Saturday, June 1, 2024

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I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but I associate colors with emotions and feelings. I feel as though they intertwine so well there’s a blur when trying to disconnect them. So, what better way to let go than to write letters to each dear color and see what emotions lessen in the process.

Will this be what riddens me of stagnant energy? Hopefully. Either way, it’s right up my alley of creativity and I’m excited to see what I have to say to each of Roy G. Biv’s children.

Dear Colors of the Rainbow,

Hi, my name is Ariana. This isn’t so much a letter I need a response to but more a tribute to each of you individually. For some reason, unbeknownst to myself, I’ve had this lingering feeling that I couldn’t quite grasp or shake. For a while now, I’ve been trying to figure out what it is I need to let go of and the idea of letters to you formed as my best start to a solution.

I apologize, in advance, if what I say to some of you comes off mean and insensitive. But for my own benefit I’ll keep it as unfiltered as I can without being overly vulgar and rude. I think the more true to my heart this turns out the more likely I’ll be able to face what I couldn’t internally.

Thank you, Your Friend

Conversations with the colors through formal letters:

Dear Red,

I hope you know how beautiful you are and if you don’t allow me to elaborate. Besides you holding the most intense of meanings, you radiate the warmest of feelings. Ask anyone and they will always choose you when questioned what color best describes great desire and absolute rage. By all means, I hope you never see yourself as a negative but as the purest balance. Not only do I witness you when I’m beyond livid; I also sense you when I’m madly infatuated.

I see you. When my heartbeat sits in my throat, and my ears and cheeks get hot, I feel you. A certain rage and anger that only your name can describe. A certain passion and love that only you can lavish my mind, heart and skin all at the same time. You are the color of passion, of desire, of raw emotion burning bright against the canvas of existence. A lover’s fervent embrace, the fierce determination of the human spirit, and pulsing rhythm of life itself. The undeniable connection mankind holds as an instant reminder our complexation matters not for inside we all look alike in hues of you.

In all sunsets, I’ve been graced with your blaze. I’ve seen your beauty range from the depths of crimson to the brilliance of scarlet bloom through roses so bold. You inspire action and stir the soul with your power to evoke passion. You symbolize courage, strength, and the resilience needed to face adversity. I hope you continue to infuse this world with your fiery warmth and vibrancy. And I hope to see you in my flush cheeks forever in my reflection.

With Reverence, a Great Fan

Dear Orange,

Don’t tell the others but you are my favorite. Warm yet not as deep or rich as your more passionate of sibling. How the thought of your hue so easily brings a smile to my face. Whenever I miss your presence, I close my eyes and face the sun any time of day just to see you again. The amount of joy you bring me is far beyond any other pigment can provide. From the scents of citrus to the warmth of cinnamon dusted over whip-cream topped pumpkin pie, what an embrace of home I receive instantly.

You embody the spirit of enthusiasm, optimism, and endless possibilities. Like the sun’s gentle caress at dawn, you brighten even the darkest corners with your luminous presence. With every sunrise painted in hues of tangerine and every autumn leaf covered in your brilliance, you remind me of the beauty found in transition. Enveloped in your vibrance, I find the courage to accept change, embark on new beginnings, and greet each day with excitement.

You radiate cheerful feelings with your golden glow. Though not as gold as the hair from a ear of corn but that of metal adorned around my neck, fingers and wrists. Notice how I compare you to those around. You are the perfect intermediate between two primary giants yet for me you stand your own ground. I am filled with gratitude for the light you bring to my life and to the lives of all who behold you. I hope you continue to illuminate my days with joy and the boundless energy as an endless transformation of the ever-changing dance called life.

Grand Appreciation, a Known Admirer

Dear Yellow,

I will not lie, but you live among my favorite flavors in pie form. How refreshing and bold you taste from a fruit so sour your striking color can only warn us of. What a beauty and yet you are the embodiment of daring. You expose those to an experience they could never have prepared for and that alone crowns you the Queen of the Rainbow.

Like the first rays of dawn breaking through the darkness, you saturate every moment with a warmth unlike your siblings that at times it can even be too harsh and overbearing. Your balance fairs on the dramatic side of extremes. Puckered lips from the squeeze of lemons to sickly skin and eyes of a noticeable disease, your range is drastic, because even on the mellower side, painted on petals of daffodils, you flourish.

You are the color of sunshine, laughter and sheer delight. We humans are almost that unworthy to behold your very brilliance, sunglasses were created to shield us from you. I find you to be too much, mainly on the hottest of summer days, but oh so necessary on the coldest snow storms. So, thank you for gracing us with your royal appearance and please continue for generations ahead.

