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| The Beauty of Color |
| Since the day we were born, our lives have been surrounded by color. Some of us can see magnificent vibrant colors while others see muted hues. With the exception of a physical anomaly, how we view a color can depend on our personality and mood. It is often said that a person who comes out of a depression may notice how vivid colors are or perhaps see them in such a way that it is almost as if s/he is seeing these beautiful hues for the first time. Not only can our mood and personality affect how we see colors, colors can affect our moods and personality as well. In 1st century Rome, a physician wrote about the uses of color, particularly how color could be used for therpuetic reasons. With the coming of Christianity, however, the church disallowed it (as well as many other alternative therapies) because it became associated with paganism. Color therapy reemerged in the late 19th century and in the 20th century, the Luscher Colour Test was formulated. This test was based on a theory that colors could stimulate the autonomic nervous system, thus affecting metabolic rates. In the 1950's, this test showed that warm, bright colors like yellow and red raised blood pressure while cool, calming colors like blue or green lowered it. Since this time, color has been used in many areas to treat various maladies such as a blue light for newborn jaundice or as relief to rheumatoid arthritis. Today, society is not so rigid about viewing alternative therapies as "pagan". Many people use alternative therapies such as essential oils, herbals, meditation, yoga, and color therapy. Still, there are others who hold onto the beliefs that only pagans use these techniques (and because I am Christian, I have had mud slung at me by a pagan or two for using these "pagan" therapies). The following is a brief listing of colors, their properties, food colors, clothing colors and their affects on the mind and body as well as associated essential oils, gemstones and candle colors. |
| What Color are you projecting? What color are you wearing right now? How do you feel wearing this color? What is your favorite color? Least favorite? Which color predominates in your closet? What colors have you decorated your home or office space with? What is the color of your car? What color(s) do you avoid? Red:: courage, passion, full of drive, vigorous, brutal, tyranny, obstinate ***Clothing: When worn in excess, suggests a person who is quick to judge or take sides, they find it hard to be objective about their own shortcomings. ***Foods: Red foods are said to give energy and be restoring ***Body: Red is primarily asscoaited with the genitals and reproductive organs as well as circulation. Thus, problems that respond to the color red involve arteriosclerosis, infertility and anemia. ***Oils: Vetivert, Myrrh and Patchouli ***Gemstones: Ruby, Bloodstone and Garnet ***Candles: Love DO NOT USE RED WITH: hyperactive, violent, aggressive people, when feeling angry or when you wish to relax. Yellow:: optimistic, flexible, adaptive, clarity, critical, cynical ***Clothing: When worn in excess, suggests a stubborn or opinionated person. However, when worn with other colors, can suggest cheer and happiness. ***Foods: Believed to relieve depression ***Body: Liver, gall bladder, digestive system, spleen. Yellow is thought to release toxins, clears away negativity and boosts self-esteem. ***Oils: Lemon and Citronella ***Gemstones: Tiger's Eye, Citrine and Topaz ***Candles: Optimism DO NOT USE YELLOW WITH: Insomnia or with people who are aggressive or have ADHD. Blue:: truth, intelligence, calming and soothing, egotistical, ruthless, dishonest ***Clothing: When worn in excess, blue can suggest one who is self-righteous and cautious. When more subdued, it suggests calm and peace, a down to earth person. ***Food: N/A ***Body: Throat, lungs, skull. Blue is believed to help with coughs and colds, vocal problems and teething. ***Oils: Lavender, Chamomile, Geranium ***Gemstones: Blue Topaz, Sodalite ***Candles: Peacefulness DO NOT USE BLUE WITH: slowed metabolism or when feeling cold. Purple:: aristocracy, visionary, enlightenment, spiritual, snobbish, merciless, dictatorial ***Clothing: A very heavy color that needs a strong personality to carry it off. Too much can appear to an observer as being pompous and aloof. However, a touch of purple suggests a tolerant person who is witty and sensitive. ***Food: Believed to assist in facing conflict ***Body: Brain, crown of head. The color is said to be able to reveal deep depression and suicidal ideations. Also good for inflammation, immune system and nervousness. Use Purple sparingly. ***Oils: Frankincense, Lavender ***Gemstones: Amethyst, Alexandrite and Purple Flourite DO NOT USE PURPLE WITH: Alcohol or drug problems or when in a building that houses