mother Earth). Among the African Ndembu people, women with very black skin are valued as lovers, not as wives. Women of the white race in our time prefer a black dress (heavily decollete) as an evening dress (and if the climate permits, even during the day).

Black can symbolize "divine darkness" or "super-light darkness" (Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite), the value of black is no less than white.

“I clothe the heavens with darkness, and make sackcloth their cover” (Is. 50:2).

5. The language of rituals: funerals, weddings, occult ceremonies (see above, paragraph 1). The "blackest" rite is the "Black Mass"; the most dangerous magic is "black magic". From the Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols of D. Foley: “The secret sciences that witches and sorcerers were engaged in, as well as others who dealt with the “Prince of Darkness”, the devil, were called “black magic” (p. 420).

6. Signs, symbols: the sign of death on the flags of anarchists, pirates, signs of neo-fascists - swastikas, black shirts; a black patch in a British court is a sign of a death sentence, a mourning suit in Europe, a black cassock is a sign of monasticism.

7. Positive black values: youth, beauty, peace (rest). Black is especially valued in the Muslim East. The black slave from the tales of “1001 Nights” praises her color in such expressions: “Don’t you know what is given in the Koran ... the word of Allah the great: I swear by night when she covers, and by day when she shines!” And if the night had not been more worthy, Allah would not have sworn by it and would not have put it ahead of the day - with this the shrewd and perspicacious agree. Don't you know that blackness is the adornment of youth, and when the gray hair falls, pleasures go away and the time of death draws near? And if blackness were not the most worthy of all, Allah would not have placed it in the depths of the heart and eye. And among the advantages of blackness is that ink is obtained from it, with which the words of Allah are written ... And besides, is it good to meet lovers otherwise than at night? ... "

The caliphs of the Abbasid dynasty liked to dress in black. Their banner was also black. Amir Khosrow Dehlavi writes:

The color of the glorious Abbasids is black. It belongs to the first of the planets, And the darkness of nights is always black, It descends in life-giving peace. And the mole of the beauty is black, As pitch, her thick hair is a wave.

9. Black stones - talismans: the stone of the Kaaba - the main Muslim temple in Mecca; jet, hematite, obsidian, black agate and others. (See the book by E. Gonikman “Your Talisman”, M., 1997) A few excerpts from this book: “The jet figure was worn from the evil eye, from evil and disease ... fear. Gagat is a stone of the night and night secrets. Very often, black magicians used jet to call the souls of the dead and contact them. Hematite (bloodstone) symbolizes wisdom and courage (in India). In the old days, bloodstone was credited with properties ... to stop bleeding, extinguish outbursts of anger, and treat tumors. Obsidian, worn in a ring, bracelet or necklace, will give you composure, concentration. The ancients called it a stone - a savior, warning against bad deeds and from unworthy, impure love.

Orange, purple and magenta- colors intermediate between the main, adjacent in a circle. Their values ​​largely coincide with the values ​​of neighboring colors.

Violet: it stands out from all spectral colors with its complexity, balancing between red and blue, and also between blue and black. Hence its semantics and symbolism. Basic meanings: mourning, fear, sadness of a suppressed spirit, mystery (mysticism), old age, the extinction of life, tragedy, pain, sad circumstances (among the Germans), love passion (in medieval Japan).

A few examples:

“It is not at all an accident that among some peoples the purple color is chosen exclusively as mourning ... The sight of this color acts depressingly, and the feeling of sadness caused by it is consistent with the sadness of a depressed spirit” (S. Eisenstein - M. Nordau). Paul Gauguin conveys a woman's fear of a ghost by depicting a scene against a purple background (painting "Manao Tupapao"). The semantics of violet is indicated by its names in the catalog of colors of the early twentieth century - ecclesiastic, fandango, Ophelia and many others, denoting phenomena that are deeply impressive and with a touch of tragedy.

Japanese verses:

If you love me, You keep love deep in your heart: Violets of a dyed dress Don't show the color!

Violet, leaning towards blue, is called lilac, and its whitened shades are called lilac. These are melancholic, mysterious, sad-romantic colors:

I don’t feel sorry for the years wasted in vain, I don’t feel sorry for the soul of a lilac flower ... (S. Yesenin)

Lilac is poeticized black:

Or maybe in the dens of San Francisco, the Purple Negro gives you a coat. (I. Vertinsky)

Purple

The color of wealth, royalty, supreme beauty. He was perhaps the most honorable and beautiful in Greco-Roman antiquity. In Homer, this color is worn by heroes and gods.

