The Color Green & Its Meanings

I believe in the interconnectedness of all things. Without getting all spiritual about it, what it ultimately means for me is the ripple effect that my belief has on the planet (people, animals, plants).

So, I do some things to help care for the environment. I . . .

1. eat a vegetarian diet
2. recycle
3. use compact fluorescent bulbs
4. turn off lights when I'm not using them
5. use public transportation
6. give old items away
7. purchase second-hand items
8. turn off the water when I brush my teeth
9. use green cleaning products
10. burn natural veggie wax candles
11. reuse items
12. buy less stuff and consume things consciously
13. give to environmental agencies
14. use cloth bags for grocery shopping

Related closely to my concern for environmental friendliness is a second meaning of green for me - - my love of nature.

Nature is what "takes me to spiritual places." Through spending time in nature, meditating on nature and surrounding myself with nature inside, I see the interconnectedness of all things. I feel oneness with Spirit and with all of "creation." And, as a result, I feel strongly about treating all things accordingly - - as part of the whole, as interconnected, as valuable.

The color green speaks to me of abundance. Abundance isn't just about money as is often thought. Abundance is about all great things - - like joy, love, beauty, life, vitality, happiness, color, diversity, unity. Once again, this meaning of the color green is connected to the previous meanings because, for me, nature is full of these aspects of abundance. Whether I'm sitting in the midst of huge, towering trees or walking on a path through wild areas or sitting and pondering an ant, I experience all of these things (and more) through nature.

Sometimes it's ridiculously hard to focus on abundance when life is tough . . . sometimes tough beyond belief. It can be real easy to focus on all the crap. But it's so true that what you focus on grows. And if I focus on abundance and gratitude for what I have, that becomes the atmosphere around me. Using a gratitude journal helps me with this. You can check out more about this on one of my other lenses all about gratitude.