mentally ill people. White:: supreme faith, purity, secluded, rigid ***Clothing: Suggests innocence and youth. When worn for reasons other than a vocation or religion, it can project immaturity, desire for perfection and vanity. ***Food: Clears and aids in transport of lymphatic fluid ***Body: Eyeball ***Oils: Jasmine, Iris ***Gemstones: Diamond, Pearl ***Candles: Spirituality DO NOT USE WHITE WITH: an immature personality. Silver:: revealing, astute, inauthentic, deceitful ***Food: N/A but using silverware is said to ensure unbiased opinions ***Body: calming of nerves. ***Candles: Clarity Grey:: sane, optimistic, spartan, ill, miserable *** Clothing: When worn to the extreme, can indicate someone who has withdrawn from life, Worn with other colors indicates one who is dedicated and will work hard without expecting a reward. ***Food:N/A ***Body: Light grey is soothing to a busy mind ***Candles: Clarity Turqouise:: calm, introspective, reserved, indecisive ***Clothing: This suggests a hard driven soul who occasionally lives in a state of turmoil and is imaginative. ***Food: N/A ***Body: Chest---soothes chest, encourages introspection and seeking out one's self Gold:: mature, pure, abundant,mistrusting, cynical ***Food: allows success ***Body: Beneficial to depression and relieving sucidal ideations. Not related to one specific body part. ***Candles: Achievement of Goals Black:: secretive, idealistic, creative, superior, constrained, troublesome ***Clothing: When worn in excess, can indicate a person who is trying to supress his inner desires or who has secret longings. ***Food: allows one to see the magic within themselves ***Body: helps wth self-discipline ***Oils: Camphor, Cloves, Benzoin ***Gemstones: Onyx, Black Pearl ***Candles: Protection DO NOT USE BLACK WITH: Depression or when feeling negative. Indigo:: compliant, tenacious, organizing, obsessed, puritanical ***Food: results in energy ***Body: Represents bone, eyes and sinuses. Believed to provide pain relief, bronchitis, sciatica, diarrhea and blood pressure. ***Oils: Patchouli and Frankincense ***Gemstones: Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli, Azurite DO NOT USE INDIGO WITH: Depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Green:: Harmony, stabilizes, discreet, tolerant, bitter, suspicious, greedy ***Clothing: Too much can give the impression of a cool and detached person or a high level of anxiety. in small amounts, suggests inner peace and harmony. ***Food: Improves stamina and detoxifies ***Body: Heart, chest and lungs. Aids, in memory, shock and fatigue. ***Oils: Melissa, Pine and Bergamot ***Gemstones: Tourmaline, Jade, Emerald ***Candles: Money DO NOT USE GREEN WITH: Autoimmune disorders or where analytical thinking is required. Orange:: tender, lavish, brave, arrogant, gloomy, vain ***Clothing: When worn in excess, this color suggests superficiality, fickleness. When worn more subdued, orange can suggest a fun-loving and good natured person. ***Food: Boosts digestion ***Body: Abdomen, intestines, kidneys. Helps with grief, removes inhibitions, gives strength, relief from intestinal cramping, epilepsy and inflammatory disorders. ***Oils: Ginger, Sandalwood ***Gemstones: Amber, Coral, Carnelian ***Candles:Energy DO NOT USE ORANGE WITH: nausea or eating disorders. Shades and Tints: A shade is a color mixed with a black base while a tint has a white base. Below are a few tints and shades as well as the color they originate from. Red Maroon-- subdued, careful Magenta-- uplifting Crimson-- strong Pink-- affectionate Orange Dark Orange-- undermining Peach-- communication Yellow Dark Yellow-- gloomy Lemon Yellow-- orderly Green Dark Green-- resentment Pale green-- fresh start Olive Green-- endurance Blue Dark Blue-- focused Sky Blue-- calm Purple Deep Purple-- arrogance Amethyst-- mystical connection Lavender-- elusive Lilac-- romance (Lilac) Mauve-- aristocratic Plum-- full of false pride Gemstones Amethyst: Peace of Mind, Humility, Bringer of Dreams Amber: Courage, congealed light Coral: Aspiration, Longevity Diamond: Constancy, Innocence, Durability Emerald: Hope, Immortality, Harmony of Life Opal: Faithfulness, Religious intensity, Purification Pearl: Chastity, Value, Purity Ruby: Dignity, Power, Passion Sapphire: Truth, Spirituality, Devotion Topaz: Fidelity, Friendship, Divine Goodness Planets Sun: Orange Moon: Silver Mercury: Blue Venus: Aqua Mars: Red Jupiter: Indigo Saturn: Dark colors Uranus: Silver Neptune: Grey Pluto: Red-Violet Light Therapy Red: energy Orange: joy Yellow: discrimination Green: balance Blue: communication Indigo: relaxation Violet: dignity Pink: love White: transformation Zodiac Aries: Red Taurus: Light colors Gemini: Grey-Blue Cancer: Green Leo: Gold Virgo: Indigo and Navy Blue Libra: Pink Scorpio: Maize Yellow Sagittarius: Dark Blue Capricorn: Black Aquarius: Lemon Yellow and mint Pisces: Aqua |