“The mantle was woolen, purple, double, he was clothed” (Odyssey, XIX, 225). Heroes in the Iliad wear a glistening purple belt. The verses are repeated many times: “A young woman came out of the darkness with purple fingers Eos”; “Purple waves rustled around his keel terribly ...” In the Roman poet Virgil, purple is even more honored than in Homer:

“The fabrics here are dismantled with art and proud purple ...” “Tie legs with purple also with koturna” (Aeneid, 1, 635, 335).

In ancient Rome, only emperors were allowed to wear purple clothes. Senators were only allowed to have stripes or borders of this color on their clothing (usually white).

In Byzantium, purple is the imperial color. Vasilevs signed with purple ink, sat on a purple throne, and wore purple boots. “The Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus, 431) decided, as a sign of the highest veneration of Mary and Anna, to depict them in purple clothes” (Bychkov V.V. Byzantine aesthetics, 1977, p. 103) “... purple united the eternal, heavenly, transcendental ( blue, cyan) with the earth (red). Combining opposites, the purple color has acquired a special significance in the culture of antinomic thinking. (Bychkov V.V., ibid.)

The purple of Christ was a symbol of His martyrdom and reproach, and on the imperial purple there was a trace of the bloody cruelty of royal arbitrariness - these are the negative symbols of this luxurious color.

All shades of purple are loved in the folk art of the Slavs. There is a lot of crimson and crimson in the poetry of S. Yesenin:

“Play, play, talyanochka, raspberry furs. Come out to meet the groom to the outskirts, beauty ... "" Dawns are blazing, fogs are smoking Over the carved window there is a crimson curtain ... "

You can recall the folk expressions "raspberry ringing", "not life, but raspberries." In folklore, everything that is gratifying, beautiful, and spacious is painted with this color.

Grey

The color of poverty, boredom and melancholy, urban crowding, rotten fog. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, it was not valued at all. He was considered the color of the rags of the poor, the color of misfortune and mediocrity. The gray-blue color of the ancient Romans symbolized envy. In the ancient East, they sprinkled ashes on their heads as a sign of grief.

In ancient Russian literature and folklore, gray and gray-gray are epithets of predatory animals or birds (“gray wolf”, “gray-gray eagle”); to these colors, as it were, the antipathy that people feed on these animals passes. The gray color was a distinctive feature of the clothes of a poor peasant (sermyaga).

In the works of N.V. Gogol, gray accompanies everything mediocre, indefinite, and degraded. There is a lot of gray around Manilov and in Plyushkin's dwelling (a thick layer of dust and old rubbish). The cassock of the clerk Foma Grigorievich, once black, acquired a gray color (the cassock of the clerk Foma Grigorievich was the color of a chilled potato jelly).

In the poetry of S. Yesenin, the motifs of melancholy, withering, fatigue are painted in gray.

"I'm not sick of anyone's betrayal, And I'm not happy with the ease of victories - Those hair golden hay Turns into gray."

The urban landscape in the poetry of A. Blok is replete with gray spots: tin roofs, a gray-stone body, a smoky-gray fog, a dusty-gray haze ... this hopelessly tragic color suffocates and oppresses a person.

“The street stood up, full of gray, Woven with cobweb yarn ...”

V. Kandinsky also evaluates gray rather negatively: “Grey ... consists of motionless resistance on the one hand and of immovable immobility (like a wall of infinite thickness and a bottomless, boundless abyss going into infinity.” “Gray is an inconsolable immobility. And the darker it becomes, the more the preponderance of the inconsolable grows and the suffocating appears.” (“On the Spiritual in Art”)

In the late Renaissance, gray gains value. It becomes the color of grace, elegance, nobility. Florentine nobles wear gray velvet and brocade, Spanish princesses and Dutch noble ladies flaunt gray satin, on Salviati’s canvases all colors seem to have faded and become more or less gray, in El Greco shades of gray occupied almost the entire field of the picture, creating a frame for “precious stones" - chromatic colors. In the 18th century, gray becomes the most elegant color. Powdered wigs, men's and women's dresses, tapestries, upholstery, wall papers and tapestries - everywhere you can see many shades of gray - mother-of-pearl, pearl, "pigeon neck" and so on.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, gray was accepted as the most "practical" in clothing, the most calm in the interior. The beauty of gray wool, furs, wood was appreciated. Gray has become the color of elegance, a sign of good tone, high taste. The expression "noble mouse color" appeared.

