The Color Purple

by James Masters

Spirit/Power

In the traditional Pride flag, purple represents spirit. In many religious traditions, spirit is understood as a universal activity of the Divine and uniting principle. In fact, in several of these traditions, the word "spirit" is synonymous with "breath."

Charles Fillmore, one of the founders of the Unity movement, defined spirit as

"[Divinity]* as the moving force in the universe; Principle as the breath of life in all creation; the principle of life; creative intelligence and life."

In the Twelve Powers, the color purple symbolizes the power of power. Winifred Wilkinson Hausmann describes the power of power in her book "Your God-Given Potential":

"Power, we must understand, is not an end in itself, nor a goal to be sought. Rather, it is simply a means that enables us to manifest [Divine]* ideas on Earth. It is not to be used for selfish gain or to satisfy the personal ego, but for the forward spiritual movement of the whole. It is to be exercised not to control others, but to take dominion over our own thoughts and feelings, in order to attain a greater awareness of the [Divine]*."

In our world, power is often associated with selfishness. It can be disheartening to observe how power dynamics play out, with the voices of the marginalized often being silenced by those who hold more power. However, this is precisely why recognizing our own power and taking responsibility for it becomes so crucial.

In her book "A Return to Love," spiritual teacher and author Marianne Williamson beautifully expressed:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Understanding the power of power is vital because it serves as the liberating force on our planet. It is crucial to recognize that the majority of people are loving and supportive, outnumbering those who propagate hate and control. However, it is disheartening that those who hate often do so with unwavering conviction. If those of us who embody love and support tap into and harness the power of power, loving with unwavering conviction, we have the potential to witness a transformative shift in our world, where positive change becomes evident right before our eyes.

* In the original text, the word used is "God"; however, for the purpose of this article, the term "Divinity" or “Divine” is used instead. This substitution is made because the word "God" often carries a specific definition that differs from Fillmore's understanding of God. Within the Unity movement, God is not perceived as a person or personality, but rather as principle—an embodiment of divine law and love.