Color Has Power - Our Responses to Color - Part 2

In our last article, we talked about the psychological responses we humans have to color and the factors that influence them. There's one thing though that we mentioned that merits some discussion: color is basically, light. To understand the relationship between color and light, we need to first discuss what light is. Light is actually electromagnetic radiation. It travels in what you call "waves." Color, then, is actually the different frequencies of these waves as they are reflected off an object.

Now since light is energy, we can assume that colors also have energy of their own. And since energy can influence our bodies and our environments, therefore manipulating light and color can have beneficial or negative effects on us.

There are numerous ancient and modern practices that promote this assumption. Practitioners of the ancient art of Feng Shui believe that manipulating light and energy influences the quality of energy in your home. Christian mystics believe that the glorious light of God can transform our lives for the better. Indian yogis believe that inside our bodies, spinning energy centers called chakras suffuse our bodies with light and energy.

Scientific research contends that while the sun's light cultivates the development of much needed Vitamin D in our bodies, too much harmful rays, in the form of UVA and UVB radiation can adversely affect your health. Paying attention to how light can be harmful and tapping into how it can be beneficial, may actually promote your health and well-being. One way of manipulating the light energy in your space is through color. Since color carries with it light frequencies, what is essential is to understand the type of energies each color conveys. Let's take for instance the whole rainbow of colors.

How do we feel when we see so many colors in one place? Isn't it that we feel more energetic, creative, and inspired? Notice how children are more vibrant and happy in environments with a lot of color. This means that, somehow, children thrive on an abundance of different frequencies of light and energy. If you want to experience positive energy, try bringing in a rainbow theme into your space and see what happens!

Interestingly, some scientists have called full-spectrum light the super-nutrient. Plants grow faster and healthier when exposed to full spectrum light - meaning light that covers the whole spectrum from infrared to near ultra-violet. Full-spectrum light is so significant that some scientists have been looking into it in cancer research as an aid to healing!

In the previous article, I listed down some colors and their psychological and physiological impact on humans. With the idea of the power of light in mind, here are some more colors and how having them around can be beneficial to us!

GREEN - the energy that comes from green is quite apparent. We always associate green with life and nature. While different people react differently to different shades of green, there is a general consensus that green evokes verve, plant life, vitality and creativity. If you're feeling down or if your eyes are tired, look at something green, preferably something alive like a field of grass and you'll be surprised to feel your energy return! WHITE - We discussed in the previous article how white has been associated with cleanliness and purity in the West; grief and sorrow in Asia. White is an interesting color because it is the one that communicates contrast the most. On one hand, white's cleanliness can make us feel purer and lighter but, under different circumstances, white can come off as cold, sterile and emotionless. BLACK - Black is a lot like white. It is a color that communicates a range of emotions both positive and negative. Black is often associated in the West with evil, mourning and despair. However, it is also a powerful color, symbolizing authority and wisdom. As light, black light can be used for both aesthetic purposes and even diagnostic/therapeutic ones. Black light is used for sanitation, cleaning away microorganisms, curing resins and attracting insects. GREY - Interestingly, the associations with grey is not as well-known as with the other colors. But, did you know that grey stimulates creativity? It has been found that, in a grey environment, creative people remain creative for longer periods of time compared to spaces with other color schemes. Quite surprising for a color associated with dreary, stormy days.

As we mentioned previously, color and light can impact us quite powerfully. The important thing is to know how to use them to the best effect possible. While there is numerous other research that deals with color and light, we hope that the sample we have provided can give you a first taste into using these powerful elements in your own lives.


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