The Wonderful World of Color Therapy: Skin, Pysche and Your Well-Being
In our modern day society, the culmination of how and what we are taught about the world, and our collective ideas of what defines success, has shaped us to relate to ourselves as mechanical creatures functioning in isolation to everything else.
Of course, our spirit within knows better than to allow societal pressure and expectations to get the best of us; that is why we often want to let our soul guide us. It's our soul that rebels against the mechanization of humanity, of our being, by seeking small pleasures that make us feel centered again. The way our society is being constructed, however, there is less and less room to honor the needs of our spiritual self and instead, more and more things are at play to accommodate the mechanical human. For instance, if you look at how the three industries we are so dependent on work, you will see that they treat us like an assemblage of mechanical parts rather than a complete system operating in harmony with the universe. In other words, the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the cosmetic/skincare industry have dominated the market with dead products--products that do not contribute to, nor encourage, the long-term wellness of an individual. These products do not sustain the life force within us because their approach to health and well-being stems from Newton's approach, where an illness or disease is treated with chemical ingredients that treat our symptoms in isolation like mechanical parts (thereby causing negative side effects). Alternatively, Einstein's approach (and that of many civilizations) looks at how we operate in relation to, in function of and in harmony with, energy systems all around us--including the energy systems within. Our well-being is a manifestation of energetic flow and balance. Therefore, cures and prevention must enable that energetic flow. Einstein coined this understanding in his mathematical equation E = mc2, determining that energy and matter are dual expressions of the same universal substance.
So, where do we get this energy that is vital to sustaining and replenishing our bodies? Civilizations as far back as 2000BC have been found to use color (chromotherapy) and light to treat diseases. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used colored salves, garments, stones, crystals, dyes, oils, and painted sanctuaries of different colors. The 6th century BC Ayurvedic physician used sun light to heal the ill. Today Ayurveda, Thai Chi, and several other healing practices use energy from light, food and nature to bring about balance and harmony with the energetic forces within.
How Color Therapy Works
The interaction between energy (light, which is an electromagnetic radiation) and matter produce color. A different color is produced depending on the wavelength, frequency, and amount of energy. A color, thus, stands for a certain amount of waves, frequency and energy, which, according to chromotherapy, gives existence to, sustains and stimulates our body: our organs and energy centers vibrate and harmonize with these different color frequencies because every atom in our body exist as energy, and each form of energy has its own frequency. Colors are, therefore, responsible for the correct working of our internal system by serving as an external source of energy that fulfills, in times of depletion, its energy counterpart extant in the internal system. No wonder why we feel so fulfilled, happy and complete in the spring time when colors are in abundance.
Depending on our emotional, physiological and mental state, we are drawn to different colors. Sometimes we are drawn to colors that represent a state we are in; other times, we are drawn to colors that indicate a need for a replenishing boost from that particular color's frequency.
Healing With Colors: What Color Are you Drawn To?
Red: Red is the most powerful of all the colors. It represents life, enthusiasm, love, power, courage, vitality energy, change, ambition, grounding, Earth, Gaia, power, war, passion, alert, danger, pioneering, activity and force without consciousness. Wearing red can help us feel stronger and more dynamic. Red is good for circulation, chronic illness, non-infected wounds, scar tissue, strengthens kidneys, heart, muscles, blood, lungs, bones.
Orange: Orange represents joy, happiness, warmth, creativity, pleasure, sensuality, sexuality, generosity, moves energy gently, awakening to the wisdom within oneself, sociable, aspiring, gregarious. Orange is good to counter depression, cramping anywhere in the body, it's a relaxant, helps with sclerosis, heart disease, boosts the immune system, improves circulation, raises blood pressure and helps with artery disturbance.
Yellow: Yellow is mental activity, learning, intellect, acquired/learned knowledge, little will, individuation, alertness, concentration, focus, cheerful, sun, warmth, cleaning, fear, left brain, empowerment, self-esteem, confidence. Yellow is great to counter fear and obsessive behavior. It boosts the immune system, aids your digestive system,
Green: Green represents harmony, healing, new beginning, growth, prosperity, stability, trust, relationships, loyalty, integrity. Green is good for the liver, swelling or growth, anti-inflammatory, eye problems, bronchial catarrh, gout, diabetes, cysts, tumors, pituitary stimulant, promotes healthy bones, painful joints, allergies, and detoxifies &cleanses.
Blue: Blue symbolizes inner peace, introspection, harmony, relaxation, nurturing, benevolence, insight, and wisdom. Blue increases metabolism and promotes growth, calm the mind and sedates the emotions. Like green, it is anti-inflammatory. Blue is anti-bacterial, anti-infection, anti-cramping, helps with headaches, relieves pain, stops hemorrhage, and lowers blood pressure. Its cooling effect is great for fever.
Indigo: While shares many characteristics of blue and violet, indigo is the color that represents the higher mind and all that is.
Violet: Violet stimulates emotions, meditation, inspiration, intuition, inner emotional release, opening inner doors, stimulates dreams, wisdom, spirituality, higher mind, power, transformation, alchemy, loyalty, integration, mysticism, clairvoyance service, union, artistry, the balance of male and female. Violet is good for menopause, spleen, sedative, relaxant, lymphatic relaxant soothes solar plexus, and is anti-viral.
Integrate Color into your Cleansing Ritual to Benefit Your Skin
According to color therapy practitioners, color can be integrated into your daily routine of cleansing and toning to benefit the skin and the psyche. This can be done by lighting a room with thin translucent gel sheets of color (you can get this at an art supply store), hold up the sheet to the light and direct the rays to the ceiling to illuminate the room with those color frequencies.
Choose the color accordingly:
- Use the color violet as you apply a facial compress as this helps with relaxation
- Use the color green as you cleanse.
During the toning process:
- use red or orange if you have underactive skin
- use yellow if you have normal skin
- use green if you have oily skin
- use blue if you have blemished or sensitive skin
Color therapy is one of many paths to natural healing, and if you are interested in this practice, I encourage you to read up on it until you feel comfortable with how it works. It's not very complex but, nevertheless, do not rely on my brief explanation of colors above (Tooley) to self-medicate serious diseases or illnesses. This post was just shed light on a safe approach to health, beauty, and healing.
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Further Reading
Anne C. Tooley. Virbrational Energy Medicine
Betty Wood. The Healing Power of Color.
Howard and Dorathy Sun. Color Your Life.
Samina T. Yousuf Azeemi and Raza S. Mohsin, A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution
Color Therapy Healing
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