Purple & Violet: Royalty, Spirituality & Crown Chakra

BY NICOLE LAU

Purple is the color of kings and mystics, emperors and enlightened ones. It is the rarest color in nature, the most expensive dye in history, and the highest vibration in the visible spectrum.

Purple sits at the edge of what we can see—beyond it lies ultraviolet, the invisible light that burns and transforms. Purple is the threshold between the material and the spiritual, between earth and heaven, between the crown of the head and the infinite cosmos.

This is the color of power—both worldly and divine. This is the color of the crown.

Purple vs. Violet: Understanding the Spectrum

While often used interchangeably, purple and violet have subtle distinctions:

💜 Purple

Composition: A mix of red and blue (not a spectral color)
Energy: Earthly power meets spiritual aspiration
Association: Royalty, luxury, ambition, magic
Chakra: Crown (Sahasrara) and Third Eye (Ajna)

🟣 Violet

Composition: The highest frequency visible light (spectral color)
Energy: Pure spiritual vibration, transformation
Association: Spirituality, transmutation, divine connection
Chakra: Crown (Sahasrara)

For this article, we'll explore both as expressions of the same sacred frequency.

The History of Purple: The Color of Kings

Tyrian Purple: Worth More Than Gold

In ancient times, purple dye (Tyrian purple) was extracted from thousands of murex sea snails. It was so rare and expensive that:

• Only royalty and the ultra-wealthy could afford it
• Roman emperors reserved purple for themselves (wearing it without permission was punishable by death)
• The color became synonymous with imperial power and divine authority
• "Born to the purple" meant born into royalty

Purple in Religious Authority

• Catholic Church: Cardinals wear purple (bishops wear violet during Advent and Lent)
• Buddhism: Purple robes for high-ranking monks
• Judaism: Purple in the Tabernacle and priestly garments
• Christianity: Purple for Lent (preparation, penance, royalty of Christ)

Purple represents spiritual authority—the power to bridge heaven and earth.

The Crown Chakra: Sahasrara

🟣 The Thousand-Petaled Lotus

The crown chakra (Sahasrara) is located at the top of the head and is associated with violet or white-violet light. It represents:

• Divine connection: Union with the cosmos, God, Source
• Enlightenment: Transcendence of ego, awakening
• Pure consciousness: Awareness beyond thought
• Spiritual wisdom: Understanding beyond intellect
• Bliss (Samadhi): The ecstasy of union with the divine

Signs of Balanced Crown Chakra

• Feeling connected to something greater than yourself
• Experiencing moments of transcendence or oneness
• Inner peace and acceptance
• Wisdom and spiritual insight
• Ability to see the bigger picture
• Trust in the universe

Signs of Blocked Crown Chakra

• Feeling disconnected from spirituality or purpose
• Cynicism or materialism
• Inability to see beyond the physical
• Feeling lost or without meaning
• Closed-mindedness
• Depression or existential crisis

How to Activate the Crown Chakra

• Meditation: Silent sitting, focusing on the crown of the head
• Violet visualization: Imagine violet light pouring into your crown
• Amethyst: Place on the crown during meditation
• Chanting: The sound "OM" or silence
• Fasting or breathwork: Practices that transcend the physical
• Spiritual study: Reading sacred texts, contemplation

The Violet Flame: Transmutation and Purification

🔥 Saint Germain's Violet Flame

In esoteric Christianity and the I AM movement, the Violet Flame is a spiritual fire that:

• Transmutes negative energy: Transforms karma, pain, and lower vibrations
• Purifies: Cleanses the aura and energy field
• Accelerates spiritual growth: Burns away obstacles to enlightenment
• Heals: Works on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels

Violet Flame Invocation

Visualize violet fire surrounding and filling you, then say:

"I AM a being of violet fire,
I AM the purity God desires."

Or:

"Violet flame, blaze through me,
Transmute all that no longer serves,
Purify my being,
Raise my vibration,
So mote it be."

