Colors of the Rainbow and Their Meaning

It was a late sunny afternoon when I stepped out; it had just stopped raining. Trudging along the road, I can never forget that beautiful afternoon in Goa, India. It was one of those days when I was feeling hassled with many things that needed to be completed. I saw a few people staring upwards and wondered what they were really up to. As I glanced towards the sky, I realized what had really mesmerized these people and had made them stop by the roadside - a beautiful never-ending rainbow that stretched across the sky. Seeing the fascinating colors of the rainbow, I forgot all about my tensions and worries, and couldn't help but gaze at it for quite some time.

"Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true", was definitely well said by Lyman Frank Baum. So, is there really a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? I wondered whether those stories which I had heard as a child could ever be true. So would I really find my treasure? As I looked on at the rainbow, I realized that spotting the rainbow was like a reward in itself. As the children played in the puddles and expressed their excitement over the rainbow, I carried on feeling much lighter and realizing that life is really beautiful. It all depends on our outlook and how we shape it up to make things better for ourselves and the people around us. The rainbow had made my day. I realized the best thing about rainbows is that you see one when you are least expecting it. There were times when I hoped to catch a glimpse of the beautiful rainbows particularly after heavy rainfalls in Goa, but no such luck!

Spotting a rainbow has a simple rule - the body needs to be strategically placed; it should be with the back to the sun. Rainbows always appear when the 2 elements, rain as well as sunshine are present. As the sunlight enters the falling drops, it breaks up into its true colors. Seeing the spectrum of colors across the blue skies is a sight few are lucky to witness.

As a child, I remember often getting confused as far as remembering the colors of the rainbow was concerned. That is when my mother taught me an easy way to remember the colors in order. It was the term ROY G BIV. This was really helpful and I remember the term even today. In other places, people also remember the colors of the rainbow by VIBGYOR.

Red

This is the first or the topmost color in a rainbow. The color red first brings to mind the idea of love. This is the color of energy and enthusiasm. Red is also the color with the longest wavelength, and it symbolizes vibrancy and security. It has always been known to signify passion as well.

Orange

Orange is the second color in the rainbow, from the top. The color orange is a combination of red and yellow. It may not be as fiery as red but symbolizes a lot of energy and wisdom. Orange is a very warm color, which although dynamic, is more thoughtful and controlled. This color can increase the creativity and playfulness of a person, and bring about equilibrium in life.

Yellow

The third color in a rainbow from the top is yellow. The color yellow is vibrant in itself, as it represents the color of the sun. This is known to be full of energy. Yellow also means something bright and happy, and the usage of this color is known to bring about a proper clarity of thought in the mind of an individual, and also improve one's decision-making skills. Wisdom is usually associated with this color.

Green

Green is the fourth or the middle color in a rainbow. The color green is formed with the merging of yellow and blue. Therefore, this is located in the center of the spectrum. Green has always been known for being the color of fertility, in addition to its calming effect on an individual. The color green symbolizes harmony, balance, growth, and good health.

Blue

The fifth color from the top in a rainbow is the color blue. Think blue and you think of the oceans and the sky, and all that goes towards the unknown. Blue is known as the color of divinity. Using the color blue in our daily lives is said to bring about peace and understanding, in addition to easy flow of communication. This color also helps to soothe and relax oneself.

Indigo

The second color from the bottom in a rainbow is indigo. A deepened version of the color blue would give you indigo. The color indigo means infinity. It also symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and self-mastery. This color is known to be the bridge between the finite and the infinite. The energy of the color blue is multiplied by indigo.

Violet

The last or the lowermost color in a rainbow is violet. This color is a combination of the colors red and blue. It is the highest and the subtlest specialization of light, as it is at the opposite end of the color red. This color is viewed as the completion as well as the beginning of the energy vibration. A deep purple symbolizes high spiritual attainment, and a pale shade symbolizes love for humanity. Typically violet has always signified royalty.

Whenever it rains and the sun shines, I hope to see this beautiful band of colors in the sky, and the sight of one never fails to cheer me up. Personally, I believe rainbows are a symbol of hope, and the meaning associated with each color adds more significance to this colorful band.