Purple is a color that evokes a sense of mystery, spirituality, and creativity. But what exactly is the energy of the color purple? Here we explore the meaning, symbolism, and energy of the color purple.
The Meaning of Purple
Purple is a secondary color made by combining red and blue. On the color wheel, purple sits between red and blue. Purple ranges from lighter lavender shades to deep violet hues.
The first known use of the word “purple” in English was around 975 AD. It comes from the Old English word “purpul” which was borrowed from the Latin word “purpura” meaning “purple fish.” This referred to a specific type of mollusk that was used to create the Tyrian purple dye.
So purple has long been associated with royalty, nobilty, luxury, and wealth. The rarity and expense of the Tyrian purple dye meant that purple garments were only afforded by the rich and powerful. Purple robes were worn by kings, emperors, and magistrates as a status symbol.
In fact, purple is still symbolic of royalty today. For example, the British royal family has long used royal purple or imperial purple as representative colors.
Symbolism of the Color Purple
Beyond royalty, purple has many symbolic associations:
| Wisdom | Spirituality |
| Mystery | Magic |
| Creativity | Imagination |
| Independence | Dignity |
Purple is a color that evokes contemplation, introspection, and inspiration. It encourages imagination and creative problem solving. Lighter purples like lavender are calming, soothing colors, while brighter purples are more energetic.
In color psychology, purple is associated with the following:
– Wisdom – Purple represents higher wisdom, spiritual awareness, and mystical knowledge. It stimulates philosophical thought and encourages expansion of one’s consciousness.
– Mystery – The rarity of purple in nature adds to its aura of mystery and intrigue. Purple exudes a sense of the psychic and supernatural.
– Spirituality – Purple helps connect us to higher planes of existence. It’s linked to meditation, magic, and ritual. Darker purples like indigo create a brooding, spiritual mood.
– Creativity – Purple inspires artistic expression, unconventional ideas, and creative problem solving. It sparks imagination, vision, and inventiveness.
– Royalty – As mentioned, purple has long symbolized royalty, nobility, luxury, ambition, and power. It conveys wealth, extravagance, and splendor.
– Magic – Purple is associated with illusion, mysticism, and the world of make-believe. It brings a sense of enchantment and childlike wonder.
– Independence – Purple has a unique character – it doesn’t rely on other colors to shade or tone it. This lends purple an air of individualism and nonconformity.
– Dignity – Purple’s rarity and regal history give it an air of dignity, sophistication, and respect. Deeper purples like amethyst project formality.
So in summary, purple represents mystical wisdom, extravagance, creativity, and imaginative escapes. It brings intrigue, magic, and dynamic energy.
The Color Purple in Culture
The unique color purple has woven its way into art, fashion, literature, music, and more:
– Art – In painting, purple has been a cherished color from the Victorian Violet period to Picasso’s Rose period to pop art. It is associated with avant garde, unconventional art movements.
– Fashion – Purple is a staple runway color associated with extravagance, individuality, and forward-thinking fashion. It’s a favorite shade of designers like Comme des Garcons.
– Literature – Alice Walker’s book The Color Purple explored themes of independence, dignity, and empowerment. Purple roofed Greek temples in Homer’s writing.
– Music – “Purple Rain” by Prince solidified purple as his signature color. Jimi Hendrix had a song called “Purple Haze” evoking a dreamlike state.
– Culture – Purple is the symbolic color for International Women’s Day and domestic violence awareness. It’s also symbolic of LGBTQ communities.
From ancient Egypt to new age thinking, purple has been an intriguing color used in cultural expressions, philosophies, and stories over time.
The Meaning of Purple in Various Cultures
While purple often represents luxury, spirituality, and creativity, its meaning can vary by culture:
– Western cultures – Purple is associated with royalty, status, ambition, power, and wealth. Lighter purples connote grace, femininity, and romance.
– Latin America – Purple is connected to religion and mourning. For instance, Brazil’s patron saint is Our Lady of Aparecida, so purple represents devotion.
– Middle East – In nations like Iran, purple is tied to sorrow and suffering, not physical death. Darker purple is common at funerals and religious ceremonies.
– Asia – Many parts of Asia link purple to death and dying. In Thailand, widows wear purple. But purple also symbolizes spring and regeneration.
– Africa – Purple dye was first found in ancient Phoenician cities in Africa. Purple can signify virtue, faith, and temperance in Africa.
So while purple has some consistent symbolic threads, cultural interpretations add more color and meaning. Astrological associations also influence the energy attributed to purple.
Purple in Astrology
In astrology, purple relates to the crown chakra and third eye chakra. These chakras deal with wisdom, intuition, and spirituality.
Specific astrological connections include:
– Sagittarius – Purple relates to Sagittarius’ sense of optimism, adventure, and hunger for knowledge. Travel helps them gain wisdom.
– Pisces – Mystical, compassionate Pisces is also linked to purple and psychic energy. Meditation comes naturally to this intuitive sign.
– Libra – The balanced air sign Libra is associated with lavender. This cooler purple shade represents their sense of harmony and grace.
– Jupiter – As the planet of luck and abundance, regal Jupiter is represented by purple. Jupiter is also about broadening one’s horizons through new experiences.
So purple relates to signs and planets concerned with wisdom, spirituality, and imagination.
