Purple angels are a fictional group of beings that have become popular in art, literature, and pop culture. They are often depicted as having lilac or lavender colored wings and halos, flowing purple hair, and wearing long, light purple robes.
Where did the idea of purple angels originate?
The precise origins of purple angels are unclear, but they seem to have emerged as a concept in the late 20th century. Some possible origins include:
- New Age and metaphysical art – The New Age movement of the 1960s-80s featured much art focused on angels, including experimenting with non-traditional angel colors like purple.
- Fantasy art – In the 1980s-90s, fantasy artists began depicting more diverse and colorful angels, including purple-winged angels.
- Pop culture – Movies, TV shows, anime, and other pop culture in the 80s and 90s started showcasing more imaginative, colorful angels compared to traditional Christian depictions.
The color purple also has spiritual and mystical associations, representing magic, wisdom, creativity, and imagination in various cultures. Purple-winged angels evoke those themes.
What do purple angels represent?
In works where they appear, purple angels are generally associated with:
- Magic & mysticism – Purple evokes the magical, psychic, and spiritual realms.
- Wisdom & intelligence – The color purple is sometimes connected with great knowledge and learning.
- Creativity – The uniqueness of purple angels reflects originality, imagination, and free-thinking.
- Innovation and progress – Purple’s unconventionality represents forward-thinking ingenuity.
- Inclusivity and diversity – Purple angels embody openness, individuality, and acceptance.
- Healing & empathy – Their gentle, calming energy can represent nurturing, caregiving and support.
- Spirit guides – Some believe purple angels are spirit guides who assist with psychic or spiritual development.
What powers or abilities do purple angels supposedly have?
There are no fixed or definitive powers associated with purple angels. However, some commonly suggested abilities include:
- Psychic senses – Telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, etc.
- Energy healing & chakra healing
- Astral projection
- Spirit communication – Speaking with spirits, ghosts, etc.
- Manifestation – Turning thoughts/intentions into reality.
- Creativity enhancement
- Wisdom bestowal – Activating inner wisdom.
- Emotional healing – Soothing anger, grief, pain, etc.
- Empathy and compassion
In some works, purple angels may possess other magical powers, like casting protective enchantments, shapeshifting, put people into deep dream states, etc. But creative writers have a lot of freedom when envisioning their capabilities.
Are purple angels found in any major religious/spiritual traditions?
No, there are no well-known spiritual traditions or texts that feature purple angels as part of their cosmology. Some possible minor exceptions include:
- New Age movement – Purple angels have emerged in some New Age books, artworks, and communities since the 1960s-70s.
- Modern paganism – Some Wiccans and modern pagans believe in customizable spirit guides called servitor spirits, who could look like purple angels.
- Visionary art – Visionary artists channels spirits, deities, or mystical beings. Their art sometimes includes unusual and colorful angels.
But in general, purple angels originated in fiction and popular culture rather than major spiritual lore.
What are some examples of purple angels in movies, TV, and other media?
Purple angels have made memorable appearances across different fictional media, including:
- Xena: Warrior Princess – The character Callisto becomes an angel with purple wings.
- Supernatural – Castiel briefly takes on a purple hue when imbued with great power.
- Hide and Seek – A mysterious purple angel appears in this 2005 horror film.
- Hellboy II – The Angel of Death is portrayed with purple wings in Hellboy’s vision.
- Oh My Goddess! – Belldandy, a benevolent goddess, has long flowing purple hair.
- Yu-Gi-Oh! – A franchise featuring many monsters, including Guardian Angel Joan with purple wings.
Purple angels have also appeared in video games, on book covers, in music videos, and on tarot cards and oracle decks.
Do people report real encounters with purple angels?
Some people claim to have encountered purple angelic beings, either physically or during dreams, visions, Near Death Experiences, psychedelic states, and other altered states of consciousness. But mainstream science and psychology have not verified the existence of such beings.
It’s possible some who report seeing purple angels may actually be experiencing:
- Hallucinations caused by expectation, religious fervor, or psychedelics
- Lucid dreams
- Hypnagogia – waking dream-like hallucinations
- Pareidolia – seeing meaningful images in random patterns
- Subjective spiritual experiences shaped by cultural lore about angels
So while some people deeply believe they’ve interacted with purple angels, their existence has not been proven by controlled scientific investigation. They remain mythological and artistic depictions.
How are purple angels depicted in art?
Purple angels have been portrayed in a variety of art styles, including:
- Gothic art – With pale, ethereal features and somber expressions.
- New Age art – Surrounded by crystals, mandalas, and New Age themes.
- Fantasy art – With elaborate clothing and armor in fantasy landscapes.
- Anime art – As Kawaii anime girls with vibrant purple hair.
- Pop surrealism – Juxtaposed with odd dreamlike elements.
- Visionary art – Highly detailed and mystical purple angelic realms.
- Steampunk – Blending Victorian fashion with fantastical elements.
Purple angels lend themselves to imaginative, innovative depictions across diverse art genres.
What are some common attributes of purple angels in art and fiction?
Some typical design elements for purple angels include:
- Purple or lavender hair, sometimes in long, flowing locks.
- Matching purple, lilac or amethyst wings.
- Pale purple skin or an ethereal appearance.
- Robes in shades of light purple, lilac, violet or mauve.
- Gentle, peaceful expressions.
- Delicate facial features with slightly exotic eyes.
- Often female or androgynous figures.
- Surrounded by magical symbols, stars, glyphs, crystals, etc.
- Carrying objects like books, scrolls, wands, crystals, amulets, etc.
Of course, creative works differ greatly in their specific depictions. Not all purple angels exhibit these exact traits. But they give a general sense of their mystical, delicate, and exotic visual style.
What meanings and symbols are associated with the color purple?
Here are some symbolic associations of the color purple:
- Magic and mysticism – Purple is strongly linked to the supernatural and spiritual realms.
- Wisdom and knowledge – In many cultures, purple represents wisdom, intuition and knowledge.
- Creativity – Purple evokes imagination, originality, artistry and vision.
- Royalty – For centuries purple dye was expensive, associated with emperors and kings.
- Ambiguity – Purple is a mix of red and blue. It blurs the line between warm and cool colors.
- Androgyny – Purple contains feminine red and masculine blue, so represents a mix of gender.
- Imagination – The unconventional hue encourages free thinking.
- Inspiration – Many artists, writers and creatives associate purple with inspiration.
So purple angels draw on associations with spirituality, creativity, eccentricity, and esoteric knowledge.
Conclusion
In summary, purple angels are mythical beings that originated in New Age, fantasy, and pop culture art. They represent themes like spirituality, creativity, wisdom, magic, and healing. Artists have freedom to depict their abilities and attributes in diverse ways. And some individuals claim to have encountered them during mystical experiences. However, mainstream science lacks evidence for their literal existence. Yet purple angels continue capture people’s spiritual imaginations across art, fiction, and spiritual subcultures today.