Color psychology illuminates the relationship between colors, moods, emotions, behaviors, and ultimately, well-being. The awareness that colors can impact our well-being is as ancient as the practice of medicine, since the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), was known to utilize color therapy to impact his patient’s health and well-being. The earliest use of color was through absorbing color frequencies from the Sun — written here with a capital “S,” as the sun was revered as a God with healing abilities.
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Color psychology illuminates the relationship between colors, moods, emotions, behaviors, and ultimately, well-being. The awareness that colors can impact our well-being is as ancient as the practice of medicine, since the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), was known to utilize color therapy to impact his patient’s health and well-being. The earliest use of color was through absorbing color frequencies from the Sun — written here with a capital “S,” as the sun was revered as a God with healing abilities.
In our modern day, color frequencies also influence us daily, whether we’re aware of this or not. We have a variety of color signals that affect our emotions: a sunny day brings a smile, a blue sky may bring a feeling of contentment and a grey sky tends to activate some gloominess. We’re poised to go at a green light, alerted to stop at red, and “make a decision, quick!” when we see yellow. All these responses are not necessarily just conditioned responses. Colors have inherent emotional effects based on their frequency, which affect our nervous system and overall well-being.
Becoming Color Conscious
You can begin your own journey of color consciousness by being in the spirit of curiosity and discovery. Simply deciding you’re going to be more observant and sensitive to the colors around you can open the door to a new experience of well-being.
Next, becoming consciously aware of the colors you and your clients are attracted to can reveal much information about your/their wellness needs. Each color offers a clue not only to what physical organs, glands, and systems may be needing a shift, but also which emotions are being stirred and need support.
Learning the nuances of color psychology wisdom can help you become a better wellness detective and offer even more customized support for your clients. Color psychology is incredibly transformational with the right understanding and training.
Color Awareness 101
To start, explore if you are currently more attracted to warm colors or cool colors. Warm colors are in the red, orange and yellow spectrum. Cool colors are in the blue and violet range. As a whole, warm colors tend to be more stimulating and activating, so these colors can indicate a need for supporting the major organs involved with digestion, elimination and circulation. In addition, mentally and emotionally, there may be a desire for more clarity and confidence. Cool colors may indicate a need for nervous system repair and regulation, as well as other key sensory needs, mental support and relaxation.
Related: Color Therapy: Connecting Colors and Emotions to Boost Well-being
Color Wisdom Self Inquiry
- Carry a small journal with you for a week. Pay attention to what color(s) are catching your eyes. Each day jot down a few colors that captured your attention the most: either by attracting you or repelling you.
- At the end of the week do an assessment: How many warm colors were there versus how many cool? Make a note of which had the higher number, warm or cool.
- Have meditative time with yourself. This time help you consider how you felt physically that week. If you were feeling energetic, active, alert, that’s a general reflection of a warming color palette. You may find that colors in the red, orange, and yellow range feel more comfortable to you. If you were feeling calm, peaceful, and meditative, that’s a match to a cooling color palette. You may find that colors in the blue and violet range feel like home to you. Of course, it’s possible to feel attributes on both sides of the color spectrum, and this is where neutral balancing colors are wisdom keepers and offer a better wellness solution.
- Now for some deeper self-reflection. Consider this: does how you felt overall that week coincide with where your higher number of color attractions were or is it the opposite? We tend to be attracted to the colors we need, yet, sometimes when we’re overactivated (either in warming or cooling color attributes), we’ll be attracted only to those colors we’re most comfortable with, and instead need exposure to other colors for balance. Once you determine where your general color needs lie — meaning warming or cooling colors — you can set out to give yourself some conscious exposure.
Learning how to respond to these color attractions can open you up to a whole new way of supporting the body, mind and spirit. A professional color therapy practice incorporates therapeutic, holistic, and positive benefits of colors beyond the seven basic rainbow colors. I teach practitioners a variety of color associations, so they can determine exactly where their clients’ wellness needs are and provide the best color therapy solutions.
Basic Ways to Incorporate Color Wisdom
- Choose one key color to consciously seek out. Wherever you are, do a visual scan for that color and let yourself linger with it when you find it.
- Close your eyes and practice visualizing your key color residing within you. Play with your imagination. See this color behind your eyes or choose another place in the body to visualize the color.
- Add more warming or cooling colors in your home based upon your personal needs. At work, take a look and see if there is a balance of warming and cooling colors present. Note: I often advise spas to be sure to add some warming colors, so clients can also feel grounded and secure in their relaxation experience.
I always say, “There’s more to color than meets the eye,” and this is where color psychology truly reveals that color can be part of a multisensory healing experience. If you’re intrigued about this practice, I encourage you get further training.
Color Psychology Visionary Constance Hart is the Founder/Developer of Conscious Colors ® and Color Aroma ® . An internationally recognized Color Therapy Expert, Constance has over thirty years’ experience teaching Color Therapy and certifies practitioners through the Conscious Colors Certification Course. Visit ConsciousColors.com to Learn More and Get a Free Color Wellness Guide.
