As summer goes into full swing, we are surrounded by the amazing colour palate of Nature. We can see it everywhere – no matter if one lives in the big city or the remote villages of the world. Colour surrounds us, cradles us and extends through us. Colour is a frequency – it is a property of Light. Take a light, shine it through a prism and voila – a rainbow of colours will appear. What was once a beam of white light is now split into its major component colours. Colours are different because they are different wave lengths or frequencies. And if we were to look closely at these major component parts, we would see yet more shades of these colours. Why? Because there are different wave lengths present in Light.
Everyone is affected by colour, often more than they realize. Colour is tied to all aspects of our life, especially to its visual aspects. No one is truly neutral when it comes to colours – there are some colours we really like, some we are not too sure about and some we simply cannot stand! What is important to realize is that we are responding to the wave length or frequency being given out by that colour. To understand what that wave length is about will help us to learn what will help us balance, revitalize or calm ourselves. Colour is a concentration of a certain light frequency / wave length. It can stimulate or depress, be constructive or destructive, repel or attract.
Every colour, every frequency of light has its own characteristics and so have the capability of affecting the different energies of the human essence. Each colour has its own unique effects and can be used for healing, balancing and stimulating deeper levels of consciousness. Higher frequency colours can affect the higher frequencies of the brain. Lower frequency colours can affect the systems and energies of the physical body.
Let’s look at a general table of colours and influences on our well-being, as described by Ted Andrews, a holistic practitioner and author.
PHYSICAL
Restful = Green, Light Blue
Revitalizing = Orange
Stimulating = Red
EMOTIONAL
Restful = Sky Blue, Turquoise
Revitalizing = Peach
Stimulating = Orange
MENTAL
Restful = Indigo
Revitalizing = Emerald Green
Stimulating = Yellow
SPIRITUAL
Restful = Blue
Revitalizing = Gold
Stimulating = Violet, Purple
To use colour as a vibrational healing modality, one must become more colour sensitive and knowledgeable. Learning more about the frequencies of light as colour and their effects upon the human energy field helps understand one’s attraction or rejection to colour and how this can influence health and healing. Each person has their own relationship with colour and its effects upon them. But how does one develop a deeper understanding of this relationship?
There are several exercises and tools that can help explore this relationship. But it’s summer time – who wants to be “working and studying” while summer beckons us to come and play? Fortunately, Ted Andrews suggests a fabulous way to explore the relationship AND have fun! In his book, The Healer’s Manual, he explains how to “Play with Colours”. It goes like this:
“Play with Colours. In essence, this means start exploring all the various shades of colour. Go to a store and buy a 64-pack of Crayola Crayons. Most people grew up with these colours … Or if you prefer there are inexpensive packs of coloured pencils and markers now available.
Play with them. Draw with them. Buy a colouring book and colour with them. Don’t hold to the natural colours of objects. For example, if there are animals, make them whatever colour you desire – even multiple colours. As you do, pay attention to how you feel as you colour. Which colours do you like the best? Doodle with them. Buy a paint-by-number set but don’t follow the numbers. Paint each section the colours you desire, no matter how out of the ordinary. Have FUN with the process. Colours awaken a newfound sense of joy. You will be surprised how easy it is to slip into the colouring mode and lose track of time.” (p.111)
To continue developing your sensitivity and relationship to colours, Ted Andrews also suggests “Creating a Colour Wheel”.
“Take a sheet of paper and draw a large circle in the centre. Then divide that circle into as many sections (at least 12) as you wish. Colour each section a different colour. … Do not colour them in any particular order. You will find as you go along that you can easily recognize which colours seem to go better together. You are simply becoming more colour aware.
Because this exercise employs so many colours, it also has other wonderful benefits. It will balance out your system and relax you. It restores balance to the chakras and to the subtle energy flows of the body, mind and spirit. Make other smaller wheels and combine just two or three colours. Pay attention to how they make you feel. Pay attention to your body, your emotions and your mental states before, during and after. You will be surprised at the effects.” (p.111-112)
There are many books on the meanings of colours, psychology of colour, the frequencies of colours and so on. To get you started, here are a few quick descriptions that you might find helpful to increase your understanding. Again, these notes were taken from Ted Andrews’ book, The Healer’s Manual.
