Hi Andrew,

I agree with you, and I think that the approach you suggest is the way to go. Saturn, for example, can be white, grey or black, depending on its location in the chart and phase, as you have described. If it is a dark Saturn, and it is in close aspect with another planet, then it adds a darkening effect to that planet; otherwise it makes it paler, but it still lacks luminosity. All luminosity comes from the Sun or is reflected by the Moon. So the prominence of these two luminaries, their phase, and their contact with other planets surely affects the levels of brightness. Mars is generally red but is it a bright red or a dark-blood red? I don?t take the sign associations as seriously as the planetary ones myself, but one useful thing about McCann?s article is how he first explains the basics of colour theory. I think it is more useful to know that, and to start from a few, well established principles, than to refer to miscellaneous tables and take up someone else?s view because it is easier than understanding our own. As we can see from his lists, some elements of the traditional associations are too contradictory to be relied upon. I would see the most basic principles as these:

Saturn ? lacks lustre and colour-depth. Varies from white, grey and black.
Jupiter ? rich, dynamic colours that are strong in depth, like royal blues, purple, clear reds, rich greens
Mars ? Mainly red, but can be clear red, rusty red, blood red or pruple-red
Sun ? Golden and luminous and adds translucency, honey colour, gold and fire colours.
Venus ? Greens, pastels and delicate colours. Can also be pretty, sparkling colours if receiving a lot of light; otherwise more delicate and subdued.
Mercury ? multicolours and mixtures, the main theme coming from the planet it is most closely associated with.
Moon ? pale but reflective colours, silvers, peals, etc.

The most basic colours are red (Mars), yellow (Sun), blue (Jupiter) and green (Venus). Mercury mixes them up, the Moon makes them paler (white light rather than golden light), and Saturn either makes them darker or takes away lustre.

That?s just my thinking, not based on any traditional list but obviously influenced by many of them. Feel free to contradict or expand.

Deb

Yes, Debbie! That is good!
My contribution and speculative ideas on this matter would be as such:

Moon - white, silver, reflective in fire and air; pale in Capricorn; green in earth and water
Mercury - changeable, I agree. Mostly grey to even brown in water and earth; a rather pale blue or yellow in air or fire.
Venus - a light or clear blue in air and water, pastels and pink in fire and earth
Sun - bright yellow, orange, gold, royal red
Mars - red, but can be rusty and tend to brown
Jupiter - blue, purple, richness; [several colors in air, spots and stripes?] green in association with water; blue or purple in Pisces.
Saturn - dull, dark (dark green or olive, adds heaviness to brown) and black. Probably appears best defined in air and earth.

I also offer these notions mearly as a contribution to the discussion and debate. Maybe we can pick up on a lead and unravel a new sense of the working of the underlying principles. Anyone have any comments?

[b]PLUTO[/b]= Black!!!

Pluto has always been Scorpion for me and dark red, although I always felt that Scorpio could be a dark ,olive green. Dark, intense and murky colours work well for me with Pluto. However, I would comment the trans-saturnian planet in my mind lie beyond the boundaries of the traditional spectre.