Colors in the birth chart

I often look at a birth chart and see colors. Every planet and sign has a color ascribed to it, so when you know these, the chart emerges as a palette in your mind's eye. It helps to get to know the particular quality of a life, the type of colors someone is attracted to, and to get a feel for what kind of person the owner of the chart is.

For example, Vincent Van Gogh, a man with a literal color palette, is famous for the intense yellows and blues he used in his work. 

When we take a look at Van Gogh's chart, we notice that his Ascendant ruler is the Moon in Sagittarius. Al-Qabisi states that the color yellow is ruled by the Moon, but he is an exception, for most authors associate the Moon with pale colors. But an important factor here is the conjunction with Jupiter, according to Lilly associated with 'sea green or blue, purple, a mixed yellow and green, azur'. These Jupiterian colors are the ones Van Gogh used a lot in his paintings. According to Sphujidhvaja, Jupiter is yellow - the planet also appears yellow in the sky to the naked eye. Sagittarius, the sign that the Moon-Jupiter conjunction is in, is also traditionally associated with yellow. Furthermore, Sagittarius is a fire sign, so we expect very bright and luminous colors. 

The other interesting factor is the Sun in the term of Venus in the Tenth house. This position does not only predict his fame, it also stands, in his case, for a symbol he is very famous for: sunflowers (symbol of the sun combined with Venus, the symbol of art and flowers). Within the rays of the Sun, we find Mercury, associated with mixed and complex colors, but also with the color blue. These planets are ruled by Mars, who is ''fiery and shing like saffron'' (Lilly). So there are lots of indication of Van Gogh's particular attraction to warm, fiery colors. 

You don't have to be a painter to have a familiarity with certain colors. Noticing the colors that are activated in a chart, helps me to descern the energetic blend that makes a life and personality. For example, according to his specific color palette, Van Gogh can be described as a passionate, fiery character. But I also like you to notice the exalted Venus in Pisces at the Midheaven, conjunct Mars. Venus often describes the artform someone uses, in this case a 'watery' art form, which is oil painting. It's literally like a hot reddish ball of Mars extinguished in the cold blue water of Pisces, which makes his signature combination of cold and warm colors. This extreme duality probably describes his personality too.