Seeing Colors During Meditation: Purple, Yellow, and More
Am I Visualizing Energy Flow?
I'm writing this article in the hopes that others who experience the same phenomenon will connect to try to make sense of it: Why do I see colors -- almost always purple (indigo) and gold-yellow -- whenever I'm in a certain meditative state??? What's the meaning of this purple aura, and seeing colors during meditation? Let's go into the details.
Seeing Purple Color... When?
What spurs me to see indigo and gold? It happens whenever I'm in a certain relaxed and connected state: sometimes during deep meditation, by the middle of a professional massage, during a very deep conversation, and always during acupuncture or Reiki.
The Colors I See Move in a Specific Way
With my eyes closed, I can watch the purple and gold swirl and play. The direction and type of movement the colors do always reflects what's happening with my energy.
An Example from Acupuncture Energy Work
The moment I realized that the colors moved with purpose was when I was in my third trimester of pregnancy and went to an acupuncture appointment to ease discomfort. As I lay on the table with the needles doing their work, I closed my eyes and wondered if the colors would come.
Indeed they did: Indigo and greenish gold popped up in blobs, bobbing and weaving. Then they began a distinct downward movement. I watched as the purple and yellow alternated pulsing downward, from my head towards my feet. This is what it looked like:
At the end of the half hour, my acupuncturist came back into the room and explained that the needles she'd placed were on the specific pressure points to move my energy from my head downwards, in order to prepare the flow for birth.
I was shocked: this confirmed that the flow I'd been distinctly seeing behind my eyes in color form mirrored the exact energy direction my acupuncturist had created -- even though she hadn't told me, or placed the idea in my mind. The colors were saying something and were moving with purpose. Whoa!
What Does Seeing Colors Mean?
Over the years I've been researching what this phenomenon could indicate. We've already discussed the direction they move mirroring energy flow, but what about the meanings of these meditation colors? Each hue might have a purpose...
Do Colors Mirror Chakras?
The day I did one of my first Reiki healing touch treatments on someone and suddenly saw the color RED then began seeing orange, I realized that each person must have different energy colors. It was an odd moment seeing this new color -- I was so used to always purple and gold, that I though that's all I'd ever visualize. It got me thinking about the meaning behind each color, and why some people might have more of one than another. The answer might be found in reading about body chakras... especially the purple chakra.
Which is the Purple Chakra?
According to body chakra teaching, purple light correlates with either the 6th (Third Eye) or 7th (Crown) chakra at the top of the head or above the body. Both are about higher consciousness. Perhaps when I'm seeing purple, indigo, or violet, I'm tapping into the purple chakra, and thus the wider universe of human energy?
My guess is the color I'm seeing is more the 6th (purple chakra), because the 7th chakra is both violet and white, and one day when I was doing Reiki on someone, I distinctly saw his white sparkling light, which was very different than my purple. Another time I saw black, which might be connected with the Earth Star Chakra in the 12-Chakra system.
VIDEO: Seeing Colors During Meditation
What Do Yellow, Green, or Gold Light Mean?
Seeing purple light makes sense with chakra theory, but why would I also then also always see yellow-green? That color likely correlates with the 3rd (Solar Plexus) Chakra which has a yellow aura, and maybe slightly with the 4th (Heart) Chakra which has a green aura -- both in the center of the body. The third chakra is about strength, confidence, and willpower, and the fourth about love and healing. It might also correlate with the 8th or Soul Star Chakra, which has a white and golden hue.
It's interesting to me that my soul would select the colors purple and yellow, and always only these two -- unless I'm doing Reiki meditation with someone else. The one time I was able to generate different colors within myself was during my first Kundalini Reiki training years ago, during a group meditation. At that point I distinctly saw green and several other colors I hadn't seen before, perhaps because of the powerful energy of others present in the room, and the high level of training of the Reiki master teaching us.
(If you're near Massachusetts, I now run my own Boston Reiki practice, so feel free to connect. Upon request, I now also offer remote distance Reiki sessions online, from the comfort of your own home!)
Seeing Colors During Meditation and YOU
I'm thankful to the wonders of digital art that I could finally draw and make tangible and visible what I see behind my eyes on a weekly basis, so perhaps I could find others who resonate with this experience that happens in the liminal space of energy work, so we might make sense of it together.
