LOOIE LOVED THESE COLORS!

A number of references to color are expressed in our language using slang, metaphors and colloquial expression. Some of them, such as feeling blue, seeing red, or green with envy, associate colors with specific human emotions. Others such as blue blood, white cockade and red carpet originated in the Middle Ages. Familiar expressions such as yellow journalism, the Red guard, Purple Heart, Black Market and the yearly favorite among sports fans the Orange Bowl, all have an interesting, yet more recent history.

The foundation for color symbolism has been built on many centuries of history, religion, tradition and superstition. Practically every race and culture has used color symbolically assigning a variety of qualities and even specific objects to certain colors.
The reason is that the sensation of color is primitive. Reaction and recognition of color requires little effort of intellect or imagination. Color conveys moods that affix themselves quite automatically to human feeling.

Literally, black means absorbing all light without reflecting any of its rays. Yet long before the physics of light was understood, the word black was in common use. In Old English it was "blaec" closely related to its equivalents in Old High German "blah, blach" and Old Norse "blakkr."
In many languages and cultures, black was associated with evil (and white with good). In art and religion black signified despair, sin and mourning. Its use in mourning is very old and comes from the ancient Semitic custom of blackening the face with dirt or ashes to make it unrecognizable to the dead, as well as a mark of grief and submission.
The tradition of today's funeral is the wearing of black garments or black arm bands to mourn the loss of a family member or close friend.
Despite the color's many negative associations, in heraldry black, called sable, also stands for virtues of perseverance, prudence and wisdom.

Orange is the only color of the spectrum whose name was taken from an object; the popular fruit called the orange. The fruit come from an evergreen tree, Citrus aurantius, and the word "orange", comes from the Old French "orenge."
Since about 1300 it has used as part of the English language. Because the tree is evergreen and ever-bearing, the color orange became associated with fruitfulness.
On the visible spectrum this reddish-yellow color lies between red and yellow - the two colors that when blended together are the creators of the color orange. In folklore the color orange stands for fire and flames, vigor, excitement, adventure and wholesomeness.
In the Tribe of Mic-O-Say orange stands for Firebuilders' who light and tend the fires of friendship and warmth.

Green is the color of freshness and renewal, and has been in Western culture since the earliest of times.
The word "green" comes from the Old English "gréne," in turn from "grêne" in Old Frisian and various related Germanic languages.
Reappearing in springtime, after the dull and seemingly colorless winter, it became a symbol of fertility and growth, of abundance and external life.
The color green represents harmony, nature and radiates a feeling of fullness. When thoughts of nature come to mind, green, being the color of grass, trees and plants, 99% of the time is the dominant color of one's mental images.
On the visible spectrum green is sandwiched in between blue and yellow.
In the Tribe of Mic-O-Say green symbolizes Tom-Tom Beaters' who beat the tom-toms to call Tribesmen to ceremony.

Traditionally blue is the color of constancy and faith because of the color painters used for the Virgin Mary's robe, the color of the heavens and the oceans.
The soothing color blue stands for sensitivity, peace, loyalty and ones desire to nurture. This was Looie's "most'est FAVORITE color!"
The word "blue", from Middle English "blew" and Old English "Blaw" has been used since about 1300 to describe a color of the spectrum.
In the symbolism of heraldry, blue is called azure and signifies piety and sincerity.
Around the twentieth century it became a symbolic representation of the male gender. Pink being the color representative of the female gender. Young children are usually dressed using these two colors to distinguish the "boys" from the "girls".
In the Tribe of Mic-O-Say blue represents Runners' who serve as messengers and escorts.

The bright golden color yellow is found between green and orange on the visible spectrum and is, along with red and blue, one of the primary colors.
Since about A.D. 900 the color yellow has been integrated into the English language, stemming from closely related words in the Latin and various Germanic languages. In heraldry, where it is called ore (for gold) the color yellow stands for the positive virtues of faith, constancy, wisdom, and glory. It also has been thought of as being a color that represents playfulness, light, creativity, warmth and an easy going attitude about life.
Yellow, in Mic-O-Say, stands for Keeper of the Sacred Bundle who Protects the Customs and Traditions of the Tribe.

A combination of red and blue, purple is a color that has been associated with royalty since ancient Roman times. The color purple is symbolic of power, leadership, respect and wealth and has been worn by emperors, military commanders, and other high ranking officials. The word "purple" comes from the Greek "porphura," a species of shellfish that yielded, through an elaborate process, the dye called Tyrian Purple. Very expensive to produce, it was reserved for special cloth and garments such as those of kings.
In Mic-O-Say, Shamans' wear the Purple Paint and study to become members of The Tribal Council.

