What comes to mind when you think of the ninth month of the year? Events? Associations? Colors? Well, summer adventures are over. we’re back to school. Back to work. Yay, back to cooler weather! Sometimes in different guises (still school but new classes), We’re back into the routine; falling back on old habits; focusing on the kinds of things we always have. Back to the same-old, same-old? Well, the color of the month for September certainly wants to remind us that it doesn’t have to be that way. It may still be school, but it’s also new classes and new friends. It may be the same job, but it’s the fall 2016 version of the job. It’s many of the same friends and family, but what about deepening connections with them? The color of the month—and around the world surveys show it to be the second most popular color—tells us to approach same-old, same-old with a new and joyful spirit of adventure and passion. The color is “assertive, daring, determined, energetic, powerful, enthusiastic, impulsive, exciting, and aggressive…. It symbolizes action, confidence, and courage.” Well ok, maybe you don’t want to be that excited and energetic all the time. But at a time when it’s easy to get sucked into the routine, this color does remind us to approach that routine with a spirit of new energy and new excitement. True, Sometimes the color is associated with anger and even aggression. A good opportunity to figure out what upsets us? More often, it’s linked to some really positive feelings, including passion and love. In either case, there’s strong emotion here, and the color urges us to fully engage and to express that emotion. Similarly, The color “is a highly visible color that is able to focus attention quickly and get people to make quick decisions.” Apparently in good ways, we React faster and more forcefully when we see this color; experts remind us to have this color around when we need some quick bursts of energy and confidence. It’s a primary color, and it provides a beacon to action! Finally, the bottom line is that it is thought that that wearing this color is linked to a higher probability of success and of getting what you want. Other things equal (which admittedly is not always the case), athletes who wear this color are often more likely to come out winners than those who wear other colors. Hmm, if it’s that simple, how about the rest of us following their lead? In recognition of the desire to imbue our old routines with a new spirit of energy; in acknowledgment of the courage it takes to increase confidence and to take action; and in celebration of the bottom line that each of us is a winner, the color of the month is… a very bright and energetic red. A Resource for You “Are you a Red, Blue, Yellow or Green Personality Type?” Check out the following link, learn something about yourself and find a way to have some fun with what you’ve learned.” (https://general-psychology.knoji.com/which-color-personality-are-you-red-blue-green-or-yellow/ ) The color personality https://www.colorcode.com/personality_test/ Note: Information for these articles comes from the following websites: Rick Riordan http://rickriordan.com/ Red is the second favorite color http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-most-popular-color-in-the-157991 Born creative http://borncreative.net/ Fun facts about the color red http://igentry.blogspot.com/2008/11/interesting-facts-about-red-color.html
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What comes to mind when you think of the eighth month of the year? Events? Associations? Colors? Well perhaps more so than many other months, the month of August truly means different things to different people. It’s a time when many of us are enjoying some well earned vacation, and we’re making very different choices about how to spend that time. Do you want to go to some new and exotic place; head out of town to a familiar destination or just reacquaint yourself with what it’s like to hang out on the front porch? Alternatively, you may find yourself in the office getting more work done than you expected because things may be a little quieter and more relaxed. Some of us may be anticipating the new work and school opportunities just around the bend, and others of us may be disturbed that the summer is going by so fast. And if you’re like me, you may simply be annoyed about the heat. All of this is to say that there are more choices out there than we think, and we make all kinds of choices as to how we’re going to take advantage of these opportunities. This month’s color(s) symbolize these possibilities along with much much more. Through the ages and in very different ways, all manner of people (philosophers, scientists, poets, curious people) have been fascinated by this color combination. This is the case because this configuration of colors on the one hand is so rare and fleeting in the natural world and at the same time they’re so beautiful and striking. From the scientific perspective, it turns out that no two people-- even if they’re looking at this exact same color combination at exactly the same time--process it in exactly the same way. As well, there’s even more to this configuration of colors than we realize; what we think of as discrete colors is really a merging and blending into a whole and vibrant continuum of colors that sometimes provides more than the eye