Colour has significant impact on our lives and it is of paramount importance that we ensure we are designing living environments that are conducive to their function. Study the environmental side of Feng Shui and understand the impact colour has on our moods, health, well-being and happiness.
What is Colour? Our world is made up of a magnetic field of positive and negative charges, constantly vibrating and producing electromagnetic waves. Each has a different wavelength and speed of vibration: together they form the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Long Waves
- Radio Waves
- Infra Red
- Visible Rays of Daylight
- Ultra-violet
- X-rays Gamma Rays
- Short Waves
Red is the longest wavelength we can see and it has the slowest frequency of vibration. Its magnetic energy is warming and stimulating.Violet has the shortest wavelength, the quickest vibration, and is cooling and cleansing.
The Psychology of Colour: Across every continent and in every culture, colour dominates and permeates our lives. But few of us realise this. In our fast- moving world we are constantly bombarded by colour, yet many of us have lost touch with its meanings. Colour surrounds us, feeling and nourishing our senses. We see it, feel it and absorb it. Our minds, bodies and spirits are profoundly affected by it. Our bodies are stimulated and energised by some colours, or calmed and relaxed by others. Mentally and emotionally, colour works on a deep level, changing our mood and our sense of well being, as well as others’ perception of us. Spiritually, too, colour is of immense significance. Employed in religious ritual throughout time, colour is the language of the soul. From the saffron robes of Tibetan Buddhist monks and the royal blue of the Virgin Mary’s Cloak in Christianity, to the black and white worn to represent death, birth and renewal the world over, the beliefs that colours symbolize are communicated with an extraordinary immediacy which words can never match. We, humans are not the only creatures on this planet who are affected by colour. In the animal and plant worlds colour can mean survival or extinction. Colour is used to attract, camouflage ward of danger, and send sexual signals. Colour is intrinsic to life, and it is as important to us as it is the plant and animal kingdoms. It is a lost language we must relearn for our own health, happiness and well being.
Red: Red is a powerful colour that has always been associated with vitality and ambition. It can help overcome negative thoughts. Red is the most physical of all colours. It is the colour of blood and has a stimulating action on our heart and circulation: red light will raise the blood pressure. Our body system is fortified by red, it stimulates the adrenal glands, helping us to become strong and build up our stamina. Red: Power, prosperity, ambition, vitality, courageous, assertive, anti-depressant.
Orange: Orange is a warm, joyous colour. It frees and releases emotions, stimulates the mind, renewing interest in life. It is a wonderful anti depressant and lifts the spirits. Orange: Fun, uplifting, glowing, creative, stimulating, laughter, joy, humour.
Yellow: Yellow is also a happy, bright, and uplifting colour, a celebration of sunny days. It is associated with the intellectual side of the brain and stimulates our ability to think clearly, make decisions and assists our memory. It also helps good organisation, assimilation of new ideas, and the ability to see different points of view. It builds self-confidence and encourages an optimistic attitude. Yellow wavelengths of light stimulate the brain, making you alert, clear headed and decisive. Yellow: Happy, uplifting, light, bright, mentally stimulating, optimistic, and logical.
Green: Green has a strong affinity with nature, helping us connect and empathise with others and the natural world. We instinctively seek it when under stress or experiencing emotional trauma. Green creates a feeling of comfort and relaxation, calmness and space, lessening stress, balancing and soothing the emotions. Green brings physical equilibrium and relaxation. It has a balancing quality. Green: Peaceful, natural, free, contented, mentally and physically relaxing, calming.
Blue: Blue is a cool, calming colour. It represents the night, so makes us feel calm and relaxed as if we are being soothed by the deep blue of the night sky. Light and soft blues make us feel quiet and protected from all the bustle and activity of the day. Blue: soothing, cooling, calming, relaxing, peace, tranquillity.
Purple: Purple is a powerful psychic colour associated with the right side of the brain, therefore stimulating intuition and imagination. Purple is also connected with artistic and musical impulses, mystery and sensitivity to beauty, stimulating creativity, inspiration, sensitivity, spirituality and compassion. People attracted to purple have to guard against living in a fantasy world. Purple: Spiritual, Creative, intuitive, meditative, mystical, inspirer of beauty, artistic.
White: The colour of ultimate purity is white. It is an all around colour of protection, bringing peace and comfort, alleviating emotional shock and despair, helping cleanse emotions, thoughts and spirit. If you need time and space to reflect on your life, white can give you a feeling of freedom and uncluttered openness. Too much white however can be cold and isolating because white separates us from other people. White: Purity, virginity, peacefulness, cold.
Black: Black is associated with silence, the infinite, uncharted and mysterious. Black can also prevent us from growing and changing. We often cloak ourselves in black to hide from the world. Black: Restrictive, Protective, Mysterious, Death.
Grey: Associated with independence, self-reliance and self-control, grey acts as a shield from outside influence. However grey generally has a negative feeling associated with fog, clouds and smoke. Grey is the colour of evasion and non-commitment since it is neither black nor white. It relates to walling everything off, remaining separate, uncommitted, and uninvolved. Grey: Separating, independent, lonely.
Gold: Like yellow, gold is associated with the sun and is therefore related to abundance and power, higher ideals, wisdom, understanding. It is mentally revitalising, energising and inspiring. It can also help to fight against fear and uncertainty. Gold: Abundance, wisdom, understanding, high ideals.
Brown: The colour of mother Earth, brown brings a sense of stability, alleviating insecurity. Brown: Nurturing, supportive, earthy.
Silver: Silver is the colour of the moon, which is ever changing. It balances, harmonises and is mentally cleansing. Silver: Balancing, harmonising, sensitive.