Brown

The fate of brown and its role in culture is similar to the fate of gray. In nature, this color is very common, and in all natural objects is valued by people. However, in ancient times and in the Middle Ages, this color was given a negative meaning. In ancient Rome, brown tunics were worn by slaves or lumpen proletarians; for the upper classes of society, this color was forbidden. In Islamic culture, brown is perceived as the color of decay and decay. Sura 87 of the Quran says:

"one. Praise the name of your Lord, the Most High, 2. who created and proportioned, 3. who distributed and directed, 4. who brought out the pasture, 5. and made it brown litter!

In medieval Europe, brown and gray in clothes meant suffering and hopelessness. “I wear gray and brown, I hope and wait exhausted” (Johan Huizinga, “Autumn of the Middle Ages”).

In the 20th century, Art Nouveau masters express moods of sadness, withering, premonitions of death, fatigue and melancholy in brown. Andrei Bely, describing the life of D. Merezhkovsky and Z. Gippius, notes that even the very atmosphere in their house was brown, and all things were the same, since the owners are “gloomy people”. In the apartment of Vyacheslav Ivanov there are "square-brown" carpets, and the colors of the houses on the street are "brown" and "chocolate".

Apparently, there is something in this color that attracts a tired and sickly soul that has lost the immediate joy of life. Very characteristic in this sense is Joseph Brodsky's essay "Trophy", which lists many brown things that are very pleasant for the poet: a radio, a gramophone, boots, photographs of Venice.

We see different colors every day. They are present in clothes, the world around us. Each color has its own meaning. Let's talk about what the colors represent.

White color

White is a symbol of purity and perfection. It has a beneficial effect on human energy. People who like him are usually honest and accurate, but they have many enemies. As a rule, they have a calm temperament.

Red color

Red is a symbol of life energy. It activates, attracts the eye and warms. This color is liked by strong and courageous people, who often turn out to be very vengeful. Red clothes are worn by those who want to stand out from the crowd. It charges people with special energy, giving them activity and cheerfulness.

Orange color

Orange represents the color of creation. He is optimistic, encourages freedom and action. Orange color can activate the hidden possibilities of a person. With it, you can achieve any goal. Those people who prefer the color orange are strong in spirit, they are able to influence others and quickly gain popularity. They often become leaders.

Yellow

Yellow color symbolizes the love of life. It is able to bring joy and laughter, and also stimulates mental abilities. It is believed that the yellow color is liked by creative people who are distinguished by honesty and diligence. It is also chosen by those who want to become rich and succeed in life.

Turquoise

Turquoise color symbolizes harmony between heart and mind, experience and wisdom. It activates hidden talents in a person and allows them to be developed to the maximum. This color is preferred by people who are eager to achieve not only success in life, but also enlightenment.

Green color

Green color symbolizes harmony. It reduces arousal and helps to get rid of negative emotions. This color has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. People who like him usually lead a quiet life, are compassionate and sentimental. They are trusting and constant, but they are often betrayed by the people around them.

Blue

The blue color represents not only wisdom, but also a calm disposition. It promotes relaxation and inspires to do good deeds. This color is chosen by people who strive for spiritual achievements. They are not selfish, can be spineless and passive.

Blue colour

Blue color symbolizes inspiration, justice and devotion. It contributes to the fulfillment of desires, even those that at first glance seem unrealizable. People who like blue tend to be very organized and have good stamina. They are receptive and can obey others. They have excellent logical thinking.

Purple

Purple is a color that symbolizes kindness and wisdom. It is very powerful, which is why it is preferred by leaders. Violet color helps to balance spiritual and physical energy. People who give preference to him tend to put on airs, they have a well-expressed self-esteem and have oratory skills. But at the same time, they often do not notice their shortcomings and can be quite tough with others.

Pink color

Pink is the color of Venus, symbolizing love. It allows you to build relationships with people around you. With the help of pink, you can attract a soul mate into your life or fill an existing relationship with tenderness. It also helps to heal from emotional wounds, increase self-esteem and prevent the occurrence of troubles in life.

