We all are aware that the colour purple has been associated with royalty since ages now. However, did you know that there are some fascinating psychological associations attached to this colour? In Christianity, purple is considered a symbol of pride and in the U. S. military, a Purple Heart award is symbolic of bravery. In stark contrast to the west, purple is worn by widows in Thailand to mourn their husband’s death. In Iran, according to tradition, it is believed that a purple sun or moon is an omen and could be an indication of bloodshed in that particular year.

Studies have revealed that colours can successfully help in therapy. In fact, it is widely used by therapists. Colours are believed to help individuals with brain disorders because of their power to cause psychological reactions and influence moods. Therapists use colours like blue which can calm and lower respiration and blood pressure. Green is considered a soothing colour and is used to relax emotionally disturbed people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Yellow is a colour used in the cure of depression while violet, a colour combination of blue and red is believed to help those with migraine.

What you are looking at are the most precious gemstones known as Navratna. It is a Sanskrit term for ‘nine gems’ and navratna jewellery pieces include these nine gems in their setting. The combination of these nine gems namely Ruby, Pearl, Coral, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gomedagam and Cat’s Eye are considered to be not only powerful but also auspicious in not just Hinduism but also Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It is revered in many other countries too such as Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

What you can see in the photograph are beautiful gemstones known as Zircon. Did you know that the earliest mention of Zircon was in the Bible? In fact, it was one of the first twelve gems worn by the high priests from Israel. In 1789, Martin Heinrich Klaproth, a German chemist discovered the element zirconium in it while studying a sample of Zircon from Ceylon that is present day Sri Lanka. It is believed that Zircon gems are beneficial for the wearer in terms of wisdom, wealth and also believed to bring love and happiness. This gem is great for maintaining the overall well-being of the wearer. Zircon gemstone has an intense energy that is highly spiritual. And the best part is that Zircon comes in shades of colours that you can choose from.

These wonders you are looking at are known as Tetras. They are the true rainbow fish of the freshwater species. There are about 150 species of Tetras that exhibit a lot of variation and range from spotted to striped to multi-coloured to neon. They are quite the swimmers and prefer to do so in the middle of the fish tank. If you are interested in fish keeping, make sure to have a school of them in your tank. Some species are more aggressive than others and are known to bite long-finned fish mates, so choose the species with care.

If all you fashionistas out there think you can become showstoppers by wearing metallic and grab the spotlight, wait until you see nature’s very own showstopper – Presenting the jewel beetle. This fascinating creature sports iridescent colours and is highly prized by insect collectors. The colours are due to its structural colouration in which microscopic texture in its cuticle reflects specific frequencies of light in particular directions. This is the same effect that makes a compact disc reflect multiple colours. Isn’t that amazing? You will be surprised to know that there are about 15,000 species of jewel beetles throughout the world, making the family Buprestidae one of the largest beetle groups. In fact, they tend to be active on sunny days, especially in the heat of the noon, so you may happen to see them on a summer afternoon!