Spectrum Analysis

Colours and Magic; An Heraldic Analysis of the Colours of the Different Houses of Hogwarts and their Symbology
Tarma Black (Hufflepuff)

Words, spoken (and later written), were made by intellect to be symbols indicative of thoughts and ideas. They are a means of communication. When armor was developed to the point that it obscured the faces of the people fighting, and words were difficult to pronounce (yell), a brilliant idea was acted upon and Heraldry was born. Colours, usually formed into pictures of animals, plants, weapons or geometric shapes, are painted onto the shields and/or tabards. These communicated the identity of the person wearing that particular device so that the right person (or wrong one) could be killed and/or taken prisoner. These pictures are called 'devices'.

The colours used, while of the natural world (and not created by intellect), have nonetheless been assigned certain characteristics or symbologies. By the choice of particular colours, and not others, people devising their heraldic devices were declaring which characteristics they were (or wished to be) strongest in, and also what their weaknesses might be. The colours of heraldry are two 'metals', gold and silver and then 'colours' - green, red, blue, black, brown, purple, etc. (The only metals recognized in historical Heraldry, which is what I am using for this discussion, are gold and silver.)

Each of the four Houses of Hogwarts has their own device. The colours of the devices thus are supposedly an indication of the strengths and weaknesses of the members of that House, as a whole.

Hufflepuff House - colours black and yellow (gold) Black positive qualities are: protection, birth and magic. The negative qualities are: secretiveness and sacrifice. Yellow (gold) positive squalities are: communication, optimism and inspiration. The negative qualities are: needing clarification and a tendency for overclarification.

According to these colours, the people of Hufflepuff would be very protective of their House and its members, would be inventive and optimistic, could communicate readily and inspire folks. They would be strong in magical abilities. Negative qualities, however, could mean that they might extend themselves too far, and sacrifice themselves 'for the good of all', they could be doing something secretly which really needs to be done openly, they could need a bit of redundant communication when doing tasks and also might have a tendency to overdo on instructions when they themselves, are giving it.

Ravenclaw House - colours blue and bronze (brown) Blue positive qualities are: happiness, calm and truth. The negative qualities are: depression and loneliness. Brown positive qualities are: being grounded, new growth. The negative qualities are: lack of discrimination.

The folks of Ravenclaw are generally a happy lot, liking to be calm and say what is true. This comes more easily to them because they are grounded in what is real. They have an ability to utilize their abilities to create new things. If they aren't living up to the qualities of Ravenclaw, however, they can find themselves being lonely and depressed -- often because they failed to utilize their own powers of discernment to ascertain what is good for them and what is not good for them (ie does it work?).

Slytherin House - colours silver (white) and green White positive qualities are: purity, sharing and truth. The negative qualities are: being scattered and overextended. Green positive qualities are: growth, healing and abundance. The negative qualities are: being uncertain, misery and greed.

The people of Slytherin have the potential of actually being one of the shining lights of HOL. They can be a generous bunch of folks, sharing of their enthusiasms and having a clarity about them which is healing and truthful. However, if folks of Slytherin choose the negative path, they can be either overextended and scattered and get nothing done, or miserable, unhappy, greedy and uncertain in their endeavours.

Gryffindor House - colours red and gold (yellow) Yellow positive qualities are: communication, optimism and inspiration. The negative qualities are: needing clarification and a tendency for overclarification. Red positive qualities are: strength and passion. The negative qualities are: anger, aggression and impulsiveness.

People of Gryffindor have a strength about them which inspires others, and an optimism to see that the chosen tasks get done. They feel strongly about their 'favourite' issues, no matter what they are, and can inspire others to feel the same way. If a person of Gryffindor chooses, however, to stray off the path of positive qualities, those very strengths can be turned to an aggressive anger, acting impulsively without being clear on that which one is acting. They also might have a tendency to be redundant in their communications with others.

Special thanks to Prof. Angel Archer Elendili for the use of her colour symbologies which she used in her Animal Mythology class in Spring Term 2004.