White, literally speaking, is the absence of all color. Or rather, it is the "color" produced by reflecting almost all kinds of light found in the visible spectrum. This is why white clothing is considered cooler than other colors on a hot summer day; since it reflects back sunlight (and heat) rather than absorbing it; as black does. The word white comes from the Old English "hwít," which in turn is related to very similar words in old Germanic languages. Symbolically white has long represented purity, goodness, light and innocence. In heraldry white is also called "argent." This word comes from the Latin "argentum," for silver. The color white projects feelings of calmness, relaxation and an inner peace with one's surroundings and inner soul.
Mic-O-Say Tribesmen who wear White Paint are members of the Tribal Council.

The color red has been part of the English language since about A.D. 900. It is the primary color at the lower or least deflected end of the visible spectrum.
Its name is used for shades ranging from very bright, bold red to reddish yellow or reddish brown.
Found not only in the lore of ancient medicine but in the superstitions of modern times, red has been viewed as the vigorous color of health. Red wool was applied to relieve sprains in Scotland, sore throats in Ireland and to prevent fevers in Macedonia. The ruby, a precious gemstone with a brilliant red color, was worn in China to promote long life.
The color red has also been a representation of love within a relationship between two people. A red rose, given to the bearer's lover or mate has always been known as a symbol of love. As well as the ever-popular red heart on valentine's day.
The rose is also given to Mother's by their Mic-O-Say Sons.
Red Paint in Mic-O-Say signifies members of the Council of Chieftains.

The colors chosen for this site are also colors that make up the rainbow, and Looie loved rainbows!
So while your thinking of Looie, why not make your own rainbow so you can enter the spectrum of reflection.

Rainbows are only seen when the sun is directly behind you, low in the sky, and there is a rainfall or mist in front of you. This means the center of the rainbow is always located along a line down your shadow.

Try watering your garden with your back to the sun. Use a misting nozzle or cover the end of the hose with your fingers. Squirt the water down your shadow and there will always be a rainbow for you to see. Wave the hose around to see the full rainbow. It sure makes watering a lot more fun.

If you only see the left half of the rainbow move left or spray more to the right. If you see only the right half, reverse the instructions. If the sun is high in the sky, you will see a slanted rainbow that you will be standing in. How do you know if you are doing it right? That's easy, you will see a rainbow!

For perpetual kids, like Looie, who are reading this summer is still here. Get a garden hose. Go outside with your family and friends and run through the rainbow. Rainbows can be quite refreshing. If you get in close enough not only will you get really wet, but you will get to see a full circle rainbow floating right in front of your face. Yep, I said, "a full circle!" Give it a try.

After you have made your own rainbow you will come to realize you are always surrounded by rainbows. All you need to make them visible is the magic dust of a spray of water when the sun is out.

Actual rainbows look like a giant bridge or gate and has been called the "Gateway to Heaven."
Many people believe the rainbow is a ray of light falling to earth whenever Saint Peter opens the gates of heaven to let another soul in. In Hawaii, Polynesia, Austria, Japan and among Native American Tribes the rainbow is the path souls take on their way to heaven and has been called a bridge or ladder to higher or other worlds. The Russians call the rainbow the "Gate to Heaven."

In New Zealand dead chiefs travel up the rainbow to their new home. Other myths say the bow is a stream of water that souls in heaven drink from. The Zulu of South Africa call the rainbow the Queens Arch because it is one of the frames that form the house of the Queen of Heaven. In Germany the paler secondary rainbow, sometimes seen above the primary rainbow, is said to be the work of Satan attempting to out do God.

In Swabia and Bavaria the saints pass by the rainbow when traveling from heaven to earth. While in Polynesia it is the actual path taken by the gods themselves. In Norway, a giant named Heimdal stands on a rainbow bridge, connecting heaven and earth. Heimdal's hearing is so keen that he is able to hear the sound grass makes as it grows. He guards Asgard, the home of the Norwegian gods. The Valkyrie Maidens flying through the air on winged chariots carry dying Norse heroes over the bridge to Valhalla, a state of peace and bliss existing in Asgard. An old Norse story calls the rainbow Asbru, the bridge of the gods.

In Greenland the rainbow is the hem of God's garments. The Samoyeds, a Siberian Mongolian people, and the Cherokee People say it is the hem of the Sun god's coat. The fact that Native Americans and Mongolian peoples share the same myth is perhaps one more piece of evidence that there was a land bridge between America and Asia and the peoples on both sides of the pacific do in fact share a common heritage. The ancient Welch believed it to be a goddess's chair. While in Croatia it is God's seat. The bible compares the rainbow to the brightness of God's throne. In Mozambique the rainbow is believed to be the arm of a conquering god. In Africa the rainbow encircles the earth and is a guardian to heaven.

