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Even if we can't see
them, colors have the power to affect us
by Anne Gaal
Scientists are just now beginning to
explain the power of color something that metaphysicians, mystics, and
pagans have understood for centuries. For example, Michael Faraday and
Clerk Maxwell first described electromagnetic radiation in 1865 about
150 years ago. Their description of how electromagnetic radiation
travels in waves revolutionized many scientific fields. Visible light
which we see as colors is just a portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Despite the fact that this scientific understanding of colors
and light is leading edge in terms of our knowledge of the world around
us, the ancient peoples of Egypt, China, and India practiced color
therapy long beforehand.
Color has the power to influence our
emotions, cause our bodies to undergo physical changes, and even has the
power to heal. Red is such a powerful color that it can make us feel
sexy, lustful, and aggressive, and can even cause our heart rates and
blood pressure to rise. Blue can calm our mood, make us feel cooler, or
if we are exposed to a blue environment for too long blue can cause us
to become depressed.
Science has recently proven what
color-workers have known for a long time the presence of colors in our
environment can cause these types of effects even if we cannot
physically perceive the actual colors. A recent study by Harry Wolfarth
and Catharine Sam of the University of Alberta proved that changing the
color and lighting in a room decreased children's aggression and lowered
their blood pressure whether those children were sighted or blind. Thus,
as long as the colors are present in our environment, such as through
crystal therapy, the use of paint on our walls, or through the placement
of colorful feng shui cures, colors can and do affect human beings.
The way colors influence us can be
beneficial or unfavorable. For example, a sunny yellow can be cheerful
and intelligent, or cowardly in the face of a challenge. Colors can
attract or repel, illuminate and assist in our understanding, or they
can disguise and distort.
The power of color to affect us can be
due to universally accepted attributes, such as the purity of white, or
they can vary based on our cultural heritage. For example, the ancient
Romans and Egyptians wore black when mourning a loved one, as do most
western cultures today. However, in China and Japan white is the color
of mourning, in South Africa red symbolizes mourning, in Burma yellow
stands for mourning, and in Iran blue represents mourning.
The power of color on a particular
individual can also vary based on his or her past experiences. Picking
out colors for special occasions, decorating projects, or ritual work
can be a very time-consuming, personal process. Dont be afraid to
substitute a color that is personally and culturally meaningful for one
that has been suggested by someone else.
That being said, here are some common
attributes which correspond to specific colors.
Red
In medieval times, red was often used in banners, flags, and coats of
arms because it represented warriors, military strength, and success in
battle. Red is still a very powerful, active color, associated with
ambition, drive, determination, and the planet Mars. It can convey
urgency, passion, danger, heat, love, and blood.
Orange
The color most often associated with business and career is orange.
Orange can also be cheerful and friendly, encouraging conversation and
charity. It represents vitality, courage, joy, leadership, and
adventure. It is also associated with successful property deals, legal
matters, justice, selling, advice, and encouragement.
Yellow
Although the color yellow is often associated with a sunny disposition,
it is not a good color for an infants nursery. Babies cry more often and
people tend to lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms. It is a
great accent color, though, because yellow is the first color humans
notice. It is associated with wisdom, intellect, and mental activity.
Green
This color is most often associated with life, fertility, and nature.
Because it represents growth and because our money is green, it can also
represent finances, prosperity, and wealth. Green can relax muscles,
improve vision, and calm emotions. It is the color that usually
symbolizes health and healing. It is also the color of good luck.
Blue
Blue is a humanitarian color, often associated with honesty, loyalty,
and service. For example, it is tradition for brides to have something
blue because blue is a symbol of fidelity. It can represent quality, as
in blue bloods or blue ribbons. Blue is peaceful, tranquil, and
soothing. However, if taken to the extreme, it can also be sad or
depressing.
Purple
Because it is rare in nature and, therefore, hard to produce as a dye,
the color purple has become associated with luxury, elegance, and
royalty. On the other hand, it can sometimes appear artificial. Purple
lends an air of mystery. It is often said to symbolize spirituality,
psychic connections, intuition, inspiration, divination, and higher
wisdom.
White
Made up of all colors, white has the power to energize, harmonize, heal,
and expand capabilities. It represents purity, cleanliness, and light.
White light is believed to symbolize the highest form of protection. It
is associated with angels, the Moon, truth, sincerity, innocence, and
the divine. It may be as cold as ice or as hot as holy fire.
Black
The color black happens when all other colors are absorbed and not
reflected. As a result, black represents death, rebirth, and
transitions. It is also used in binding, banishing, repelling,
reversing, uncrossing, releasing, or protective rituals. In fashion,
black signifies authority and power but also submission to the divine,
as with a ministers clothing.
Brown
Often referred to as a neutral color, brown is neither an active warm
color nor a pacifying cool color. Instead, it is a stabilizer, blending,
combining, and cooperating. It is solid, reliable, supportive, genuine,
and authentic. Brown represents the color of the earth and is associated
with the health and safety of pets and animals.
Anne M. Gaal, Ph.D., is a writer,
artist, and an ordained metaphysical minister, who specializes in
customized, nondenominational weddings and handfastings. For more
information about how to get married your way" see her
website www.metafizx.com. |
