An Overview of the Double Rainbow Meaning
Rainbows appear in the mythology of many different cultures. First we’ll discuss single rainbows then we will get into the double rainbow meaning.
Double Rainbow Meaning: Origins of the Rainbow
Everyone is familiar with the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow according to Irish folklore. In Norse mythology the Rainbow Bridge connects Earth with Asgard, the home of the gods. The Greek messenger Iris is dressed in rainbow colors with golden wings. As her tale progresses she takes to traveling on a rainbow. In the myths of Australian Aborigines, the Rainbow Serpent is the god and the creator of all. Even in the Bible Noah saves the animals by taking two of each species on his Ark. After the great flood Noah sees a rainbow symbolizing the rebirth of the land. A rainbow has come to represent God’s promise to never again send a flood to destroy all living things. Rainbows also appear in Navajo and Hindu tales of creation.
Most lands have stories and legends featuring rainbows. One of the few negative representations is in Burma where the rainbow is depicted as a scary demon who devours children.
Double Rainbow Meaning: Types of Rainbows
There are many different types of rainbows. The most common rainbow which children celebrate when learning their colors is a Primary Rainbow. It is set lower in the sky than other types of rainbow and always features red on the top of the arc and violet on the inner side. All Primary Rainbows are caused by the phenomenon of the sun shining through water. Rainbows can also be caused by just about any type of airborne water whether it is rain or sleet or mist. A Primary Rainbow is always situated in the sky directly across from the sun.
Double Rainbow Meaning: Scientific Details of the Double Rainbow
A double rainbow features a secondary arc above the Primary Rainbow. There is always a dark area between the two rainbows. The colors on the second rainbow is reversed from the Primary Rainbow. Instead of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, the outer edge starts with violet followed by indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. The dark area between the two rainbows is caused because the light is reflected twice through the moisture. All rainbows appear when light shines through moisture in the Earth’s atmosphere causing a spectrum of light to shine in the sky. It is a meteorological phenomenon that can not be predicted because so many differ things have to happen simultaneously. The colors in the rainbow come from optical focus of the eye – not actual colors. Color blinded people see less colors. There is no actual end to the rainbow. It changes position from where the observer is standing – you can’t really approach a rainbow.
Double Rainbow Meaning: What Double Rainbows Symbolize
Double Rainbows are considered symbolic of transformations in your life. The material world is represented by the first rainbow while the second rainbow is the spiritual world. Seeing a single rainbow is fairly common so something we take for granted in the universe but when we see a double rainbow we stop and take time to admire the wonder of the universe.
In Chinese culture red is symbolic of the feet and violet represents the head. So a Primary Rainbow can be seen to illustrate a human descending from heaven. As stated before, the secondary arc in a Double Rainbow has reversed colors so, since the red is on the bottom and the violet is on top, the human figure is ascending from the material earth to the spiritual heaven. Therefore seeing a Double Rainbow is considered a very auspicious occasion and a reason for reflection and meditation.
Checking the sky during a rain or mist to find a rainbow or double rainbow can be a magical time and as can give you a chance to reflect on your life and wonders of the world whether physical or spiritual.