Warmest Regards, a Fellow Follower

Dear Green,

The color of Mother Nature’s eldest child, I would like to start off by apologizing, on behalf of the world, for the lack of care for your leaf-covered trees and grass-covered lands. In every lush meadow and flourishing forest, you should inspire us to nurture the land, to cherish its treasures, and to tread lightly upon its sacred ground. Yet we find ourselves destroying your color at every chance we get just by existing on this planet. Once free to be overgrown and wild, now we’ve tamed you with gardeners. Your presence is a gift that enriches our lives in countless ways, and the connection you offer to the natural world reins irreplaceable.

But what greed and envy you shine in the eyes of man with no limitations. Your color expresses the richness in one’s pockets yet endorses poor behavior in those struggling. How we all love and despise the sight of you easily acquired and just as easily surrendered. You color one of the most used and passed down pieces of paper. A currency so destructive they dyed it a shade of you just to claim stability and moderation.

I appreciate you in most forms: in every tree I pass, in most fields I lay upon, and in the food, I eat that looks just like you. Your contribution to the tapestry of life is invaluable, and I will strive to honor and cherish you as you deserve.

Sincere Apologies, Your Advocate

Dear Blue,

How are you? I hope you know how much more you are than the depression people associate you with. You are more than the sadness felt on the rainiest of days and the coldest of long nights. In the realm of human emotions, you evoke a sense of calmness and introspection. Like the gentle lapping of waves on a shore, your tranquil essence soothes the restless hearts of those who gaze upon you. You offer a sanctuary for contemplation and reflection, encouraging us to find solace in moments of stillness.

Your vast and captivating hue stretches across the sky and the ocean, filling our lives with wonder and inspiration. You are the color of the boundless sky that stretches infinitely above us. From the pale azure of a clear day to the majestic midnight hue of a starry night, you create a backdrop against which life unfolds. Your association with water lends you a meditative quality. The peaceful expanse of the ocean, the babbling brooks, and the quiet lakes mirror the inner depths of the human mind. You embody the ebb and flow of life’s experiences, reminding us that change is an inherent part of existence.

I wish you restful nights and exciting days as you watch over the world: I hope you know you are the biggest part of it. The absence of you would be devastating so, dear Blue, please remember your importance as you calm the minds of the restless. You are a symphony of tranquility and a testament to the wonders of creation. Your serene beauty inspires us to pause, breathe, and find solace in the present moment. Thank you for being there for the masses.

With Heartfelt Gratitude, a Daily Indulgent

Dear Indigo,

The forgot child of the bunch. Who are you? For even, I have no true knowledge of you, other than a somber tale of a darker more deep version of your twin Purple. You lie amongst the colder side of life in your own world of wintry landscapes. You tend to venture no further into the light as dim as a cloud covered full moon night. You prefer your solemn stance towards all that approach though very rare for you to be seen since you isolate yourself from the rest.

No one truly knows you and you have no interest in taking on larger roles in the spotlight. You enjoy your family being known and appreciated, and those small moments you get are enough to last the next snowfall or overcast.

I commend you for your mysteries though I feel you carry a purer meaning. I can only assume you are far greater than you allow anyone to believe. For I know those who fall to the background absorb the most wisdom from mere patience and observation. So, thank you for gracing us with your beauty and please continue to be the unsolvable mystery.

With Great Questions, the Curious One

Dear Purple,

It must be lonely, trying to fill the void with all things in her image. I’d say you miss her, Queen Yellow, but the truth is you’re jealous of her attention. So much so, your color grows on petals of flowers so toxic they can poison humans. What a poor image you allowed yourself to fall under when you used to be King of all your siblings. Now Queen Yellow has no reason to stick around except to shine down on you. Forever to complement one another, but you became a tyrant believing you were the only royal amongst peasants.

Once renowned to lay on the bodies of royalty, you became too full of yourself and people began to fear the slightest drop of water to fall upon you. So, mankind accidentally found a cheaper way to dye fabric your color putting you in your place to be worn by everyone. Yet you still stayed at the highest regards: pinned to the chest of the bravest who served in the military, in a phrase only to describe the extremely creative writing and representing the top point of centering one’s self, the Crown Chakra.

I have mixed feelings about you. You’re rarely seen in the world but when you are it’s as a warning. Letting others know of the greatness or villainy they stand before. For an artist, you bring another dimension to paintings and words that allows us to express something different the other colors do not. And for that, no matter my opinion of you the world will continue to regard your vibrance in their own way, so please continue to warn us of what’s ahead.

Ambivalently Aware, the Empathetic One

Thank You!

Thank you for reading through my dear letters to the rainbow. I did not mean to save this for pride month since it has nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ community. So I apologize for anyone that got this far thinking each color was to represent something other than my feelings. Thank you anyway if you’re reading this. Not necessarily for anyone but myself, but it was definitely a fun exercise.

So, thank you again and enjoy the rest of your day!!!