How does colour effects us

Colour has always been a key aspect throughout history - art, religion and some forms of spiritual healing have all derived meaning from certain colours and the feelings that they invoke. We derive meaning from red to stop and green to go, black to show menace and fear, whilst white defined beauty and goodness.

When we are children, whilst our brains are still growing, we begin to discern colours such as red, before others. This is because we perceive these colours through the hypothalamus, making us sensitive towards the frequencies of certain colours, red being the highest and therefore the first we see.

The rods and curves at the back our retinas help us to perceive colour, people who are colour blind have rods and curves that are not working correctly. As we age our perceptions of colour change.

There are three specific attributes of every colour:

Hue: Hues, the names of colours and their colour families, are the colours we perceive. This is attributed to the wavelengths of the colours themselves.

Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour. Value is added or removed to a colour by adding degrees of white or black respectively.

Intensity: Also known as chroma, it is the saturation or strength of a colour. It is the quality by which we can tell a strong colour from a weak one. In a colour intensity scale, the less intense or weaker samples will approach grey, while the more intense, or stronger samples will approach a pure, jewel-like colour.

The Psychology

Different Colours have different effects on your emotions.

Red - The Base Chakra - Bottom of the Spine, Foundations, Grounding, Element Earth Symbolises fire and blood, and stands for excitement and physical strength. It has a great deal of energy and intensity, and can also create a very romantic, passionate or dramatic mood. It can appear aggressive and should be used appropriately as it could create the wrong impression. If worn in business, keep it small - a tie for a man, preferably below the waist for a woman, a red jacket could be perceived as too much, but is entirely dependant upon the situation and the audience, just be aware of the potential reactions to this colour.

Pink and Peach - Are delicate, feminine, compassionate and calming. They project less energy than red. They can be worn by men exceptionally well, especially when contrasted with deeper colours, a pink tie worn with a charcoal suit for example. A peach shirt with stone chinos at the weekend.

Orange: The Second Chakra - The Element of Water - Frequently used in children's toys and games, Orange is mainly associated with play, fun and friendliness.

Yellow - The Third Chakra - Solar Plexus, between bottom of chest and top of belly button, Element Fire Yellow is the colour of sunshine. It represents radiance, warmth and receptivity and brings out an approachable and cheerful outlook.

Green: The Fourth Chakra - The Element of Air - Green is one of the more dualistic colours, either representing tranquillity and order or drama and tension depending on where it is worn.

Blue: The Fifth Chakra - The Element of Space - One of the most versatile neutral colours, lighter shades show peace and calm, whilst darker shades show authority and control. Navy, in particular, is a great colour for communication.

Purple - The Sixth Chakra - The Third Eye, middle of the forehead, Element Light. Purple stands for the mystical, sensitivity, uniqueness and artistry. In ancient times, it suggested wealth and royalty because as a dye, it was rare and expensive to produce. It is still used today in the highest echelons of Royalty, The Law, The Church

Brown - Is associated with the ground, dirt and earth. It creates a feeling of comfort, sincerity and casualness.

Black: One of the most dynamic and striking colours, black can be used for a variety of situations, socially or formally.

Grey - Is a neutral that is not based on any hue. It is a mixture of black and white. It represents peace, calmness, reliability and conservatism. Dark grey signifies power and authority.

White: The Seventh Chakra - Symbolic of light and divinity, white is a very pure, clean colour.

So, be aware of the different message you may be giving by the shades of colour that you chose to wear. If you are feeling depressed or low, red is a fantastic colour to wear as it will give you an instant energy lift, but be aware too of the potential reaction from others'. Orange will also lift your spirits and make you feel upbeat and happy, bright pink will do the same for those of you who cannot carry orange well. If you are in a position where you need to communicate clearly, then any shade of blue, especially if worn on the top half of the body, will help enormously.

Experiment with different colours and your mood and discover for yourself just how powerful colour is, it's a lot more than what colour lipstick you can wear!

Article Source: Main Articles

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