Light & colour are vibrating
energies, each colour having its own wavelength and frequency. The
different colours are created by light waves of differing lengths. The
colours we see in the objects around us are caused by the light waves being
absorbed or reflected off the object. Without light, there is no
colour. Dark objects absorb more light rays, and reflect less light,
whilst objects that look light, are reflecting more light, and absorbing less.
We can use colour in our clothing, our
decor, colours of food we eat, or visualise a colour, in crystals or stained water, our
choice of plants and flowers, to help us balance and benefit our body, mind and emotions.
We tend to instinctively be drawn towards the colours we need, perhaps being drawn
to blue when feeling anxious or stressed.
Complementary Colours
Each colour has its own complementary
or contrasting colour. A complementary colour is the opposing colour on the colour
wheel. This is useful when you are, for instance, feeling blue - you can wear or
visualise orange to lift your mood. When working with colours and feeling unsure,
trust your intuition.
Primary & Secondary Colours
The 3 Primary Colours are
Red,Yellow
and
Blue. Mixing 2 colours will result in the colour between them on the colour
wheel. This is called the Secondary Colour. If you mix a Primary Colour with a
Secondary Colour, the result will be a Tertiary Colour. Secondary and
Tertiary colours will include properties from each of the colours, for example:
Orange
will include properties of red and yellow
Green
blue and yellow
Turquoise
green, blue and yellow
Violet
red and blue
Warm & Cool Colours
On the Colour Wheel, warm colours are
Red
through
Orange
and
Yellow .
It's possible to mix a little of a warm colour to a
cool colour to warm it. Warm colours tend to appear to come towards you, or feel
closer to you. Red
through
Orange
and
Yellow
are warm, energising and happy.
Cool colours (Green,
Blue
& Violet) tend to appear to go away from you, and give you more of feeling of space
when used in a room. Green,
Blue
& Violet
are soothing, calming and cooling.
Colour Personality
Max Luscher developed the Luscher Colour Test over a
period of 20 years. The colours he used were selected for their associations with
physical and mental states. He showed how our attraction to colours gives
information about your personality. He used 8 colours, and interpreted the results
according to the order the person listed the 8 colours, depending on how those colours
appealed to them. I have used information from this test, in addition to other sources,
for the 'Colour Personality' sections below.
The Colours and how they
affect us
Red
Red is powerful, energy-filled colour, associated
with life and vitality.Red relates to the
physical body: it stimulates us and raises the heart rate. It has the longest
wavelength and slowest vibration of all the colours.
Promotes: stimulates body (including
circulation, intestine and appetite), lively, energising, happiness.
When used with its complementary colour of turquoise, red may help to counteract
infections. The red is thought to increase blood supply to the area, and
the turquoise to cleanse and reduce inflammation. Good for depression &
negativity, initiative and motivation.
Unhelpful for: Associated
with anger, irritability and impatience.
Don't use in: High blood
pressure, heart conditions, sleep problems, epilepsy, asthma.
Complementary colour
Turquoise
Use in the Home
Can make a space look smaller, and therefore be
claustrophobic or oppressive. When used well, red can make a room feel warm &
cosy. Often used in restaurants. Use it to create intimacy in a room.
Colour Personality
Choice of red as your favourite colour means you
are impulsive, sexy and have a will to win. You are a good leader. You want to
expand your horizons and live a life to the full. Red as your least favourite colour
means your desire for life and thirst for adventure have become less.
A joyous colour.It frees and releases emotions and releases feelings of self-pity, lack of
self worth and unwillingness to forgive.It
stimulated the mind and renews interest in life.It
is a natural anti-depressant and lifts the spirit. A fun & sociable colour,
although too much can contribute to frivolity and a lack of serious intellectual values.
Orange is for independence and happiness. The energy of creation.
Orange is thought to bring about changes in the biochemical structure, resulting in the
dispersing of depression. It is said that it has been shown to be beneficial in
chronic bronchitis, and due to its anti-spasmodic effect, helps in muscle spams and cramp.
Promotes:
vitality, stimulation, self-esteem, independence, inner strength, optimism,
creativity, self-expression, happiness, broadens and opens up the mind to new
ideas and perspectives, understanding
Good for:
depression, low self-esteem, bereavement, sexual problems
Don't use in:
high blood pressure, nausea, anger, irritability.
Complementary colour
Light Blue
Use in the Home
Any activity or creative area. Not ideal
for bedrooms or areas of possible stress. Said to stimulate the appetite, so good
for dining rooms.
A happy, bright and uplifting colour.It also stimulates the mind, intellect, emotions,
and contributes to the expression of thoughts.It
therefore aids memory, clear thinking, decision making and good judgement.It facilitates good organisation, and enables us
to see different points of view.
