Cultural Meanings of Colors

Votive candles in a rainbow of colors. Midjourney v6, 2024.

Various cultures associate meanings with individual colors. Among humans in the West, there are meanings in widespread use for individual colors. Meanings in Zephasia, the Two Bahunas, and Sungo are different.

Meanings of Colors in the West

These are the common meanings of colors among cultures of the West.

Black

Black is a symbol of focused intent and austerity in one's values. Black can represent death by association with nighttime. Black is symbolic of impenetrable mysteries or primeval darkness and thus is not a void, but a quantity, perhaps even a higher quantity, which is shut off from the profane mind. Black is symbolic of sobriety and rejection of frivolity. Black can represent the self-absorbed focus of service-to-self entities and thus true evil. Ultimately, black can signify negative energy in both the morally negative and neutral senses. Yet, the deepest infinity of the unknown which teaches one to look outside the box can been represented by the color black.

White

White represents light and purity in its best meanings and willingness to learn in an academic or priestly setting. White often represents innocence. White may also signify a lack of knowledge or a lack of strong identity. White is often the color of supplicants and pilgrims at temples, signifying their purity and submission. In the cultures of Thyria and northwestern Weshif, white dress can mean that one does not work with his hands, thus denoting higher social status.

Red

Red is seen as the color of blood, especially mortal blood and also the color of the earth that gives life to mortals. Red as the color of the sacred earth is also symbolic among the dwarves. Red, as the color of the earth and the earth goddess, can also represent the generative power of the earth and the crops that sustain life.

Yellow

Yellow represents sincere happiness and sometimes sincerity itself. A warm shade of yellow sometimes represents the Yophenth Tribe and those descended from it.

Green

Green is the color of plant life and associated with the goddess Magdaia. The symbolism of the state and crown of Magdala also incorporate the color green as representative of the goddess Magdaia. Green also represents plenty, and thus prosperity and material comfort.

Azure

Azure (or sky blue) is the color of the clear sky and a favorite of the Thracian people. Azure represents the sky tribes and their kinship with the sky and the divinities of the sky, especially Thwar and his offspring. Azure is one of the colors on the flag of the Commonwealth of Thrace.

Blue

Blue is the color the clear sky and also representative of the sky people, like Azure. Blue represents the sky, but not exclusively the Thracian sky tribes. Blue can also mean devotion to one's duty or a deep connection with the higher, spiritual realm.

Indigo

Indigo is the color of priests and sometimes wizards, especially wizards in the Kirxionic tradition. Indigo represents deep mysteries and the presence of a higher power.

Violet

Violet is associated with magic and magecraft. It is sometimes used with symbols for ambient magical energy and panurgistics.

Purple

Purple (red-blue), like violet, may also mean magic. Purple is a traditional color for wizards. Purple and gold have been the colors of several imperial houses of Medibgö.

Gold

Gold is precious on Asdar as well as on Earth. Gold represents the sun and the wealth which solar deities bestow upon mortals. Gold has a special meaning in Arathracianism associated with the solar gods, especially Arathrax. High Arathracian clergy officiating the rites of their religion wear gold robes. Gold represents kingship as the ancient Arathracian priest-kings claimed divine lineage to the god Arathrax, and thus, to Amrulon. For the dwarves, gold represents the earth as the source of true wealth.

Silver

Silver represents the power of the spiritual world and the ability to change to the other world of spirit or to be in both worlds at the same time. Silver consequentially can mean the ability to access the spiritual world for power or knowledge. Silver also can mean flashes of insight and prophetic knowledge. Silver can signify the purifying power of the spiritual, especially in alchemical works.

See Also

• Ancient Symbols