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Notes The Alte Sententiam is Ravenclaw's running newspaper. Alte Sententiam means 'Higher Thoughts' and its current co-editors-in-chief are Chloe Fairchilde and Cassandra Lobiesk. Articles Cat, Rat, or Toad? New Eagle Professors Language is Not a Problem Scientifics Follow the Dumbledore Path! Colours and Magic Reviews Did Dilana Get More Out of the Deal? Puzzles Specials These ads have been provided by Professor Ulol Kimil, please contact him if you have any information on the missing objects. Lost: Rhi's Brain Lost: Cassie's Brain Info Updates Archives FAQ Staff The Roost HOL Points The points breakdown is as follows (per issue): Article Submission: 5 points for each published (not to exceed 20) Graphics Submission: 5 points for each published (not to exceed 20) Editors: Up to 30 points	Spectrum Analysis Colours and Magic; An Heraldic Analysis of the Colours of the Different Houses of Hogwarts and their Symbology Tarma Black (Hufflepuff) Words, spoken (and later written), were made by intellect to be symbols indicative of thoughts and ideas. They are a means of communication. When armor was developed to the point that it obscured the faces of the people fighting, and words were difficult to pronounce (yell), a brilliant idea was acted upon and Heraldry was born. Colours, usually formed into pictures of animals, plants, weapons or geometric shapes, are painted onto the shields and/or tabards. These communicated the identity of the person wearing that particular device so that the right person (or wrong one) could be killed and/or taken prisoner. These pictures are called 'devices'. The colours used, while of the natural world (and not created by intellect), have nonetheless been assigned certain characteristics or symbologies. By the choice of particular colours, and not others, people devising their heraldic devices were declaring which characteristics they were (or wished to be) strongest in, and also what their weaknesses might be. The colours of heraldry are two 'metals', gold and silver and then 'colours' - green, red, blue, black, brown, purple, etc. (The only metals recognized in historical Heraldry, which is what I am using for this discussion, are gold and silver.) Each of the four Houses of Hogwarts has their own device. The colours of the devices thus are supposedly an indication of the strengths and weaknesses of the members of that House, as a whole. Hufflepuff House - colours black and yellow (gold) Black positive qualities are: protection, birth and magic. The negative qualities are: secretiveness and sacrifice. Yellow (gold) positive squalities are: communication, optimism and inspiration. The negative qualities are: needing clarification and a tendency for overclarification. According to these colours, the people of Hufflepuff would be very protective of their House and its members, would be inventive and optimistic, could communicate readily and inspire folks. They would be strong in magical abilities. Negative qualities, however, could mean that they might extend themselves too far, and sacrifice themselves 'for the good of all', they could be doing something secretly which really needs to be done openly, they could need a bit of redundant communication when doing tasks and also might have a tendency to overdo on instructions when they themselves, are giving it. Ravenclaw House - colours blue and bronze (brown) Blue positive qualities are: happiness, calm and truth. The negative qualities are: depression and loneliness. Brown positive qualities are: being grounded, new growth. The negative qualities are: lack of discrimination. The folks of Ravenclaw are generally a happy lot, liking to be calm and say what is true. This comes more easily to them because they are grounded in what is real. They have an ability to utilize their abilities to create new things. If they aren't living up to the qualities of Ravenclaw, however, they can find themselves being lonely and depressed -- often because they failed to utilize their own powers of discernment to ascertain what is good for them and what is not good for them (ie does it work?). Slytherin House - colours silver (white) and green White positive qualities are: purity, sharing and truth. The negative qualities are: being scattered and overextended. Green positive qualities are: growth, healing and abundance. The negative qualities are: being uncertain, misery and greed. The people of Slytherin have the potential of actually being one of the shining lights of HOL. They can be a generous bunch of folks, sharing of their enthusiasms and having a clarity about them which is healing and truthful. However, if folks of Slytherin choose the negative path, they can be either overextended and scattered and get nothing done, or miserable, unhappy, greedy and uncertain in their endeavours. Gryffindor House - colours red and gold (yellow) Yellow positive qualities are: communication, optimism and inspiration. The negative qualities are: needing clarification and a tendency for overclarification. Red positive qualities are: strength and passion. The negative qualities are: anger, aggression and impulsiveness. People of Gryffindor have a strength about them which inspires others, and an optimism to see that the chosen tasks get done. They feel strongly about their 'favourite' issues, no matter what they are, and can inspire others to feel the same way. If a person of Gryffindor chooses, however, to stray off the path of positive qualities, those very strengths can be turned to an aggressive anger, acting impulsively without being clear on that which one is acting. They also might have a tendency to be redundant in their communications with others. Special thanks to Prof. Angel Archer Elendili for the use of her colour symbologies which she used in her Animal Mythology class in Spring Term 2004.