School and social activities ushered in my Blue Phase. In elementary school I spent hours losing myself in the deep cobalt hues of the stained glass in the old repurposed sanctuary that housed my first grade class. Everything was new when my favorite color was blue! Catechism at my parochial school introduced me to tangible spiritual practice and profound mysteries.

I would continue my love of blue throughout my pre-teens and teenage years shifting from the cobalt of my early years to azure and turquoise. I learned in my research that lovers of blue have a deep need for peace and harmony. These were the turbulent years of my youth. Years of dealing with the awkward gawkiness of teenage angst. A time when the mental illness of my parents ran amok untreated. A time of being homeless, living in a motel, where the most exciting thing was having a pool to swim in every day, and getting permission from the management to install our own new TV, our first color one, in place of the standard hotel issue. I lost most of my grandparents during this time, to cancers and weakened hearts. It was a turbulent time.

Such was the state of my blue years, when blue was my favorite color. By understanding the affect blue has on us, it is not surprising that I wrapped myself in blue.  The deep cobalts have a transfixing quality to them.  The azures often present with healing elements (a much needed color to have in my life during my pre-teen years). And turquoise blue, with a touch of green, recharges us during times of stress, and helps to build self esteem and confidence, while also encouraging us to hide our feelings. (my favorite color during my teen years.)  I am astonished at how I gravitated to the colors that had the potential to influence me in ways I needed most.

Next! Part 3…The Plucky Peacock/Purple-Blue Phase of my 20’s.  Can’t wait to learn more about the affects that this color potentially had on my life!

I stopped this morning to take a snapshot of the rain droplets clinging to the tiny plants in my yard. We’ve had a good bit of the wet stuff recently. It seems that these wise sprouts know when they have had enough…even of a good thing. And the results are stunning! A beautiful lesson I would do well to learn. ❤️

…and the lessons continue…it seems that it is the water droplet also plays a role in this sparkling spectacle. A thing called adhesian, a property of water, makes the droplet “sticky”. Way to work together plants and water! I heartily approve of your symbiotic dance!

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, a process called cohesian causes the water molecules to form into plump spheres! I love nature!

A blogger friend of mine posted recently her thoughts on the virtues of the color green. (You can read her lovely words here: https://thegreeningspirit.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/afternoon-in-the-new-england-woods-veriditas-the-greening-power-part-8//).  I must admit, I have grown warm to all things green in recent years.  The lush, verdant deep tones as well as the translucent sun-washed pastels.  But green has not always been my favorite color.  Throughout the various seasons of my life I have gravitated toward different favorites. It has me wondering if the colors of my life reflect my journey.

I may be over thinking this, but I do believe each color can have a specific affect on us.  Like music, color has the potential to touch our subconscious deeply.  So, to test my theory, I decided to do a little research on the psychology and meaning of color,  and to my surprise there is a whole spectrum of science, spirituality and meaning associated with color.  Clearly others have done the over thinking for me!

The first colors to capture my attention as a toddler were bright yellows, often dotted against dark backgrounds – flowers, fireflies and honeybees to name a few. The yellows gave me warm happy feelings. And there was something about artificial light as well, its golden hue disbursing the darkness drew me in like a moth to a flame. The science of color tells me that yellow is the color of the mind and intellect, original thought, inquisitiveness, enthusiasm for life. No wonder I loved it so!

Warm hues of brown, earthy and comforting, also had a deep affect on me during my formative years.  Many of the browns in my life had much to do with my mother, her eyes and hair, and the color of her full length lush, faux fur coat. I remember nuzzling against that coat while drifting off to sleep on road trips during thunder storms or on icy winter nights. Brown was also the color of my first impressions of home.  Bricks, brown window and door frames, brown floors, the brown-framed screen door that led to the back porch…my portal to the world. The color Brown, it turns out, is a friendly color, honest, genuine and sincere.  It is warm and sensitive, providing security, protection and a sense of belonging.

Once I became more mobile during my pre-school years and began exploring the world around me, my other senses started to affect my affinity for certain colors.  Flowers in particular guided my preferences to pinks and lilac/lavender hues. I would spend hours exploring my grandmother’s garden.  My love of and connection to nature rooted deeply during this season of my life. And despite my solitary appearance, I was not particularly alone. I also recall that during this time I actively engaged a crew of spirit guides who accompanied me on my adventures and saw me off to sleep beside my bed each evening.

Pink tones signify unconditional love and nurturing, naivety and sweetness, while also challenging one to be more self reliant. I find it quite serendipitous that lilac/ lavender hues were also part of my color bouquet during this season of my life. Peace, tranquility and a free-spirited qualities dancing on scented lilac breezes, and are hallmarks of purple hues.  It was indeed the most magical season of my life, sparkling with imagination and creativity.

There is much more of my color-filled world to explore.  Stay tuned for Part 2 – Shades of Blue!

For a look into the colors of your own life, here is a helpful website I found: http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/ . Happy coloring! 🙂