can see. Finally at least in the northern hemisphere, the summer months are the most likely time to observe this color combination. From a different perspective altogether, the mythology and symbolism which historically has surrounded this combination of colors is often times downright inspiring. The associations we have with the colors for starters emphasize harmony (of disparate elements) and the unity (among those elements). As this color arrangement reminds us, there are parts that need to be blended, and then the whole becomes more than the sum of the parts. How true is that for each of us inside ourselves too? The colors in this combination are also appropriately associated with some other pretty uplifting qualities: connection, hope, potential, possibilities, creation and even expansion and transformation. What a great set of images. Any one of them in its own right evokes a good deal of optimism and power; put it altogether and you’ve really got something good! And something that gets better and better the more you make it your own. That is to say, we usually think of this color combination as one we can only observe from a distance. We wait passively, then delight in what we see. Well you don’t have to be that passive! You can travel to areas where these colors can be seen more frequently. You can go to places that are actually named for the colors; and with only water from an ordinary garden hose and just the right amount of sunlight, you can within minutes have your very own vision of this set of colors. You’ve probably figured it out by now. But in honor of all the different choices and possibilities out there; in the spirit of being proactive and creating what you really want; and in the encouragement of finding the things that really inspire you, this month’s colors are---red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (that’s right; remember “roy g. biv” from high school)—all the wonderful colors that each bring their unique perspective and also combine to blend and merge into a beautiful and happy-making rainbow. Notes: *There are a surprising number of places around the world (cities, islands, lakes and mountains) named Rainbow, one of the most intriguing and spectacular being the Rainbow Mountains in China. http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1274350/images/o-RAINBOW-MOUNTAINS-facebook.jpg *You really can make a rainbow of your very own. “All you need is bright sunshine and lots of water drops. Go outside on a hot summer day with a hose with a nozzle on it which will produce a fine spray of water and spray water in the air in the direction you would expect to see a rainbow…. So find the shadow of your head, put your thumb over it at arms length, move your streched out hand again one width, and that is the direction to spray the water.”( http://optics.kulgun.net/Rainbow/rainbow-faq.shtml) Color of the Month: July 2016
What comes to mind when you think of the seventh month of the year? (Wow, we sure have gotten deep into 2016!) Events? Associations? Colors? Well, for a month we associate with a pretty mellow time including activities no more strenuous than kicking back to relax; hanging out in our yards eating and picnicking; and heading out to enjoy some well needed time on vacation, July certainly is a month full of more new opportunities and possibilities than you’d initially expect. Think about it for a minute. What you might dismiss as simply hanging out or just going off on your chosen vacation destination is also a great time to learn new things, engage in new experiences and even quietly reflect on the things most important to you. School has ended so students are out and about changing their routines, taking advantage of new work and volunteer activities and enjoying friends in new and perhaps unexpected ways. The rest of us may be engaged in making choices of what new places we want to visit and what we want to do when we get there. Even when you’re just relaxing, you’re probably being more active and engaged and finding possibilities than you think as you focus on changing scenery, reflect on recent experiences or just choose what strikes you as the most thirst quenching drink. Going along with the surprising number of opportunities and possibilities out there in what we think of as a mellow month, the color for this month is also one that’s a little unexpected at this time of year—in fact by some standards, it’s simply a little unexpected! Thus, it’s considered at least in comparison to other colors to be pretty rare in nature; and when it does show up, it does so in some pretty unusual places. As well because it historically was so expensive to make, only royalty and some members of the nobility could afford to wear it. Some of those royalty even decreed that they themselves should be the only ones allowed to wear it, a tradition which flourished as late as the time of England’s queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and the Sumptuary Laws regulating all manner of dress. Finally, according to some theories of optics, it shouldn’t even count as a color because it technically doesn’t have its own wavelength. Only a close cousin of the color has a natural wavelength. If you want to create light of this color, you need to do so by combining the lights/wavelengths of two other colors. So if some of the facts associated with this