The Colour of Eudaimonia

Summary

The web content is a poetic exploration of the concept of 'eudaimonia' through the symbolism of various colors, reflecting on human perception and experience.

Abstract

The article titled "The Colour of Eudaimonia" delves into the philosophical theme of 'eudaimonia'—a state of human flourishing—by associating it with a spectrum of colors. Each color represents different aspects of life and emotions, from the hopeful 'chartreuse' to the noble 'Tyrian purple'. The author, Carolyn Hastings, uses vivid imagery and poetic prose to convey how colors, much like the concept of 'eudaimonia', are perceived and can be transformed by our experiences and perspectives. The piece also touches on the science of color perception, such as the Tyndall Effect and the unique nature of magenta, to illustrate the complex interplay between our senses and the world around us. The article concludes with a call to other writers to contribute their interpretations of 'eudaimonia' and expresses gratitude to the collaborative effort of the Literary Impulse and Paper Poetry publications.

Opinions

The author finds the symbolism of colors deeply connected to the human experience and our quest for meaning.
Colors are seen as vibrational and their perception can be altered by our internal and external environments, much like our perception of well-being or 'eudaimonia'.
The mundane aspects of life can be reinterpreted to reveal a state of 'eudaimonia', suggesting that a shift in

An exploration of colour, perception and human experience in poetic prose

Montage assembled by author (image credits in footnotes)

What colour be your eudaimonia? Chartreuse of leaf buds, tender nubs of fresh hope on winter-bare branches Ballerina pink of a ewe’s love-lavished licks innately warming her lamb Virginal white of pristine snow a mirror glazed mountain in the crisp of a clear dawn Canary yellow sparked spontaneity a firefly to a future flourished in flight Mediterranean blue brilliant pastel gradations an infinitesimal expansion of being primed in law Burnished bronze of a radiant horizon au revoir de jour et très cordiale bienvenue à Selene Vermilion steeped in tradition creative endeavour joyous fruits of plentiful desire Sage of a tall-treed valley filtered through the mist of timeless dreams Tuscany orange sun-soaked mirth infused synergy bedrock of culture and soul Milken cream of a maiden bride’s trailing Brussels lace veil subtleties intricately entailed Turquoise-to-emerald eye of the beholder faux-iridescence of a kingfisher’s peasant brown wing Forest green harmony in growth innovation’s renewed purpose sincerity of choice in the making Passion pink rouge at the throat of the cherry blossom exuberant joie de vie Honeysuckle amber candlelight shimmering a melody on a lover’s bare skin Opalescent mother of pearl nacreous rosary a teardrop earring for Vermeer’s doe-eyed la demoiselle Tyrian purple noble pilgrim integrity and honour lauded sacred finale royale Ebony defender of truth coveted belief a profound all-embracing unknown Lavender tinged translucence of a newborn’s eyelids in gentle repose peace in eternal belonging Sepia the brown of nuggety aged leather-bound classics anchors of humanity paid forward Titanium blue primed in steely clarity of achievement a defining emblem of self Byzantine gold authentically pure spiritual wealth blazed in glory Magenta convergent opposites triumphant cerebral epiphany a symphony of universal love, or simply the prismatic transparency of a dewdrop suspended in time, space and wonder

© Carolyn Hastings 2021

I find the symbolism of colours a fascinating study of what it means to be human and the interplay between internal and external influences on how we perceive and respond to our world. We try valiantly to define such things and to find meaning in them much in the same way we try to define eudaimonia. It struck me that the two constructs are not mutually exclusive and hence the notion that the artist’s palette conveys eudaimonia as yet another dimension of our lived experience. It could very well be Lance Calkin’s painting, The Patchwork Quilt, which I wrote about here, and I think continues to speak to me, albeit subliminally.

Colours, like everything else in the realm of physical matter, are vibrational. We see colours because of the vibrating wave lengths of reflected light. But not all colours are as they seem. For instance, the iridescent turquoise-emerald of the kingfisher’s wing feathers is the result of the Tyndall Effect. The feathers are not blue or green. They’re brown! Plain, nothing-to-see-here brown. Just as the mundane aspects of our lives can be described in tones of non-descript brown. Until, that is, a shift in perspective and circumstance changes the vibrational sequence and we experience, not mundanity, but eudaimonia.

And then there’s magenta, the only colour that doesn’t have a wavelength. It’s literally an aberration of the mind whereby the brain overrides the colour spectrum so that the average of long wavelength red and short wavelength violet is perceived as magenta, not green. The brain, in effect, recasts the light spectrum as a wheel bringing together the violet and red spectral ends to complete the loop. Is it any wonder that magenta should symbolise all-inclusive universal love? In the same way, is it any wonder that the human brain is capable of overriding and recasting many perceptual encounters and creating what we experience as eudaimonia?

What colour be your eudaimonia?

Thank you to the editors of Literary Impulse and Paper Poetry (and, yes, that includes me!) for the wonderfully inspirational prompt, eudaimonia. To learn more about our collaboration’s inaugural prompt, please click on the graphic or here.

Image courtesy of Literary Impulse

While I know many have already submitted to this prompt, I would like to call upon these talented folk to contribute their creative gems — Chloe Paulina Hawes | Dr. David Martin | Joe Barca | Jessica Cote | James Knight 🙏

Many thanks for reading. 🙏 💕

Literary Impulse & Paper Poetry ‘Eudaimonia’ Prompt Submission

The Colour of Eudaimonia

An exploration of colour, perception and human experience in poetic prose

Image credits