The Colour Green.

The warm feeling that rises in our chests when a recently dry horizon turns green is grossly underrated. It’s easier to smile through the day when our nostrils are awash with crisp morning air and our vision meets colors rather than dreary brown stalks and withered leaves. Green symbolizes a lot of things. The most prominent being life and renewal. One might even argue that it’s God’s favorite color but that’s a story for another day.

The color green and its essence can be represented in diverse facets of life. One of which is spiritual. Part of our journey into spirituality is centered on growth and development. Aligning ourselves with our spiritual goals, views, and doctrines often requires letting go of the old and bringing in the new. Except, we don’t just knock on a door and wake new morals and values from hibernation. They are cultivated. They are seeds we plant and wait for to grow. And nothing embodies growth like the color Green.

Unsurprisingly, most seeds make their grand entrance into the open space with green shoots. The moment our fields turn into a beautiful mosaic of brown earth and green sprouts we ‘ooh' and ‘ahh' all through the day, grateful for its significance. A new beginning.

In the same vein, the knowledge that emotions have colors surely doesn’t come as a surprise. When we try to describe anger, the color red barges into our minds, guns blazing. When happiness comes to mind, pink frills and blue waters do the trick. And when we try to interpret the feeling of abundance, Green steps in, all cool and sexy. The same goes for peace and security.

Most times, when people try to describe their idea of a sanctuary, a cabin situated on a green horizon is what we often see or hear. The same goes for travel magazines and blogs trying to sell the idea of peace and a calm getaway. Numerous pages are filled with houses surrounded by lush green plantations. The color green effortlessly evokes calmness and priceless serenity. Due to its utterly refreshing aura, one can say that it gives off a clean and pristine vibe. That normally would be a description of the color white, but hey, green has got a few tricks up its sleeves.

Worthy of note is the ‘red flag' issue. In our world today, unacceptable behavior especially from people we want to be intimate with is called a red flag. Acceptable behavior, however, is referred to as a ‘green’ flag. We are often told not to ignore red flags for obvious reasons. If red isn’t dangerous enough, the fact that it’s dyed on a flag should be. Because a flag isn’t just a piece of cloth. It’s a marker. A signal. And a signal that bears the stamp of danger isn’t one to be played with now, is it?

Green flags signify security. They are the direct opposites of red flags. Where red flags bring a promise of chaos, green flags advocate for peace and security. And in this case, reliability.

In light of this, it’s important to note that our favorite colors say a lot about us. They do. But they don’t always reveal the truth about our personalities and auras. Where am I going with this? Our personalities have colors too. No no, don’t laugh. Don’t roll your eyes just yet.

You see, it is true. There are prominent color personality types. One of which is the Dominant Red. This personality type loves and lives an action-filled life. They take the wheels and steer them firmly in the direction they choose. The D-Reds don’t need much of an introduction. They embody their name.

Another is the Charismatic Yellow. Our good old flowers and sunshine. They annoy you with their cheerfulness when all you want is to be quiet for a minute and meditate when you wake up. Their constant optimism can be unrealistic sometimes, but hey, we love them nonetheless.

Then comes the Stable Green. These are the people you want to come home to when the world has probably ended three times at your workplace. Their gentle touch grounds you. They are soothing personalities. All patient, relaxed and calm. Their qualities aren’t a sign of weakness, however, because they could whip up a silent storm when necessary. The Greens are the cool kids of the different color personality types. They are also a calm and classy vibe. I wouldn’t want to jump to conclusions but I guess one can say they’ve got it all. Or maybe not?

Now now, with all the beautiful accolades the color green has won, we can’t forget the ‘green-eyed monster’, can we? We’ve pretty much described Green as rich, healthy, strong, secure, clean, cool, calm. . . maybe a little bit sexy. But that would make other colors green with envy, don’t you think? We need to find a few attributes that can tone it down a notch. A few dark spots. And what better than greed and jealousy? Maybe a little bit of cowardice and sickness too.

Envy has always been associated with the color green. Hence the phrase ‘Green with Envy’. Sources claim that in the early ages, Greeks thought the color green was associated with jealousy. They believed one of the signs of growing jealousy and resentment in a person was the body producing a little too much bile which, in turn, gave the skin a greenish tint. The same goes for sickness. Shocking? Well, it wasn’t exactly proven so don’t get excited just yet. Your neighbor won’t be turning green anytime soon. Dark green (secondary green) is linked to ambition and greed and envy. Yellow-green, however, is associated with sickness, cowardice, and discord.

That’s not the worst there could be but it’s bad nonetheless. And it’s not unexpected. There would always be little foxes in a green vine. (Maybe not entirely green but, you get my point.)

So, the next time your boss makes you want to throw a brick in his face, think Green. Or the next time an assignment frustrates you, think Green. You could pick up a green apple or play with green marbles. A walk in the park might do the trick too. I’m asking you to get a breath of fresh air or take a breather. Yes, yes the color green might have a few faults but, don’t we all?