It builds self confidence and encourages optimism.However, yellow can also be associated with fear
and cowardice. Too much yellow can cause loss of self esteem and self confidence.
Yellow can reveal a person's weaknesses and help to release deep-seated problems.
It is thought to be effective in improving skin conditions such as eczema.
Promotes:
self-confidence and respect, will-power, self-control, ability to rationalise
and reason, intellectual and mental stimulation, flexible thinking, contentment,
empowerment
Good for:
indigestion, depression, sensitivity to criticism, stress, negativity,
difficulty in thinking clearly
Don't use in:
insomnia, hyperactivity
Complementary colour
Magenta
Use in the Home
Activity rooms, play rooms, entrance halls,
study. Not suitable for bedrooms as it can interfere with sleep. Not ideal for
areas of possible stress.
Colour Personality
If yellow is your favourite colour means you are
ambitious and eager to please. If yellow is your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th favourite colour,
you are positive, optimistic and look to the future, never backwards. You find life
easy, and problems just don't exist for you. Free from worry, you lead a carefree
life; but this does not mean you are lazy. You can be extremely hard working,
although not consistently. When yellow is one of your least favourite colours, you
have had your hopes and dreams dashed, and you may feel isolated and disappointed, often
becoming defensive and withdrawn.
Has a strong affinity with nature, and helps us to
connect to others and to the natural world.It
is the colour of balance.It gives a feeling
of comfort and relaxation, calmness and space.It
reduces stress, soothing and steadying our emotions. Green may also have antiseptic
properties, and thought to destroy embryonic cell structure.
Promotes:
Balanace, personal development, self-acceptance, compassion for self and others.
Good for:
Stress, fear, self-pity, confusion. Physical health problems, nausea,
cancer treatment, heart problems, blood pressure problems, immune system
problems, fatigue, headaches, flu symptoms.
Complementary colour
Violet / Purple
Use in the Home
Depending on shade, can be used in most areas.
Anywhere you need to relax. Use with other colours to avoid balance and
harmony becoming more like total inactivity and indecision.
Colour Personality
Green as your favourite colour, means you are
persistent, possessive and quite selfish. You are a high achiever and an accumulator
of "things" - like a penthouse, a Rolex, holiday flat, CD player. If green
is down the list of your favourite colours, your ego has been bruised and you have been
humbled by the resistance to your progress. Consequently, you can be highly
critical, sarcastic and stubborn.
In equilibrium, conscientious, circumspect,
harmonious, understanding, contented, cautious, reserved, tidy.
Turquoise
Invigorating, cooling and calming.It is good for mental strain (nervous system),
immune system and tiredness.It is helpful
for feelings of loneliness, and heightens communication, sensitivity and creativity.
Turquoise is thought to cleanse and reduce inflammation.
Promotes:
physical healing, cleanliness, personal relationships, sharing.
Good for:
inflammatory conditions, immune problems.
Complementary colour
Red
Use in the Home
Any
room although it's not ideal for activity
areas.
Calming, relaxing, soothing, cooling.Midnight blue has a strong sedative effect,
allowing us to connect to our intuitive and feminine side. However, too much dark blue can
be depressing. Blue affects our minds rather than our bodies. Blue can reduce
inflammation, and be useful for stings and headaches.
Good for:
infections with fever or inflammation, stings, headaches, period pains,
insomnia. Stress, anxiety, obsessions, psychoses, learning difficulties.
Do not use
in: depression, loneliness.
Complementary
colour Orange or Yellow
Use in the Home
Any room except those
used for physical activity and play. Perfect for bedrooms.
Colour
Personality
A person who favours
blue is sensitive and easily hurt. You never panic and are in total control of your
life and content with the way it is going. You desire to lead an uncomplicated and
worry-free life, and are prepared to sacrifice certain goals in order to achieve this.
You need a stable relationship without conflict. Perhaps as a side-effect to
contentment, you tend to put on weight. The later blue appears in your list, the
more unsatisfied you are the more you feel the need to break from the ties that restrict
you. But you may not feel able to do anthing about this; instead, you may suffer in
silence.
Indigo
stimulates intuition and imagination, and is a strong sedative.
It's the colour of divine knowledge and the higher mind. Indigo is
said to be a powerful anaesthetic and can reduce pain.
Use in the Home
Suitable for quiet
places and bedrooms, private retreats. Possibly in a study.
Violet and Purple
Balance the mind and help transform obsessions
and fears.Violet
and Purple bring peace, and combat fear. Violet has
the shortest wavelength of all the colours. They are also associated with
artistic and musical ability, stimulating creativity, inspiration, sensitivity,
spirituality and compassion. They are very
introvertive, causing us to look within ourselves, encouraging contemplation and
meditation.
It enhances purpose and dignity. However, too much violet or purple can
cause too much introspection. Violet is said to be very beneficial for
psychological disorders, and all disorders relating to the nervous system.
