Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue and Green A Walk That’s real “Give me the clear blue sky above my head, and the green turf beneath my feet, a winding road before me, and a three hours' march to dinner - and then to thinking! It is hard if I cannot start some game on these lone heaths.” -- William Hazlitt (author/social commentator) What do you think? There’s more going on in this image than you’d expect. Here he is; Mr. Hazlitt is walking along-- enjoying the clear blue sky above his head, the green turf beneath his feet and an interesting winding road ahead. He’s a good describer. You can almost see him traversing—step by step-- the terrain, and because I too am energized by long walks (ok he refers to it as a march), the image leads me to want to also get out there and join him on the trail. And here’s another intriguing part you don’t quite expect. Though he’s clearly enjoying the natural world, it’s not all 100% positive. We don’t know exactly why in the first place Mr. Hazlitt is taking such a long walk/march. Regardless, he’s out there alone on the path. At the same time as he’s clearly happy to be out in nature, he’s also a realist, and he’s willing to acknowledge its difficulty. Hey three hours is a long time to be out there. Especially so when you’re by yourself. As he says, you have to play games to keep things interesting on “these lone heaths.” But apparently and on balance, Mr. Hazlitt enjoys the endeavor. The nature image rings true for me. He calls to me to get out there. At the same time, he’s reminding me of perhaps a more important point and one that’s easy to lose track of. Even as we really really enjoy something—a person, an activity, a situation—hey things aren’t always all good. For Mr. Hazlitt, there’s the loneliness of a long trek. Or perhaps you feel really close to someone—your partner, a really good friend—well, as meaningful as the relationship is, there are times you’re going to be annoyed with them or in some way hit some negativity. What does that mean? Well, it’s so easy to blow that negativity out of proportion, forgetting all the positives that go with it. Hmm, what about that attitude of gratitude that often can be hard to cultivate? Alternatively we don’t always acknowledge the negative pieces are there; we like someone or something so much we sometimes fail to address issues or differences or things we don’t want to really “see.” We ignore situations that perhaps we could make better if we only took some steps to address change. In the end Mr. Hazlitt is encouraging us to focus on something even more important than a wonderful walk in nature. He’s reminding us to get real. There’s good and less good parts to any relationship or situation. Let’s put all our cards on the table to acknowledge what’s good and then take time to do the work to make it even better. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two ways in the next day or so you could take some action on that basis?
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Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue, Green and White
We all can use a little inspiration. It’s easy to concentrate on the tasks that need to be done immediately and the exigencies of our daily routines. The inspirational color quotes found in this section of the website ask you, in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, take a few minutes of reflection and refocus on the bigger picture. Thereafter, you might choose to take some particular action to move you in a new direction, you might want to take advantage of a quiet moment or you might choose to simply enjoy. In that spirit, here’s the inspirational color quote for this week. What You Need? “Colors. Would it be green or blue today? Maybe white—my favorite. A dark voice in the back of my mind offered no color at all as an alternative. I smothered that voice. The days of no color were simply too hard to bear. I needed color today.” --―Julie Hockley (author, Crow’s Row) What about you? What color(s) do you choose today? Blue or green for some calm? Red or orange for some passion? White because it’s neutral and goes with everything? Perhaps color isn’t something you feel you need right now? What I like about Julie Hockley’s thought (in addition of course to her emphasis on color) is her focus on what she needs and therefore on what she wants around her. Think about it. You get up in the morning. You’re in a hurry, and you pick out the first piece of clothing in the wardrobe you find. You’re happy there’s clean stuff in the closet. There isn’t much time before it’s time to leave the house. Voila, you just leave. Hmm, not much time to think about colors, let alone to slow down for 5 minutes to take stock of other things you might want or need. The character in Julie Hockley’s novel for me gets it about right. No question she’s in touch with what she needs. Thinking through her choices, she’s consciously figuring out what makes her happy. For her, it’s not about being engaged in some intellectual or abstract exercise. There’s real emotion in the endeavor. Though there’s a “dark” inner voice suggesting otherwise (sound familiar?), she knows she can’t bear to have no color; she feels strongly aboutit, and she lets us know that white is her favorite. Once you get in the habit, you can even fine-tune the process. Maybe you choose certain colors for your clothes but others for the objects around the house? Colors you want to paint the rooms? And of course it doesn’t have to be just about color. When you’re focusing on what you need, there’s a whole range of other senses you might want to consider and a diverse set of needs you might want to satisfy. Do you need different things in different situations? What a great idea on a regular basis to ask these basic questions. Think about all the times we make things so complicated we just go round and round and can’t come up with answers, or think about the times we forget to ask ourselves in the first place. Maybe focusing on what we need is really simpler than we think, and for starters, maybe it comes down to questions about what color is going to make us most happy in any particular moment. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? The Color Reading Professor's monthly newsletter is here!
