Is it from America's "Ventura Highway?"

He must have heard it growing up, we all did.

maybe from Stevie Wonder:

[Edited 4/7/14 20:59pm]

Purple is the colour of the sky during the apocolypse he sings about as the red of armageddon mixes with the once natural blue...plus I think it's drizzling

Stimpy said:

Is it from America's "Ventura Highway?"

He must have heard it growing up, we all did.

"You can always change your name"

First reference of Purple & the Dawn are heard in Leaving 4 New York (unrealesed) 1976

According to an old article in Uptown magazine (Summer 1997), Prince was inspired by a book called "Embraced By the Light", written by Betty J Eadie. It's a pretty in depth article, but here's the gist:

The "other side" of the Spiritual World is divided into seven levels, or "spheres", and each soul goes to the sphere that it is spiritually prepared for. Each sphere is represented by a color and there are seven spheres (this is where the phrase 'Seventh Heaven' comes from). The first sphere (the 'atmosphere') is red, the second (the Crystal sphere) is orange...this is where the spirits reside that look after and control the biological balance of the earth. Anyhoo...the sixth sphere is the sphere of love...the color is purple...apparently the light of each sphere shines down on the sphere beneath it and is described as looking like raindrops dripping down. The light shining from the sphere of love looks like "Purple Rain". Of course this is all speculation (but Prince was quoted as saying he read "Embraced By the Light"). The article goes on to say that according to that book, it is when you visit the sphere of love that you learn that sex is a gift from God (so apparently, that "Sex is the ultimate form of spirituality" quote that Prince gave also comes from this book). Again, it's speculation, but it's a hell of a coincidence.

love that stevie b-side Purple Rain Drops! funny seeing another record with those words on.

UncleJam said:

According to an old article in Uptown magazine (Summer 1997), Prince was inspired by a book called "Embraced By the Light", written by Betty J Eadie. It's a pretty in depth article, but here's the gist:

The "other side" of the Spiritual World is divided into seven levels, or "spheres", and each soul goes to the sphere that it is spiritually prepared for. Each sphere is represented by a color and there are seven spheres (this is where the phrase 'Seventh Heaven' comes from). The first sphere (the 'atmosphere') is red, the second (the Crystal sphere) is orange...this is where the spirits reside that look after and control the biological balance of the earth. Anyhoo...the sixth sphere is the sphere of love...the color is purple...apparently the light of each sphere shines down on the sphere beneath it and is described as looking like raindrops dripping down. The light shining from the sphere of love looks like "Purple Rain". Of course this is all speculation (but Prince was quoted as saying he read "Embraced By the Light"). The article goes on to say that according to that book, it is when you visit the sphere of love that you learn that sex is a gift from God (so apparently, that "Sex is the ultimate form of spirituality" quote that Prince gave also comes from this book). Again, it's speculation, but it's a hell of a coincidence.

makes sense. Nice get.

obviously from jimi hendrix' Purple haze

UncleJam said:

According to an old article in Uptown magazine (Summer 1997), Prince was inspired by a book called "Embraced By the Light", written by Betty J Eadie. It's a pretty in depth article, but here's the gist:

The "other side" of the Spiritual World is divided into seven levels, or "spheres", and each soul goes to the sphere that it is spiritually prepared for. Each sphere is represented by a color and there are seven spheres (this is where the phrase 'Seventh Heaven' comes from). The first sphere (the 'atmosphere') is red, the second (the Crystal sphere) is orange...this is where the spirits reside that look after and control the biological balance of the earth. Anyhoo...the sixth sphere is the sphere of love...the color is purple...apparently the light of each sphere shines down on the sphere beneath it and is described as looking like raindrops dripping down. The light shining from the sphere of love looks like "Purple Rain". Of course this is all speculation (but Prince was quoted as saying he read "Embraced By the Light"). The article goes on to say that according to that book, it is when you visit the sphere of love that you learn that sex is a gift from God (so apparently, that "Sex is the ultimate form of spirituality" quote that Prince gave also comes from this book). Again, it's speculation, but it's a hell of a coincidence.

