“The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.”
Hans Hofmann.
Colors often have different meanings in various cultures. The meanings of various colors have changed over the years. Color, without our realizing it, can have a profound effect on how we feel both mentally and physically. Sometimes we get an uneasy feeling in certain place or very relaxed in another, but we call this a mood. Different colors represent particular emotional associations in human’s mind. These feelings are important to keep in mind in order to create the mood you are seeking.
White
White is a sacred and pure color. It’s what we see when all colors come together in perfect balance. It's the color of angels and gods, as the color reflects that which is sacred and pure. White represents light and is considered a summer color. Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity. Doctors and nurses wear white to imply sterility. The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams. This color brings feelings of peace and comfort while it dispels shock and despair. White can be used to give you a feeling of freedom and uncluttered openness. Too much white can give feelings of separation and can be cold and isolation.
Adding white to your life gives you:
- clearing clutter and obstacles away
- starting a fresh beginning
- bringing about mental clarity
- purification of thoughts or actions
Black is the most misunderstood color. A black tie dinner is very formal and elegant. Women can wear that "must have little black dress" to the black tie dinner. Yet the bad guys wear black hats. Black symbolizes death in some cultures. Native Americans thought black was good because it was the color of soil, which gives life. Black is not a color, strictly speaking. It is the absence of all color. When people speak of opposites, it is usually in terms of black and white. Black, and its opposite white, represents polarities. Black absorbs all aspects of light. While white reveals, black conceals. It has come to mean hidden, fearful or bad experience. It is linked to the unknown or the unseen. In times of fear and uncertainty black contains the energy of the threatening unknown. In a positive state, black is seen as a restful emptiness into which anything may emerge and disappear once again. Black is the color of authority and power. It represents sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth. It is also mysterious, providing a sense of potential and possibility.
Adding black to your life gives you:
- ability to become inconspicuous
- opening the door to mystery
- preparing for the unknown
- a restful emptiness
Grey is the color of independence and self-reliance, although usually thought of as a negative color. It can be the color of evasion and non-commitment (since it is neither black nor white.) Grey indicates separation, lack of involvement and ultimately loneliness. Too much grey leads to feeling mostly nothing; but a bit of grey will add that rock solid feeling to your product. Some shades of grey are associated with old age, death, taxes, depression or a lost sense of direction. Grey is the true neutral color. Its energy imparts void, emptiness, lack of movement, emotion, warmth and identifying characteristics. Because of this, grey can be restful. It has a detached and isolated feeling. Grey can have a cooling effect when placed next to other more vibrant colors. It has a stabilizing effect.
Adding grey to your life gives you:
- emphasizing your willingness to comply
- a neutral, non-invasive feeling
- reducing the intense energy of another color
- feeling detached or isolated
The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing, appetite and raises blood pressure. It is also the color of love. Red is the warmest of all colors. Red is the color most chosen by extroverts and one of the top picks of males. Red is a strong masculine color. Basically red symbolizes strong emotions, or things of strong emotions rather than intellectual ideas. For example, red can symbolize excitement, energy, speed, strength, passion and on the negative side red can mean temper, danger and aggression.
In China, red is the color of prosperity and joy. Brides wear red and front doors are often painted red. Red roses symbolize passionate love. Ruby rings should be worn on the left hand. Red is the color of Mars. This planet is known as the God of War.
Adding red to your life gives you:
- increased enthusiasm and interest
- more energy
- action and confidence to go after your dreams
- protection from fears and anxieties
The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. A pure blue is the color of inspiration, sincerity and spirituality. Blue is often the chosen color by conservative people. Blue is the calming color. That makes it a wonderful color to use in the home, especially for babies. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Blue gives a feeling of distance. This is a good way to understand the energy of the color blue - it allows us to look beyond and increase our perspective outward. It contains a cool vibration that is helpful to communication. The vibration if blue can be used to open energy flow where it is blocked. Using blue to relax will encourage feelings of communication and peace. People are more productive in blue rooms. Studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.
Adding blue to your life gives you:
- calm and relaxation to counteract chaos or agitation
- opening the flow of communication
- broadening your perspective in learning new information
- solitude and peace
Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing color. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect and well being. Green is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony. Green is a safe color, if you don't know what color to use anywhere use green.
Green is favored by well balanced people. Green symbolizes the master healer and the life force. It often symbolizes money. It was believed green was healing for the eyes. Egyptians wore green eyeliner. You should eat raw green foods for good health. Green contains the powerful energies of nature, growth, desire to expand or increase. Balance and a sense of order are found in the color green. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth.
Adding green to your life gives you:
- a new state of balance
- feeling a need for change or growth
- freedom to pursue new ideas
- protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others
Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. Yellow is a happy and uplifting color. Yellow symbolizes wisdom. It can also be associated with intellectual thinking: discernment, memory, clear thinking, decision-making and good judgment. Also it’s aiding organization, understanding of different points of view. People of high intellect favor yellow. Yellow builds self-confidence and encourages optimism. However, a dull yellow can bring on feelings of fear. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.
Adding yellow to your life gives you:
- clarity for decision-making
- relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness, exhaustion
- sharper memory and concentration skills
- protection from lethargy and depression during dull weather
Pink is the color of universal love. Pink is a quiet color. Lovers of beauty favor pink. Pink is a combination of red and white. The quality of energy in pink is determined by how much red is present. White is the potential for fullness, while red helps you to achieve that potential. Pink combines these energies. Shades of deep pink, such as magenta, are effective in neutralizing disorder and violence. Some prisons use limited deep pink tones to diffuse aggressive behavior.
Adding pink to your life gives you:
- ability to calm feelings
- neutralizing disorder
- relaxation
- acceptance, contentment
Orange has proven to be a stimulus of the sexual organs. Also, it can strengthen the immune system. Orange has shown to have only positive affects on your emotional state. This color relieves feelings of self-pity, lack of self-worth and unwillingness to forgive. Orange opens your emotions and is a terrific antidepressant. While red is associated with fiery heat, orange is associated with the benign warmth of the sun. A dynamic color to be sure, orange offers a more thoughtful control than explosive red. Curiosity is a driving characteristic of orange, and with it comes exploration of new things.
Adding orange to your life gives you:
- spicing things up when you feel time is dragging
- becoming more involved in something
- increased creativity
- relief from things becoming too serious
The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear exotic. Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation. Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color.
Adding purple to your life gives you:
- using your imagination to its fullest
- re-balancing your life
- removing obstacles
- calming overactivity or energizing from depression
Color plays a vitally important role in the world in which we live. Color can sway thinking, change actions, and cause reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood pressure or suppress your appetite. In other words, color is in every part of life. Take a moment every day to look around you and feel the colors, enjoy the colors. Live your life in full color.
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