I grew up outside of Oklahoma City, in the country. We had some land, with a barn, horses, cows, chickens, dogs, and depending on the season, we might have 10-15 peacocks roaming around. My mother would call them up to the house every evening and hand feed them. As is customary, the male of the species, is astonishingly beautiful. I’ve never forgotten the beautiful, shimmering, and intense colors of their feathers. Turquoise is one of those colors.
Turquoise is known as an in-between color because it falls between blue and green, and it can be both cool and warm. Perhaps when you think of turquoise, you think of squash blossom jewelry, retro kitchen appliances, or 80s pastels. The stone itself is known to protect its wearer and has deep roots in many cultures. I associate turquoise with Native American culture and the American Southwest; however, the oldest turquoise mines are said to be in Iran. In ancient Egypt, they buried their dead with the stone for protection, and this bringer of good fortune is also worn by Pueblo dancers to ensure rain. It is the birthstone for December babies and the zodiac stone for Sagittarians.
Teal, a lovely shade of turquoise, can be relaxing and balancing to the body with an understated elegance. Whereas mint, a tint of turquoise, conveys creativity, fun, and lightheartedness. Turquoise is said to aid in concentration, clarity of thought, and builds confidence and for these reasons, it is a good color to have handy when giving a speech or making a presentation.
It seems like I say this with every color, but turquoise goes with SO MANY other colors. Perhaps because it is a blend of blue and green it harmonizes with all the other colors. It is a good accent color to wear as a reminder of peace, balance, compassion, and good luck. My go to for maximum color combinations and minimum fuss are scarves, but if you are lucky enough to have some turquoise jewelry, throw it on the next time you need to rejuvenate your spirit.
This little “in-between” color really packs a punch and has many meanings to many people. To me, it is the color of my birthstone and a loving reminder of my mother feeding her beautiful birds. What does turquoise mean to you?
Next time you go into your closet, let thoughtful, intentional dressing be a subtle and supportive reminder of all the things you want to balance and strengthen in your daily life.
XO-
Mel