Theosophy, Besant and Leadbeater
Meaning of Colours in Thought-Forms
Thought-Forms assigns colours to feelings and motives, including black to hatred and malice. The authors describe mixtures as carrying combined meanings: violet can represent affection joined with devotion.
Also known as Theosophical Colour Key
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In the sources
Account in the source
ReportedThought-Forms assigns colours to feelings and motives, including black to hatred and malice.
Further detail
ReportedThe authors describe mixtures as carrying combined meanings: violet can represent affection joined with devotion.
Context & interpretation
These correspondences belong to Besant and Leadbeater’s Theosophical model, not a validated psychological test or a way to diagnose another person. The cited colours explain their illustrations. No independently measured relationship between an emotion and an invisible coloured form is established.
Original passages
Source 1
Thought-Forms
black means hatred and maliceOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Besant and Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, active reader leaf 19
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0019
- Original scan leaf
- 18
- Recorded leaf number
- 19
- Current Reader position
- 19
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
Source 2
Thought-Forms
A mixture of affection and devotion is manifested by a tint of violetOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Besant and Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, active reader leaf 20
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0020
- Original scan leaf
- 19
- Recorded leaf number
- 20
- Current Reader position
- 20
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
Continue exploring
Thought-Form Models & Imagery ↗
Thought-forms
The coloured shapes that Besant and Leadbeater describe as expressions of thought and feeling.
Same subject and traditionLogos in Thought-Forms
The divine principle contemplated through globes, interwoven lines and threefold symbolism in Thought-Forms.
Same subject and traditionThree Classes of Thought-Forms
The book’s division between likenesses, imagined objects and forms expressing qualities.