Healing Properties of Purple
In healing and wellness, purple also has therapeutic potential:
| Relieves headaches | Reduces inflammation |
| Encourages forgiveness | Inspires gratitude |
| Uplifts mood | Decreases anxiety |
Lavender essential oil, in particular, is valued for its calming scent that can aid sleep, relaxation, and stress relief.
Violet leaf has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that may help colds, the flu, and skin conditions when used as a herbal tea or extract. It may also soothe headaches.
Overall, lighter purples can provide comforting, renewing energy, while darker purples may help release negativity or anger and encourage spiritual evolution.
The Energy of Purple in Color Psychology
We’ve explored purple’s broad symbolic history – but what is the psychological impact of purple, and how does it make us feel?
Research on the psychology of purple associates it with the following:
– Introspection – Purple promotes inner wisdom, contemplation, self-awareness, and revelation. It can activate the right brain.
– Inspiration – Purple activates artistic thinking, innovative ideas, inventiveness, and visionary
leadership. It helps merge logic and creativity.
– Individuality – Purple’s rarity in nature makes it seem unique and independent. Purple can denote someone who thinks outside the box.
– Spiritual Growth – Darker purples relate to the supernatural, mystical experiences, and connecting to a higher self or divine wisdom.
– Compassion – Light purples like lavender evoke sympathy, gentleness, romantic sensitivity, and patience.
– Creativity – Imaginative purple encourages creative problem solving, unconventional ideas, experimentation, and artistic expression.
So the psychological influence of purple ranges from spiritual and compassionate to artistic and visionary.
How Purple Impacts Mood and Behavior
Beyond associations, purple can induce specific moods, emotions, and behaviors:
| Uplifted | Optimistic |
| Inspired | Whimsical |
| Soothing | Romantic |
| Mysterious | Sensitive |
| Regal | Eccentric |
Lighter purples like lilac or lavender create soothing, romantic, gentle energy. These shades can aid relaxation, lower stress, and ease tension.
Vibrant purples lend a magical, whimsical mood. They inspire experimental, visionary thinking. Vibrant purple decor can uplift and energize.
Darker eggplant purple tones evoke luxury and mystery. They encourage getting in touch with one’s spiritual, unknown side. Dark purples foster introspection.
So purple shades prompt different energies – but overall purple increases self-awareness, compassion, inspiration, and creativity.
How Different Shades of Purple Impact Mood
Now that we’ve explored purple’s broad influences, let’s look at how specific shades affect us:
– Lavender – This light, soft purple has a gentle, soothing, calming effect. It helps relieve anxiety and stress.
– Lilac – Also light and misty, lilac purple conveys innocence and romance. It has an airy, wistful vibe.
– Wisteria – These light to mid-range purples inspire mysticism. Wisteria aids spiritual openings and destiny.
– Violet – As light purples shift darker, they become more dramatic and magical. Violet purples create an exotic mood.
– Eggplant – This deeper, richer purple hue evokes luxury, elegance, and mystery. Eggplant inspires introspection.
– Plum – Plum purples also provide depth with less darkness than eggplant. Plum promotes compassion, kindness, and dignity.
– Fuchsia – Vibrant pink-purples like fuchsia combine playfulness and passion. This color stimulates creative flow.
– Indigo – As the darkest purple, indigo creates a meditative, almost somber mood. It’s excellent for ritual, intuition, and vision.
So lighter purples relax and uplift, while darker purples concentrate energy inwards for spiritual growth and self-mastery.
How to Use Different Shades of Purple
With all these purple shades evoking different energies, how and where is each best used?
– Light purples – Use lavender, lilac, and wisteria in bedrooms, bathrooms, or meditative spaces to relax and recharge. These shades can also boost romantic settings.
– Mid-tone purples – Add violet and plum to living rooms, studios, or offices to inspire creativity, dignity, and imagination. They bring vibrancy without darkness.
– Dark purples – Use deep eggplant and indigo as accent colors or feature walls. Their intensity is best in moderation. Dark purple encourages introspection.
– Bright purples – Vivid fuchsia inspires fun, playfulness, and passion. Energize a space with fuchsia accents or artwork. These shades spark creative flow.
Remember that paler purples will expand a space while darker purples make rooms feel cozy. So use intense shades sparingly in small spaces.
Combining Purple with Other Colors
Purple is extremely versatile – it can combine beautifully with many colors to create different moods.
– Monochrome – Shades of purple paired together lend a regal, luxurious look. Use soft and deep purples together for contrast.
– Pink – Purple and pink create a fun, feminine, romantic palette. Lavender and blush pink are a soothing combo.
– Blue – Analogous colors on the color wheel, blue and purple give an elegant, mystical look. Try indigo and navy together.
– Green – Contrasting colors purple and green represent creativity and balance. Combine emerald and violet for pop.
– Silver – Metallic silver accentuates the luxury of purple. Pair silver and lilac for a whispery ethereal look.
– Gold – The warmth of gold helps ground the cooler purple. Gold furnishings pop against an eggplant wall.
– Black – Striking dark-light contrast comes from pairing black and bright purple. Use in moderation for drama.
Mix and match purple shades with complementary colors to achieve depth, vibrancy, and layers of meaning in any space.
Conclusion
Purple energy combines spirituality, mystery, creativity, compassion, and independence. It ranges from calming, romantic lighter shades to lively bright purples to introspective darker hues. Adding different purple shades to your space can help inspire contemplation, tranquility, imagination, or joy. Embrace the magic and energy of purple to create the perfect environment.
