I N THE PALETTE OF COLORS, blue is a mysterious hue. The story of this rarest color in nature is as old as the sky, which was once believed to radiate blue that prevented the approach of bad spirits. The aura of blue had an element of divine protection, vigilance, perseverance. Symbolizing calmness and serenity, blue is regarded as therapeutic to mind and body. So significant was this color that there is no dearth of expressions that invoke it: blue jeans (a favorite clothing item for musicians), blue music, blue moon, bluejacket, blue blood, blue skin, blue laws, blue pottery, and so on.

Blue was the last color to become visible to the ever-evolving human eye, and yet it is the first among primary colors that personifies mystical sleep and deep twilight. The cool, calming effect of this color relaxes the mind and makes time pass more quickly, and therefore it is an ideal shade for bedrooms. Crying infants and toddlers respond to blue by being quiet in the shortest possible time, as compared to the effect of other colors.

The historical significance of this hue harks back to ancient times. Turquoise-encrusted ceremonial shields of the Aztec emperor Montezuma [1519] and the mosaic masks of the Incas reflect the sacred radiance of blue. Blue enamel was used by Hephaestus on Achilles' great shield in the Iliad. Blue marked the sixth level of the temple of Nebuchadnezzar. The frescoes of Ajanta in India are rich in hues of blue that reveal the popularity of the color in that country.

Turquoise-blue stones in jewelry and weapons were believed to safeguard people from evil. Egyptian kings of the first dynasty [3500 B.C.], Chinese emperors [as reported by Marco Polo] and other civilized posts of the past like the Mesoamericans, Tibetans and Indians were mesmerized by the magic of blue, and they considered it a royal prerogative to mine the blue stones.

In historical times, gemstones such as blue sapphire, turquoise, lapis lazuli, tourmaline and blue quartz were dernier cri as they stood for peace, goodwill, friendship and loyalty. Blue sapphires and aquamarines, when rubbed on wounds, were said to stop bleeding and reduce pain. These stones were also mounted on gold or silver and were presented to babies as talismans for protection. Even gamblers wore blue stones for luck and protection.

The arcane expression "blue blood" is used to describe nobility, royals or aristocracy, which renders them untouchables of another order and therefore leaving them perfectly insulated. Long considered a regal color, a deep royal blue conveys a touch of superiority, intelligence, stability and conservatism.

Blue was a welcomed color in Europe, thanks to the depiction of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ in blue that soon became a Christian tradition. The great masters such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo always portrayed the Virgin Mary in blue robes, symbolic of her connection to the angelic realm.

This hue was also a prevalent shade in homes with its own cultural significance. In parts of Europe, cupolas, doors, staircases, fences and even the houses were painted blue as a protection from evil. Neo-classical buildings in Greece are still painted blue. In the Polish custom, all houses of virgins about to be married are painted blue!

The color blue, however, doesn't indicate benevolence at all times. The Armenians cannot stand blue and their worst imprecation is "May you die in blue garments." In certain languages, there is no separate word for blue; it goes together with green. In the Philippines, what is known as "blue" pornography is referred to as "green."

Too much blue is also said to create depression and invoke feelings of gloom, fearfulness, and melancholy. Excessive blue requires other colors to balance it. As blue acquires darker tones, it "becomes" moody and depressed, hence the term "the blues." When something comes from an unexpected or unforeseen source or at a completely unexpected time, we refer to it as "out of the blue."

In traditional Indian caste hierarchy, blue was identified with the sudras who occupied the lowest status. For this reason, upper caste people had an aversion for blue. Moreover, fermentation of indigo was deemed to be ritually impure, and so the color blue was considered inauspicious.

Blue is also no fun in the dining hall. It is a natural appetite suppressant [ Editor's note: In the case of certain people, I doubt that! ] and can be repulsive in some instances. Blue crockery and accessories at the dining table should be avoided, unless you want your guests to be uncomfortable. Goethe was of the opinion that human responses to color are biological. He reckoned that blue produces anxious, tender and yearning responses. Emotionally disturbed people tend to favor the color blue.

It's believed that no other color in the spectrum evokes such powerful emotions — both good and bad — the way that the color blue does. From the glistening azures of the ocean to the limpid blue pools of a baby's eyes, from the moody melancholy of blues music to the dark, ominous rumbling of heavy clouds, this shade alone is empowered with the ability to move, mesmerize and mystify.

And if you ever get hit by the blues, simply select some other tint in this family. Violet, indigo, aquamarine, cobalt blue...... there's bound to be one that will brighten your day.