Do see my NEW article on chakra colors and healing, which grew from your messages from this post! If any of this rings true for you, feel free to reach out in the comments section, or by the social media contacts below.
Seeing Colors During Meditation
See all my articles about seeing colors during meditation, Reiki, acupuncture, massage, and healing. What's the meaning and purpose, and how does it connect with chakras? Learn here.
Chakra Colors and Meanings
In this follow-up article to this first one about seeing purple and yellow during meditation, I dig deeper into the research, and also drew a diagram of each of the chakra colors and energy centers in the body.
More About Seeing a Purple Aura
Here is my most recent article with more information about what seeing a purple aura means, expanded upon with stories from my Reiki energy work sessions and meditation.
Seeing Red Chakra Energy
After opening my own Reiki practice, I have had the opportunity to see the colors of other people as I do sessions with them. Most recently, I've seen a lot of red in people, so this new article is an investigation of what seeing red might mean.
Seeing White Aura and Chakra Energy
What does it mean to see white light or a white aura during energy healing work like meditation or Reiki? See my exploration and illustrations here.
Seeing Black Aura Energy
Don't be alarmed if you see inky black during energy work! A black aura is actually really exciting and useful. Read this to see why.
Earth Star Chakra
My investigation into seeing the color black led me to research the 12 Chakra System which has other energy centers besides the traditional seven: Including the Earth Star Chakra below the body!
The author and artist, Lillie Marshall, is a National Board Certified Teacher of English who has been a public school educator since 2003, and an experienced Reiki practitioner since 2018. All art on this site is original and hand-drawn by Lillie. She launched DrawingsOf.com Educational Cartoons in 2020, building upon the success of her other sites, AroundTheWorldL.com (established 2009), TeachingTraveling.com (founded 2010), and ReikiColors.com. Subscribe to Lillie's monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media to stay connected!
Hey! I kind of feel like I was reading my own experiences with this! Especially when you referred to seeing white light that looks like lace over a darker background - I see exactly that when I do my own reiki sessions, also on my husband at times. I don’t see purple and yellow, but I do see purple and light blue when meditating. They hover over each other - not perfectly overlapping - and look like ethereal, glowing watercolor splotches. Kind of move in a circle together. I’ve seen purple and black swirling together during one session on myself. I also see colors spin counterclockwise when meditating on my chakras, but the outermost parts kind of remind me of those sparkly, pinwheel things people sometimes put in their lawns. I’m eager to hear about others’ experiences in seeing colors during energy healing as well! 🖤
Wow! Thank you for taking the time to share you experiences. Blue is a color I see far less than others, but I'm starting to see it more as I continue my Reiki practice -- often in a sort of mandala lace form. Keep us posted on what develops in your visions and thinking, and best of luck!
Hi, I just had some healing and for the first time ever I saw such vivid colours! The first was bright yellow/golden and it was swirling around in front of me. This then got taken over by the most vibrant bright purple I have ever seen! But what’s strange is that next the purple became a swirling circle, like a vortex and the yellow was then coming in bursts and travelling into the purple vortex! It was truly amazing and I would absolutely love to know what it means if anyone has any idea! Thanks x
Sounds like you see the same colors and patterns as me! I'm really starting to believe it correlates with spiritual healing, as well as connecting with universal energy. Overall: It's a good thing! I'm curious what others have to say, as well. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, Alison!
I’m so glad I found this information. I just saw color for the first time today. It was slightly unnerving because it had never happened to me before. I saw purple and indigo. It felt calming and I was lost in it. For four days I have been listening to binaural beats, 15 minutes each day, and think maybe this has something to do with it? Does anyone have experience with this?
Hi Teresa,
Glad you found this, and thank you for sharing your experience! I also listen to binaural beats and think there's definitely a connection. Scientifically, colors are just vibrations, so one interpretation of seeing purple is your brain's vibration is at the frequency that matches that color (which also seems to correlate with the chakra on the body associated with purple). Specific frequency music and sounds like binaural beats could certainly help guide one's brain into the corresponding color frequency... and be relaxing, too!
