From the dawn of antiquity, color has been a strong yet subtle force in the shaping of human behavior. So prevalent is color in our natural surroundings that primitive man not only was swayed by its variations; he tried to imitate them and to seek their aid in furthering his luck or warding off evil.

The ancients coupled colors with natural forces. To them, red symbolized fire, because of its ruddy glow. Orange or golden yellow represented the sun; green, the foliage of springtime; blue, the sky and sea. Even in modern times, savages have donned war paint to frighten enemies, and they have traded away property and belongings for beads and cloth of gay hues.

More enlightened people have developed many forms of mysticism concerning colors. Aslrologers, in an effort to identify the planets with things mundane, chose gold as the metal of the Sun, and silver as that of the Moon, because of the similarity in colors. Various colors were ascribed to the other planets; red for Mars; green or light blue for Venus; dark blue or purple for Jupiter; black or brown for Saturn; variable colors for Mercury.

In linking the planets with gems, colors were sometimes the determining factor, which may account for some of our modern birthstones. The modem choice of the alexandrite as a birthstone for Gemini is indeed appropriate, for Mercury is the ruling planet of that sign, and the alexandrite is a gem that changes color in different kinds of light.

Colors also have been given numerical values. One list covers the nine basic numbers used in numerology, as follows:

1, black; 2, yellow; 3, purple; 4, orange; 5, blue; 6, green; 7, gray; 8, brown; 9, red. In this list, gold is regarded as the equivalent of orange (4) and silver the equivalent of gray (7).

In astrology, various colors have been assigned to each sign of the zodiac, and some even to each ten-day period or decan. This stresses the importance that colors play in everyday life. This is all the more reason that they should be considered as a subject of their own. The modern science of “colorology” is therefore an answer to an ancient question.

According to occult science, both stars and numbers exert a vibratory influence over human affairs. The same applies to colors, but here, the psychic phase is confirmed by physical science, as it is a recognized fact that the apparent color of an object depends upon the wave length of the light that it reflects. The psychic theory assumes the existence of a human aura, or an ethereal emanation issuing from everyone, like swirls or darts of colored lights, each indicative of an individual mood.

Only persons gifted with an inner sight are able to see those emanations clearly, though many people may gain glimpses of them or sense their influence. But interpretation of such colors is not only limited to the chosen few; the colors themselves are not necessarily an index to the character of the person from whom they emanate. Often, they are the outgrowth of a temporary condition, and as such they are apt to be charged with undue intensity, which further lessens their reliability.

Everyone at times gives way to fits of anger. When this manifests itself in the form of righteous indignation, it is all the stronger. That is when you are most apt to sense it, and perhaps misjudge it. That applies to other moods, which must also be sufficiently intensive to register. You may get a recurrent color vibration from someone who is continually exerting it, but usually such persons reveal that trait in other ways, too. Color radiation may be just a follow-up to normal expression.

To put colorology to practical use, try to decide what color you like best. Accepting that as your vibratory color, you will have a key to your natural trends. You can also analyze your friends by learning their favorite colors. But they should not give snap judgment as an answer. Let them be sure of the color before they name it. In case of doubt, you can take two colors, combining the traits under one with those of the other.

Some students of the occult claim that a deep-set aura never changes. If right, they are speaking of extreme cases. In child-hood, there is a tendency to admire bright and sometimes garish colors; but that lessens as taste is developed. So you cannot type a person too soon.

Also, every color has modifying shades, so it is possible to undergo a personality change within one color’s realm. Also, the impulses of any given color are quite controllable. So be careful to weigh your favorite color according to your full inclinations.