This Month's Color Color Reading Professor Sally FriedmanServices: Card reading, Coaching, Course design Author: 52 quotes to Color Your Weeks… Plus a Few More Website • YouTube Page • Facebook What I’ve Been Up To How do you handle things when you’re disappointed in yourself? It’s an important question because we often don’t take time to think about it. It’s so easy to just shrug your shoulders and go to the next piece of business. Well over the last month, a colleague and I have been working on a major work project. I think we just finished! I’m disappointed because even though I wanted to work on the project, I also wanted to feel empowered while I was doing the work. I wanted to trust things would get done fine; I wanted to feel in control; and mostly I didn’t want it to take over my life. Well, you got the picture. By the end, the project was running the show! Leaving me frustrated, beating myself up and feeling annoyed that I couldn’t figure a better way. At the moment, I don’t know what the answer is. I’m not sure how I could have done things differently. But one thing I did do over the last couple of days was pull a card from the Tori Hartman deck. Hey if you can coach other people from these cards surely you can take time to learn for yourself. And it doesn’t have to be about having any grand psychic powers; it’s about using your intuition, enjoying the fables/stories that go with the cards and thinking things through. Well, you guessed it. The card I got—Electric blue Moon—as the color would indicate, more than hit the mark. It’ a little complicated but the fable is about a boy who wanted to have in his world a moon that was always lit. He thought the only way to make this happen was to never let go of the moon, which of course meant one could ever sleep. What he learned in the end was to trust that if he did let go, the light might not be available all the time, but he could count on seeing it most nights. The message among other things literally is “lighten up! I’m not sure yet how exactly to implement that message, but I appreciate that it it gets me started on a path. In what ways do you yourself deal with your disappointments, and how satisfied are you with how those ways are working out? And in a very different context, here’s another way to upgrade skills, see things a little differently and just have a little fun. Drum roll please. The announcement of the color of the month-yay-is below. As usual, the color/colors of the month announcement will be followed on the website by the variety of thoughts, card interpretations, pictures and fun facts you have become used to. So, keep checking out the website, and remember that we offer card readings, coaching, and course design. But hey, it’s not just about getting ideas from a newsletter. How might you incorporate the color of the month to peak your interest, to learn from or to even move you forward with the goals in your life? Experiment. Wear the color/see what happens. Think about what the color means to you/see what happens. Take some action/see what happens. What do you learn, and above all, what works for you? And of course, as always, feel free to share feedback. Color of the Month; April 2017 What comes to mind when you think of the fourth month of the year? Events? Associations? Colors? Well, it’s an opening up (aperire, Latin) of energy; a time for new adventures and new beginnings; the first full month of spring. So the question—and it’s a thought provoking one-- becomes: what do you want to open up to? No doubt we would each come up with our own individual answers, but April hopes we would include creativity and fun in the list of qualities we would like more of. Consider April represents, among other things, National Humor Month; International Guitar Month; Keep America Beautiful Month; National Kite Month; and National Poetry Month. Some of the special days we celebrate include April 2—National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day; April 8--Draw a Picture of a Bird Day; April 14-- International Moment of Laughter Day; April 20-- National High Five Day; and April 27-- Tell a Story Day Wow, bet you didn’t know how much was going on in the month of April; what a great reminder of how easy it is, once you start thinking about it, to find your creativity and to just enjoy some plain old-fashioned fun. The color of the month is there to help you do just that. As a combination (almost in equal proportions) of the colors green and blue, according to the energy system of the chakras, the color says, it all begins with what’s in your heart (green), and it asks you to figure the best ways to communicate (blue), to yourself and to others. There’s even a synthetic crystal that “enhance{s} communications of all kinds. It can help one both speak and see the truth. Because of bringing energies of truth in, this crystal is used to enhance speaking, whether in a small group or a larger public group.” Think about that for a minute. Pretty important steps as we think about what makes us creative and how to seek out more joy and fun. And there’s even more of the same associated with the color. It is said that a boost of this month’s color is just about the perfect antidote when you’re dealing with some pretty negative feelings: when you’re feeling neglected; abandoned; stoic; or resigned.” It’s an optimistic, forward-looking color. So It is said, particularly if this color is one of your favorites, that the “energies {of the color} keep you looking at the "half-full cup" of optimism.” “Metaphysically, there is a time to work and a time to play and {the color} tells us you have been working too