RAINBOW COLORS: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY MEAN

When spring or summer storms suddenly catch us, they can give us a natural spectacle that never leaves anyone indifferent: the rainbow. The seven-colored arc that appears in the sky has always fascinated over the centuries, so much so that the ancients attributed to it truly unique origins and meanings. What makes it special, of course, are its shades that stand out in the sky, but what not everyone knows is that the colors of the rainbow are not as obvious as you might think and they all have a precise meaning.

What is the rainbow?

“Angels also want to have fun after the rain. For that they create a colored slide in the sky - the rainbow - and throw themselves to either side, like children ".
Fabrizio Caramagna

Let's start with a clarification: in reality, the rainbow does not exist. It is true, we see it appear in the sky and we can distinguish its shades and its shape well, but it is our eyes that deceive us. In fact, the rainbow is an optical effect due to the reflection and refraction of sunlight through the drops of water suspended in the air. For this reason we can see it not only in case of rain, but also near a waterfall.

The fact that it is an optical effect explains, at the same time, the shape of the arch. Its size and the distance at which it appears vary depending on the point from which it is observed and the incidence of sunlight with respect to the drops.

The meaning of the rainbow

"The sky, with its clouds, rains, rainbow, stars and sun, is the most beautiful sight of creation".
Romano Battaglia

Being such a particular phenomenon, the rainbow could not fail to fascinate men who throughout history have made it a symbol of various concepts and the protagonist of numerous legends. As a rule, the seven-colored bow takes on a positive meaning. It is seen as a sign of hope after a difficult period precisely because it usually “appears” following thunderstorms and downpours.

For Native Americans, the rainbow represented a bridge to the afterlife, while the Romans saw it as the path traveled by Mercury, the messenger of the gods. In general, in the different cultures ranging from the Christian to the pre-Columbian of the Maya, this phenomenon was intended as a sign of peace and serenity on the part of the deity (s), who had put aside their wrath.

How many colors are there in the rainbow?

"The rainbows of other worlds have colors that I don't know. Along the streams of other worlds flowers are born that I do not have ".
Fabrizio De André

The rainbow is made up of 7 colors, which in order from the outside to the inside of the arch are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple. However, for many this statement is only a partial truth for several reasons. First of all, the colors of the rainbow would be many more than seven, because the latter are only those perceived by the human eye and brain. The spectrum of the color shades of the arch, therefore, is much broader and can vary from person to person, because not everyone perceives it in the same way. Furthermore, the "official" colors of the rainbow have not always been seven. Isaac Newton distinguished only five primaries in 1672, namely red, yellow, green, blue and violet. Only later did Newton himself introduce orange and indigo thus giving seven colors in analogy with the number of notes in a musical scale.

Recently, however, modern scholars would agree to exclude indigo among the shades perceived in the arch. According to these theories, indigo is a color that many are unable to define since it lies between blue and purple and, therefore, should come out of the traditional calculation of rainbow hues. Its exclusion remains only theoretical at the moment because, now considered for years as one of the colors of the arch, it has taken on a symbolic and spiritual value that is not intended to be renounced.

The meaning of the seven colors

The theory of colors continues to conquer for its studies and interpretations regarding the shades that surround us in every moment of life. Let's see what the seven traditional colors of the rainbow mean:

Red: indicates true love, passion, the most impulsive feelings such as anger and shame. It is the color of blood and, therefore, of flesh and life.

Orange: in psychology it is the symbol of creativity, inspiration and fun. It is obtained from the mixture of yellow and red and for this reason it can also mean balance between spirit and flesh.

Yellow: it is the emblem of positivity, of light, of the sun, of youth and, in return, of lightness. It is associated with the ether and the desire for elevation.

Green: is the shade in balance between warm and cold colors. According to the theory of colors it means well-being, nature, fertility and renewal. This rebirth can be both earthly and spiritually.

Blue: color par excellence of water and air, it represents all that is immaterial and, therefore, the abstract and the world of the spirit. It is the tone of calm and serenity.

Indigo: halfway between blue and purple, symbol of harmony and tranquility, it indicates the connection between the world of reality and the subconscious one. It is also considered as the color of wisdom and for oriental disciplines it opens the sixth chakra.

Purple: produced by red and blue, it symbolizes the whole sphere of individuality, magic and the occult. It is no coincidence that it is the color often connected to mystery and metamorphosis.

The colors of the rainbow today

Although the scientific explanation sees it "only" as the refraction effect of light, the rainbow with its colors have always been a source of inspiration for artists, singers, poets and philosophers. In addition to finding it in numerous works, it has become the symbol of the flag of peace and the LGBT + community, the so-called "rainbow flag". The history of this flag begins in June 1978, when it was created by the artist Gilbert Baker. The original saw 8 colors and is now exhibited at the MoMA in New York. Today, therefore, the colors of rainbow flag there are 6: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Some believe they refer to the song Over The Rainbow, whose interpretation by Judy Garland has also made her become a symbol of the LGBT + movement.
Others, however, think that bright colors represented homosexual people, who used them, historically, to identify and recognize themselves.

In general, given that the rainbow appears after a storm, it has always conveyed the perception of something positive and thus turns out to be the perfect emblem for a better future, without discrimination and made up of love, equality and equal rights.

"Those who want to see the rainbow must learn to love the rain".
Paulo Coelho