Brown color

Brown color symbolizes protection. It allows you to protect yourself and attracts only good events to life. Brown color attracts wealth, success and abundance. He likes people who are ready to do anything to achieve their goal.

Indigo

Indigo is a color symbolizing spiritual healing and enlightenment. It helps to learn about past lives and other worlds. It is preferred by people who like mysticism and the unknown.

Grey colour

Gray color represents protection from mental and physical attacks. It effectively neutralizes negative energy and allows you to quickly get rid of problems. People who choose this color are sensitive and have a good heart.

Black color

Black color symbolizes mystery and mystery. It is chosen by people with a calm character. Often they have the ability to foresee, but not everyone uses them.

It has been noticed that people who prefer white to all colors have, in the overwhelming majority, a highly developed imagination. Such people are very often religious and distinguished by the strength of their faith. In addition, those who prefer white easily enter a trance (cult, mystical, meditation). One of the main distinguishing features of character is the desire for peace and tranquility. But in general, the character can be very contradictory, combining such different qualities as sympathy for people and indifference to the outside world, selflessness and jealousy. They are generally characterized by a certain polarity: those who prefer white are dreamy, but this quality can push them equally to heaven, to God, and to drugs. Lovers of white very often have parapsychological and psychic abilities. In addition, according to the eastern horoscope, they are most often born in the year of the Lion (which gives them inner strength) or the Snake (foresight and wisdom).

Red

It has long been generally accepted that those people who prefer red to all colors are passionate, quick-tempered, always captivated by their passions. They are highly inherent in the desire for leadership, sometimes at almost any cost. All this is due to the fact that red is the color of animal passion. However, one should never look at things on the same plane, and therefore one can also note such traits of admirers of the red color as cheerfulness, energy, perseverance and hard work, the ability to put their whole soul into their work. Again, on the other hand, these people are rarely characterized by remorse, and in achieving their goals they are often hindered by the same emotionality. All this puts before a choice - learn to control yourself or fail. Apparently, this partly explains the fact that red lovers are often internally contradictory and rather poorly predictable even for people close to them. They like to spend their leisure time hunting or doing some kind of tough sport - from boxing to car racing.

Pink

People who prefer pink to all tones and shades, for the most part, are distinguished by a soft, calm character, dreaminess, up to some detachment from the outside world, expressed by faith in everything wonderful - from their own dreams to fairy tales and mystical revelations. They, as a rule, are quite relaxed, dream of sublime love, and in everyday life they prefer coziness and comfort in every possible way - they cannot be classified as travelers, adventurers or even just outdoor activities. No wonder there is an expression “to look at the world through rose-colored glasses” - it undoubtedly was born from a subtly noticed feature of people of this warehouse with pleasure replacing reality with their own vision of the world. Such a position is convenient in the sense that in many cases it allows you to protect yourself from unpleasant emotions and maintain peace of mind - but only as long as it does not conflict with manifestations of real life. For people with a pink preference, such a collision with reality almost always becomes a rather difficult test - however, no shocks can change the foundation of their life and habits of dreamy contemplation. Another of the typological character traits of those who prefer pink can be considered the absence of clear criteria, including when assessing their own capabilities and strengths. This quality also often fails this category of people when they let others down by promising to do more than they actually can. Nevertheless, due to all the same features of their character, such people calm down very quickly after any shocks and, as a rule, live to a ripe old age.

Blue

Light blue or sky blue almost always characterizes those who prefer these colors as active people, constantly striving for knowledge, discovering something new. For this reason, there are many travel enthusiasts among them. Another category of people who are very often denounced by the love of light tones of blue and blue are poets and artists. As a rule, such people are distinguished by religiosity and are firm in their convictions. Dark blue color of artists. Fans of dark blue, as a rule, are cheerful, optimistic, energetic, adore children. They often quite easily achieve both their goals and success, including in purely material terms. However, this type of character - precisely because of artistry - is characterized by love for recognition from others and a constant passionate desire to achieve this state of affairs. In addition, these individuals are quite refined, which can also often create certain problems: for example, if they like the work, it gives pleasure, they succeed, but otherwise they have a very hard time until they find their place in life .