hard and it is time for fun… Add{the color}, get away, have some fun and play silly! You will be renewed if you will give yourself a break, step back and let yourself receive.” To emphasize the fun and creative part of the color, there’s also a Danish singing group that bears the color’s name; some transit lines around the world that let riders enjoy the color; a building in Chicago that takes the name of the color even though it isn’t that color; and a super hero of the color’s name. Perhaps most importantly and in the end, the color simply represents flow. Quite literally from its name, it links us to beautiful clear water. It is “strongly evocative of the ocean on a clear day especially that of the lovely warm tropical Island seas” and of course the gentle April showers that we’re often treated to throughout this month. In recognition of the inner knowing of the things each of us wants to open up to at this time of year; in the calling forth of that spirit of positivity, fun and creativity; and in celebration of the flow in our lives when we are operating at our best, the color of the month is…aqua. A Resource for You: Do you want to know where to go to find some healing by water or do you want an aqua aerobic workout? Check out the following sites! http://themomsbuzz.com/5-fun-facts-of-aqua-aerobics/ http://www.ecorazzi.com/2013/07/09/6-bodies-of-water-believed-to-have-great-healing-powers/ And here are some images and some more fun facts about aqua: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_(band) Note: Information and quotes for this article come from: http://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/aqua-aura/ http://www.old-earth.com/chapter-aqua.html http://brujitadecocina.blogspot.com/2013/07/understanding-your-life-through-color.html Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue, Green, voilet, Rose, Gray The More You Look… “The Mediterranean has the color of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don't always know if it is green or violet, you can't even say it's blue, because the next moment the changing reflection has taken on a tint of rose or gray.” --Vincent van Gogh (artist) What do you think? I’ve never been to the Mediterranean but what a meaningful description. You observe something long enough; you notice the changes. You read the same book several times, you find yourself aware of plots and character idiosyncrasies you missed on the first pass. You hang out with a person long enough; you get to appreciate all their different quirks and moods. It’s interesting, and color serves as a great example as well as a metaphor for the more general point. We expect things to be one color. We want to say something is blue or green or violet or red. Then we realize the lighting and reflection can vary; the scene can change subtly; so the color takes on an even slightly different character, providing more depth to what we see. Isn’t it the same with so many other things? The modern political scene? If we belong to one political party, we likely buy into its philosophy fairly automatically; we easily assume the other party’s ideas are ones we disagree with. As a modern day van Gogh would say, we start by seeing things, in the case of political parties, as either red or blue. But van Gogh would clearly also encourage us to go deeper. What about all those shadings in between or even of a different color altogether? Maybe as you come to think about it, you agree with a party on some issues but less so on others? Maybe the parties don’t disagree on absolutely every issue. Maybe even the “red” and “blue” parties sometimes take stands that are “yellow” in the sense they don’t follow exactly from that which is red or blue? And the same with people, even people you think you know pretty well. You want to characterize them in particular ways. This person is assertive. That person is quiet. Sure, those tendencies and characterizations are great for starters. The judgments and categorizations we make help us get a better handle on how to be with particular individuals—when we ourselves should talk a lot, when it makes sense to be quiet. But at the same time, what about going deeper? A person might be quiet more often than not; ask them that question that triggers something of real interest to them, and they might surprise you with the degree they’re willing to speak. Ask an extrovert a question they’ve never thought about but find interesting; maybe they’ll take a surprising amount of time to reflect. Like the shifting color of the Mediterranean and especially if you start looking for it, there’s so much change and variation out there, even under circumstances when we think things consist only of one color. You’ve got to hand it to van Gogh and his skills of keen observation for helping us notice. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Aquamarine and Virtually Any Other Color You’d Like