color are a little unexpected, the associations we have with the color also offer quite a few suggestions about how to deal with these surprises, possibilities and opportunities. Picked by a friend who recently enjoyed the significant milestone of a law school graduation (the color is the hood you get for earning the degree), the color has long been associated with qualities including wisdom, that which is sacred, cultivating intuition, mystery and even things that are magical. A combination of two primary colors, the color “has a variety of effects on the mind and body, including uplifting spirits, calming the mind and nerves, enhancing the sacred, creating feelings of spirituality, increasing nurturing tendencies and sensitivity, and encouraging imagination and creativity. “From a color psychology perspective,{the color}… ensures harmony of the mind and the emotions and contributes to mental balance and stability, peace of mind, a connection between the spiritual and physical world, and between thought and action.” Finally, the color encourages each of us “to be unique, individual and independent.” In short, what a quality color and what a wonderful set of qualities which have come to be associated with the color. You could get a lot from considering each of the specific characteristics listed above, and each could contribute enorormously to the ways you take advantage of the opportunities and surprises of the season. Additionally for this color in particular, the sum of all these characteristics seems even greater than the sum of the parts. Put it all together and you can really feel the mystery, the magic and the wisdom you want to cultivate as you approach the summer season as it opens up so many new things to explore. And there’s one last attribute of this color that we shouldn’t overlook: it wants us to have fun! There’s a bridge in Ohio of this color which can be rented out for weddings and parties; a store in Washington State which sells all manner of things of this color; and a section of San Fransisco where this color of houses truly stands out. In poker, it’s the color of the highest denomination chip ($5000). In celebration of all the opportunities and possibilities that are open to us even during a season we think of as mellow; in recognition of the qualities we might want to develop as we approach that season; and in remembering the spirit of fun and light we want to keep with us throughout this time, the color of the month for July 2016 is…purple. •Purple is the color of the highest denomination poker chip = $5,000 Note: Some of the unexpected places where purple can be found include foods; did you know you can find for instance purple cauliflower, purple carrots and purple potatoes And the close cousin to purple that is part of the visible light spectrum is violet; in terms of light, the color purple itself can only be made as a combination of red and blue. Information for this article includes the following sources: http://www.livescience.com/33324-purple-royal-color.html http://www.color-meanings.com/purple-color-meaning-the-color-purple/ http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-purple.html http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/7-purple-vegetables-and-fruits-to-add-to-your-diet http://www.purplepeoplebridge.com/ What comes to mind when you think of the sixth month of the year? Events? Associations? Colors? Well for me, June is a happy combination of spring melding into summer. It’s full of the best features of both seasons—a time of the kind of renewal and transformation we associate with spring and a time when we’re beginning to experience to its fullest the warmth and light, along with the traditional activities, associated with summer. June is chock full of celebrations—e.g. all manner of proms, graduations and of course bridal showers and weddings. The second week of June is email week; the third Sunday of the month marks Father’s Day; June 8th is Best Friends day; June 18th is International Picnic Day; June 26th is Forgiveness Day; and June 29th is Hug Holiday Day. What a lot of times encouraging us towards friendship, fun and sociability! This month’s color is a pretty good reflection of the warmth and light of the season as well as exactly that fun and sociability we associate with this time of year. Beginning with its name, it’s a happy color, reflecting some degree of quirkiness and fun. It’s the name of a character (actually Tinkerbelle’s fairy sister) in a couple of Disney movies and of a cat in a longstanding and influential series of children’s TV programs. It’s also the name of a manor in Chelsea, Iowa known for some fun entertainment and murder mystery dinners; several boutiques featuring “quality” and “affordable” jewelry in and around New York City; and a mall near the tourist attraction of Sanibel Island in Florida. The color also has achieved the status of a popular crayola crayon! And the links of the color to sociability and friendship don’t stop there. In fact and dating as far back as roman times, the flower from which the color derives its name has come to serve as a symbol for friendship. It is said to symbolize the achievement to one’s full potential, the honoring of memories cherished with friends or relatives, the celebration of “new and “blossoming” friendships and simply everlasting love. The color urges us to