When I See A Rainbow

We all know the story of Noah and the significant promise given to him by God that the rainbow will forever be a reminder that the earth will be free of destruction by flooding.

But is there other meanings of this beautiful and magical bright band of colors that adorn the sky after a storm?

The different symbolic meanings of this special natural phenomenon make the rainbow somewhat spiritual. When it comes to the rainbow, terms such as hope, cheerfulness, imagination, and happiness come to mind. However, as quickly as a rainbow appears, it can also disappear. It is therefore not surprising that the rainbow is also considered to be elusive. In addition, a rainbow is usually a bit difficult or vague to see, emphasizing its other worldly quality. So, exactly what does a rainbow symbolize spiritually?

Long, ago, a rainbow was thought to be a means of transportation for the Gods, a two-headed serpent drinking water from the sea, or a Goddess named Iris. We now, of course, know better. A rainbow is nothing more than the sun shining on a mist of tiny water droplets. As the white light refracts through the water particles, a large colored arc appears! By the way, did you know that a rainbow isn’t actually an arc, but a perfect circle? Standing on the ground it’s difficult to see, but it’s clearly visible from an airplane!

As with all topics - there are many different meanings across the different cultures.

Rainbows can appear all over the world, so as you can expect, there are many meanings given to them across many cultures. A few of those include a bridge between Heaven and Earth, sign of the Angels, hope and comfort or luck and prosperity (the gold at the end of the rainbow - if you will).

To break these down a bit further:

Rainbows as Bridges: A rainbow symbolizes a connection between heaven and earth. This cheerful color palette is said to link the earthly with the divine. In ancient Norse and Native American traditions, rainbows were a bridge for spirits and deities between the realms. In the Bible, the rainbow plays an important role in the story of Noah. After the flood, God made a beautiful rainbow appear and with this he promised not to destroy the earth by flood again. It was a Divine covenant with all living beings on earth. This one is probably the most known to man or "popular" meaning.

Rainbows as a Sign of Angels: In sad times, sadness can overwhelm you in the darkness. It can then feel like you are all alone. The angels want to let you know that they are with you at such a time. But angels are not visible to humans, so they use recognizable signs or symbols to let you know that you are not alone. This is why rainbows appear so often after the death of a loved one, at a funeral for example, or in times of sadness or despair. A rainbow in these times is a sign that Your Guardian Angel is watching over you. We visualize with the saying "crossing the rainbow bridge" that one's spirit is joyous and eager to join the loved ones or angels awaiting them on the other side of a beautiful rainbow colored bridge.

Hope and Comfort: Have you ever heard the saying: “Behind the clouds, the sun still shines?” This is exactly why the rainbow is also a symbol of hope, peace, and comfort. It is literally a bright spot in dark times; evidence that the sun still shines. This glimpse of sunlight through the mist is also a sign of a new beginning. Just a little ray of sunshine can give a dark mood a lot of color, it doesn’t always take much to make a positive change in life. The rainbow would therefore make a special gift for someone who could use some fresh perspective and inspiration! A rainbow itself is difficult to give, but a rainbow crystal is a wonderful symbol to remind someone of the light at the end of the tunnel.

Luck and Prosperity: A Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow: This myth comes from Ireland, the land of the leprechauns. Leprechauns are mythical creatures of Irish folklore, similar to gnomes. Leprechauns are friendly creatures, but they also like a joke or a bit of mischief once in a while. According to the myth, elves had magical powers and a large pot of gold. They gave the leprechauns the power to disappear whenever they wanted, which they certainly enjoyed while playing their tricks. In return for this power, they had to guard the pot of gold for the elves. The leprechauns decided to hide the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It was a perfect hiding place, because the end of the rainbow is impossible to find! For this reason, according to some, the rainbow also symbolizes material wealth, luck, and prosperity.

Spiritual Meaning of Seeing a Rainbow: As you know by now, a rainbow is also a sign of the angels. If you regularly see a colorful arc appearing on the horizon, the angels could be letting you know that they are making one of your wishes come true! You may be busy manifesting for yourself, but by showing you a rainbow, they’re telling you that they are working hard for you behind the scenes! Also, seeing a rainbow can mean you’re on the right track. Think of it as a friendly nudge in the right direction from the angels as if they are cheering you on and whispering to you to "keep it up"!

Double Rainbow Meaning: Spiritually Stimulating Double Dose: Two of these colorful ribbons is a good sign! The meaning of a double rainbow is new beginnings, transformation, growth, and self-development. It sends a magical energy into your world, and that energy is about peace, abundance, prosperity, and success! The first rainbow would represent our physical reality here on Earth. The second rainbow symbolizes spirit, the divine, or another dimension. So these two together would be a balance between heaven and earth, the material and the spiritual! The universe tells you that success is near. Maybe you’ve worked hard and now you can reap the rewards! It’s also possible that you’ve lost your inner balance and harmony. The symbolic balancing act of the double rainbow maybe a reminder to recenter and connect with yourself. A nice thought, right?

The Chakras in Rainbow Colors: Each Chakra is associated with one of the seven colors of the rainbow. From that connection the rainbow chakras were born! The rainbow contains all the colors of electromagnetic radiation. Color is an energy that vibrates at a certain frequency, which we can see. So it is quite special that the energy centers in our body align with the energy frequencies of color. In this way working with chakras becomes visual, accessible and actually a bit down-to-earth!

Whatever your own meaning, understanding or belief of the rainbow, I think we can all agree that rainbows are one of natures most beautiful free and cherished treasures.

I had an early morning meeting this morning and as I crossed the bridge into the Industrial area of our town (nearing the office) I was welcomes so sweetly by a bright and beautiful early morning rainbow, post storm, and the world just felt right.