SYMBOLS AND MEANING

1. SYMBOLS AND MEANING

2. General Racist SymbolsMost symbols of negativity are from racist groups, most common know are neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan and White power-oriented skinheads. There symbols are instantly recognised and are a common language for them to communicate. Most represented what they consider “Aryan” culture or “white pride”. Ku Klux Klan Ouroboros Baphomet Odin’s Cross Confederate Flag White power fist Swastika

3. Symbols are the most powerful communication tools that have ever existed. As they have the ability to convey so much meaning. People who wear symbols have a tremendous effect on others and are immediately recognised and set the feel of fearand insecurity. Symbols ranging from the American flag to the Star of David to the Christian cross to the Red Cross can evoke to be able to understand exactly how powerful a symbol can be. Visual merchandiser’s use symbols so that there displays show what the season or theme is, but they need to be careful not to use symbols that are raciest against others culture or religion.

4. Blue

6. Is Blue Everyone's Favourite Colour?More people claim blue as their favourite colour than any other colour (over 50%). Blue cars have been among the top selling cars for decades. Blue denim is the most common clothing material in the western world. Men and boys in particular favour blue. Blue is the overwhelming "favourite colour." Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable, and committed.The colour of ocean and sky, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives. As the collective colour of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming. However, not all blues are serene and sedate.Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic -- an engaging colour that expresses exhilaration. Some shades or the overuse of blue may come across as cold or uncaring.Indigo, a deeper blue, symbolizes a mystical borderland of wisdom, self-mastery, and spiritual realization. While blue is the colour of communication with others, indigo turns the blue inward to increase personal thought, profound insights, and instant understandings.

7. Blue is the least "gender specific" colour, having equal appeal to both men and women.Survey showed that the colour blue is favoured equally by all ages but over 70+ especially like the colour blue the best . Blue Symbolism and Personality In systems which correlate favourite colours with colour symbolism, people who wear light blue are said to be analytical and have a practical approach to life. People who wear dark blue are intelligent and self-reliant and take on a great deal of responsibility. In any case, people are comfortable with blue and return to blue again and again.

8. How the colour blue affects us physically Blue Dark Blue: Credible, confident, dependable. Light or Middle Blue: Cool, calm, faithful, quiet. Blue Symbolism: Multiple MeaningsBlue symbolism associates blue with freedom, strength and new beginnings. Blue skies are emblematic of optimism and better opportunities. Blue is the colour of loyalty and faith. Blue is power. Blue is also the colour of protection. Blue symbolism is nearly universal in meaning. As a result, blue is used in national flags and symbols around the world, including the flag of the United Nations. • Positive: • Calms and sedates • Cools • Aids intuition • Negative: • Depression • Obesity • Fear • Coldness • Passivity

9. Blue Symbolism and Nature In colour symbolism around the world, blue represents water, the source of life. Agricultural people have traditionally worshipped water in the form of rivers, clouds, mist and rain. Many favourite garden flowers are also blue, including delphinium, larkspur, pansies, irises, anemone, bluebells, hyacinth, lobelia, veronica, and ageratum. Blue is associated with ice, water, the sky and with cold. A cultural association could be with service workers or the United States Flag. Blue gives the objective impressions of melancholy and sometimes peace depend-ingon the individual. A subjective impression of blue could be unhappiness or freedom depending on shade.Blue Symbolism around the World Blue symbolism provides a fascinating look at one of the most prevalent and beloved colours around the world. Blue symbolism affects many areas of life, including clothing choices, language and clichés, interior design, art, religion and health. Although blue is even more popular in the western world than is other areas of the world, blue skies and blue water are full of positive meaning in every culture. We are, after all, living on the "blue planet."

10. Blue: The colour of the throat chakraBlue is the colour of the Throat Chakra, also known as Visuddha. This chakra is located in the throat.  It is linked to the throat, neck, hands, and arms.The Throat Chakra is connected with speech and hearing, and encourages spiritual communication.  Opening the Throat Chakra is said to improve clairaudience.Gemstones that will aid the Throat Chakra include turquoise and aquamarine.Indigo: The colour of the Brow or Third-Eye chakra, also known as Ajna.  This chakra is located at the top of the head. This chakra is our link to the universal unconsciousness, Opening this chakra can aid in clear sight, intuition, integrity, and lessens feelings of despair. Gemstones amethyst, moonstone and augiliteBlue: The colour of the Throat chakra, also known as Visuddha. This chakra is located in the throat. It is linked to the throat, neck, hands, and arms. The Throat Chakra is connected with speech and hearing, and encourages spiritual communication. Opening the Throat chakra improves clairaudience. Gemstones that will aid the Throat chakra include turquoise, aquamarine, lapis, sodalite, quartz, angelite, aqua aura