focus on the positive, and the “energy {of the color} helps us to remember to let go of thoughts that do not serve us.” Additionally and if we want to do so, this color can actually be thought of as a combination of two other colors, each of which asks us in profound ways to deepen the qualities of even our most fun activities. One of those colors is frequently linked to the expansion of possibilities, the enhancement of communication and a calm and mellow state of mind, and the other is often connected to wisdom, mystery and a willingness to explore the unknown. As a reminder to partake fully in all the sociability and celebrations so prevalent at this time of year; in recognition of all the good friends and family add to our lives; in enjoyment of that which is quirky and just plain fun, the color of the month for June 2016 is….a warm and light periwinkle. *A special shout out of congratulations and thanks for picking the color of the month goes to a particular friend celebrating a very special 80th birthday. In terms of the information compiled above, Periwinkle was Tinkerbelle’s fairy sister in the Disney movie, Secret of the Wings (2012) as well as the name of a cat in the popular children’s show, Blue’s Clues (1996-2007). For information about the periwinkle flower see, http://www.flowermeaning.com/periwinkle-flower/ and the quote on letting go comes from, http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/periwinkle_and_letting_go What comes to mind when you think of the fifth month of the year? Events? Associations? Colors? Let’s welcome the month of May—not too cold and not yet too hot--, and let’s welcome the time of year that’s sending us full on into spring. At one level, you could write the month off and say it’s just a time of transition between winter and summer. Well you’d be partly right; it is a time of transition, and that transition is important in its own right. It’s a time to appreciate what has gone before and what lies ahead; a time of new opportunities and possibilities; and a time to simply get outside to observe the ever changing expression of the scene and find some ways to simply enjoy. And if I do say so myself, this month’s color is a perfect reflection of all the wonderful positives we associate with the season of spring. When we’re out in nature, we observe this color in ever-changing shades and textures. The color both foregrounds our environment and forms the backdrop, allowing other colors to operate at their best. Not surprisingly then, it reflects renewal, growth and abundance. It reminds us that the possibilities for all of these are infinite, and as we observe the changing landscape, it reminds us that it’s the journey that’s every bit as important as the end result. To reinforce all that, in the energy system of the chakra, it’s the color of the heart; it asks us to grow our own dreams and also our relationships and connections. Do you know yet what the color of the month is? Well, as befits the myriad possibilities of the season, there’s even more. There are a lot of different shades and hues of this wonderful color. This month’s version starts by honoring the tried-and-true and moves on to welcome renewal and new possibilities. The particular shade of the color we honor here is pure, deep and perhaps above all, it “pops.” As a sign of its universality and inclusiveness, the gemstone associated with the color, actually also a birth stone for the month of May, has been mined in all parts of the globe. Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of this gem, it also can be found in countries including the U.S., Afghanistan, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Cambodia, and China, among others. It also historically has had significance in several of the world’s major religions, including Islam and Catholicism. Known as the, “stone of successful love,” it’s the anniversary stone for the 20th and 55th anniversary. It is said to bring passion, balance and harmony in relationships as well as all kinds of friendships. In this regard, a particularly wonderful property of the stone is that apparently it’s imperfections are said to increase, rather than decrease, the value of the stone. As one source describes, “These inclusions are so accepted that some … are actually valued more highly if their internal fractures create a pleasing pattern when viewed under a microscope”. Thus as it reminds us to consider when thinking of each and every individual, every stone is unique, and every stone is valued for that uniqueness. In short, the particular shade of this month’s color has “the most beautiful, most intense and most radiant {shade of the color} that can possibly be imagined.” Particularly at this time of year, it “is a color which conveys harmony, love of Nature and elemental joie de vivre.” In celebration of the spirit of abundance and versatility this color represents; in honor of the relationships and connections the color encourages us to cultivate; and in simple enjoyment of the “pop” this color urges us to put into each and everything we do, the color of the month is…a rich and pure emerald green. Quotes from the following websites; http://www.brilliantearth.com/emerald-education-treatment/ http://elmablint.com/pages/stones |
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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