Good for:
Exhaustion, migraines and other headaches. Stress and anxiety, obsessions,
low self-esteem.
Don't use
in: nightmares, addictions
Complementary colour
Green
Use in the
Home
Places of worship.
Pale violet in bedrooms.
Colour Personality
The person who prefers violet wants to find a
mystical, magical relationship. Both physically and emotionally immature, you are
stuck ina dream of wishful thinking and fantasy. If violet is one of your
least favourite colours, it indicates you are more mature and have outgrown the fantasy
vision of life, confronting harsh reality head on.
Uplifting when feeling angry and despondent.
It is associated with compassion, support and kindness.
Avoid if feeling chronically depressed. Magenta is a combination of red
and violet, thus combining our physical self with our spiritual self, balancing
body and spirit. Magenta enables us to let go, and move with the flow of
life. Letting go of routine, feelings, ideas and emotions.
Magenta is said to be useful in the treatment of tinnitus, benign cysts and
for detached retinas.
Promotes:
letting go of the past, blood supply to the brain, stimulates nervous system.
Good for:
headaches, tinnitus, aggression.
Complementary
colour Green or Turquoise
Use in the Home
Lecture spaces,
chapels, halls. Not ideal for activity or play rooms.
Emotionally soothing and calming, pink gives a
feeling of warmth and nuturing.It reduces
feelings of irritation and aggression, alleviates loneliness, oversensitivity and
vulnerability.Whilst red relates to
sexuality, pink is associated with unconditional love. Too much pink can be
emotionally draining.
Good for:
stimulating immune system, heart problems, insomnia. Stress and trauma,
anger, aggression.
Complementary colour
Pale Green
Use in the Home
Ideal for baby or
child's bedroom
White
The colour of purity.It contains all the colours of the spectrum, and
therefore brings peace, comfort, and alleviates despair and emotional shock, facilitating
inner cleansing of emotions, thoughts and spirit.However, too much white can be cold and isolating. White is
unforgiving and uncompromising.
Promotes:
Cleansing, clarifying, hopefulness
Good for:
sleep problems, headaches.
Use in the
Home
Any room but too
much white can be intimidating. Break up the white with other colours, or with
plants, pictures etc.
Black
Comforting, protective and mysterious.Associated with silence, and the infinite.Black can also prevent us from growing and
changing.
Promotes:
Self-discipline, strength, liberation, reveals hidden potential. Energy
anchor.
Use in the Home
When used with another
colour, enhances the energy of that second colour. Gives space for reflection and
inner searching. Use as highlight colour in accessories such as picture frames or
lamp bases.
Colour
Personality
Anyone choosing black
as their favourite colour (which is rare), is in revolt against their fate. Chosen
second, it means you are prepared to give up everything else to achieve what you want.
It is normally put in 7th or 8th position, representing control of one's destiny
and a balanced outlook. If yellow precedes black in the first 2 positions, then a
change is on the way.
The colour of Mother Earth, brown brings
stability and alleviates insecurity.It can
also relate to repressed emotions, and narrow-mindedness, resulting from lack of
self-worth. It has much of the serious nature of black, but is warmer and softer.
Use in the
Home
Can be dark and overpowering, but good for
accessories. Soften down the colour.
Colour
Personality
If you choose brown as
your favourite colour, you are restless and insecure. Placing brown early also
indicates the importance of a secure environment (refugees often pick brown first).
If you put brown in 4th or 5th place, you are not very concerned about your health and
body. This means you are probably in good shape. Those worried about illness
tend to put brown earlier in the sequence. If brown is last, you don't care enough
for your body and you may not be as healthy as you think.
Grey
Associated with
independence, self-reliance and self-control.Grey
shields us from outside influence.Grey is
also the colour of evasion and non-commitment.It
relates to isolation and self-criticism.
Some experts believe grey is the only colour to have no psychological
qualities, but it can be very suppressive.
Colour
Personality
Grey in first position
means that you want to shut yourself off from everything and remain uncommitted, so that
you can swing with opinion and emotions. You have joining anything with group
connotations and are an observer rather than a doer. Those who put grey in the last
position seek to join everything, eager and enthusiastic. Such people will try
absolutely everything in their efforts to achieve their goals.
Silver
The colour of the moon, which is ever changing.It relates to the emotional and sensitive aspects
of the mind.It balances, harmonises and is
mentally cleansing.
Gold
Associated with the sun,
and therefore to abundance and power, wisdom and understanding.It is mentally revitalising, energising and
inspiring, and is helpful for fear, uncertainty and lack of interest.
Red is powerful, energy-filled colour, associated
with life and vitality.
A joyous colour.
A happy, bright and uplifting colour.
orating, cooling and calming.
d Purple bring peace, and combat fear.
