Awareness of our Colours as we work for Peace & Justice 1

What Colour Is God

“God is passionately busy beautifying the world with colours through those who work for the poor and the marginalized, bringing justice and peace in their lives” ~Sr. Francisca Hardy-Carmel by the Sea

4 ColorMeaningComment RedSacrifice, mercy, lifeChrist is the Lamb of God OrangeComforter, teacher, companion Combines the work of Love in relation to the merits of the sacrifice as a Healer and Restorer and Teacher of righteousness. YellowCharacter, fruit The work of the Holy Spirit is to bear the fruits of God in us - of these the greatest is to love. Our character is described as "gold tried in the fire" GreenKing, kingdom of God Combines the work of law in relation to love. BlueLaw The Father sits on the sapphire throne from which the stones for the law were taken PurplePriest, defender, lawyer Combines the work of sacrifice in relation to the breaking of the law WhiteRighteousness Love. Perfection of all characters and principles before God. Knowledge of God. BlackSin, evil The absence of the light of God. Separation from God.

5 Root Chakra: Grounding Location: the point between the anus and the sex organs (Sacral) Sense: Smell Earth, Physical identity, oriented to self-preservation This chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth, and is therefore related to our survival instincts, and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical plane. Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence. Red For the life of the flesh is in the blood. (Leviticus 17: 11) Red is for sacrifice. It means life. When life is taken, red can appear to mean death. We are connected. If one suffers all suffer. The blood of Christ cleanses us and covers us from the penalty of sin. We bear each other's burdens. We are a sacrificial people. First Chakra

Second Chakra Spleen Chakra: Hara, Svadhisthana Location: abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs, (Belly –Emotions) Sense: It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change. Orange The Holy Spirit is symbolised by flames of fire. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich. (Revelation 3: 18) Because of the sacrifice of Christ, he can now transform us and reconcile us to God. God rehabilitates us through the Holy Spirit. We are a persevering and patient people. As Witness and Comforter on earth, the Holy Spirit has the task of making us perfect. 6

7 Third Chakra Power Chakra (Power Center, Manipura) Location: Solar plexus (Power) Sense: Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition It rules our personal will power, autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power. Yellow signifies character. It is achieved through receiving the Holy Spirit as She writes the law in our hearts. It is what makes all we do 'spiritual'. It is the motive and intention behind all our actions. It is rooted in the law and acted out in love. As a people we are as good as gold. We are called to act justly and love tenderly

Heart Chakra (Love Center, Anahata ) Location: (Connection) the heart and the blood circulatory system, and the cardiac plexus, as well as the lungs and the entire chest area. Sense: Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance Is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. If healthy this chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace and centeredness. Green is the symbol of royalty and eternal life. We see the colour green in at least four places in the Bible: The Throne of God. (Revelation 4: 3) The Feast of Tabernacles. (Leviticus 23: 40) This feast is adorned with green branches. We are from an ancient royal family. We will continue to reign and rule in the new earth. Jesus the King. When Jesus came to Jerusalem he was greeted as king with green palms. The People of God. Revelation 7: 1,3 and 9: 4 8 Fourth Chakra

Throat Chakra (Cornucopia Center, Location: Throat and is thus related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration, such as the vibration of sound representing language. Creative identity, oriented to self- expression Sense: Body Mind Associations: This chakra controls the throat and the neck, and the arms and the hands, hearing & speaking Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Sky Blue Blue stands for the law. The ten Commandments were carved from a blue stone which was a part of the throne of God. The Israelites wore a blue tassel to remind them of the Law (Numbers 15: 38-41). Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them they shall put on the a cord of blue at the tassel of each corner. "It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes.” (Numbers 15: 38-41) 9 Fifth Chakra

10 Third Eye (Vision) Location: associated with the forehead and temples, with the carotid plexus Sense: Extra Sensory Perception, all of the inner senses corresponding to the outer senses, which together are considered spirit-to-spirit communication. These include, inner sense of vision, inner sense of hearing, inner sense of touch, etc. It is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. When healthy it allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us “see the big picture.” Indigo Blue And they saw the God of Israel and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. (Exodus 24: 10) Now above the expanse that was above their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli (sapphire) in appearance; on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. (Ezekiel 1: 26) Sixth Chakra

Crown Chakra : Location: is associated with the top of the head, the brain, and the entire nervous system Sense: Relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, to a timeless, space less place of all-knowing. When developed, this chakra brings us self knowledge, wisdom, universal identity, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss. Purple is a combination of red and blue. Our High Priest fulfilled the demands of the law by becoming the sacrifice. He atoned for the broken law (blue) with His red blood. Therefore, when the law and sacrifice combined it formed purple. We are also destined to be priests of God by fulfilling the law of Love & Justice. Seventh Chakra

White Come now let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. (Isaiah 1: 18) White is the perfect balance of all three: red, blue, yellow in love. Love causes us to sacrifice, to obey God, to have good characters. So love is the greatest. God is not just any one of these colors. The Glory of God. The evidence suggests that when we obtain this perfect balance of colors in our perfect characters, it will also appear in a physical form. Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!". And He said, "I Myself will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion". (Exodus 33: 18-19) 12

Black: total absence of all colours 13 Notice that black is not the mixture of any color. It is the total absence of all colors. It is now easy to understand why the image of darkness and black represents evil. It is the absence of law, love and good motives. To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. (Luke 1: 79) In sin, people live in hatred, lawlessness and selfishness. We do not walk in darkness any longer. We are a people of the light.

Black & White 14 Black and white, represents our human status as we reject or accept the colors of God. We use colours symbolically in the sanctuary and in the liturgical services. The Bible teaches that it is important to look at nature to learn about God. Psalm 19: 1-2 : The heavens are proclaiming the Glory of God and their expanse shows God’s handiwork. Day to day they speak and night to night reveals God’s wisdom.

I could compare my music to white light which contains all colours. Only a prism can divide the colours and make them appear; this prism could be the spirit of the listener. 15