What Colours Mean: Purple

DISCOVERING YOU May 2008, by Alicja Zajac

Which do you prefer: lilac, lavender or violet? While they are each beautiful flowers, they are also variations of the colour PURPLE. Other versions of purple we know are grape and eggplant. In nature, purple is one of the more rare colours found.

Have Some Paint?
Try mixing a warm red with a cool shade of blue to create a deep rich purple. Add some white for a softer, pastel tone. Experiment to see how different reds and blues mix together to make all the beautiful shades of purple.

Royalty
Deep PURPLE has been associated with royalty and nobility for centuries.
For very formal special occasions, kings and queens have worn long, flowing, ceremonial cloaks in purple velvet which were often lined with costly ermine fur. A purple padded velvet dome was often added to the center of bejewelled crowns as a decoratively rich and opulent look.

Purple All Around
Wear or surround yourself with deep or bright purple if you want to achieve a sense of mystery, elegance and luxury. Doing this will also help you to overcome procrastination, build your ambition, or boost your imagination when you write poetry or prose for creative inspiration. Too much dark purple can affect your mood and make you feel gloomy, so carefully consider the shade if you want to paint your room purple. Softer violet tones may prove to be a more appealing choice once you cover the whole wall. You could instead try adding accessories such as purple velour or silk beaded cushions, a glass bowl filled with purple glass stones, or a vase with real or silk flowers such as irises or orchids. If you want your purple to POP, add a warm golden yellow to your creative combinations.

How to Wear Purple
All those choices of purple are great for matching with other colours. White is always a perfect match. Try different shades of blue, green, pink and brown. The more vibrant colours may work well as accessories. Both gold and silver look great with purple! Purple comes in scent too! A light spray of lavender and rose adds to a pretty appeal. Paler purples will give you a sweet, delicate look that is all candy and cuddly sweetness.

In the Olden Days
As you may call them, lavender was considered to be the colour of femininity. Lighter purples often evoke a feeling of nostalgia. They make us think of the times when our great grandmothers were young girls.

Spirituality
For many people, purple is a colour that represents spirituality. In the Christian tradition purple is used in churches during the time of Advent and Lent.

PURPLE FACTS

Queen Cleopatra’s fave colour was purple.
Lovers of purple are said to have amazing observational skills.
In Thailand, widows wear purple as the colour for mourning.
In the US, soldiers wounded in battle receive a military decoration called the Purple Heart.
Those who love purple are said to have a good mind and a ready wit.
Only two words rhyme with ‘purple’-herpil (British: to hobble when you walk) and curple (Scottish: a horse’s hindquarters)
Purple is associated with wealth in Asian cultures.
If you’re born “in the purple” you are born of high or noble birth.
Native Americans often associate purple with healing and gratitude.
The colour purple is associated with the crown chakra which is located at the top of the head. Here it is called the 1000-petalled lotus.

~Alicja

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