WHITE: Purification, purity, amplification
White contains the entire light spectrum. All systems of the body respond to it. Strengthens, cleanses and purifies the entire energy system.
BLACK: Protection, grounding, strengthening
Black also contains the entire light spectrum. Grounding and calming for very sensitive people. If used too much, it can cause or aggravate depression or depressive moods. Best to use with another colour – white is most balancing to use with it.
RED: Strengthening of life force, will and sexuality; stimulating
Stimulates overall energy levels of metabolism, blood conditions, lower extremities, physical energy. Base chakra. Too much red can over-stimulate and aggravate some conditions (eg. High blood pressure). Green can balance red.
ORANGE: Activation, construction, optimism/joy, energy reserves.
Muscular system, elimination system, emotional aggravation and causes of physical problems. Joy, wisdom and creativity. Sacral chakra. Too much orange can affect the nerves. Green-blues can balance orange.
YELLOW: Mental activity, intellectual power and ability, awakening.
Left-hemisphere brain activity, digestive system, adrenal activity. Helps awaken an enthusiasm for life. Solar plexus chakra. Too much can create or indicate anxiety or mental tension. Blue colours balance yellow.
GREEN: Balance, growth, calming
Circulatory system, Autonomic nervous system, increase sensitivity and compassion. Restful to overtaxed mental conditions. Awakens greater hope, faith and peace. Heart chakra. Not to be used in tumorous or malignant conditions as it promotes growth. Balances itself.
BLUE: Peace, faith, aspiration, creative expression, inspiration
Cooling to the body systems. Respiratory system, eyes, ears nose, throat, venous conditions. Quieting to our energies. Antiseptic effect. Universally healing colour for children. Throat chakra. Orange and red-orange help balance blue.
INDIGO: Integration, purification, altered states of consciousness, intuition
Endocrine and reproductive systems, infection, most conditions of the head and face. Strengthens immune system and lymph system. Detoxifies body. Dynamic healing colour on both physical and spiritual levels. Third-eye Chakra. Too much can cause depression and a sense of separateness from others. Soft orange can balance indigo.
VIOLET: Purification, transmutation, practical spirituality
Skeletal and nervous systems, some venous conditions, tumorous/cancerous conditions. Antiseptic and purifying. Balances physical and spiritual energies. Inspiration and humility. True violet is 50% red and 50% blue – the balance of the physical and spiritual. Crown chakra.
AQUA (Turquoise and other light blue-greens): Multi-purpose healing
Respiratory system, metabolism, skin conditions, acute pain. Cooling to the system. Balances and strengthens all systems of the body. Purifying.
BROWN: Grounding and stabilizing
Stabilizing over-excited states. Calms and grounds emotions and extreme mental conditions. Helps awaken common sense and discrimination. Brings one back down to earth.
GOLD: Strengthening and amplifying
Immune system, cardiac conditions. Amplifies other colours without overexciting the system. Helps awaken a person’s own healing abilities to help the body to restore homeostasis (balance). Can awaken renewed enthusiasm.
PINK: Soothing
Skin conditions, inflammations, immune system. Soothing on all levels. Soothes anger and feelings of neglect. Awakens compassion, love, purity. Comforts the emotional energies. Used in meditation to discern greater truths.
PURPLE: Intense purification
Detoxifying the body. Stimulate venous activity. Calm headaches. Red-purple range helps balance polarities of the body. Blue-purple range helps to shrink and to cool, easing inflammation.
SILVER: Amplification and intuitive clarification
Discernment of the cause of disease. Amplifies effects of other colours. Stimulating and balancing to the feminine energies and especially the Yin meridians.
May you enjoy your exploration of colour. Find ways to have fun AND explore your relationship with colour. You’ll be amazed!