Recently, I was just mesmerized by the color around me. I think it had to do with my new shoes. They are a deep chestnut brown that speaks of tradition and age – some would say just like my personality. Color certainly impacts all of us. Any visit to an art museum or private gallery pulls you away into an unfamiliar world – so attractive and yet so elusive. Sight has to be one of the most important senses of all for it produces images that color our world: both figuratively and literally. I am stuck on a question, however, as I walk amongst crowds of people. Are we embarking on a new shade of existence — the hue of colorlessness? There seems to be a certain monotonousness or dullness that is descending upon our world. The cell phone, and its conformity of usage, is certainly leading the charge.
I think color has a deep association with the concept of a personal brand – individuality if you will. How do you see and present yourself in the world? Are we colorful both in personality and depiction — are we branding ourselves in the way that we want — or are we just becoming a part of the masses, (1) the herd? To quote the controversial David Icke: (2) “The human race is a herd. Here we are, unique — eternal aspects of consciousness with an infinity of potential – and yet, we have allowed ourselves to become an unthinking, unquestioning blob of conformity and uniformity: a herd. Once we concede to the herd mentality, we can be controlled and directed by a tiny few. And we are.”
This is certainly an extreme, incorrect, and perhaps unkind view of humanity, but it does possess some chestnuts of truth. We are social beings by definition; nonetheless, we must retain our powers of thought — of critical thinking — and thus our individuality of perception. Failure to do so is a “slippery slope” into mindless compliance. How many people wear torn blue jeans as a style statement?
Color, and its understanding and usage, is one of the more indicative ways that this originality is expressed, “Color directly influences the soul. Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the hammers, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another purposively, to cause vibrations in the soul.” (3) Elegantly put: Wassily Kandinsky (4) as an insightful human being, was able, both as a trained lawyer and an artist, to see the bridge between the law and its societal underpinnings (conformity to a common idea of justice), and color expressed through art (the idea of individual human spontaneity). It is therefore important that we reflect on our inner, private world, and the external reality that we all must occupy, at least for a period of mortal time.
So express yourself, why not? Buy that colorful foulard or shimmering blouse. For interest and clarification of this concept, complete the survey that describes your ideal color. Which season are you: are you a spring, summer, fall or winter? (5) It is a fun way to see the colorful and vibrant you in the world. From Carol Picard, health editor at Good Housekeeping Magazine (6): The existence of color has nagged at philosophers, scientists, artists, and thinkers for eons. Some would define it as the visual effect of light reflecting and refracting while others would say color is all about expression, and most would probably agree that whatever it is, it’s beauty made manifest. A splash of color can make all the difference.
A closing thought: I often attend functions that people literally look as if they have “just rolled out of bed.” I just don’t get it. Why would you not want to express yourself with some style wherever you go and whatever you do? I suspect that it is because the exterior self only mirrors the inner confusion that most people feel about their life and why they are alive. Few truly know what their life mission is supposed to be. Don’t make that mistake. Spend some time in quiet meditation. All answers lie within. From St Thomas Aquinas (7): Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about color and how it should be used as a tool to impact our life.
To be noted: From Plato (428-348 BC) — The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings.
Just for fun: The Tango – Scent of a Woman
For reflection:Life is Absurd. How to Live it?
This week on your meditative walk, please ask yourself how you can make yourself more colorful.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: Color and her concomitant partner, beauty, define how we exist in the world.
Footnotes
1) the masses
2) David Icke
3) Wassily Kandinsky, Concerning the Spiritual in Art (ISBN: 9-780-8784-670-20)
5) Color Theory For Beginners – *Life Changing* Seasonal Color Analysis