myths symbols sandplay

A Short List of Black and White

Black angel – fallen angel

Black animals – power of darkness; devourer of the sun and the moon

Black Annis of Leicester – British folklore wind hag

Black Arky – Celtic demon of darkness

Black art – magical evil powers

Blackberry – Celtic fairy fruit

Blackbird – bad luck, evil

Black cat – necromancer

Black cloak – ignorance

Black clouds – in Chinese art the symbol of floods

Black dog – melancholy

Black-faced Madonna – sorrow, sadness, sympathy for men

Black-faced virgin – represents night when the creatrix is the most attentive to her duties

Black flag – piracy, death, sacrifice

Black heart – evil person

Black mountains – Navajo mythological mountains of the north which covered the earth nightly

     in darkness

Black Rose – silence, symbol of the initiate

Black serpent – Chinese symbol of the North

Black swan – something rare

Black tortoise – Chinese guardian of the North and water

 

White animals – sacrificed to light and sky deities

White bird – soul, spirit of life

White bull – recipient of an external soul

White-clay men – Greek ritual dancers covered in white clay to represent Titans and giants

White conch shell – symbol of bliss, deity trumpet

White cow – cloud aspect of the mother goddess

White crane – Japanese symbol of longevity

White crow – symbol of a rare or unusual occurrence

White dog – cloud; wind; Khen -pa, the Tibetan Old Father, controller of sky demons

White dove – departed spirit, soul

White feather – cowardice, American Indian peace sign

White flag – surrender

White flowers – Japanese symbol of the feminine

White garment – incorruptible, light, truth

White goddess – universal mother in her moon aspect

White horse – celestial knowledge

White lamb – innocence

White lily – emblem of virgin mothers

White magic – enchantments for good purposes

White Mountains – Navajo mythological mountains of the East, which cause day

White mule – written to heaven by Mohammed

White ox – sacrificed to the sun by Arabs

White pebbles – grave gifts

White rose – virginity

Symbolism of the Color White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White has many positive associations and few negative ones. White represents light, sun, illumination, sacredness, purity, virginity, and the transcendent. White is the Tibetan color of Mount Meru, the mountain at the center of the world, which embodies ascent to enlightenment. In the Orient, Ancient Greece, and Rome, white is the color of mourning.

White is often associated with the cardinal directions. White is the Egyptian, Aztec, Celtic, and Japanese symbol of the South. For people from Yucatán, South America, and India white represents the North. In Ceylon, Java, Siberia, and Tibet, white is the symbol of the East. In Navajo mythology, why is the symbol of the East and dawn, and also represent the maize from which first man came. White represents the West in Chinese lore.

As a symbol of life and love, death and burial, brides wear white to represent death of the old life and birth into the new. Deities clothed in white robes were symbolic of love-life-death. Aphrodite of the tombs; the Scandinavian, Freyja, goddess of love; and the Teutonic Hel/Freyja, the goddess of death, wore white garments.

In alchemy, White is the femina alba, the White Lily, and represents woman, the feminine principle, the moon, silver, quicksilver, the purity of undivided light, and the second stage of the Great Work.

For Amerindians, white is the color of sacredness and the Aztec color of the dying sun and night. In Buddhist mythology and belief, white is the color of self-mastery, redemption, and Sitatara, the White Tara, the highest spiritual transformation through womanhood, the Mother of all Buddhas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitatara, the White Tara from www.jampaydorje.com/info.html

 

Chinese mythology tales of the White Tiger, Pai Hu, symbol of longevity, dignity, and military prowess. In China, why is the color of Autumn, metal, and mourning. The emperor wears white when worshipping the moon. 

White represents the purified soul, joy, purity, virginity, innocent, and the holy life in Christianity. White is worn at all sacraments: baptism, confirmation, first communion, marriage, and death.

In Hinduism, white symbolizes pure consciousness, self-illumination, and light.

Black Sandplay Miniatures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do these black sandplay therapy miniatures evoke in you?  Power? Foreboding? Danger? Strength?  For each individual, reactions or associations will most likely be unique. What about the positive and negative associations and symbolism of the color black? All good questions to ponder when viewing a sandplay therapy scene.

 

Symbolism of the Color Black

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to J. E. Cirlot, in A Dictionary of Symbols, "Colour symbolism is one of the most universal of all types of symbolism and has been consciously used in the liturgy, in heraldry, alchemy, art, and literature." Black has both positive and negative connotations. A symbol of the world, wisdom, and eternity, black is also a representative of desolation, the unknowable, and death.

