The Olympic Rings
It
has been officially stated that the five rings of the symbol of the
Olympic Games represent the five continents, but no special
significance has been attached to the colour of the rings, nor has
there been any intention of allotting a specific colour to each
continent.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to study these
colours and to find out what meaning they may have and what message
they may convey.
It is quite well known that each colour has
its significance, but the meanings attached to the various colours by
different interpreters vary and are often conflicting. There does not
seem to exist any universally accepted classification of these
significances. This is because these colours are considered from a
mental standpoint, or at least because the vision is influenced by
the mind of the interpreter. But if one rises above the mind to the
truly occult regions beyond, the real meaning of each colour is the
same for all those who can read it directly. This is true not only in
this particular case but for all occult and spiritual experience.
There is a remarkable similarity in the experiences of mystics of all
times and places.
Consequently, if the colours of the rings
in the Olympic Symbol are viewed from this standpoint, we shall be
able to find their real esoteric meaning and see how they apply to
the five continents.
Green denotes a vast peaceful feeling
with a direct contact and a very harmonious relationship with Nature.
It could represent a continent with vast open spaces and an unspoiled
population living close to the soil and Nature.
Red is the
colour of the physical and material world. The red ring could
therefore be allotted to a people that has achieved a great mastery
over the physical world. This colour would also indicate that
material success has given it predominance over the others. In
any case, it represents a people that stresses physical and material
things.
Blue, on the other hand, indicates a young continent
with its whole future before it and great possibilities, but still
new and growing.
Black is a very unfortunate choice of
colour as it can only represent a continent which is fast falling
into deep obscurity the descent of a declining people into dark
oblivion.
On the contrary, yellow is the most glorious
colour of all. It is the golden colour of Light the Light which comes
from the Source and Origin of all things and which, with its helping
hand, will lead evolving humanity back to its divine Origin.
The
arrangement of the rings also has a significance. Black is the
central colour upholding all the others, and this is indeed an
indication of the black chaos which now governs the world and of the
blindness of those who are at present struggling to guide the ship of
humanity on the dark sea of ignorance.
It is our hope that in
the future this black ring will be replaced by a white one, when
there comes a turn in the tide of human affairs, when the shades of
ignorance are dispelled by the dawn of a new light, the bright,
white, self-luminous light of the new Consciousness, and when at the
helm of the ship stand those who will face this brilliant radiance
and set course towards the Promised Land.
Bulletin,November 1949
Page – 268, vol -12, On Education , CWMCE
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