Green

In Christian imagery, green illustrates a generative, life-giving quality, associated with the Holy Spirit, the creative principle that fertilized the Virgin Mary, infusing life itself. Both the Holy Spirit in Christianity and Osiris in Egyptian belief are considered to have given rise to the green in the world, and green is the color of resurrection. In Greece, the green emerald was Hermes’ stone, and the color has been associated with Aphrodite; indeed, it is also the color of Venus.

Additionally, green is, of course, linked to vegetation and growth in general; in dreams, the color often symbolizes new growth or vegetation. The English words “green” and “grow” share etymological roots. We associate greenness with spring and thus with hope and the promise of achieving goals after all struggles—it is the color of hope and life.

On a more everyday level, green can signify “go”—as in getting a “green light.”

Alchemy

Alchemists spoke of the "blessed greenery" as an analogy for their work, with green as a symbol of growth recurring frequently in various contexts; furthermore, green implies hope (as in the image of the dove with the green branch) and future, but also perfection. The "green gold" is a recurring expression, signifying a union between the organic, living elements and the noble metal. Edinger notes that "green dreams" appear from time to time, often when the ego is overshadowed (Mysterium Lectures, p. 269).

Negative Aspects

The shadow side of vegetation is its demonic aspect. Green’s close association with growth and fertility can invert into its opposite. Mold, poison, and disease are thought of or actually appear in green; additionally, in more recent imagery, witches' eyes, alien skin, and monsters often adopt this color. Unwanted psychological moods may also be linked to green, as seen in phrases like "green with envy." For alchemists, green could represent the secret, inherent life force in all things on one hand, but on the other, the "leprosy of metals" (verdigris) (Mysterium Coniunctionis, par. 623).

Green and Red

The chlorophyll that colors plants green is paralleled by hemoglobin in blood; the substances and their associated colors symbolically express two types of life essences. In alchemy, for example, they form a well-known pairing (e.g., "The Green and Red Lion").

Typology

According to Jungian typology, green represents the sensation function (Psychology of Yoga and Meditation, p. 127) in relevant contexts for this interpretation (see Colors).

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