The Blues

(Blue Mummer. Photo by Robin. 2007)

I’d venture to guess we’ve all had them at one time or another: The Blues. I was curious as to where the term came from because usually when I have the blues it’s more like the grays, lacking in color and oomph. It seems that in English we call it the blues because blue is related to rain and rain was considered the tears of the gods (or God/dess, as the case may be).

I love the color blue in all it’s shades. It is not my favorite color, but it is an extremely close second.

(Hydrangea. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

Blue is used to designate political parties in the U.S. I live in what was a red state that turned into a blue state when people finally smartened up a bit. It’s just a shame the switch didn’t happen during a presidential election.

Like red, blue is a popular flag color. It’s also the color of my kitchen walls in the Bogs.

In my search for blue, I turned up a lot of blue skies…

(Summer sky in the Bogs. Photo by Robin. 2006)

(Winter sky in the Bogs. Photo by Robin. March 2006)

(Spring sky. Photo by Robin. 2007)

(Autumn sky. Photo by Robin. 2006)

(Evening sky. Photo by Robin. 2007)

… blue water…

(Atlantic Ocean. Photo by Robin. 2007)

(My granddaughter admiring the blue-green of a water exhibit at COSI. Photo by Robin. 2006)

(Swans in winter. Photo by Robin. 2006)

… and blue jeans.

(Bagpipe player from Gaelic Storm. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

Blue is the color of the element of Water. Blue has been associated with honesty and trustworthiness (“true blue”), and faith.

(Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

(Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

Blue is cool and calming, although too much blue is said to dampen one’s mood. It is associated with bringing peace and believed to keep away bad spirits.

(In the pool. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

In its darker shades, blue is somber, serious, conveying importance and confidence, intelligence, stability, and unity. It’s also associated with information (tourist information centers, directional or informational signs, etc.).

(On the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Robin. 2006)

Blue is a natural color, from the blue of the sky and water to the blue of flowers and birds.

(Great blue heron by the pond. Photo by Robin. 2006)

(Bird in Yosemite. Photo by Robin. 2006)

(Bird in the National Aviary. Photo by Robin. 2006)

Blue is the color of the throat chakra, representing the ability to verbalize, to express ourselves in sound, voice and song, carrying power with our words.

(Dragonfly visiting the pond. Photo by Robin. 2006)

To me, blue is soothing and cooling. Blue is serenity. Blue is a color that looks fab on my husband and youngest son. Blue is one of the colors of my oldest son’s eyes (his eyes are grayish-blue and often reflect the color he’s wearing, especially blues). Blue is a rainy day and sad music. Blue is summer fruit (blueberries) and bright autumn skies.

Blue, like all of the other colors, is magic.

(Moon in the blue sky. Photo by Robin. 2006)

What does blue do for you?

At a few hundred kilometers altitude, the Earth fills half your sky, and the band of blue that stretches from Mindanao to Bombay, which your eye encompasses in a single glance, can break your heart with its beauty. Home you think. Home. This is my world. This is where I come from. Everyone I know, everyone I ever heard of, grew up down there, under that relentless and exquisite blue.

~ Carl Sagan