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Colour
healing color therapy
Colour healing - When the sun shines, colours come alive, our hearts fill with joy
and life feels good, we cannot help but respond to the colours that
make up our world. Colour has been used for healing since the
beginning of time, it is well documented that in ancient
civilisations such as Greece and Egypt they used colour in their
temples of healing. The Chinese and the chaldeans also used colour
and the mystics if India associated colours with the charkas.
Colour healing can influence our bodies, moods, feelings, charkas and our
energy bodies. By becoming aware of these effects we can harness the
power of colour and actively use it to enhance our health. By
focusing on the colours that will bring us balance and harmony,
physically and spiritually.
Colour Perception
To see colour is a complex process, colour is not a pigment or
tangible and nor is it solid. Essentially colour is a frequency
carried in a waveform just like heat or sound. It is a component of
light that is radiated by the sun and is a form of energy. Like
individual notes of music each colour vibrates along its own
specific wavelength – change the frequency and you change the
colour. The process of seeing colour all takes place in the brain.
Objects do not possess inherent colours of their own, what we see is
the colour the object reflects away from itself. When a ray of
sunlight hits grass, it absorbs all the rays of the spectrum except
green. Our eyes are specially adapted to receive messages about
light and colour; it is directed to receptors in our retina called
rods and cones. These receptors collect the information and then its
transmitted to our brain via the optic nerve. There are around 7
million cones in the human eye, which have the capacity to pick out
and differentiate between approximately 10 million different shades
of colour.
Becoming aware of the effects of colour means that you can make use
of its positive benefits to lift your spirits and unlock your
creative imagination. We all perceive colours differently. In part
this is due to our physiological make-up and the way our bodies
responds to the light as it enters our eyes and stimulates the
pituitary gland (controls hormones). Our perception of colour is
also shaped by our own thoughts, memories and experiences. Favourite
colours resonate with our own wavelength and tend to be the most
prominent in our auras.
RED
Red is the colour of life the symbol of fire and masculinity and in
Feng Shui brings the most luck. It is associated with growth, joy,
passion, love and virtues. It is also used to ward off evil forces.
Red has a long wavelength and has an immediacy that cannot be
ignored. Red calls attention to itself it arouses the senses
quickens the pulse and excites the emotions. Red is acknowledged
universally as the symbol of danger. Red represents the physical and
material realms stimulating passionate responses and feelings of
lust. Red brings out our most extroverted impulses and encourages us
to abandon our inhibitions and throw caution to the wind. Caution is
required with Red it has a very strong energy and should not be used
on hyperactive and very emotional people. Do not use Red on people
with high blood pressure or in any condition where inflammation has
occurred. PINK is a softer more subtle expression of Red it is
gentle yet uplifting. It is a useful colour to help tone up the
circulation it makes the body feel warm, it gently lifts ones
spirits when you are down or depressed. Pink is the colour of
rejuvenation and encourages youthful vigour well into old age.
ORANGE
Orange represents social activity and supports joyful “togetherness”
and generates constructive and creative energy. It promotes a casual
and relaxed atmosphere, even in dark areas. People who “go with the
flow” are generally attracted to orange. Orange possesses similar
powers of energy and enthusiasm as Red but without being forceful or
brash. Orange is a powerful morale-booster, use it to enliven and
revitalise your jaded spirits. Orange encourages sociability and
releases our channels of communication bringing forth freedom of
expression. It also has some of the influence of yellow and aids
concentration and stimulates the development of ideas. Orange aids
memory and helps create clear thinking helping you to take advantage
of opportunities that are presented to you. In Feng Shui the Chinese
advocate the keeping of goldfish to enhance the wealth of the
household, orange has a long association with prosperity and
well-being. Orange has the power to blend the spiritual with the
sexual, an inspirational colour that broadens the mind and brings
people together. Too much orange can over stimulate the mucous
linings and have an adverse effect on the thyroid gland.
