Materials, Colors and Symbols

[gizerd]

The color black is said to be the absence of magic, or energy. A pure color that absolves negative or positive energy, etc. (If this is wrong, or you want to elaborate, please do)

My question is...what colors, symbols, materials (herbs, flowers, things from nature), are used in order to facilitate the absorption and retention of energy?

Thank you

Elizabeth

[RubyRose]

The colour black, instills negetive energy, that's why it's so useful, in candle magick if you wish to get rid of the negetive energy around you, followed by lighting a white candle normally, to encourage positive energy.

As for colours that retain energy, I think White would be your best bet, as it's the opposite to black in all ways.

Hope I helped.

[WhiteDragon]

White candles can also be used in place for any color in a jiff.

[Kadynas]

In the more scientific view of color theory, black absorbs every color in the light spectrum and white reflects all of them... This is why you're hotter in summer wearing black than more lighter colors. :) Using this point of view black would be best for absorbing and white for "reflecting" things away from you!
But as with most things in magic it's the symbolism that works for you that matters most... :)

[Aidron]

Black, for many people, represents mystery and the occult. It's also a color mechanism for some, like myself, in unlocking psychic talents and energy. By wearing black many people become more impressionable to the vibrations of the cosmos.

Black is a great absorbtion color and much like a black (ta-da!) hole, will suck everything up into it. Feeling down, or gloomy? Try burning a black candle and letting it absorb the nastiness, then bury it off your property.

Black will absorb things both scientifically and magically, because it is not truly a color and in fact all black dyes are truly an extremely dark shade of purple or blue. It is the absence of color in the case of the light spectrum, where it can absorb or is present due to a lack of light. In paints, crayons, and materials of this nature, it is the combination of all colors. I once had an art teacher argue with me over this claiming I was wrong. Go right ahead, mix every color paint in the spectrum (the full rainbow and white) then see what it turns out to. A very dark grey or brownish color usually, normally bordering on black.

So, black not only absorbs but also repels. It's multi-functional due to its dual nature. Many people often suggest substituting white for any color since when you break down light it forms the color spectrum, as such through the prism. However, I have often substitued black for another color with great success. Unfortunately, black is not always readily available unlike white so it's not always the most accessible or wisest choice.

Black is also linked to space, the great void beyond, and connects us with the vastness we are all apart of, which is another reason why it will often (as stated before) open us up to psychic impressions.

[RubyRose]

White candles can also be used in place for any color in a jiff.

lol. Yes, yes it does ...

And also, Ying and Yang are opposites in Chinese "feng shui" ... just a little extra tid bit ... actually there's a lot of simples that contain both black and white ... like the Ying and Yang simple or more recently used to denote peice, in the 60's ...

[turtlerain46]

I was taught that black candles would absorb any negative energy, and that white, a traditional color associated with purity would help to purify, and hence make good energy possible.

[Aidron]

Yin (not Ying, heh) and Yang do emphasize balance and harmony, utilizing black as much as white, with Yin being black and Yang being white, or sometimes red.

Yin originally meant shady, secret, dark, mysterious, and cold. Things we often associate with the color black. Shady as it represents the unknown, secret for what may lurk within, dark... well it's fairly obvious, mysterious reflects a combination of shady and secrecy, and cold often because black is the absence of light, and thus warmth.

People often associate it with good and evil, which is justified.

Yin Yang also has a lot of astronomical information as well, but that's another subject entirely. ;)

[RubyRose]

Yin (not Ying, heh) and Yang do emphasize balance and harmony, utilizing black as much as white, with Yin being black and Yang being white, or sometimes red.

Yin originally meant shady, secret, dark, mysterious, and cold. Things we often associate with the color black. Shady as it represents the unknown, secret for what may lurk within, dark... well it's fairly obvious, mysterious reflects a combination of shady and secrecy, and cold often because black is the absence of light, and thus warmth.

People often associate it with good and evil, which is justified.

Yin Yang also has a lot of astronomical information as well, but that's another subject entirely.

I've only just started reading up on Chinese Feng-shui and I didn't want to go into too much detail, when I was hazy on the subject, but now it's all coming back to me ...

Yin (not Ying, heh) Ying ... lol I knew that looked odd ...

As for associated good with evil ... there has to be a balance, or else, the world would either be, good or it would be bad. Or thats my understanding anyway ...

[Aidron]

As for associated good with evil ... there has to be a balance, or else, the world would either be, good or it would be bad. Or thats my understanding anyway ...


That's the point, balance. That is the main philosophical intent behind the sigil or symbol. Good and evil (man-made concepts mind you, but worthy of representation nonetheless), dark and light, day and night, truth and deception, so forth and so on. It represents one of the few absolutes in the cosmos in my opinion, that for anything in existence there is a counterpart.

[RubyRose]

that for anything in existence there is a counterpart.

Yes, exactly

[gizerd]

Thanks for all the responses :)

I was not fully understanding the color black.

Since black is a great absorber of energy, is there a way to purify it once used? To use your example, if you burn a black candle to absorb your nasty emotions...must you bury it, or can you purify it in some other way? Also, does black work as well on any energy? Can you fill a black candle with pleasant thoughts of a loved one as easily as negative thoughts of someone who just cut you off on the freeway?

Oh, and what of symbols or certain natural materials (woods, flowers, herbs, etc)? ...on the subject of energy absorption.

Thanks again,

Elizabeth

[Aidron]

Thanks for all the responses :)

I was not fully understanding the color black.

Since black is a great absorber of energy, is there a way to purify it once used? To use your example, if you burn a black candle to absorb your nasty emotions...must you bury it, or can you purify it in some other way? Also, does black work as well on any energy? Can you fill a black candle with pleasant thoughts of a loved one as easily as negative thoughts of someone who just cut you off on the freeway?

Oh, and what of symbols or certain natural materials (woods, flowers, herbs, etc)? ...on the subject of energy absorption.

Thanks again,

Elizabeth


I myself would bury it, off your property, however, or throw it in the trash and take it to the dump. Better yet, if you even can, recycle it (though not yourself). Reasons for this is I always return negative energy to the earth or universe and allow it to be recycled into the cosmos where it is purified and ready for something else. When I meditate to release negative energy I have many ways of doing this. One way is to breathe in through my nose and visualize shimmering white energy being drawn in through my nose. Then when I exhale out my mouth black energy comes out and I shape it into a sphere. I then visualize it being sling-shotted so to speak off into the cosmos where it turns from black to white and then shatters into a million pieces. This is so negative energy does not remain around me after I worked so hard to get rid of it, and is ready to be used by someone or something else in the universe.

You can use black as you suggested, if it appeals to you in that way. All tools, even color magic are merely keys to unlocking your magical being. If you associate black with warmth, love, and happiness, so be it. It will work great for you as it represents a key to unlocking that type of energy. For me it does not represent that, and for the most part colors are often represent similar things to most people since we are connected through an unconcious mind and thus, we all have an impact on each other.

As for materials which can be linked to absorption: Amethyst is a great negativity absorber. So is quartz and rose quartz I have found. Oak and willow tend to be good at absorbing energy and recycling it so it is more harmonious. Salt, while very basic, has worked well for me in absorbing energy.