Fascinating topics and information...I see colors and need/want more information. I have persistently seen one color, and seem to be adding more. Reiki has taught/focused me on seeing more. Thanks for this opportunity to grow...
Glad you found this conversation! I'm curious what is the color you see!
I had reiki today for the first time and saw exactly what you have drawn. I have seen purple and yellow before in like a Kapow shape with some black. It faded as the reiki moved to my legs but intense when working on the top half. I too have wondered about these colours for a while as I can't visualise normally.
So fascinating! Thank you for sharing!
Got solid cobalt blue. A rich blue then some purple with some dark blue or burgundy/orange but then cobalt blue. Tonight was my first time. I started about 2 weeks ago. I personally think it is the alignment of our chakras that we are witnessing. I had my guardian angel align all my chakras and cleanse my aura, because I was going way too slow 🙂 When she was done, I saw the blast of all the colors. This is why I think it’s the alignment we are witnessing. Perhaps the main dominant color (purple for you and the blue for me) is the highest chakra we opened to during that session, or we are always destined to open to?
I started meditating about a month ago and immediately was immersed in colors. I started wondering if it was normal. I start with the green northern lights and then go to purple. The purple appears as the sky and white puffy clouds pass by. Deep into meditation I sometimes see what looks like a violet/purple lake. I just sit back with an empty mind and just watch the show. I also get the spirals sometimes in a counterclockwise motion. Thanks for sharing!
That sounds very much like what I see -- but you're brilliant for drawing the connection to the Northern Lights; I never realized how similar it looks!
For what it’s worth …
Almost 40 years ago I had about 5 or 6 sessions with a hypnotist to stop smoking cigarettes.
Each session began with his soft spoken relaxation countdown with me in a comfortable reclining chair with my eyes closed. The countdown took about 10 minutes or so, and as it progressed he intermittently asked what color I was “seeing”. It wasn’t until I answered “purple” that his suggestions began (which mostly had to do with feeling ever more relaxed and visualizing my not smoking and how good I felt about not smoking).
My typical countdown color sequence was red, followed by blue, then finally purple as I went deeper (and in reverse order as I was gradually “awakened” at the end of the session).
At my first session he hat told me that the significance of purple meant that I was in a completely relaxed state and open to suggestions.
As an aside, I am happy to say I haven’t had a cigarette since then.
This is fascinating! I'm really starting to agree with you that purple indicates a frequency of brain waves that correlates with relaxation and openness to healing. Congrats on your successful hypnosis and quitting!
Yes, I see all the chakra colors exactly as they are described. Red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue and purple. They come to me, move towards my closed eyes in a spiral motion one after another. It happens mainly when I wake up in the morning and before I fall asleep in the evening. I think this I the awakened kundalini. When I do eft tapping session or matrix reimprinting session they almost always end with that rainbow spiral. Once I started doing eft and mp on a regular basis to clear up my energy blockages I even started seeing the colors of people' s emotions. All it takes to be able to see like that is to free energy. It takes a free flow of energy within the body. Less blocked energy= more seeing. Or, more free energy= more seeing.
I agree with you that seeing the colors indicates less blocked, more free energy. I have only just started to get into EFT tapping and this makes me curious to do more. I haven't heard of matrix reimprinting but am headed to look it up now! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your thoughts.
@Lillie Marshall,
I also thank you for sharing your experience as I have wondered how comes all the people around me don't have similar things happening to them. Here is the information for Matrix reimprinting and its author Karl Dawson:
https://www.matrixreimprinting.com/what-is-matrix.aspx
Also Sharon King who is Matrix birth reimprinting practicioner and Melissie Jolly share their discoveries about Melissie's system called Color Mirrors. Sharon has online trainings on the subject.
https://www.magicalnewbeginnings.com/colour-in-the-matrix-online-program/
Meditation is nice and calming but EFT and MP are really powerful and effective yet gentle tools for ensuring free energy flow. Working with colors gives an extra bonus. I've just started to discover for myself the meanings of colors in regards with emotions and in the matrix the information comes directly as I see the color and get its meaning right away. So many more things to learn...
