The colour red needs no introduction. The most powerful colour in Indian culture, this colour is associated with happiness, prosperity and purity. The red colour is a prominent shade in Hindu weddings and even Indian cinema show the bride in red bangles and sarees. In weddings amongst Hindus, the entry of the bride into her new home after marriage is by the ritual of dipping her feet in red water and walking bare feet on the floor of the house, which symbolises the beginning of her new life.

During prayers, red powder is thrown on statues of deities and phallic symbols in Indian customs. It is considered the colour of Shakti. A red-coloured dress is put on deities who are considered brave, charitable and protective. These deities are believed to destroy evil. Red is a dynamic colour and is known to incite fear. It is also the colour associated with one of the most revered goddesses in Hindu mythology – Durga. Her fiery image is enhanced by her red tongue and her almost-red eyes. If you are looking for a powerful, bold colour for the walls of your home, a splash of red wall paint is a great choice.

Snowflake Obsidian

The gem that you are looking at is the stone of purity called Snowflake Obsidian. Volcanic in origin, Snowflake Obsidian is not considered a true mineral as it does not have an entirely consistent chemical content nor does it form crystals. It does not appear in various hues either. It is usually black with white patches. This gem is believed to bring emotions to the surface and assess harmful thought patterns in individuals. It is also known to remove negativity from a living space as well as a person. Among other unique powers, this gem is known to heal old karmic patterns. Interesting, isn’t it?

Grandidierite

Grandidierite is an extremely rare gem that was first discovered in 1902 in southern Madagascar by Alfred Lacroix, a French mineralogist. However, the gem was named in honour of the French explorer, Alfred Grandidier who studied the natural history of Madagascar. The gem comes in a strong bluish green to greenish blue form, either translucent or transparent. It possesses the property of trichroism, which is the ability to exhibit three different colours depending on its viewing angle. This gem is used as a touchstone in meditation and chakra balancing.

Plant Dyes

Did you know that until the mid-19th century, natural plant dyes were the only source of dye available? However, once scientists found out that they could produce dye pigments in laboratories and that they were easy to make, creating dyes from plants became a lost art. However, plant-dyeing seems to have revived again and is popping up everywhere, right from DIY projects to the Instagram feeds of lifestyle bloggers who are interested in all things organic and ethically sourced! You may have seen a natural plant dye in different hues. Interestingly, indigo and red are two of the most popular plants for producing natural dyes as they have a great amount of pigment.

Dahlia

The gorgeous flower that you are looking at is a Dahlia. This starburst bloom comes in every hue except for blue, green, black. It also comes in various sizes. If you love bright flowers, dahlia is a lovely one to grow in any garden. This showstopper bloom is just as beautiful in a garden or a vase in a room. Dahlia is a relatively sturdy plant if grown in proper lighting, heat and soil. It is known to thrive in moist and moderate climates.