One of the best things about writing for The Scroll is the email responses I get and what I learn from them.
For example, a response to “Ooh, Purple” (Feb. 10) reminded me that iambic verse is unaccented/accented. The long forgotten, perhaps never learned, term for the accented/unaccented phrase “Purple is my favorite color” is trochaic tetrameter. (Thanks, Cathy Craft-Fairchild). So, now I think I have a soft spot for trochaic verse; two of my favorites are “All My Exes Live in Texas” and “Bells are ringing. Hearts are singing.” Nonetheless I don’t think I’m going to get a trochaic t-shirt printed for wearing to the gym. They lock people up for things like that.
Another thing I learned about myself came from another response to “Ooh, Purple” in Jo Anne Murphy and her daughter’s yoga/meditation class. After hearing her daughter talk about the concept of aura colors, Jo Anne found a site that offered an aura quiz. I know you’ll want to take the quiz because it really is a lot of fun.
The really interesting thing, though, is how well the aura characteristics for violet describe the University of St. Thomas. This is us:
Violets are the inspirational visionaries, leaders and teachers who are here to help save the planet. Most Violets feel drawn to educate the masses, to inspire higher ideals, to improve the quality of life on the planet, or to help save people, animals and the environment.
All Violets have an inner sense that they are here to do something important, that their destiny is greater than that of the average person. Most Violets have felt this way since childhood. As children, many Violets imagined becoming famous, or traveling the planet, possibly joining humanitarian causes such the Peace Corps. Many of these charismatic personalities take on roles as leaders and teachers, while other Violets prefer to reach people through music, film or other art form.
Because this era is currently the "Violet Age," any Violets who are not accomplishing what they came here to do are experiencing an inner “push” – even an inner “earthquake.” Inner forces seem to be shaking them up and pushing them to move into action, to fulfill their life purpose. Violets know they are here to do something significant. However, they aren't always sure what that something is or how to accomplish it.
Many Violets were taught as children that their dreams and aspirations were unrealistic, so they have lost touch with their original visions. It's important for Violets to reconnect with their life purpose and vision, and to take action. Otherwise they will always feel unfulfilled. They will always sense something is missing from their lives. Violets need to learn to slow down long enough to listen to their inner voice and to connect with their higher vision.
Jo Anne says, “So it seems the founders of UST picked the right color, for educating students and helping students discover who they are.” There are, indeed, phrases that could have been lifted right from our vision, mission and tagline statements.
The only bad thing about this aura test for me was that I discovered I am a logical tan. TAN??? And worse yet, logical tan. Not even environmental tan. Has anyone ever said “Ooh, tan? “ I’m not sure about this aura stuff.
No matter, I love being at a violet place. I’ll try to think of us logical tans as helping those with vision keep themselves grounded and practical.