11. Blue around the globe Here are some common cultural connotations attached to colours in Western cultures, particularly in the United States: • Various cultures see colour differently. In India, blue is associated with the paintings of the god Krishna (a very positive association) often depict him as having blue skin. • In Chinese culture, colours corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions, and the four seasons. Blue was associated with wood, east, and spring. • Blue, blue-green, and green are sacred colours in Iran, where they symbolize paradise. • In the United States, post office mailboxes are typically blue. • In Mexico, blue is the colour of mourning. • In Aztec culture, blue symbolized sacrifice. • In Greece, the colour blue is believed to ward off "the evil eye." Those who believe in this Greek superstition often wear a blue charm necklace or blue bracelet for protection.

12. Cultural Colour Meanings of BlueGenerally the safest colour to use world-wide Western: trust and authorityconservative, corporate peace and calm depression, sadness "something blue" bridal tradition masculine colour baby boysBelgium: colour for baby girlsCherokees: defeat, troubleMexico: mourningtrust SerenityColombia: associated with soap • Iran: • colour of mourning • heaven and spirituality • immortality • Israel: • Coat of Arms • Holiness • Egypt: • virtue • protection - to ward off evil • Middle East: • protection • Eastern: • Immortality • China: • immortality • associated with • pornography and 'blue films' • feminine colour • India: • Lord Krishna • national sports colour • Japan: • everyday life • Korea: • colour of mourning • Thailand: • colour for Friday

13. Political associations with blueBlue represented the Union (North) during the American Civil War.The colour blue represents the U.S. Democratic Party and beginning with the 2000 presidential election, states that favoured the Democratic candidates began being referred to as "blue states," while those that favoured the Republican candidates were referred to as "red states."In the U.S. Congress, the Blue Dog coalition is a caucus of conservative Democrats.US Politics: liberalismUK & European Politics: conservatismThe Blue House is the residence of the President of South Korea.Blue has been associated with a variety of political positions, often differentiated from communist red or anarchist black. During the revolt in the Vendẻe against the French Revolution, blues stood for the revolutionary forces, and white for the counter-revolutionaries. Later movements like the Bretonblues used the colour to signify allegiance to the ideals of the revolution.

14. The blue shirts was a quasi-fascist political organisation active in Ireland during the 1930s (the name comes from the fact that St. Patrick’s Blue is one of the traditional colours of Ireland).Blue is the colour of the Conservative Party in Britain and Conservative Party of Canada. Television coverage in the United States since the 2000 presidential election has made it fashionable to link the Democratic Party to "blue" and the Republican Party to "red" (especially in reference to "red states and blue states"). In Brazil, blue states are the ones in which the Social Democratic Party has the majority, in opposition to the Workers' Party, usually represented by red.A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping. The word blue was used in the 17th century as a disparaging reference to rigid moral codes and those who observed them, particularly in blue-stocking, a reference to Oliver Cromwell's supporters in the parliament of 1653.Blue is associated with numerous centre-right liberal political parties in Europe, Including the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Netherlands), the Reformist Movement and Open VLD (Belgium), the Democratic Party (Luxembourg), Liberal Party (Denmark) and Liberal People's Party (Sweden).Blue is the colour of, and associated with, the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico.

15. Historical associations with blue Blue has a long and topsy-turvy history in the Western world. Once considered a hot colour, it is now icy cool. The ancient Greeks scorned it as ugly and barbaric, but most Americans and Europeans now pick it as their favourite colour. In this entertaining history, the renowned medievalist Michel Pastoureau traces the changing meanings of blue from its rare appearances in prehistoric art to its international ubiquity today in blue jeans and Gauloises cigarette packs.Any history of colour is, above all, a social history. Pastoureau investigates how the ever-changing role of blue in society has been reflected in manuscripts, stained glass, heraldry, clothing, paintings, and popular culture. Beginning with the almost total absence of blue from ancient Western art and language, the story moves to medieval Europe. As people began to associate blue with the Virgin Mary, the colour entered the Church despite the efforts of chromophobic prelates. Blue was reborn as a royal colour in the twelfth century and functioned as a formidable political and military force through the French Revolution. As blue triumphed in the modern era, new shades were created, and blue became the colour of romance. Finally, Pastoureau follows blue into contemporary times, when military clothing gave way to the everyday uniform of blue jeans, and blue became the universal and unifying colour of the Earth as seen from space.With an exceptionally elegant design and strikingly illustrated with one hundred colour plates, Blue tells the fascinating history of our favourite colour and the cultures that have hated it, loved it, and created great art with it.

