On Earth, each culture assigns different meanings to such colours as are given meanings. For instance, black is associated with death in the west, and white with death in the east, white with weddings in the west, red with weddings in the east. In the World of Isles the association of colours with meanings is very strong, and the same meanings are assigned to the same colours by every culture. World of Isles languages are very rich in words for colours, the same colours are distinguished by all, and every colour has its own set of significances. Even so, every shade and tint has several significances, not all of which will be intended in each instance of the colour’s being used.
The significances of colours exert a powerful effect on choice of colour for clothing, artistic composition, and decoration. Unfortunately it is not much of an aid to taste.
Significances of selected colours
Yellow | benevolence, sovereignty, impartiality, justice, sovereigns, judges |
Saffron | power, strength, might, dominion, command, rulers |
Orange | capriciousness, vigour, energy, ambiguity, danger, anger, artisans |
Scarlet | gallantry |
Red | high spirits, merriment, jollity, happiness, good humour, festivals, merry-makers |
Murrey | passion, ecstasy, dance, dancers, wind musicians, singers, minstrels |
Purple | affection, love, brides, bridegrooms, lovers, courtesans, wedding-guests |
Violet | compassion, romantic love, devotion, dedication, medicine, doctors, surgeons, healers |
Indigo | independence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, the ocean, freedom, hunters, seamen, anarkhs and heresiarkhs |
Sky blue | knowledge, curiosity, insatiability, boundlessness, infinity, a search in progress, scholars, clerks, teachers |
Dark green | defiance, persistence, determination, serious intent, obligations of authority, the military, soldiers |
Bright green | money, hoarded wealth, greed, avarice, envy |
Tan | prosperity, generosity, hospitality, comfort, ease, hosts, publicans |
Dark brown | innocence, inexperience, ignorance, obedience, children, novices, students |
Pink | safety, the home, parenthood, parental love, placidity, parents |
Mauve | mourning, regret, widowhood, tradition, widows |
Puce | self-indulgence, lust, sexual availability, prostitutes |
Black | dutifulness, duty, implacability, incorruptibility, loyalty, honour, an unfulfilled or binding oath, heralds, ambassadors, executioners |
Grey | impermanence, neutrality, foreign-ness, regret, exiles, travellers |
White | skill, professional excellence, asceticism, perfection, wisdom |
Gold | success, victory, triumph, excellence, winners, victors |
Copyright © 1991 by Brett Evill. All rights reserved.