Purple and Violet in Spiritual Traditions

💜 Hinduism and Buddhism

• Crown chakra (Sahasrara): Violet or white-violet lotus
• Third eye (Ajna): Indigo-violet, inner vision
• Spiritual robes: High monks wear purple/violet
• Amethyst malas: Used for meditation and spiritual practice

💜 Christianity

• Lent: Purple vestments for preparation and penance
• Advent: Purple for waiting and anticipation
• Royalty of Christ: Purple robe placed on Jesus before crucifixion (mockery that became sacred)

💜 New Age and Metaphysics

• The Violet Ray: Seventh ray of spiritual transformation
• Ascended Masters: Saint Germain and the violet flame
• Aura colors: Violet aura indicates high spiritual development

Purple and Violet Crystals

💎 Amethyst

The Stone of Spirituality

• Crown and third eye activation
• Protection from negative energy
• Sobriety and addiction recovery ("amethyst" means "not intoxicated")
• Meditation and spiritual connection
• Calming anxiety and promoting peace

💎 Lepidolite

The Stone of Transition

• Emotional balance and calm
• Releasing old patterns
• Stress relief
• Crown chakra alignment

💎 Charoite

The Stone of Transformation

• Deep spiritual transformation
• Overcoming fear
• Accepting the present moment
• Crown and heart chakra connection

💎 Sugilite

The Healer's Stone

• Spiritual protection
• Channeling and psychic development
• Emotional healing
• Crown chakra opening

Purple in Magic and Ritual

When to Use Purple Candles

• Spiritual growth: Deepening practice, seeking enlightenment
• Psychic development: Opening third eye and crown
• Power and authority: Claiming your sovereignty
• Wisdom: Seeking higher knowledge
• Transformation: Major life changes, transmutation
• Crown chakra work: Meditation, activation
• Connecting with spirit guides: Invocation, channeling

Purple Herbs and Flowers

• Lavender: Peace, purification, spiritual connection
• Purple sage: Wisdom, cleansing, spiritual clarity
• Violet flowers: Spirituality, protection, love
• Purple lotus: Mysticism, spiritual awakening

Purple in Altar Work

• Purple altar cloth for spiritual work
• Amethyst as centerpiece
• Purple candles for meditation
• Violet flowers as offerings
• Purple silk for wrapping sacred objects

The Psychology of Purple

Modern color psychology associates purple with:

• Creativity and imagination: The artist's color
• Mystery and magic: The unknown, the mystical
• Luxury and quality: Premium, exclusive, refined
• Wisdom and dignity: Maturity, respect
• Spirituality: Transcendence, higher consciousness

Purple is rare in branding because it's polarizing—people either love it or find it too intense. It doesn't blend in.

Shades of Purple: Nuanced Meanings

• Deep Royal Purple: Power, authority, luxury, ambition
• Violet: Spirituality, transformation, highest vibration
• Lavender: Peace, gentleness, feminine spirituality, calm
• Indigo: Intuition, third eye, deep wisdom, night mysteries
• Magenta: Passion meets spirit, divine love, unconventional
• Plum: Richness, depth, mature spirituality

Working with Purple Energy

Purple Meditation

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Visualize a violet light above your head. See it descend through your crown, filling your entire body with violet radiance. Feel it purifying, elevating, connecting you to the divine. Sit in this violet light for as long as feels right.

Crown Chakra Activation

1. Lie down with an amethyst on your crown
2. Play 963 Hz frequency (crown chakra tone)
3. Visualize a thousand-petaled violet lotus opening at your crown
4. Chant "OM" or sit in silence
5. Allow divine light to pour in

Violet Flame Practice

Daily practice:

1. Sit in meditation
2. Visualize violet fire surrounding you
3. Invite it to transmute anything that no longer serves
4. Feel it burning away karma, pain, limitation
5. Emerge purified and elevated

The Shadow of Purple

Purple's shadow includes:

• Spiritual bypassing: Using spirituality to avoid earthly responsibilities
• Elitism: Feeling "above" others due to spiritual development
• Disconnection: So focused on the crown you neglect the root
• Arrogance: Confusing spiritual insight with superiority
• Escapism: Fleeing into the spiritual to avoid the material

True purple wisdom is grounded—the crown must be connected to the root.

Final Thoughts

Purple is the color of the threshold. It stands at the edge of the visible spectrum, pointing toward what lies beyond. It is the crown that touches heaven while the feet remain on earth.

Purple asks: Can you hold both power and humility? Can you be sovereign and surrendered? Can you wear the crown while kneeling before the divine?

This is the paradox of purple: You are royalty. You are also nothing. You are the crown. You are also the servant.

And in that paradox, you find enlightenment.

Ready to work with purple and violet energy? Explore our collection of amethyst crystals, crown chakra tools, violet flame resources, and spiritual development aids to elevate your consciousness.