YELLOW
Yellow is a ‘pick me up’ a colour that animates, enlivens, energises
and is a ray of sunshine on dull mornings. Yellow symbolises
control, wisdom, intelligence and tolerance. It is the colour of
knowledge and all the cerebral processes it stimulates mental
activity and encourages rational thinking. Creative and imaginative
an inspirational colour for enquiring minds. Yellow also encourages
detachment from our emotions, giving us strength to distance
ourselves in order to view our situation from a new and more logical
perspective. Yellow then gives us the courage to let go of that
which we no longer need. It has a collective effect and
simultaneously stimulates spiritual energy. Too much yellow can
over-stimulate, so avoid when feverish or heart problems are
suspected. It is also ageing for the skin and may cause dizziness.
GREEN
Green has diverse interpretations, on one hand the colour symbolises
equilibrium, harmony and peace. Like Red, Green is also a colour of
growth, regeneration and renewal; it promotes healing, reduces worry
and disperses calm. Green is a universal balancer harmonising with
all colours, falling in between yellow and blue on the spectrum
green brings the joy of yellow and the serenity of blue. Green
combines hope with intellect and enthusiasm with pragmatism. Green
is the mid point on the spectrum and is an oasis of peace and
tranquillity soothing spirits and calming emotions. It stimulates
the desire to travel and also jealousy! Superstitious people
consider green unlucky because of its association with fairies. An
overabundance of green can lead to stagnation and a tendency to
arthritis.
BLUE
Blue is at the ‘cool’ end of the spectrum, it connects us with the
mystical side of ourselves. Blue signifies spirituality,
carefulness, and consideration for others, caring, belief,
steadfastness, loyalty, trustworthiness and solidarity. Blue asks us
to look inside ourselves and raises our consciousness and assists us
in our meditations. Blue “cools down” and calms, and helps create a
harmonious atmosphere. The calming vibration of blue relaxes the
muscles, quietens the mind and sends us to sleep. Too much blue
tires the spirit and depresses the soul; it is deeply introspective
turning your thoughts inwards and inclining you to brood.
INDIGO
Indigo is associated with dreams and the unconscious mind it leads
us to awareness and understanding. Indigo symbolises youth, the
growth of awareness and the promise of tomorrow. With indigo we can
tap into boundless knowledge and connect with the collective
unconscious. Indigo is associated with heightened psychic powers and
advanced spiritual perception. Meditating with indigo will awaken
our intuitive processes and sharpen our abilities to make clear and
informed decisions. Indigo also has reflected qualities that prompt
us to expand our minds and to take in wider issues. Indigo also
encourages us to shed what we no longer need ridding ourselves of
the physical and emotional baggage that is holding back our progress
along our chosen path. Indigo symbolises our strength that we need
to conquer our weaknesses, to break free and move on. Too much
indigo can induce self absorption and over-sentimentality, and is
not recommended in cases of depression.
PURPLE
Purple is the colour of philosophers and dreamers, orators, poets
and visionaries. It signifies high ideals, loyalty, truth and love.
It is a higher expression of spirituality, uniting intelligence and
understanding. It is rich, regal and voluptuously sensual, purple is
also the colour of the higher mind and evokes intuition and
spirituality, letting us stretch our wings and fly towards a new
horizon. The colour heightens creative expression and transporting
us into a fantasy world filled with wonder. It brings together
passion and intellect, dreams and reality, vision and experience
anchoring us into the here and now. LILAC and LAVENDER have the
power to release our memories and gently take us back to a time of
grace and gentility. MAGENTA evokes the emotions of adolescence,
lofty ideals and early independence. MAGENTA also allows us to
experiment with who we are and gives us courage to be flexible and
discover our own identity. MAUVE has added blue, which contributes
to aid our worldly experience and recognition of all that is divine.
On the negative side too much purple can lead you to be pompous
arrogant and over inflate your ego.
COLOUR HEALING
The organs of the body each vibrate at a different frequency, when
one of our organs is out of balance it is possible to ‘retune’ it by
absorbing into the body the energy of the corresponding colour.
Determining which colour is required, where the bodies energies are
out and how to apply the colour to correct the imbalances is central
to colour healing. Understanding the aura and chakra systems is one
of the first steps to detecting where the body’s energies are out of
balance. There are a variety of different colour therapies that can
then be used singly or in combination.
