1393. About colors by which spiritual qualities are portrayed
That spiritual qualities are portrayed by colors, people know, because of the rainbow and other things, and from experience. To understand, take only the case of the colors black and white. The color black absorbs all rays, scattering them around randomly, without any order; hence comes blackness. Similarly, wickedness, which is portrayed by the color black, absorbs all rays of mental light, and spreads them around inordinately, until nothing of light or white appears. The color white, however, does not take in the rays of light, but reflects them. Similarly, those who are self-righteous, placing righteousness in [good] deeds, reflect the rays of mental or inward light, and do not take them in. A similar principle applies to other colors. 1748, 15 March.
1393. CONCERNING COLORS BY WHICH SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE REPRESENTED
That spiritual things are represented by colors is well known from the rainbow and other things, also from experience. That this may be known, take only the colors black and white. The color black is such that it absorbs all the rays of light and scatters them around irregularly without any order; whence arises blackness. In like manner, malice, which is represented by the color black, absorbs all the rays of intellectual light and pours them around in a disorderly manner, so that at length no light or whiteness appears. The color white, however, does not receive the rays of light, but reflects them. In like manner, those who justify themselves and place righteousness in works do not admit, but reflect, the rays of intellectual or interior light. It is similar with respect to other colors. 1748, Mar. 15.
1393. De coloribus, per quos repraesentantur spiritualia
Quod per colores repraesententur spiritualia, notum est, ex iride, aliisque, et experientiis; ut sciatur, solum quod nigrum et album colorem attinet, niger color talis est ut absorbeat omnes radios, et inordinate sine ullo ordine circumspargat, inde nigredo; similiter malitia, quae per colorem nigrum repraesentatur, omnes radios lucis intellectualis absorbet, et inordinate circumfundit, ut nihil tandem lucis seu albi appareat. Color albus autem non recipit radios lucis, sed reflectit; similiter qui justificant semet, et in operibus ponunt justitiam, radios lucis intellectualis seu interioris reflectunt, nec admittunt; simile est circa alios colores. 1748, 15 Martius.