By the way if not all the chakra colors are visible, but only some of them, the reason is simple. We see the colors of the hyperactive chakras mainly. The underactive ones are bearly noticeable. It can be easily checked with a simple chakra test. A crystal pendant on a necklace will do. One needs to hang it from about 10 cm distance over each chakra while laying in a comfortable position. The necklace will start to go round in circles and the bigger the circles the more active the chakra and vice versa. The crown chakra is not quite suitable for doing this test alone so some assistance will be needed there. Each chakra makes the necklace turn in a certain direction and even if you try to make it move in the opposite direction it will resist and once you keep your hand still it will come back to its original direction. Each next chakra has its own direction and switches to the opposite direction of the previous one - their energy moves like a toothed wheels chain. The test should reveal that the colors we see the most are the ones of our most active chakras and the ones we don't see are of the underactive chakras. Seeing colors is not the main purpose of meditation but gives us practically useful information. A hyper or underactive chakra could mean health and emotional issues so it is helpful to be worked on.
Lillie
Can you also explain the meaning of images we see during meditations?
I know there is a site that deals with that but can't find it.
Images of an eye is supposed to be a sign the third eye is opening....
Good question! That will be the topic of upcoming articles. For now I'm still in the research phase, so feel free to share any insights you have.
@Lillie Marshall, hello, I'm very curious about this subject as well, I often see many colors at once, as a child it was primarily gold and black, but the more experience I've had with energy work and meditation fuschia comes up frequently. When others are near me I often see bursts of hot white sometimes blue/gold or green. Lately, the colors have been prone to molding into recognizable shapes vs just dancing blobs and several times now have formed tangible well defined images. I describe these visions as 3-d, as it feels I could nearly grab hold of the object or image. These images usually turn out to be significant (symbolic of something or literal). I just recently went through Reiki 1 and for the 1st time I saw the eyes, wasn't sure what they meant. So anyway, thank you for taking the initiative to share, it's fascinating how we all experience this differently, I look forward tomlearning more as you do!
Krystal, this is fascinating! Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences!
Lillie,
How can I thank you enough?
I teach Extra Ocular Vision ( seeing without eyes)
and seeing colours is one way for me to gauge their progress.
They do describe colours and movements but I was not able explain what the colours and movements mean.
I was searching for interpretations.
You have done an amazing job of even showing pictures of the movements
Raymond,
Thank you so much for your kind words -- happy to help! -- and for giving a name to this phenomenon. I'd never heard of "Extra Ocular Vision" before, but that term fits this perfectly. I'm curious to hear more about what you teach!
@RAYMOND, Do you have any resources for someone curious about this training? I'm trying to look it up online/Amazon books/YouTube and finding very little information not related to children.
I've been seeing these for the past 12 years and always wondered about it. It feels soothing and calming, healing even. So i assumed that's what it meant. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I really agree with you that it's calming, soothing, and healing. Yesterday I had a hypnotherapy appointment and WOW did I ever see a ton of purple and yellow-green! The colors were more blotchy than the more even and neat pictures I drew here, and had a shiny and luminous white light to them -- glowing. Indeed, the session was very therapeutic, so these colors are definitely good!
Good day.
I am seeing the same two colours in meditation
No way! What do you make of it?
Thank you so much for writing this article! I see swirling purple and gold, just as you describe, when I meditate or when I’m just waking up in the morning. I can see them with my eyes open or closed. I’ve been wondering about this for a long time!
So glad to help find a community for you of others who experience the same thing! You're not alone!
@Lillie Marshall, Wow...I'm so excited and inspired to be connected with you and this community...thanks so much...
Yes, your art accurately depicts what I usually see! As in it depicts the form of the energy that I see, and the description of the energy flowing and playing is exactly what I experience. Usually when I meditate I see orange red, not infrequently I see white. Pretty infrequently I see a blue or indigo. But this morning I was laying with my girlfriend and when she laid her head on me I started to see purple. They were bursts of circular energy that burst big and bright, then faded/shrank slowly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen purple on my own. I go to a Reiki training class in August, I can’t wait to learn more about this.
You've brought up a great point: I often have my color visions activated by cuddling! What's interesting is the other person usually doesn't see colors, so it's funny that one of us can see the energy but the other can't. Fascinating that you mostly see orange and red. Have you read my other article about what chakras those would be connected to? Curious if those elements resonate with you. Keep us posted on your Reiki training insights, and thanks for taking the time to write!