Mood rings have fascinated people for decades with their supposed ability to gauge our emotions based on finger temperature. One of the most mystical mood ring colors is purple. So what does it mean if your mood ring turns purple?
History and Origins of Mood Rings
The mood ring craze took off in the 1970s, but the concepts behind them are much older. Ancient physicians believed body temperature revealed information about health and emotions. In the Middle Ages, doctors diagnosed illnesses based on warmth and color in different body areas.
In the 1960s, mood ring predecessors called biofeedback rings became popular. These rings measured hand temperature and linked it to psychological states using biofeedback principles. Biofeedback training helps people regulate anxiety, pain, and stress by controlling physiological processes like blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature.
In 1975, New York inventors Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats officially created the modern mood ring. They worked with a company called Dichromatech to encapsulate liquid crystals in rings. The Crystalline Printing Company started manufacturing mood rings later that year. By 1976, one million mood rings were selling per month!
Liquid Crystal Technology
Thermochromic liquid crystals are the key component of mood rings. In the 1970s, mood ring makers used crystals only responsive to subtle temperature shifts between 80-100degF to mimic skin temperature changes.
Today’s liquid crystals react to broader temperature ranges. Thanks to improved thermochromic technology, liquid crystals turn up in many products like thermometers, breathalyzers, and household items to gauge temperatures.
How Do Mood Rings Work?
A mood ring is a specialized jewelry ring that contains a thermochromic element, usually made of liquid crystal. Thermochromic refers to a material that changes color in response to heat variations. The mood ring was invented in 1975 by Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats. They worked with a New York company called Dichromatech to develop rings with heat-sensitive liquid crystal technology.
Here’s how a mood ring works:
The ring has a flat stone, made of quartz or glass, topped with a thin sheet of liquid crystal. Underneath sits a heating element made of copper. When you wear the ring, it heats up from your body temperature. As the temperature increases, the crystals twist and reflect light differently, changing colors.
The color variations are meant to correlate with different emotional states based on variations in blood flow. For example, when you’re stressed or anxious, your hands get colder as blood flow decreases to the extremities. This makes the ring turn a darker color. Increased blood flow from happiness or excitement turns the ring lighter colors.
How Accurate Are Mood Ring Color Readings?
There isn’t much scientific evidence for mood ring accuracy. Finger temperature can vary for many reasons beyond emotions, like air temperature and circulation. However, the concepts behind mood rings mirror some legitimate medical technology. For example, biofeedback sensors and thermal imaging tests use similar principles to measure stress and anxiety levels.
Most experts consider mood rings more of a novelty item than a scientific mood reader. Still, they provide entertainment and promote mindfulness and reflection on our emotional states.
Meaning of Mood Ring Colors
Traditional mood rings use thermochromic liquid crystals calibrated to change colors at precise temperature thresholds. While mood ring color interpretations can vary by manufacturer, some standard associations emerged over time.
Here are the generally accepted meanings of common mood ring colors:
Black
Temperature: Below 82degF / 28degC Meaning: Nervous, stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed
Blue
Temperature: 82degF-84degF / 28degC-29degC Meaning: Relaxed, calm, balanced, and neutral
Green
Temperature: 84degF-88degF / 29degC-31degC Meaning: Normal, peaceful, or lightly happy emotional state
Yellow
Temperature: 88degF-92degF / 31degC-33degC Meaning: Happy, upbeat, optimistic, hopefulness
Red
Temperature: 92degF-96degF / 33degC-36degC Meaning: Excited, agitated, nervous, stressed, overwhelmed
Brown
Temperature: 96degF-100degF / 36degC-38degC Meaning: Nervous, stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed
Explanation of Purple Mood Ring Color Meaning
Now that we’ve covered the mood ring color spectrum, what does it mean if your ring turns purple? Purple is an uncommon mood ring color, situated between the red and blue temperature thresholds.
What Does Purple Symbolize?
In color psychology, purple evokes mystery, spirituality, creativity, wisdom, and imagination. It’s long been associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, and ambition. Purple combines the stability of blue with the energy of red. This dichotomy mirrors how purple can represent both spirituality and anxiety.
Purple Mood Ring Temperature & Meaning
Purple on a mood ring appears in the 82degF to 84degF range. At this temperature, the ring is shifting between blue and red hues. So purple indicates a transitional emotional state between calmness and anxiety or excitement.
A purple mood ring color meaning can include:
- Mystery
- Imagination
- Wisdom
- Royalty
- Spirituality
- Transition
- Instability
- Anxiety
- Uncertainty
A purple mood ring suggests you may feel torn between different emotions orenergies. You could be seeking deeper meaning through soul-searching. A purple ring can also show a free spirit embracing creativity and individuality.
Overall, purple is a mystical and complex mood ring color. It indicates spiritual yearnings, creative awakenings, and transitions between emotional states.
What Causes a Purple Mood Ring?
There are a few reasons why your mood ring may turn purple:
- Transition between calm blue and anxious red as emotions fluctuate.
- Low blood circulation makes the ring shift from blue to red.
- Extreme changes between hot and cold ambient temperatures.
- Defective thermochromic element reacts inconsistently.
Keep in mind other factors can impact your mood ring reading like smoking, medications, skin thickness, and improperly fitting rings. The most accurate readings come from wearing rings consistently on the same finger.
Interpreting Purple Mood Ring Meanings
Purple mood rings can have many interpretations based on your circumstances. Here are some ways to analyze the meaning if you get a purple ring reading:
Reflect on Your Emotions
Think about your current emotional state and any transitions you’ve experienced lately. Are you moving between feeling calm, anxious, stressed, or relaxed? Purple represents instability and fluctuations between mindsets.
Consider the Context
Reflect on what’s happening in your life right now. Are you facing a major decision or change? Facing a challenging situation at work or home? Purple can signal anxiety over uncertainties you’re navigating.
Tap Into Creativity
Purple evokes imagination and vision. If your ring turns purple during a period of personal growth, it could mean you’re unlocking new creative potential. Embrace this magical color as inspiration for self-expression.
Find Wisdom Within
Purple is a wise, intuitive color. A purple ring while seeking life purpose could affirm spiritual awakenings happening beneath the surface. Meditate on the violet light to connect with your inner wisdom.
There’s no definitive way to interpret your purple mood ring meaning. Pay attention to any messages the color purple brings you while being open to your own insights.
Purple mood rings indicate a crossroads between spirituality and anxiety. The color purple echoes mystery, creativity, and transition. If you notice your mood ring turning purple, it may signify soul-searching, emotional ups and downs, instability, or seeking deeper meaning.
While mood rings have some grounding in science, their color changes can’t definitively determine emotions. Still, they offer a fun way to reflect on your inner landscape and gain self-insight.
Do you wear a mood ring? What does purple mean to you? Let us know if a purple ring signals creativity, wisdom, or anxiety in your experience.
At the end of the day, mood rings are most useful for personal reflection. Have fun exploring the shades of purple and what messages they hold for you.
Dreams, spirit, growth – I explore them all. Laugh, learn, grow with me. Unlock your inner guru.
