Rudolf Steiner says “We think we see with our eyes, but we don't literally see with these outer organs. They are a kind of microscope, or telescope, or camera, a fairly dead body in us. We see by means of it, with etheric activity.” He explains that we perceive colors as the result of etheric activity. If we look at green & afterwards at a white sheet of paper, we see it’s reversal as red. (hmm the Christmas colors, go ahead after the call get out your crayons & give it a try) This seeing is due to the continuation of the etheric activity of the eye, which answers to the impressions of colors. We see a balance. We never see an actual color as it is, but always a balance. We produce complementary colors thru the etheric activity of our eye; & what we see - the final physical effect, is a balance, even if we are not consciously aware of it. But when we do make it our intention to be conscious, we became co-creators of this new etheric sight.