Brown

Preferring this color - people are very balanced, thorough. Their characteristic feature is orderliness in all affairs and actions, along with a love for order in general (say, at home or in the workplace). Often preferring brown - people are quite harsh, very resistant to any outside influences. Such a rather characteristic feature as a tendency to thrift was also noticed. Also quite often these people strive for power over others, but even when such a tendency is absent, they invariably stand very firmly on their feet. Another typological tendency is the constant craving for knowledge. But in terms of social, such people are not sociable - they much prefer loneliness, love for peace and quiet. In connection with the foregoing, this type of character does not make any strong, especially “brilliant” impression on others, however, having got to know them better, everyone will understand that in difficult times one can rely on such a person. Despite the love of loneliness and peace, they are very active in the sexual sphere and attach great importance to it in the general hierarchy of life values. Reflections on world problems are in the background for people of this type of color preferences, it is much more important for them to maintain control over everyday life problems and achieve their goals, in which they usually show incomparable perseverance and perseverance. In the esoteric tradition, brown symbolizes maturity - not so much in terms of age, but in spiritual terms and decisions.

Grey

Dark gray tones are preferred by those people who are characterized primarily by logical thinking. This feature can manifest itself in a variety of forms, say, in the pursuit of science and technology or medicine, or simply the ability to quickly resolve the most complex life problems. In the esoteric sense, dark shades of gray have the property of purification. There is a lot of evidence that if these tones appear in a person’s dreams, this is a sure sign of successfully overcoming an illness, or solving a very acute life problem, or getting out of a seemingly hopeless situation at work, in love, in the family. People who prefer dark shades of gray to other colors are almost always characterized by a pronounced love of order, and everything should be placed in its designated place - as well as objects on the desktop, and thoughts, and even emotions, feelings. In addition, such people have the ability to analyze. Very often others turn to them for advice - for this very reason and for the same reason those who prefer dark gray often reach real heights in their professional field, regardless of whether it is humanitarian or technical. But with all the propensity for analysis, such people are mostly creative personalities. The greatest * discomfort for them is any restriction, stiffness, tension, although they are not distinguished by a tendency to rebel, like, say, those who prefer black. At the same time, in sexual terms, they are very similar to those who prefer black. Finally, a characteristic feature is the ability to quickly cope with any disappointments that life brings. But those who prefer light gray tones have some differences. They are also smart and rational, but often restless or even restless. But this type is more open, there are no problems in communication, there are usually a lot of friends - they are distinguished by intelligence and sociability. All this is due to the fact that light gray is the color of youth, rapid pace, the desire to avoid any difficulties.

Green

People who prefer green but dark tones tend to be assertive - if not stubborn. They know how to achieve all earthly blessings and acquire material stability. Their mindset allows them to achieve both spiritual and material wealth under any favorable set of circumstances - they will not miss their chance. People of this color are for the most part distinguished by solidity and respectability, in terms of their mindset they often become architects, architects, and, moreover, are very talented in this field. The general characterizing moments include love for nature, as well as a constant desire for peace - both in the physical sense of the word and in the spiritual. People who prefer dark green are very often secretive, but very persistent in achieving their goal, and in many cases this combination can bring real success, as it gradually suppresses the energy of others, those who enter the social circle, unless they are “black” or "red". At the same time, those who prefer dark green are almost always highly aesthetic. On the one hand, such a person could be somewhat softer, on the other hand, they are fully aware of the fact that each of the people has the right to their own opinion. This quality invariably helps dark greens avoid many troubles, in addition, in combination with the already mentioned aesthetics, it allows them to acquire a significant number of good friends. It should be noted here that people generally strive for them - individuals with a dark green preference invariably evoke a sense of security and a strange sense of security among those around them, even little or completely unfamiliar people. The well-established sexual life is of great importance: with failures in this area of ​​​​relationships, people of green preference suffer very deeply. In all other respects, these are people with a strong enough will to overcome any life difficulties; in order to make them change their minds and turn off the chosen path, one needs not only great patience, but also very serious arguments. People who also choose green, but the light tones of it, are quite different from those who choose dark green. These are most often people who are no less aesthetic, but at the same time soft, able to appreciate cooperation and caring for the feelings of others. Of course, all this makes them attractive in communication, they always have a lot of friends. And if, moreover, we take into account that people of a light green warehouse are inherent in the original benevolence, and to a large extent a sense of justice, it becomes clear that these people live, in comparison with their darker brothers in color, incomparably easier. However, there are also quite characteristic shortcomings. So, often people with a light green choice suffer from the fact that they do not know how to listen to others at all. In addition, they are characterized by some frivolity - it is not for nothing that in the esoteric tradition, light green is considered to symbolize youth, spring, fleeting happiness.