Well reviewed UncleJam. Until Prince comes out with a definitive explaination...this does seem to be a very solid possibility.

batman89 said:

UncleJam said:

According to an old article in Uptown magazine (Summer 1997), Prince was inspired by a book called "Embraced By the Light", written by Betty J Eadie. It's a pretty in depth article, but here's the gist:

The "other side" of the Spiritual World is divided into seven levels, or "spheres", and each soul goes to the sphere that it is spiritually prepared for. Each sphere is represented by a color and there are seven spheres (this is where the phrase 'Seventh Heaven' comes from). The first sphere (the 'atmosphere') is red, the second (the Crystal sphere) is orange...this is where the spirits reside that look after and control the biological balance of the earth. Anyhoo...the sixth sphere is the sphere of love...the color is purple...apparently the light of each sphere shines down on the sphere beneath it and is described as looking like raindrops dripping down. The light shining from the sphere of love looks like "Purple Rain". Of course this is all speculation (but Prince was quoted as saying he read "Embraced By the Light"). The article goes on to say that according to that book, it is when you visit the sphere of love that you learn that sex is a gift from God (so apparently, that "Sex is the ultimate form of spirituality" quote that Prince gave also comes from this book). Again, it's speculation, but it's a hell of a coincidence.

Well reviewed UncleJam. Until Prince comes out with a definitive explaination...this does seem to be a very solid possibility.

Interesting thoughts, though having done a little research, it appears that 'Embraced By the Light' wasn't published until 1992 ...

Now, unless she was publicising her ideas in the media MUCH earlier than that, I guess Prince may well have read the book but even he couldn't have read it in 1983 ...

...Probably from a dream and a reflection of the higher worlds.

2 go somewhat on a train from earlier posts, the Sahasrara is the top chakra in a human's spirit body which is represented by the color Purple. The nrg of the chakras is subtle and can feel like a warm sublime rain. I am by no means thought trying to state that this is what purple rain means. Oh, the chakras each have a sound/nrg/vibration.

Whatever the original meaning was for Purple Rain, everything transforms especially when we embrace our past as shadow selves and integrate them into the now for I AM, Here I AM, Here is I AM.

i also feel that the Purple (Violet) Ray and Purple Rain are related. Mostly, St. Germain is the one dedicated to the Violet Ray. Don't know if Prince has ever been a devote of St. Germain.

Whatever the meaning, i wouldn't want to be in a world without Purple Rain. Each time that I have the honor 2 experience Prince playing it live, immersing hisSelf in it live, i feel a renewal and deep love for all creation - manifest and unmanifest. And, i also wonder why the blessings r of standing in the purple rain to 1 who is channeling such a beautiful experience and sharing it with those of us who desire, wish, and dream 2 go higher.

Purple Haze, most likely.

Miles said:

batman89 said:

Well reviewed UncleJam. Until Prince comes out with a definitive explaination...this does seem to be a very solid possibility.

Interesting thoughts, though having done a little research, it appears that 'Embraced By the Light' wasn't published until 1992 ...

Now, unless she was publicising her ideas in the media MUCH earlier than that, I guess Prince may well have read the book but even he couldn't have read it in 1983 ...

The ideas in "Embraced by the Light" were not created by the author...these "beliefs" had apparently been discussed and written about before by others. The article states that "several religions and esoteric beliefs share the idea..." regarding the levels and spheres, and that Prince was in tune with these "beliefs" around 82/83 when "purple" started to dominate his image. There's more in the article regarding the first appearances of the "love symbol" on the 1999 album cover, which is apparently also connected to the sphere of love. My bad...I said he was influenced by the book...actually he was quoted as saying it was one of his favorite books, but I think he was in tune with those beliefs long before reading "Embraced by the Light."