THE AURA
All living things emit a certain amount of electricity which
surrounds the body in an electromagnetic field know as the aura. The
aura reflects our health, character, mental activity and emotional
state. It also shows disease - often long before the onset of
symptoms. Close to the skin is the etheric aura, which is a pale
narrow band that outlines the body and is usually no more than half
an inch wide. It looks like milky smoke clinging to the body.
The main aura is banded around the body like thick coloured hoops of
light dropped over the body. These colours emanate from the
chakra’s. Energy is drawn up from the planet through the feet and
fed into the chakra’s, like a plant does with water. Each chakra is
a transformer that generates energy of a different type and colour.
The strength, activity and colour tone of each chakra depends on the
person's character, personality, emotional state, life style and
physical condition. Together they generate the dominant hue of the
aura.
The size of the auric rings, how far the aura extends outwards, the
number of different colours that it contains, as well as the tone,
quality and intensity of the colours are all significant. When we
are confident, contented, physically fit and enjoying good health,
the energy we give out is strong. Therefore the colours we radiate
in our auras will be vibrant and bright and our aura will project
far beyond the physical body. When we are ill or unhappy our
energies are lessened, the colours are diminished and the aura can
be punctured or indented. Dark or murky area’s in the aura may be a
sign of, hidden anger, disharmony, negative emotions or blocked
energy, which if left unresolved could potentially lead to disease.
The aura is also photosensitive and expands to many times its normal
size in sunlight. The aura also absorbs energy from other energy
sources around us, like sunlight and ozone, plants, animals and
other people.
LEARNING TO SEE THE AURA
Like many skills it is possible to learn to see the aura, you need
to persevere, the reason most people fail to see the aura is they
give up too quickly, it takes time and practice like any new skill.
Its very difficult to get a clear view of the aura through clothing,
the auric colours of the clothes react with the persons aura,
causing interference that blocks and change the aura. Even neutral
coloured clothes dim the aura making it difficult to see. Making the
human aura not a good training ground for the beginner. The other
thing that usually happens as your volunteer sits and waits, you
subconsciously start to worry about what they are thinking of you.
Are they getting bored or impatient? Do they think you foolish, a
failure, or both? This then causes tension, which negates the subtle
energy and calm mental state needed to see the aura, making it
impossible. To see the aura you have to be able to relax and
concentrate, at the same time. There is a trick to focusing the eyes
in a special way that activates the third eye.
You also need soft light to train in, not dim or harsh light, if you
have a pet then when they’re sleeping, practice on your pet. If not
get a book and cover it in blue or red crepe paper, stand the book
upright on a table several feet from you. With a neutral background
behind it, light tan, soft grey, off white or even a black board is
good. Experiment with different backgrounds till you find the right
one for you. I use blue and red papers as the aura from these are
the brightest and easiest to see. Blue has a Yellow aura and Red has
a Green aura. The brightness and tone of the colour varies with the
shade of colour used.
Close your eyes, begin to breathe slowly and rhythmically, taking
each breath deep down into your abdomen. Feel the tension ease away,
drop your shoulders and relax your muscles. When you are relaxed
look at the book or your pet, focus your eyes either to the side or
a foot or two behind it. Hold and get used to that focus but don't
strain your eyes or tense your forehead. Concentrate! You need a
gentle, steady un-focus, just like daydreaming. It is important that
your eyes are really relaxed and dreamy while you hold the un-focus.
If you need to close your eyes and rest them every so often and then
try again. Some people find looking through half closed eyes more
successful.
Eventually with practice things start to happen you will see a pale
milky aura coming from the object or pet, keep looking and you will
see the colours of the aura start building up from the object. Don't
change focus and look directly at it or the aura will disappear. If
you have trouble seeing the aura again after the first attempt, have
a rest. This is a common problem and just means your eyes are tired.
The reason for the strange un-focus is you are using the rods and
cones in the outer field of vision, which are many times more
sensitive to movement and subtle energy fields than the focused area
is. Have you ever seen a movement, out of the corner of your eye,
only to turn and see nothing there? What you have probably seen is
an aura building up from some coloured object and your eyes have
detected the movement.
