Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Magick

Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

At its core, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological framework that categorises human needs into various levels, the most often cited are: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation. Each level represents a different aspect of our human experience, and fulfilling these needs is fundamental to our overall well-being.

Maslow’s Hierarchy is most often shown as a pyramid shaped model that represents what he thought of as the wants and needs of society. It shows ‘basic’ needs at the bottom with more complex wants and needs towards the apex of the pyramid. 

So if you imagine standing at the base of a pyramid, where the foundational layer consists of your basic needs—food, water, and shelter. As you ascend, you reach the need for safety, then the desire for love and belonging, followed by esteem, and finally, the pinnacle of self-actualisation

This model is widely used to depict the motivation behind human behaviour. This is why we find it so interesting because this journey is not just a psychological construct; it can also be viewed through the lens of magick, where correspondences such as colours play a significant role in spiritual expression.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Magick

In the realm of spirituality and self-discovery, the fusion of Humanistic Magick with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs offers a unique perspective on how our desires and needs can be expressed through the use of a framework like Maslow’s. The pyramid structure is a useful framework to visually connect wants and needs with magick, and we get to colour it in too which gives us another opportunity to use the language of colour. More on this later.

This intersection invites spiritually minded people like you, whether you are spiritual seekers, magick practitioners, self-help enthusiasts, or psychology students to delve deeper into your personal journeys, understanding how your needs can be met and expressed through magickal practise.

For example, rather than dividing magick into categories like ‘love spells’, ‘binding spells’ or ‘good luck spells’, flip the script and approach your magickal expression with the Hierarchy in mind. This means you are spending more time thinking about “wants and needs” which will help frame your outcomes, which leads to positive action and positive results. 

Exploring Humanistic Magick and The Colours of Your Needs

We mentioned earlier that Maslow’s Hierarchy offers a unique perspective on how your desires and needs can be expressed through the vibrant language of colour. So what do we mean by this? 

If you Google the pyramid representation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it is sometimes shown using different colours for each layer of the pyramid. Everyone does this in their own way when they want to represent Maslow’s Hierarchy, but essentially it means that because each level of Maslow’s pyramid can be associated with specific colours, you can align your magickal practise using colours that resonate with the energies of those needs.

We suggest approaching the use of colour in this way because we recognise that colour is an emotive tool. It means different things to different people and can be culturally conditioned. For example, the colour black for a funeral in some cultures, but not in others or red for good luck in some cultures, but not in others. 

It is important to point out that there is no such thing as the “right colours” for certain magickal rituals to be more successful than others. A lot of the colour correspondences used in Western magickal practise today were invented by influential men with all the privilege that came with that, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and C.W Leadbeater in the 19th and 20th Century. So what do colours mean to you? We have some suggestions below that you can implement into your own practise.

The Colour Spectrum of Needs

So now we know that each level of Maslow’s Hierarchy can be associated with specific colours that resonate with the energies of those needs:

Black and dark red we use for the base level on Maslow’s Hierarchy. These colours are stabilising, energising, and symbolise life force energy and vitality. These colours embody the basic needs that keep us alive and grounded. The physiological needs and the needs of the Self.  You might include black and dark red coloured candles or crystals for things like self protection, releasing or grounding work. 

Bright red and orange is for the next level. Bright reds and oranges represent warmth and security, fostering a sense of stability and comfort. These colours can be invoked in magickal expression aimed at creating a safe space for personal growth, the physical and emotional protection of others. 

Yellow is for the third layer on the pyramid. Yellow is the colour of joy and connection. It encourages social interactions and fosters feelings of love and acceptance and for belonging and togetherness needs. You might want to use coloured candles for things like confidence building, friendship rituals and for mental wellness. 

Green is the next level. Green is the colour of growth and renewal, and resonates with self-esteem and personal achievement. It encourages us to cultivate our self-worth and confidence. Used for esteem and achievement needs and used in connection with love. 

Bright Blue is bringing us close to the apex. Blue embodies tranquility and wisdom and all those knowledge and cognitive based needs. You may wish to make use of blue candles and crystals with magickal work involved with improving communication, taking responsibility and in forgiveness work.

Just as we reach the top of the pyramid for dark Blue and Purple. These powerful and vibrant colours represent the journey towards our highest potential. It encourages introspection and the pursuit of our true selves. Use these colours in support of your wisdom needs, including inner wisdom, intuition and spiritual magickal practise. 

At the apex of Maslow’s Hierarchy is transcendence. Using White and Magenta tools represents the journey towards our highest potential. These colour correspondences  encourage introspection and the pursuit of our true selves, and when you are in support and in service of others.

Practical Applications of Colour in Magick

As humanistic magick practitioners, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a system makes absolute sense. As a framework it provides the structure showing human motivation, nicely colour coded, to deliver magickal aims. As a spiritually minded person you can make use of this as a resource in order to make changes that improve your work and your lifestyle. 

Integrating these colours into your magickal practices can enhance your spiritual journey. Here are some practical applications:

Meditation and Visualisation: Use coloured candles or visual aids during meditation to focus on specific needs. For instance, lighting a red candle can help ground you when addressing basic needs.

Rituals: Create rituals that incorporate these colours to manifest your desires. For example, integrate green symbols, candles, stones or crystals when seeking to boost your self-esteem or use yellow tools like paper, pencils when writing our incantations to cultivate love and connections.

Affirmations: Pair your affirmations with colours that resonate with your current needs. For example, wear green when seeking to boost your self-esteem or surround yourself with yellow when cultivating love and connections. 

Embracing Your Own Journey Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Magick

As you navigate through life, recognising how your needs align with your magickal practises can lead to profound personal growth. We believe that by understanding these connections, you can enhance your spiritual experiences and create space for change that can give you a more fulfilling life.

Start by reflecting on your own needs and consider how you can incorporate these colour associations into your magickal practises. How might you use the colours that resonate with you to express your desires and enhance your journey towards self-actualisation? Together, let’s embrace the magick within us and explore the vibrant tapestry of our human experience.

References

Credit where credit is due, we aim to cite our sources because we value truthful content. 3 sources were referenced during research to write this, but you are encouraged to follow our other links as well.

1. Wikipedia
2. Crowley, A. (1986). 777 And Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley. United States: Weiser Books.
3. Leadbeater, C. W., Leland, K. (2013). The Chakras. United States: Theosophical Publishing House.

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