Everybody has a visceral response to color. We tend to either like a color or we don’t. Lots of studies have been done to document the physiological effects that color elicits in humans. Red, for example, has been shown to increase the heart rate, while deep shades of blue, like the sky at dusk, can make people feel drowsy. Yet little research has been done to evaluate the emotional impact of color.
To find out more about how color can influence emotions, I recently spoke with Catherine Poole, a medical intuitive and former spokesperson for Home Depot’s Fresh Aire Choice paint. Catherine sees a person’s response to certain colors as a reflection of his or her emotional state. She does so by tuning into ancient Hindu and Buddhist metaphysical systems that identify seven chakras, or energy centers, along the spine that supposedly serve as a link between the body and spirit. If there’s a problem with a chakra, Catherine says she can see it in the energy field that permeates a person and, by adjusting the amount of color in your surroundings, she believes you can alter an energy imbalance that makes you feel unhappy or unhealthy.
Like other medical intuitives, such as Caroline Myss, Ph.D., who is also the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller Why People Don’t Heal and How They Can (Three Rivers Press), Catherine sees color as energy. She also sees different colors as reflections of various emotional qualities. “Each chakra, or energy center, represents a different group of emotions,” Catherine told me. “We’re walking rainbows when we’re feeling balanced. But if you’re worried about finances, for example, which is linked to your base chakra and the color red, there can be a depletion of energy in that area, and a depletion of that color in your energy field.”
I don’t see color the way Catherine does, but I understand the concept of chakras and the idea that color can influence our sense of well being. According to the Eastern understanding, universal life-force flows through each chakra to nurture distinct qualities of energy that are essential to our development. Like light refracted through a prism, the energy starts out as red at the root chakra at the base of the spine, then changes to orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet as the energy ascends the spine through what mystics call the third eye between the brows to the top of the head. If there’s a color you’re averse to, Catherine says you may have an emotional or health issue that relates to that color. And if you can figure out a way to introduce a bit of it into your home, she explained, you can often ameliorate your problems.
I generally have trouble with yellow, for example, which Catherine says relates to one’s ego and feelings of trust and self-esteem. It’s also the color that’s aligned with the chakra located at the solar plexus. She suggested that I introduce touches of yellow into my home, with flowers or a teacup, for instance, to balance my energy without overdoing a color that I don’t strongly relate to. She also said that painting the walls with a warm neutral color, one that might include a touch of yellow mixed with white and a little red, could help. I think I’ll try the flowers—sunflowers are in season—and see what happens. For more of Catherine Poole’s thoughts on color, visit her Web site.
Jean, it’s so interesting to consider how much color impacts people in various ways. In the end, be it inspired by chakras or nostalgic memories, a positive response to color and adding it into our lives seems to always create more happiness. Isn’t that the whole point of creating beauty– to create thoughtful bliss? Thanks for the insights.
Thoughtful bliss. What a beautiful concept. I’ll keep this in mind as I pick the new paint colors for my rooms in the next few weeks. Thanks Sonu.
My Mom’s bedroom was painted in white which had a drop of red mixed in. It gives the room a pinkish glow, but when you look at it, the walls are actually white, unless you knew the paint trick in advance.
But your feelings are warm and pink, and your eye sees white. People are entralled with colors when we put colorful glass pendants out in our magnetic jewelry craft booth. Bright green frogs are a hot seller.
Genetics play a role in how individuals perceive certain colors.
I love the idea of just a hint of pink white walls. I plan to do something similar in a powder room. I bet it brings out the best in your Mom’s skin, too, as pink does for most any skin tone.