Once you have completed the first exercise, experiment with other
books covered in different colours. Try using two at a time, and see
how the colours affect each other. Try using a pot plant or a bunch
of fresh flowers and study their aura, you will also see a more
distinct etheric band and a shimmering optical effect around them
this shimmering is the life force of the plants.
Next try observing your own aura, you can do this inside or outside
in the full sun, hold your bare arm out and study it against the
sky. Alternatively, lie down and look at your bare legs, and
remember grass will have its own aura that will blend with your
aura. When you feel proficient try it with a person, remember to
relax and stay calm, and get them to remove some of their clothing
and study their bare skin area against a neutral background.
THE CHAKRAS
The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit meaning ‘wheel’ or ‘disc’
they are traditionally depicted as lotus flowers. Each chakra
vibrates at different frequencies corresponding to the colours of
the rainbow. There are seven major chakras these are positioned with
the stems of each lotus flower metaphysically embedded into the
spinal column from the coccyx to the crown. Each chakra corresponds
to specific physical, mental and spiritual functions and regulating
the energy required to keep the mind, body and spirit in harmony.
In a healthy body where the chakras are in balance the energy will
flow freely around the system, through the chakras and along the
meridians. Physical problems, emotional traumas and stresses of
every day life can all effect the delicate balance and the chakras
maybe come blocked, depleted or overload, when this happens ill
health follows. Each chakra is associated with a particular part of
the anatomy, any imbalances in the energy flow through the chakras
will manifest as problems in the related area. Also our emotions,
creative impulses, spiritual feelings and intuitive understanding
are similarly affected by the condition of the chakras.
COLOUR AND THE CHAKRAS
Each chakra is linked to a colour whose vibrational frequency
matches its own resonance. When a blockage or imbalance of energy
occurs the frequency of the chakra is affected. This can be restored
by stimulating the chakra with the corresponding colour through
visualisation, crystals using appropriate coloured clothing or by
using coloured light.
|
Chakra
|
Colour
|
Glandular
Connection |
Associated
Body parts |
Physical
Dysfunction |
Emotional Dysfunction |
|
Crown (7th) |
Violet |
Pineal
|
Upper skull, cerebral
cortex, skin |
Sensitivity to
pollutants, chronic exhaustion, epilepsy,
Alzheimer’s |
Depression,
Obsessional thinking,
confusion |
|
Third Eye (6th) |
Indigo |
Pituitary |
Eyes, base of skull |
Headaches, poor vision,
glaucoma,
Neurological
disturbances. |
Nightmares,
Learning difficulties,
hallucinations |
|
Throat (5th)
|
Blue |
Thyroid, parathyroid |
Mouth, throat, ears |
Sore throats, neckache,
thyroid problems, tinnitus, asthma |
Perfectionism, inability
to express emotions, blocked creativity |
|
Heart (4th) |
Green |
Thymus |
Heart, chest, lungs,
circulation |
Shallow breathing, high
blood pressure, heart disease, cancer |
Fears about betrayal,
co-dependent, melancholic |
|
Solar Plexus (3rd) |
Yellow |
Pancreas
|
Digestive system, muscles |
Stomach ulcers digestive
problems, chronic fatigue, allergies,
diabetes |
Oversensitive to
criticism, need to be in control, low self
esteem |
|
Sacral (2nd) |
Orange |
Ovaries, Testes |
Sex organs, bladder,
prostrate, womb |
Impotence, frigidity,
bladder & prostate problems, lower back pain |
Unbalanced sex drive,
emotional instability, feelings of isolation |
|
Root (1st)
|
Red |
Adrenals |
Bones, skeletal structure |
Osteoarthritis
|
Mental
lethargy, ‘spaciness’ incapable of inner
stillness |
|
ACTIVATING THE CHAKRAS
Colour can be used to heal the whole system or to activate
individual chakras. By stimulating a particular chakra you can
affect the organ, gland or parts of the body associated with that
chakra. For example someone suffering from a sore throat would
require blue for his or her throat chakra. They might wear blue
clothing, visualise a ray of clear blue light entering their throat
chakra or wear a piece of lapis lazuli round their neck. In cases
where a chakra is overloaded there will be an excess of energy from
the centre, resulting in some form of hyperactivity. Activating the
chakra with its own colour will only exacerbate the condition
further so what is required is to tone the chakra, using its related
complementary colour.