16. "Egyptian blue" (irtiu, sbedj) was made combining iron and copper oxides with silica and calcium. This produced a rich colour however it was unstable and sometimes darkened or changed colour over the years.Blue was symbolic of the sky and of water. In a cosmic sense, this extended its symbolism to the heavens and of the primeval floods. In both of these cases, blue took on a meaning of life and re-birth.Blue was naturally also a symbol of the Nile and its associated crops, offerings and fertility. The phoenix, which was a symbol of the primeval flood, was patterned on the heron. Herons naturally have a gray-blue plumage. However, they were usually portrayed with bright blue feathers to emphasize their association with the waters of the creation. Amon was often shown with a blue face to symbolize his role in the creation of the world. By extension, the pharaohs were sometimes shown with blue faces as well when they became identified with Amon. Baboons, which are not naturally blue, were portrayed as blue. It is not certain why. However, the ibis, a blue bird was a symbol of Thoth, just like the baboon was. It may be that the baboons were coloured blue to emphasize their connection to Thoth. The gods were said to have hair made of lapis lazuli, a blue stone. Note in the image above of the Opening of the Mouth ceremony that the mummy and Anubis both have blue hair. The Blue Crown was also known as the 'war crown' or the Khepresh crown. It was probably made from cloth or leather, then painted blue. Sometimes it was decorated with golden discs and a twisting royal ureaus usually adorned the front. It is a military helmet and is often worn during battles and hunting. Rameses II was depicted wearing this crown in a famous painting to celebrate his victory over the Hittites.

17. Religious & mythological associations with blue Religious Beliefs in Many Cultures: Christianity: Christ's colour Judaism: holiness Hinduism: the colour of Krishna Catholicism: colour of Mary's robe Several mosques are referred to as the Blue Mosque: • The Blue Mosque of Tabriz in Tabriz, Iran • The Blue Mosque of Cairo in Cairo, Egypt • The Blue Mosque of Yerevan in Yerevan, Armenia • Rawze-e-Sharif in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan • Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey • Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam, Malaysia. • The Catholic religion associates blue with the Virgin Mary.

18. Religious Colour Symbolism In Greek and Roman days, blue symbolism was associated with the sky gods Jupiter, Juno and Mercury. In Judaism, blue symbolism is connected to God the Father. In the Catholic Church, blue symbolism is most closely related to the Virgin Mary, the Queen of Heaven. In Islam, blue symbolism (including turquoise) is the colour both of religion and community and is often used for decorating mosques.

19. Interesting information about blue • President Martin VanBuren is credited with introducing blue into the decorating scheme of the White House in 1837 and since then, there has been a "blue room" in the White House. • Blue is one colour that means "low" or "guarded" in the colour-coded threat system established by presidential order in March 2002. This system quickly informs law enforcement agencies when intelligence indicates a change in the terrorist threat facing the United States. • Blue is the favoured colour choice for toothbrushes. • Powder blue is often used in products to promote cleanliness and purity. • IBM's Deep Blue became the first computer to win a chess tournament against a reigning world champion chess master. Deep Blue had 32 processors and processed about 200 million chess moves per second in its historic six-game match against Garry Kasparov. Today, Blue Gene is the fastest supercomputer in the world and the descendent of Deep Blue. It uses 131,000 processors to routinely handle 280 trillion operations every second. • The blue ribbon has been widely recognized as a national symbol of child abuse awareness.

20. Over the past decade, scientists have reported the successful use of blue light in the treatment of a wide variety of psychological problems, including addictions, eating disorders, impotence, and depression. • People are often more productive in blue rooms. • The highest quality ultramarine blue is made with powdered lapis lazuli from Afghanistan. • The 1993 film "Blue" consists entirely of the colour blue with narration and sound bytes. • "Alice Blue" is a light blue-gray or steel blue colour that was favoured by Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt; it sparked a fashion sensation in the United States. • Mosquito's are attracted to the colour blue twice as much as to any other colour. • In ceramics, a variety of ingredients -- including cobalt oxide, copper carbonate, and iron oxide -- produce the blue colours. The different variations are produced when each ingredient is combined with other materials or with each other. The application, thickness of the glaze, how it is applied, and the type of clay used also have an impact on the final colour after firing. Unlike paint, raw glazes look nothing like their final appearance after firing.

21. Owls are the only birds that can see the colour blue. • Blue Tigers (Maltese Tigers) have been sporadically reported in the mountains of the Fujian province in China. They are described as bluish-grey or slate-blue with white patches on the face and black stripes. • Pablo Picasso's "Blue Period" refers to a series of paintings in which the colour blue dominates and which he painted between 1901 and 1904. The Blue Period is a marvelous expression of poetic subtlety and personal melancholy and contributes to the transition of Picasso's style from classicism to abstract art.