When Red is the Color
Red, the color of warning, danger, aggression, fire, destruction, blood flowing. This morning, another war initiated by our country. Red, also the color of life at its fullest. That is what my teaching is about, learning to be in balance, harmony, with self, others, nature – an offering towards peace. Red, with its many meanings and paradoxes, can signal good or bad. Like water, Red needs harnessing. Below an experience of mine this past week. I keep the words as written before today’s news.
When Red is the color to carry us over the threshold into the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse. So, this Tuesday morning, I put on my new red velvet tunic and pants. Their colors and texture are luscious, warm, soft, energizing. Teaching my T’ai Chi classes, I normally don’t dress up, but today it feels right. A new session begins, and several newcomers are joining my established group. Arriving early, caring and observant Parry delights: “Beautiful, new students will right away know what kind of teacher they are meeting!” Her poignant assessment makes me laugh. Year of the Fire Horse. Throughout the class, I burst into “Happy New Year”. What I teach is helping us to ride our turbulent times. Learning how to stay centered, rooted, focused, persevering. We need the energy of this rich color – energy of life, vitality of blood. Deep joy.
All energy wants to flow. Going around in the circle, we each sing our own name in a spontaneous playful way, the group repeats. We laugh. Gentle stretching, walking and standing meditation, softening, sighing, gliding from the Tan Tien. Natural balance with the help of gravity aligning our spine. The T’ai Chi “catwalk,” finding our “bubbling well” in the middle of the foot, growing roots, receiving support from earth. Yin and Yang, full and empty. Flow of Chi. Sharing insights, listening, inquiring. Refining our senses. My teaching is about the Principles of the Art of T’ai Chi Ch'uan. Experiencing Taoist philosophy in the body. Least effort. Letting go. Softness overcomes hardness. It takes practice, repetition and patience, willingness be humble and change. The work in the circle is weaving us smoothly together. We learn, discover, and rediscover with Beginner’s mind. And my red outfit is doing wonders today, not only energizing me, but everyone in our group. The magic of circle work – harmony emerges – energy flows. We are moving as one organism. Cultivating serenity, the gates of heaven and heart open. Faces bloom like flowers.
sprinkled with gold
Towards the end, I ask everyone to share insights about their journey in class. Judy, a committed Taiwanese student, exclaims with great pleasure: “And big thank you to our Teacher, also for wearing red! This brings the needed Yang element, important for the New Year, and for us.” Traditionally, red is worn to celebrate every Lunar New Year all over Asia and the world. A new start with strong clear energy. This year especially, we will be facing much surprise, turbulence, and unexpected revelations unfolding for decades to come. They might be extreme, violent, devastating, or ground breaking, bringing hope and delight. Most likely all of it. Either way, we need to be ready. A new era is upon us. As the Fire Horse takes charge, will we be able to ride the waves?
Beginning February, way too early, an errant red poppy near the upper fence surprises me. She survives the heavy rains and is blooming for the Lunar New Year. I bring one of her flowers inside. Vibrant red like the Fire Horse. Plants show us the way, in spring time they push with perseverance through the ground. Nourished by their roots, they engage in the adventure of blossoming, glowing, fading. Losing their petals, metamorphosing into seed capsules or fruit, later into compost. Most importantly, they allow their seeds to be spread for new life to sprout. May we become flowers, setting free our natural innate beauty – it is medicine. Dispersing our seeds. The delicate overcomes the rigid. Nature is using red with purpose. Can we meet life as is? As precious? Open and respectful. Discerning lies from truth. Fiercely demanding dignity and possibility for all.
All my life, red has been my favorite color. It is also the color of resistance. Below about the history of knitting red wool hats in wartime Norway and its revival in Minneapolis. A month ago, I read about it in The Guardian and sent it on to friends. Originally, I was not going to mention it here, but by now we are deep in the contradictory meanings and universal significance of the color red.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/29/ice-knitting-protest-immigration
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/31/nx-s1-5693767/red-hat-protest-minnesota
Essay on the history of red hats:
http://joycevance.substack.com/p/the-other-red-hat
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