Black is the color of chaos and is associated with black magic, the sinister aspect of witchcraft, and the black arts. In symbology there are two shades of black – one shade opposing red signifies ignorance arising from passions – one shade opposing white signifies ignorance of mind not necessarily confirmed by wickedness of heart. Black is a common symbol of death, sorrow, and the underworld. In precious stones diamonds, jet, and tourmaline represent black.

Black is the heraldic color called sable, symbol of constancy, prudence, and wisdom and is represented by lines forming squares or by deep black. In Alchemy, black is the color of the nigredo, the "black of blacks" which results when sulfur (masculine) and mercury (feminine) incubate in the materia prima and complete the first stage of the Great Work. Black is an elemental symbol of the direction of deadly or dry winds. Culturally, the color black has some universal associations and also has both elemental and directional symbolism. The Black Sun is represented by a black circle symbolizing the spirit of the solar or heavenly god during his cyclic passage to the underworld. In this aspect he is known as the hidden one, Amen, or the Lord of Death, Seker. His blackness is as intensely dark as the sun’s light is intensely light. As the Persian mythological son god's brother, Ahriman, and the Mesopotamian Negral-Ninib, the Black Sun represents the dualism of the forces of light and dark, good and evil. 

For Amerindians, black is the color of the North, mourning, and night. Black is the Mayan symbol of the West, land of the setting sun, and death of an enemy. In Yucatán lore, black represents the West.

Black is the Chinese symbol of water, the North, yin, and winter. In Celtic mythology, black is the color of the North and the direction of winter. For Christians, black is a symbol of the Prince of Darkness, hell, death, sorrow, spiritual darkness and evil arts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Egypt, the color of rebirth and resurrection, black was also the symbol of the West; the color of Osiris at funeral rites; and the Thoth as a conductor of souls, who appears with the head of a black ibis.

Among the Greeks, black with a symbol of sacrifice. Black sails on vessels mark the ships of Athenian maidens and youths destined to be sacrificed to the Minotaur. In ancient Rome, men who wore the toga pulla, the black toga of mourning which express sympathy for a fallen political figure.

Black is the Qabalic Hebrew color of Understanding and the Kingdom. In Hinduism, black is symbolic of the South; Time; and Kali, the destroyer goddess. Black is used in sympathetic magic as the symbol of the blackness of clouds to evoke the rain. To learn one of the ancient Samaveda hymns known as Sakvari song, a student were black garments and ate black food to master Indra’s mighty weapon, the thunderbolt, and thus control the rain and the rain-god, Parjanya.

(see Bibliography category for references)

 

The Power of Color

The power of color and its symbolism can affect us both psychologically and physiologically. Color can be dramatic or subtle, invigorating or calming. Like our olfactory memory, which can trigger instant associations, color impressions can affect us in the same way. See a color associated with a personal experience and it may trigger a specific scene or emotional memory. Brilliant greens, yellows, and reds maybe remind us of a trip to see fall color changes. Vivid oranges and violets may bring back the memory of a particularly spectacular sunset. Subtle greens, blues, and grays may remind us of a contemplative walk along the shore.

Do you have color memory?

Does Color Amplify the Meaning of Miniatures?

 

 

 

 

 

 

After researching the meaning of the colors black and white, I reviewed the miniatures in my sandplay collection. There are many items in the category of black and white; including figures, animals, and natural objects such as stones and shells. I begin to wonder if the combination of the symbolism of the color black or white and the symbolism of the miniatures amplified or enhanced the meaning of the miniatures. I begin to review client’s trays to discern any additional meanings with this new information. I noticed trays that seemed to focus on color as well as miniatures. Most notably trays done in gold, silver, or predominately white miniatures. As I have noticed in the past…I have more information for musing and for looking at trays with an expanded perspective. Does it ever end? I hope not.

Color In The Sandtray

As I apply information regarding color theory and color symbolism while reviewing sandtrays of my clients, I begin to notice use of color in the tray in a new way. Some trays show color themes, balance of color, range of color, color harmony, only neutral tones, and/or a riot of color.

Since color perception and color associations are subjective and individual, what does the use of color mean in the tray? As I relate this information to the particulars of each client’s background and experience, can I discern any meaning? Any clues? In relation to the use of color, what is being revealed in the tray? The color that stands out the most in my recollection of trays is red: the red-themed tray of a prepubescent female client, the use of multiple red emergency vehicles of an adolescent in a crisis situation, the use of candles to surround and "burn down the school" to avoid going to school of a preteen client with acute separation anxiety.

As with many topics I research for myth, symbol, sandplay, I usually end up with more questions than answers. I believe this ongoing occurrence is what makes my research and quest to understand sandplay a humbling and heuristic experience.