Yellow

From time immemorial, yellow has been considered a color that gives warmth, life, energy, as it is the color of the divine Sun, the source of all life. Those who prefer yellow to all colors are almost always people who are not only strong in body and spirit (since the life force is in full swing in them), but also creative. Another typological feature is the desire for leadership; while people with a yellow color preference, as a rule, are well able to concentrate strength and will in order to direct where it will be most effective. At the same time, those who prefer yellow are able not only to work fruitfully, but also to have a good rest, forgetting for a while about all their affairs. These are people who can succeed equally in science and creativity, in the research laboratory and on the stage. Yellow color can contribute to the acquisition of both material and spiritual values. Such people are for the most part open, intelligent and highly sensitive - this latter is the reason that their lives very often truly abound in bright moments and impressions. Those who prefer yellow have enough perseverance, coupled with patience, in order to achieve their goal in most cases. Quite often, such a quality as generosity is also noted, which, in combination with other features of nature, attracts others.

Orange

This is, in fact, concentrated yellow, and therefore those who prefer orange have all the features of yellow. In addition, they are almost always lucky in love and skilled in sex.

Violet

Violet color, i.e. the color of the parietal chakra, "crown" is a special color. And those who prefer it, the overwhelming majority of people are very unusual, in any case, extraordinary. They express the ultimate desire for freedom, complete independence and unlimited space. They strive for spiritual awakening, flight, dream of wings. But for an outside observer, such a person can often look phlegmatic, even sleepy, hiding inner tension and readiness, which is almost always realized unexpectedly. That is why often the whole life of such people is full of surprises and completely unexpected turns. As a rule, people who prefer purple are sociable, and especially value intellectual and spiritual communication, which they very often experience not only a constant need, but also a shortage. They are generally characterized by high innate intelligence, which can even sometimes cause some embarrassment and even discomfort among others. Therefore, these people always strive to find an equal or worthy (in intelligence) interlocutor and carefully select their social circle. Under normal conditions, they usually cannot find this. An addiction to violet tones almost certainly means an interest and craving for everything mysterious, inexplicable, along with a constant desire to find a clue to all such phenomena. Such people are not afraid of dangers, they love speed - both at the wheel and in all other cases, although this may not be evident to outsiders. With high intelligence, they are often not so strong in physical terms - they are prone to various diseases (especially vegetative neuroses and thyroid disorders).

Black

Black color is also liked by quite a few people. As a rule, these are individuals who are always ready to fight, purposeful, stubborn; the dark flame of passion boils in them, prompting them to activity. Accordingly, the feelings and emotions of such people almost always differ in strength and severity; often they even become extreme, turning into an all-consuming passion and capturing the whole person. Not without reason, according to the most ancient sources that have come down to us, black has always been considered the color of rebellion, the elements, and all this is taken to extremes and sometimes pushes a person into the abyss. On the other hand, black is not only a symbol of the night, it is rather a symbol of darkness, and therefore, not only destruction, but also resurrection, not only rebellion, but also freedom. The sexual sphere is extremely important in their life; as a rule, they know how to love and they themselves are loved. The only bad thing is that such people are not always able to assess the situation realistically because of their stormy nature; in these cases they lose, from which they suffer extremely painfully. However, even then, adherents of the black color always go ahead, ahead and without stopping, no matter what goal they pursue. Not without reason in Buddhism there is such a thing as the "Black Dot of the Buddha": it means entering a new level, but not the coveted nirvana, but a more detailed understanding of the fundamental principles of the Universe - the secret forces of the subconscious, life and death.

BIOENERGY OF COLORS AND ZODIAC SIGN

Each sign has a color that has the power of a talisman for it.

• Aries prefers red.
• Taurus is light green.
• Gemini loves all the colors of the rainbow.
• Cancer is blue.
• Leo - from orange to golden.
• Virgo is blue.
• Libra - dark green color.
• Scorpio is purple.
• Sagittarius loves all the colors of the rainbow.
• Capricorn - much stricter in choosing colors, he prefers white, black, purple.
• Aquarius - purple.
• Pisces are all shades of green.

based on materials from the book: Mikhail Bublichenko - "Your aura is the path to spiritual perfection."