We all can use a little inspiration. It’s easy to concentrate on the tasks that need to be done immediately and the exigencies of our daily routines. The inspirational color quotes found in this section of the website ask you, in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, take a few minutes of reflection and refocus on the bigger picture. Thereafter, you might choose to take some particular action to move you in a new direction, you might want to take advantage of a quiet moment or you might choose to simply enjoy. In that spirit, here’s the inspirational color quote for this week. A lot of good Out There "Colored lights shone right across the northern sky, leaping and flaring, spreading in rainbow hues from horizon to zenith: blood red to rose pink, saffron yellow to delicate primrose, pale green, aquamarine to darkest indigo…. Streamers shot out in great shifting beams as if God had put his thumb across the sun." --Celia Rees (author, Witch Child) Wow! What a wonderful image. A veritable rainbow of lights of so many different colors and shades -- not just in a single dimension but shining from “horizon to zenith.” And not being still but “leaping and flaring.” You can’t get more dynamic than that. You’d think with such an energetic image, Celia Rees would want to hit you over the head with the dynamism of the colors, and she would have described the kinds of colors you can’t miss, including orange, red, chartreuse, neon blue. And yet, think about it. Most of the colors of the lights described here are quite different. They’re softer and gentler. They’re saffron yellow, pale green, delicate primrose, and of course, the color of the month, the wonderful aquamarine. A range of subtle colors, each taking its place in the wider pantheon and each serving as a compliment to the others. So in a mellow way, surprise. The image isn’t exactly what you expect. It’s a dynamic image all right and yet it describes some pretty gentle shadings. As energetic as those lights are, it seems as though Celia Rees wants them to serve as background for whatever else is going on around them. And she lets us know that God certainly might have put his hand on the scene. We begin by seeing these colors as symbols of energy and action, and then we start to think of them as an incredibly beautiful background. She’s given us a surprise, and extrapolating, she’s provided such a nice metaphor to engage our lives. We go about our daily business looking for the energy and action. We seek what’s different, and we want more. Yet what if as Celia Rees puts out there, the background and the ordinary and the day-to-day business of our lives is also as wonderful and as engaging as the array of lights she describes. What a nice way to focus on all the good and support we already have, and what a wonderful image to hold in front of us as we do go about our daily business. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Emerald and Aquamarine
We all can use a little inspiration. It’s easy to concentrate on the tasks that need to be done immediately and the exigencies of our daily routines. The inspirational color quotes found in this section of the website ask you, in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, take a few minutes of reflection and refocus on the bigger picture. Thereafter, you might choose to take some particular action to move you in a new direction, you might want to take advantage of a quiet moment or you might choose to simply enjoy. In that spirit, here’s the inspirational color quote for this week. Value "Aquamarines grew with emeralds, Claire told me. But emeralds were fragile and always broke into smaller pieces, while aquamarines were stronger, grew in huge crystals without any trouble, so they weren't worth as much. It was the emerald that didn't break that was the really valuable thing." --Janet Fitch; author, White Oleander Hmm, the most valuable thing? First of all who would have thought that emeralds and aquamarines had characteristics in common? Sure they’re both beautiful colors and interesting crystals. But who would have known that in their crystal/mineral form, they grow together? Actually that’s because the chemical compound beryl is part of the makeup of both. But then if you want to go there to ask the question, which one has more value? The aquamarine because it’s steady, stronger and can be bought for less money? Emerald because it’s more fragile, rarer in its pure form (less breakable) and has a more lustrous color?, Well according to the character Claire in Janet Fitch’s novel …, the emerald has it hands down! But really? Aren’t there some pieces of the puzzle Claire has left out? Sure, Emeralds are great. Maybe even more so than Claire tells us. As the birthstone of the month of May, they represent rebirth and fertility; fidelity and love. They’re connected with the green of nature and from the chakra system, with the openness of the heart. But hey, aquamarine can be bought more cheaply so it’s more available to the average person. It is one of the birthstones for March, and it signifies the 11th anniversary, reminding us to celebrate an occasion we might otherwise take for granted. Aquamarines also are symbolic of the sea; they’re a very gentle blue, and they encourage us to build in the concept of letting things flow. So which mineral/color has more value? Additionally, are questions about value really the right ones to ask? is determining which of these beautiful crystals is more valuable really the way we want to go? These are both precious stones. They’re both beautiful colors. Each is the birthstone for a particular month. Sure, each has different strengths and even weaknesses. But what about the thought that in different ways and like each of us, they’re both pretty darned special? How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? |
AuthorI am a Life Coach, a Color Wisdom Card Practitioner, and yes, even a Professor (political science, State University of New York at Albany). I use the Color Wisdom Cards to support clients in exploring priorities and taking concrete actions to stay on track with the goals they set. Because in my own life I have overcome a lot of self-doubt, I want to work with people towards more confidence and self-empowerment. You can do it! What is it you want to do? Categories
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