The Magic of Colour

While we were decorating the flat, painting one of the walls a beautiful yellow, we discussed how people see colours differently. When I look at blue, do you see the same blue I do? Is it just the English language which creates different relationships with colours? I mean, the word "blue" might mean something different to you than it does to me. You might picture the colour of the sky on a clear day. I might picture the colour of freshly picked blueberries. I might refer to my clothes as "mauve" and you might say "plum". Are we seeing the same colour?

Colours are created by light particles vibrating at different speeds. The light travels in waves, bouncing off of objects. An object will reflect some of the light waves, and absorb others. Things appear to be black when a surface absorbs the light, without reflecting any colours back to us. Things appear white when the whole spectrum of light bounces back at us. For this reason, I think of black as "receptive" or "absorbent" and white as a "barrier" or "reflective". I love to use white in my home, I paint most of the walls brilliant white to bounce the light around the space. White is a colour of protection, purity, virtue, innocence, death and rebirth. 

In ancient Egypt and Rome, priestesses wore white as a symbol of purity, and Romans wore a white toga as a symbol of citizenship. Greek and Roman temples were faced with white marble. The Pope has worn white since 1566, as a symbol of purity and sacrifice. In Islam and the Shinto religion of Japan, white is worn by pilgrims. In Western cultures and in Japan, white is the most common colour for wedding dresses, symbolising purity.

Each colour of the rainbow is produced by a variation in wavelength. Red is a very long wavelength, green is a medium wavelength, and violet is a very short wavelength. Colours inbetween violet and red are actually a combination of two different wavelengths, long red waves and short blue waves, to produce purple. I like to think of light waves as sound waves, in which case red is a very low note, and violet is a very high pitch note. You can imagine purple as two notes struck simultaneously, which harmonise together. 

Red is an invigorating colour, symbolising dominance. Red gives you a powerful sense of initiative and adventure, paving the way to success. Red helps you conquer any fears or self-doubt. 

Orange promotes progressive thinking and helps you break free from old habits. Orange opens your mind to the unconventional. Orange encourages positive life changes, personal independence and true happiness.

Yellow helps you make good decisions based on logic. Yellow gives you a sense of purpose and vision. Yellow stimulates mental activity. 

Green promotes a  a sense of prosperity and abundance. It helps you resolve any money issues, as well as increasing generosity. 

Cyan assists in clear communication and honesty. Cyan promotes a sense of freedom, of free-thinking and the exploration of new ideas and new places. Cyan allows you to be more calm and tolerant. 

Blue promotes wisdom, giving you a clear vision of the future. Blue soothes the nerves and allows for restful sleep. Blue promotes the absorption of information. 

Violet increases passion and exuberance. Violet inspires you to follow your dreams. It helps you find your unique potential and authenticity. 

Magenta encourages new relationships and romance. Magenta helps you find the perfect partner. It allows you to let go of your inhibitions, and connect with people more easily. 

The clever use of colours can help heal your life. Using the full spectrum of colour helps us to achieve balance in our lives. Think about the way you use colour in your home and your wardrobe. How do you feel when you wear different colours? Pick up different colour gem stones and take a moment to connect with their effects. Do you feel naturally drawn to some colours and repelled by others? You may find that embracing a certain colour helps you function better in life. Choose wisely, because colour matters! 

Annika