In a German creation myth the rainbow is the bowl God used to hold his paints while coloring the birds. The Mojave Tribe of Arizona say the rainbow is a toy or charm the creator needs to stop a rain storm. A very bad storm requires all of the colors. The Luyia People from Kenya say that God created the rain and all the water in the world comes from it. To stop the rain when it is not needed God made two rainbows, the narrower male rainbow and the wider female. The male rainbow can not stop the rain by itself. When it is followed by the female the rain stops. Other Native Americans believe the rainbow is made from the souls of wild flowers that lived in the forest and lilies from the prairies.

A Japanese myth tells of the first man Isanagi and the first woman Isanami who stood on the floating bridge of heaven while creating the island of Onogoro. They then walked down to earth on this rainbow bridge, called Niji. They watched the animals and learned how to make love. They watched the birds and learned to eat with chopsticks.

In Kauai the goddess of the rainbow is Anuenue. There is a story about a child named Ua, which means rain, who fell off a cliff. Anuenue used her rainbow to break the child's fall and save her life. The child grew up to marry Kulu-'i-ua, the son of the chief of a rival tribe. Their marriage created peace on the island of Kauai.

The Stoney Tribe believes giants inhabited the world when it was very young. One day, the chief of these giants reached into the sky and grabbed the giant rainbow to use as a bow for hunting.
When he seized the bow it became colorless. He became so angry he threw the bow against a mountain. It shattered and its pieces fell into a lake. Sometimes at sunrise the colors of the shattered rainbow appear in the water of the lake. The spirit powers then made the smaller bows we see today.

Some Buddhists believe the seven colors of the rainbow relate to the seven planets and the seven regions of the earth. They also say the rainbow is the highest state of samsara before the clear light of Nirvana or heaven. In Arabia the rainbow is a tapestry draped by the hands of the south wind. It is also called the cloud's bow or Allah's bow. In Islam the rainbow is made up of four colors red, yellow, green and blue related to the four elements.

In myths of India the goddess Indra not only carries a thunderbolt like the Greek god Zeus but she also carries a rainbow, known as Indra's bow or weapon. A part of the Indian creation myth says the gods created an ocean of milk from which all living forms emerged. Airavata, a sacred milk white elephant, whose name means rainbow, was one of the first creatures born from the milk.

In Christianity the rainbow is the pardon, the reconciliation between God and humanity. It is the throne of the last judgment. In ancient Christian symbolism the rainbows principal colors are red, blue and green for fire, flood and earth. It is sometimes viewed as the Virgin Mary bringing heaven and earth in harmony.

The Old Testament tells of God showing Noah a rainbow after the flood had stopped. It was sign that God was putting his "Bow" down and would never destroy the Earth by flooding again.

The Mayan book, the Chilam Balam, tells of the destruction of one of the Mayan worlds by a fiery rain that fell covering the heaven and earth with ashes. Those who escaped the violent trembling of the earth and avoided the falling trees and giant rocks saw a rainbow appear as a sign that the destruction had ended and a new age had begun. The Maya people believe that the goddess of the rainbow is Ixchel the wife of the god Itzamna. She is also the spirit associated with the moon, sexuality, childbirth and medicine. A similar Mexican story, from the state of Michoacan, tells of Mauina the goddess of fertility, who lives under the rainbow in the gardens of the rain and water.

The Navajo people believe gods travel on the rainbow because it moves so rapidly. They know if you run toward the end of a rainbow it moves away before you get there, no matter how fast you travel. They also portray the rainbow as the bridge between the human world and the other side.
They say the rainbow carries heroes between heaven and earth and there is a waterway where the rainbow bridges the earth. The Navajo's also say the rainbow is a goddess who appears during ritual chanting to heal the sick.

There is a story amongst the Shasta people that the sun uses the rainbow colors to paint itself when it comes to the earth as a Shaman or Medicine Man. The Yukis of California believe the rainbow is the multicolored clothing of the Great Spirit who created all existence.

So what does all of this mean?
The rainbow is a bridge between the real and imaginary. It is looked at as a magic bridge on one hand, but on the other hand, people say a project doomed to fail is one built on a rainbow. A person who chases rainbows is someone who never accomplishes anything. I wonder what people think about us, rainbow makers.

People all over the world have different beliefs and different ways of looking at and understanding the same thing. We can be sure when a rainbow appears everyone is struck by its magic and its beauty. There is no doubt of that. What is the real meaning of the rainbow?
Go look at one and you will know. Without words, without pictures, with a feeling inside you. Yes, there are things we just know and those are the important things in our life. The things that do not need words.

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