The color blue has gotten a bad rep at some point. Maybe it's because of the phrase many use when sad: "I'm feeling blue." Blue doesn't necessarily mean sad. It is actually associated with communication, peace, relaxation, wisdom and protection. (Lori Reid, Color Book, 2000)

I've been drawn to the color blue a lot lately, which made me think about why artists are drawn to the color blue. After studying art history in college and now studying chakras (energy points in the body), I have come to my own conclusion about artists being often drawn to the color blue because artists are meant to communicate with the world through their art.

The throat chakra is represented by the color blue. When an artist is communicating their voice with the world, their throat chakra is fully lit up. They are using energy straight from that chakra. I was once told by an amazing Reiki practitioner, Tracy Glassner Knight, that my throat chakra was very powerful and I was going to use my voice (throat) in a big way. Being an artist, I definitely believed her and still do. She helped me open that chakra up and it's been going strong ever since.

All art (music, paintings, drawings, books, etc.) tells a message somehow. Ever hear a song, read a book, or see a painting and feel like you gain a message from it? That's because it is telling you a message. The artist used their energy from their throat chakra and put a message out into the world. You may not get the message with every work of art you see or hear, but it is there.

The next time you are drawn to the color blue, think about what is going on in your life. Maybe you are in need of communicating something, maybe you need to relax more, or maybe you are being protected from something. Try doing a Google search for "Blue Spiritual Meaning" and see what you get. And don't just stop at the color blue. Start researching other colors that you are drawn to at different points in your life. All colors are associated with something and can help you read more into what's going on in your life.

Fun Note: I've learned about the use of "haint blue" most recently on the ceilings of porches. It's a southern tradition (which is weird that I've lived in the south for many years and haven't heard of it until recently, but anyways....) that has many meanings. I like the meaning that it is a color of good luck and protection for your home. I am completing a home renovation right now and will be painting the ceiling of my porch blue. Now that I know this, I'm seeing it on many houses in my neighborhood.

Parenting Note: When I feel like I need more peace in my home, I set out a piece of blue calcite. It has a natural calm energy and it really works. Have some kids that seem to have their energy tanks full every minute of the day? Do you need a break? Set out some blue calcite. It wouldn't hurt to try it.

Art History Note: In all the art history courses I took in college, we often studied the use of blue in art. I learned about Pablo Picasso creating an entire art series during a time deemed "The Blue Period". During this time, many of his paintings were painted in shades of blue. He wasn't necessarily sad during this time, but he definitely had something big to say. Because many of the images he painted in his "Blue Period" were of prostitutes, beggars and drunks, I believe he was trying to communicate to the world what he saw and tried to get people to wake up and see the same. If humans all truly saw these things the way he did, maybe everyone would start trying to reach out and help each other more instead of just turning a blind eye. Some of these works of art are now considered some of his most popular, though they weren't popular at the time. It's not surprising to me because people don't often like to be reminded of things that make them sad.