Colour Psychology and Healing

By: Katie Day

Colour has always been a key aspect throughout history - art, religion and some forms of spiritual healing have all derived meaning from certain colours and the feelings that they invoke. We derive meaning from red to stop and green to go, black to show menace and fear, whilst white defined beauty and goodness.

When we are children, whilst our brains are still growing, we begin to discern colours such as red, before others. This is because we perceive these colours through the hypothalamus, making us sensitive towards the frequencies of certain colours, red being the highest and therefore the first we see.

As we age, our perceptions of these colours change.

The Basics of Colour

Hue: Hues, the names of colours and their colour families, are the colours we perceive. This is attributed to the wavelengths of the colours themselves.

Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour is based on its value. The lighter a colour is, the higher its value, with white at the very top of the scale, and black at the very bottom. Value is added or removed by adding white or black respectively.

Intensity: Also known as the chroma. Weaker intensity colours have a more faded appearance, whilst higher intensity colours have a more powerful quality to them.

Psychology and Healing

Different colours have long symbolised different objects or emotions. At the same time, studies have shown that colours have different psychological effects on people. Whatever the occasion, you may wish to wear a certain colour or colour combination in order to create the desired impact.

Red: The Base Chakra - The Element of Earth - Red is the most powerful colours, symbolising strength and raw emotion as well as grounding and the Earth. Naturally, red is classically used in a romantic sense, but can also be utilised sparingly in the workplace to demonstrate power and authority.

Pink & Peach: Pinks and peaches are a much more effeminate hue, although it can be worn well by men if contrasted by charcoals, blacks and other deep colours.

Orange - The Second Chakra - Sacral, just below the belly button, Element Water Stands for fire and sunlight. Orange is like red, but toned down in intensity. It can reflect friendliness and liveliness. It is a 'happy' colour and loved by children, hence it is used extensively in children's toys, clothes, games etc.

Yellow - The Third Chakra - Solar Plexus, between bottom of chest and top of belly button, Element Fire Yellow is the colour of sunshine. It represents radiance, warmth and receptivity and brings out an approachable and cheerful outlook.

Green - The Fourth Chakra- The Heart, Element Air Green induces a feeling of stability, balance, naturalness and tranquillity. When used near your face, green can also create tension and drama.

Blue: The Fifth Chakra - The Element of Space - One of the most versatile neutral colours, lighter shades show peace and calm, whilst darker shades show authority and control. Navy, in particular, is a great colour for communication.

Purple: The Sixth Chakra - The Element of Light - With historical links to the church, royalty and the law, purple is a sign of power and mystical presence.

Brown: A comfortable and plain colour, brown a sign of reliability, normality and security.

Black: A sign of power and mystery, but also dignity, black is a very versatile colour and can fit to almost any circumstance.

Grey: A mixture of black and white, grey shows balance and calmness. Darker hues signify authority and greater power.

White: The Seventh Chakra - Symbolic of light and divinity, white is a very pure, clean colour.

So, make sure that when you pick out your clothes for the day that you're putting across the right message. Wearing exuberant colours can give you the pep you need to get on with the day, although you must consider the reactions of others.

Pinks and oranges are more conservative ways of achieving the same effect, whereas darker hues of blue and grey will assist dramatically in communication and directing.