CHAKRA
|
ESSENTIAL
OIL
|
CRYSTALS
|
UNDER
ACTIVE |
COLOUR
TO USE |
OVER
ACTIVE |
COLOUR
TO USE |
|
Crown |
Lavender
Frankincense
Rosewood |
Amethyst
Clear quartz
Diamond |
Negativity, shame,
depression, can’t make decisions |
VIOLET |
Over-developed
imagination,
Schizophrenia
Frustrated |
YELLOW then balance with
a little VIOLET |
|
Third eye |
Hyacinth
Violet
Rose
Geranium |
Amethyst
Fluorite
Azurite |
Envy
Absent-mindedness fears
success |
INDIGO |
Mental confusion, bad
dreams,
dogmatic |
PEACH
Then balance with a
little INDIGO |
|
Throat |
Chamomile
Myrrh |
Lapis lazuli
Turquoise
Aquamarine
|
Shyness, fear of change,
moodiness,
Unreliable |
BLUE |
Frustration, feeling
trapped, arrogant, fanaticism |
ORANGE then balance with
a little BLUE |
|
Heart |
Rose
Bergamot
Melissa
|
Watermelon
Tourmaline
Rose quartz
Emerald
|
Possessiveness
Anxiety, indifference,
overly dramatic |
GREEN |
Jealousy, anger, self
pity, fears rejection |
PINK then
Balance with a little
GREEN |
|
Solar Plexus |
Vetivert
Ylang ylang
Bergamot
|
Aventurine
Quartz
Sunstone
Yellow citrine |
Loneliness,
Guilt,
Insecure,
Psychosomatic
illnesses |
YELLOW |
Addiction
Hot temper,
Judgemental
superior |
VIOLET
Then balance with a
little YELLOW |
|
Sacral |
Jasmine
Rose
Sandalwood |
Citrine
Carnelian
Golden topaz |
Over sensitive, feelings
of inadequacy,
Introversion,
Harbouring
grudges |
ORANGE |
Arrogance, pride,
Manipulative
Sexually addictive |
BLUE
Then balance with a
little ORANGE |
|
Root |
Cedarwood
Myrrh
patchouli |
Hermatite
Tiger’s eye
Blood stone |
Lack of energy, low
self-esteem, self-destructive behaviour,
eating disorders. |
RED |
Impatience,
Aggression,
hyperactivity,
Food intolerances,
bullying,
Over materialistic |
GREEN then balance with a
little RED |
HARMONISING THE CHAKRAS
There are several ways you can apply colour to heal your
chakras. After you’ve decided which chakra needs work on
use one or more of the following suggestions:
Wear clothes in the colour of the affected chakra.
Lie down and place seven different coloured pieces of
material onto each of the corresponding chakras. Relax
and breathe deeply into your abdomen, with each breath
imagine you are taking coloured rays from the material
on your body.
Lie down place a crystal for the affected chakra
directly onto it, relax and breathe deeply into your
abdomen, with each breath imagine you are taking the
coloured energy from the crystal into your chakra.
Wear or carry in your pocket the appropriate crystal for
the chakra that needs healing.
Massage the chakra with the appropriate diluted
essential oil on the affected chakra.
Use an appropriate coloured bulb or cover the lampshade
with coloured acetate, and sit in front of the lamp.
Increase your intake of appropriately coloured foods.
COLOUR AND DIET
One of the most natural ways of absorbing colour is
through the food you eat. When you take in food you are
taking in energy, some of this energy comes from the
colour of the food. When you have an imbalance you
should eat colours as part of your treatment.
RED
|
ORANGE |
BLUE, INDIGO, & VIOLET |
GREEN |
YELLOW |
|
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Cherries
Red onion
Red beans
Radish
Red currants |
Carrots
Tangerines
Pumpkin
Oranges
Apricots
Nectarines
papaya |
Aubergine
Blackberries
Currants
Beetroot
Olives
Plumbs
Blueberries
|
Apples
Cabbage
Spinach
Lettuce
Grapes
Kale
Green beans |
Banana
Grapefruit
Lemon
Mango
Sweetcorn
Bread
squash |
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