Each of us has seven selves: self-preservation, self-gratification, self-definition, self-acceptance, self-expression, self-reflection, and self-knowledge and each self is associated with, and influenced by, a color. Every color has a different wavelength and individual properties, both positive and negative.
Color is energy made visible. As human beings, color is the only energy we can see. While the speed of light is a constant 186,282 miles per second, the speed of color—its frequency—travels at varying speeds depending on the color and shade. As it meets the rods and cones in our eyes, the frequency sends a signal to our brain that allows us to distinguish one color from another.
[ctt template=”4″ link=”05xB4″ via=”yes” ]Color is energy made visible.[/ctt]
Color speaks volumes about our personal style without us having to say a word. And while color perception is highly personal and connects directly with individual memories and emotions, it’s also universal.
The colors we wear and surround ourselves with in our home and office stimulate the way we think and feel, and the way our body’s organs, glands, and systems function.
That’s where color therapy—treatment with the appropriate color—comes in. We can use color to stimulate or inhibit the functioning of different parts of our body; to restore balance and normal function.
RED is associated with self-preservation. This self is responsible for survival and physical wellness. Its purpose is to enhance our sense of groundedness. When healthy, this self functions from a place of courage. The shadow side is self-destruction. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—immune-related disorders, sciatica
- Mentally—frantic sense of survival, impending doom
- Emotionally—lack of security, sense of abandonment
- Spiritually—functions from a place of scarcity
ORANGE is associated with self-gratification. This self is responsible for pleasure and occupational wellness. Its purpose is to increase our sense of delight. When healthy, this self functions from a place of personal respect. The shadow side is self-denial. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—libido, fertility, urinary issues
- Mentally—lack of ethics, placing blame
- Emotionally—selfishness, guilt
- Spiritually—doesn’t honor relationships, won’t let go of the past
YELLOW is associated with self-definition. This self is responsible for personal power and social wellness. Its purpose is to cultivate our inner landscape. When healthy, this self functions from a place of humble dignity. The shadow side is self-importance. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—anorexia/bulimia, digestive issues
- Mentally—body image, skepticism/pessimism
- Emotionally—low self-esteem, fear of rejection
- Spiritually—lack of authenticity, lack of following one’s purpose
GREEN is associated with self-acceptance. This self is responsible for love and emotional wellness. Its purpose is to develop our emotional empowerment. When healthy, this self functions from a place of compassion and forgiveness. The shadow side is self-rejection. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—heart conditions, thoracic spine issues
- Mentally—possessiveness, cruelty
- Emotionally—loneliness, anguish
- Spiritually—unwilling to forgive, lack of compassion
BLUE is associated with self-expression. This self is responsible for creativity and environmental wellness. Its purpose is to unleash our creative flair. When healthy, this self functions from a place of original thought. The shadow side is self-repression. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—TMJ, mouth ulcers, throat issues
- Mentally—deceitful, critical, creative block
- Emotionally—addictive behaviors, lack of personal authority (self-discipline)
- Spiritually—failure to follow one’s dream, no strength of will (fortitude)
INDIGO is associated with self-reflection. This self is responsible for intuition and intellectual wellness. Its purpose is to boost our awareness. When healthy, this self functions from a place of endless possibility. The shadow side is self-absorption. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—panic, difficulty learning
- Mentally—intolerance, depression
- Emotionally—nervousness, melancholy
- Spiritually—lack of wisdom, lack of confidence in divinity or higher self
VIOLET is associated with self-knowledge. This self is responsible for divine connection and spiritual wellness. Its purpose is to strengthen the connection with our higher self or divinity. When healthy, this self functions from a place of present-moment awareness. The shadow side is self-unawareness. When it’s out of balance, it starts acquiring baggage:
- Physically—sensitivity to environmental triggers (light, sound), chronic exhaustion unrelated to physical illness
- Mentally—lack of discernment, inability to see the big picture
- Emotionally—inability to trust life
- Spiritually—lack of purpose, fanaticism
What we do with our physical environment—our personal space—speaks to our heart and helps us to flourish. Accessorize with a piece of clothing in the color you need. Add the appropriate splash of color to your décor with flowers, chunky candles, or throw pillows. Don’t be shy, unleash your creative flair!
Laurie Buchanan is a former holistic health practitioner and transformational life coach. She holds a doctorate in holistic health with an emphasis in energy medicine. Her first two books—Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth, and The Business of Being: Soul Purpose In and Out of the Workplace, are nonfiction titles designed to motivate, inspire, and transform. Coming soon, her third book, Indelible: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book One, launches a suspense/thriller series that takes place in the Pacific Northwest.
