THE MAGICK OF COLOR · LESSON 2
Color Meanings, Part 1: The Main Colors
These are traditional meanings, common in modern sources. They overlap and they vary by person and tradition. If a color feels different to you, trust your own feeling (Lesson 1).
Red. The color of strength, vitality, passion, and courage. Practitioners reach for red when they want energy, drive, or to feel brave. It is also the color of love in its fiery form, and of danger and warning. Because it is so strong, many people use it in small amounts.
Orange. Warm, friendly, and lively. Traditionally linked with creativity, encouragement, adaptability, and ambition. Orange is often chosen for work and career intentions, and for times you want to feel more outgoing or sure of yourself.
Yellow. The color of the mind and sunlight. Traditionally used for learning, focus, clear communication, confidence, and joy. Yellow is a common choice for study, business, and speaking up.
Green. The color of growth, luck, and money. Traditionally used for prosperity, fertility, new beginnings, and anything to do with plants and nature. Green is also linked with steady, unhurried growth.
Blue. Calm, truthful, and steady. Traditionally used for peace, patience, honesty, loyalty, and calm sleep. Blue is a common choice for emotional comfort, honest talk, and restful evenings.
Purple. The color of mystery and spirit. Traditionally used for intuition, divination, dreams, wisdom, and a sense of authority or dignity. Purple is a common choice for spiritual work and for amplifying other colors.
Pink. Gentle love. Traditionally used for affection, friendship, self-love, compassion, and forgiveness. Pink is a softer kind of love than red: warm and caring rather than fiery.
Quick reference
| Color | Traditional uses | Planet | Day | Element | Zodiac sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Strength, vitality, passion, courage | Mars | Tuesday | Fire | Scorpio (also Aries in some sources) |
| Orange | Creativity, encouragement, ambition | Sun, Mars, or Mercury | Sunday, Tuesday, or Wednesday | Fire | Leo, Sagittarius |
| Yellow | Learning, focus, communication, joy | Mercury | Wednesday | Air | Gemini, Leo |
| Green | Growth, luck, prosperity, nature | Venus (sometimes Mercury) | Friday (sometimes Wednesday) | Earth | Taurus |
| Blue | Peace, patience, truth, calm sleep | Moon, Venus, Saturn, or Jupiter | Monday, Friday, Saturday, or Thursday | Water | Libra, Sagittarius |
| Purple | Intuition, spirit, wisdom, dignity | Jupiter | Thursday | Spirit or air (varies) | Sagittarius |
| Pink | Affection, friendship, self-love, compassion | Venus | Friday | Water or earth (varies) | Taurus, Libra (Venus's signs) |
Planet and day links connect to Planetary Magick. Candle uses for each color are in Candle Magick.
Try this now: match a color to an intention
Pick one intention you have right now. Choose a color for it, using this lesson or your own feeling. Write down the color and why you chose it. Look at one more color from the table and ask whether it would work as well. Note which one feels right.
Journal prompts
Take your time. Write as much or as little as you like.
- Which of these seven colors do you wear or surround yourself with most?
- Which color do you avoid, and what do you think it says to you?
- Which intention are you working on now, and what color matches it?
- Where did the lesson's meaning for a color differ from your own feeling?
- What is one color you would like to bring into your week, and where will you put it?
All 7 lessons in The Magick of Color
- How Color Works in Magick
- Color Meanings, Part 1: The Main Colors (you are here)
- Color Meanings, Part 2: Neutrals and Metals
- Color and Culture
- Using Color in Practice
- Choosing and Combining Colors
- Color in Your Space and Wardrobe