MY POINT OF VIEW: Purple is a magnificent color

by Gary Kennedy

Purple is such a magnificent color. I have a wall that is a shade of purple. It’s been pleasing to my eyes for more than 35 years. It has never seemed to fade, although, I am sure it won’t last forever. However, I can’t seem to imagine any other color that is more pleasing. The purple that I refer to is my purple wallpaper.

Just through my bow window are many bird feeders which are always inhabited by many known species of birds. Occasionally, an unusual specimen will show up to change things up a bit. The hummingbirds stay away and some of the chickadees and gold finch will make space by using another feeder or moving to the opposite side. We provide excellent food which seems to be the deciding factor. That and the fact that the other birds are in their comfort zone, seems to have a way of working things out. However, when the crows and the occasional hawk swoops down, the established take flight and hide. Then I return my gaze to my purple room. It seems the color purple represents the range of shades between blue and red. Any mix of color might take a different name. Purple was not a color identified by Sir Isaac Newton and some say it doesn’t have its own wave length, of light. Purple still persists in culture and art nonetheless.

The color of purple is generally associated with royalty, luxury, nobility, power and ambition. Is my favorite color making more sense yet? This magnificent color also represents such things as creativity, extravagance, dignity, grandeur, independence, pride, mystery and even magic. What a magnificent color! Is it beginning to cause wonder lust in your mind as of yet? Purple also holds a superior position spiritually. It depicts power both earthly and spiritually. In healing, purple is used for mental disorders. I personally find peace with the radiation generated by purple. Purple also represents higher spiritual development. Purple also represents the full spectrum of human experience and emotion from pain and suffering to happiness and joy. The happy movement draped themselves in it. Even songs were written about the color purple. It became a symbol for many things, even changes in societal movement.

Purple starts with a certain breed of snail. The pigments used to create this beautiful color originally came from this little creature. Other than this source it is derived from the combining of red and blue. My imagination sometimes runs away with me. When I first started this article I’m thinking of politics and how Maine has recently changed from blue to shades of red. I guess that left me with purple. I hate to see my favorite color change to a political entity. However, I guess being in the middle shows freedom of thought and should be depicted by a beautiful unrealized color.

I hope you have enjoyed one of the journeys through my imagination. Oh, don’t forget to vote. The color you choose you will have to live with. That color may not be purple but a shade there of. Make sure it is satisfying and brings you peace.

God bless to you and yours and have a happy and safe weekend.

The views of the author of this column are not necessarily those of The Town Line newspaper, its staff and board of directors.