Color Me Pink
(Source: Weaving It Together Book 3, 1st ed., pages 3-4)
Red, white, pink, purple--what is your favorite color? We are all sensitive to color. There are some colors we like a lot and some we don't like at all. Some colors soothe us, others excite us, some make us happy, and others make us sad. People are affected by color more than they realize because color is tied to all aspects of our lives.
Experts in colorgenics, the study of the language of color, believe that the colors we wear say a lot about us. Do you know why you select a shirt or dress of a certain color when you look through your clothes in the morning? Colorgenics experts say that we subconsciously choose to wear certain colors in order to communicate our desires, emotions, and needs.
Colorgenics experts claim that our clothes send messages to others about our mood, personality, and desires. For these experts, pink expresses the peace and contentment of the wearer. People who often wear pink are supposed to be warm and understanding. The message is that you would like to share your peace and happiness with others. Red garments, on the other hand, indicate a high level of physical energy. People who wear red like to take life at a fast pace. Brown is the color of wealth and it shows a need for independence and material security. Wearers of green have a love of nature and enjoy peaceful moments. They often like to be left alone with their thoughts.
Although colorgenics may be a recent area of study, associating colors with emotions is not new. Colors have always been used to describe not only our feelings, but also our physical health and attitudes. "Red with rage" describes anger; "in the pink" means to be in good health; "feeling blue" is a sad way to feel; and "green with envy" indicates a jealous attitude.
Color is used symbolically in all cultures and it plays an important role in ceremonies and festivities. Yellow is a symbol of luck in Peru and it can be seen just about everywhere during New Year celebrations--in flowers, clothing, and decorations. Some Peruvians say, "The more yellow you have around you, the luckier you will be in the new year." Yellow is also an important color to the Vietnamese, who use it at weddings and also on their flag, where it represents courage, victory, and sacrifice. In many cultures, white symbolizes purity, which is why brides often wear white wedding gowns. Black, on the other hand, symbolizes death, and it is often the color people wear to funerals.
According to colorgenics experts, colors not only are a mirror of ourselves, but they have an effect on us as well. Blue is calming, while red is stimulating and exciting. It's no coincidence that racing cars are often painted red. Yellow is a happy color that makes us feel good about life. Pink awakens love and kindness.
Some experts are so convinced that colors have a strong effect on us that they believe colors can be used to heal. They say that by concentrating our thoughts on certain colors, we can cause energy to go to the parts of the body that need treatment. White light is said to be cleansing, and it can balance the body's entire system. Yellow stimulates the mind and creates a positive attitude, so it can help against depression. Green, which has a calming and restful effect, is supposed to be good for heart conditions. Books are now available that teach people how to heal with color. These books provide long lists of ailments and the colors that can heal them.
Some psychologists and physicians also use color to help them treat patients with emotional and psychological problems. By giving them what is called the Luscher color test, in which people select the colors they like and dislike, doctors can learn many things about a patient's personality.
In conclusion, the study of color can help us to understand ourselves and to improve our lives. It offers an alternative way to heal they body and spirit, and it can help us understand what others arte trying to communicate. We can then respond to their needs and achieve a new level of understanding.