Ancient Wisdom Demonstrates How to Use Colors for Contemporary Success

What’s your favorite color? It’s a question we all have very strong opinions about because colors are powerful in many ways—for changing mood, expressing emotions, even influencing action. While somewhat controversial, a whole world of modern color research has evolved to help marketers and others use color in productive ways.

One of the most recent pieces of research is from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, that assessed how a red or blue background color on computer screens affected the work of 600 students. When the background was red, students responded with greater recall and attention to detail. When it was blue, they became more creative. According to color therapist Jill Morton of Colorcom in Honolulu, Hawaii, a possible explanation lies in the different wavelengths of the colors, causing people to perceive red objects as moving toward us and blue ones as moving away. She speculates that one reason for the finding was that students may have focused more on close detail work simply to get relief from the aggressiveness of the red background…but of course, it’s hard to know for sure.

COLOR AND HEALING THERAPIES

While modern scientists continue to debate the whys and wherefores of colors, there’s much that can be learned from ancient healing therapies, where colors have revered and established roles.

In the Ayurvedic tradition, it is believed that there are seven energy centers—the chakras—that run from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a specific color as well as emotions and parts of the body…and also with a specific element which in turn carries a certain vibrational frequency that correlates to the visible light spectrum. For example, the Muladhara or Root Chakra (red) is governed by the earth element—red has the slowest frequency of the visual light spectrum and earth has the slowest frequency of the elements.

Diantha Harris, color therapist and author of Simply…Color, told me that color can be used to address challenges on the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual level. The individual chakras can be balanced with color to help particular issues. There are two ways to do this—you can enhance a quality by adding a color…for example, more yellow in your day may bring an increased sense of personal power (represented in the third or solar plexus chakra). You could alternatively use a dose of color to offset a problem. If you are struggling with feelings of envy, you can regain balance by adding its complementary color (red) to your environment. Harris suggests some ways to increase the presence of a chakra color in your life: bringing flowers into your home…adding foods of that color to your diet…wearing it (in socks or underclothes if it isn’t one you like)…or using sheets, towels or blankets of the color.

THE CHAKRAS

Briefly, chakras, their colors and associations are as follows:

  • The Root Red Chakra—at the base of the spine, associated organs include spine, adrenal glands and others. Red therapy replenishes courage and energy. A red challenge includes anger, frustration and issues with survival including money. Complementary color: green.
  • The Sacral Orange Chakra—in the lower abdomen, its organs include reproductive ones and lower intestines. Orange benefits community, connection, creativity and sexuality…it helps to create and support healthy relationships and boundaries, as well as healing shock or trauma. Negative challenges include addiction and moodiness. Complementary color: blue.
  • The Solar Plexus Yellow Chakra—near the navel and under the ribcage, its organs are the pancreas and liver. Yellow is for clarity, focus, will or personal power and to help assimilate knowledge and experiences. Negative challenges include an ego that is out of balance and feelings of timidity. Complementary color: purple.
  • The Heart Green Chakra—in the center of the chest, its organs are the heart, lungs and thymus gland. Green supports feelings of safety, love and expansion. Negative challenges are envy, bitterness and the need to refocus and regain energy. Complementary color: red.
  • The Throat Blue Chakra—in the base of the throat, its associated organs are the thyroid, throat, mouth and neck. This is the color of communication and truth, trust, faith and peace. Negative challenges include isolation, loneliness and depression. Complementary color: orange.
  • The Third Eye (the Brow) Indigo Chakra—at the center of the head, between the eyes (third eye). Associated organs are the eyes, brain and pituitary gland. Indigo has to do with higher mind functions of intuition and clairvoyance and it also can be used to enhance meditation. Negative challenges are severe depression or isolation. Complementary color: yellow.
  • The Crown Violet Chakra—on the top of the head, associated with the brain and pineal gland. It is the color of healing, as well as spiritual and emotional issues and offers support during times of transition. Negative challenges include loss, grieving and suffering. Complementary color: yellow.

The colors you need at a given time will shift according to events in your life. There are a number of books and Web sites that have information on color and how to incorporate its healing influence. In addition, you can meet with a color therapist to work on using color to improve your life. Sessions generally cost in the $75 to $100 range and you can find a list of holistic healers including those practicing color therapy at http://www.byregion.net/).

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