"What is it? -----
Near and far, its shape I see
Twelve miles from me over the sea:
The man of the little green boat
And his shirt sewn with red thread."
[A rainbow]
____ Scots Gaelic riddle (trans CM)
In the rainbow we see the beam from the eye of the sun, the spectrum of colors that pervade our world from end to end. Those who learn their own codes of color and its meaning discover ways of regulating their mood and appearance. For different people and cultures, these meanings and gifts can vary considerably. The whole rainbow spectrum of colors can be derived from ingredients in the natural world to create dyes: from the bold statement of red that grants courage, through the protective hue of orange, to the brightness of yellow that gives energy, the calming or harmonious shades of green, the joyful and sorrowful blues, the dutiful and responsible service of indigo, and the rare holiness of purple.
Color is an essential nourishment to our senses. If we are starved of color for any length of time, or our surroundings have tints that depress our spirits, we begin to feel very strange indeed. Color is an unappreciated joy that offers itself freely to all sighted people. The rainbow bids us to remember and reacquaint ourselves with the beauty and gifts of its rich spectrum.
"Which are your favorite colors? Which ones do you not care for? What kinds of feelings and qualities do you associate with the rainbow's spectrum of color?"
[From The Celtic Spirit by Caitlin Matthews]
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