Yearly Archives: 2016
Green – In Depth
When students were given creativity tests, those whose test-cover pages had a green background gave more creative answers than those whose pages were white, blue, red or grey. ~Sue Shellenbarger
Since the beginning of time, green has signified growth, rebirth, and fertility. In pagan times, there was the “Green Man” – a symbol of fertility. In Muslim countries, it is a holy color and in Ireland, a lucky color. It was the color of the heavens in the Ming Dynasty.
The word green comes from the Middle English and Old English word grene, which, like the German word grün, has the same root as the words grass and grow.
It is from a Common Germanic *gronja-, which is also reflected in Old Norse grænn, Old High German gruoni (but unattested in East Germanic), ultimately from a PIE root *ghre– “to grow”, and root-cognate with grass and to grow.
The first recorded use of the word as a color term in Old English dates to ca. AD 700.
Latin with viridis (and hence the Romance languages, and English vert, verdure etc.) also has a genuine term for “green”. Likewise the Slavic languages with zelenъ. Ancient Greek also had a term for yellowish, pale green – χλωρός, chloros (cf. the color of chlorine), cognate with χλοερός “verdant” and χλόη “the green of new growth”.
For the ancient Egyptians, green had very positive associations. The hieroglyph for green represented a growing papyrus sprout, showing the close connection between green, vegetation, vigor and growth.
In wall paintings, the ruler of the underworld, Osiris, was typically portrayed with a green face, because green was the symbol of good health and rebirth.
Palettes of green facial makeup, made with malachite, were found in tombs. It was worn by both the living and dead, particularly around the eyes, to protect them from evil. Tombs also often contained small green amulets in the shape of scarab beetles made of malachite, which would protect and give vigor to the deceased.
It also symbolized the sea, which was called the “Very Green. Interestingly, in Japan, the words for blue and green (“ao“) are the same.
Today, green is no longer just a color. It’s now the symbol of ecology and a verb. Today’s greens can be found in a wide range of objects: pea soup, delicate celadon glazes, sleazy shag carpet, sickly bathroom walls, emeralds, wasabi, and sage. The English language reflects some strange attributes: Would you rather be green with envy, green behind the ears, or green around the gills? (Idiomatic American English for extremely envious, immature or nauseated.)
Green in other cultures:
Green is usually considered lucky. A green shamrock symbolizes this. However, this is not always true in every culture, venue, or situation. For example:
- You won’t find many green cars at racetracks because they are considered unlucky.
- Circus and traveling showmen in Australia may consider green to be bad luck.
- An old English rhyme about wedding colors: “Married in green, Ashamed to be seen.”
- In China, Green may symbolize infidelity. A green hat symbolizes that a man’s wife is cheating on him.
- In Israel, green may symbolize bad news.
- In Spain, racy jokes are “green.”
Seeing Green:
There are more shades of green than that of any other color. Greens range from yellow-greens, such as lime and avocado greens, to those with a blue tinge (such as emerald). Aqua or turquoise are colors that are typically half green and half blue.
Color Blindness – Approximately 5% – 8% of men and 0.5% of women of the world are born colorblind. People who are protans (red weak) and deutans (green weak) comprise 99% of this group.
Some European countries have outlined certain traffic light colors so that it is clear which is green and which is red, by the color that has a rectangle around it. Some states in the U.S. have placed diagonal lines through green traffic lights as an aid for the colorblind.
Green exit signs have an important advantage when there is smoke in the air (in other words, when a fire is burning). With red exit signs, it looks like a fire – firemen have actually rushed into burning buildings and tried to put out the signs! With a green sign, people know it isn’t the fire itself but the way to safety.
Spectral coordinates:
- Wavelength: 520-570 nm
- Frequency: 575-525 THz
Color coordinates:
- Hex triplet: 00FF00
- sRGBB: (0, 255, 0)
Using Green
He had that curious love of green, which in individuals is always the sign of a subtle artistic temperament, and in nations is said to denote a laxity, if not a decadence of morals. ~ Oscar Wilde
Put green in your life when there is:
- A feeling of restriction caused by circumstances such as being housebound or confined.
- A need to let change happen, but also a fear of the unknown.
- A feeling of being trapped by other people’s rules and regulations and a need to break rigid patterns.
- A need for new ideas.
- A need for a new state of balance.
- A problem with personal relationships, especially with over-dominance and subservience.
- Green balances the emotions, calms, soothes nervous exhaustion, (use in moderation).
- Feng Shui claims that green eases absent-mindedness, nervousness and rudeness.
Loving green:
Green is a nice-person color, a “do-gooder, be-gooder” kind of color. This person has a warm heart. Passion is probably in there somewhere, buried under integrity and honor. If you love green, you put the greater good before your own good – try a little selfish behavior once in a while.
Green brings peace, rest, hope, comfort and nurturing, calmness and harmony. Interest in nature, plants, fellowmen, children and animals, health and healing, natural and plain life. Longing for a safe home and family-life. A dislike
of conflicts.
Not loving green:
A person who has an aversion to green may be more interested in independence and self-development than in a warm family-life. May prefer to keep a certain distance in (sexual) relationships.
Wearing green:
Wear green when you want to overcome a sense of thwarted ambition. Green says growth – balance – harmony. It is a color of healthy relationships.
Questions to ask yourself when drawn to green:
- Is there a need for space to gain fresh perspective?
- What is restricting you?
- Is there a situation or circumstance that is limiting or stopping your growth?
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
Variations of The Color Green
They’ll sell you thousands of greens. Veronese green and emerald green and cadmium green and any sort of green you like, but that particular green, never. ~Pablo Picasso
Olive green: speaks of new beginnings, hope and peace. It is the traditional color of peace, “offering an olive branch.” There is, however, an element in this color that suggests treachery and deceit, blaming others for its problems..
Light green: This is a soul spirit color that arouses a heightened awareness of our finer nature, our pure goodness, generosity, attuning to our goodness on the outside. Light green takes us deeper within ourselves showing us the perfection and light that we have always been and always will be. We discover that we are fine just the way we are!
Lime Green: Lime green inspires youthfulness, naivety and playfulness; it is liked the most by younger people. It creates a feeling of anticipation, and helps clear the mind of negativity.
Dark Green: There is a degree of resentment in dark green. Often used by wealthy businessmen, ambitious and always striving for more wealth, dark green signifies greed and selfish desire. “Green with envy” is the recognition of this. “Green around the gills” is another expression indicating an upset condition, an approaching illness, the result of fear, or a case of biliousness.
Pale green: As the color of new growth on plants, it indicates immaturity, youthfulness and inexperience. It allows us to see things from a new perspective, to make a fresh start
Emerald green: This is an inspiring and uplifting color suggesting abundance and wealth in all its forms, from material wellbeing, to creative ideas.
Jade green: The color of trust and confidentiality, tact and diplomacy, jade green indicates a generosity of spirit, giving without expecting anything in return. It increases worldly wisdom and understanding, assisting in the search for enlightenment.
Aqua: Aqua calms the spirit, offering protection and healing for the emotions.
Yellow green: This color green suggests cowardice, conflict and fear.
Grass green: Grass green is the color of money. It is self-confident and secure, natural and healthy, occurring in abundance in nature.
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Bright Blessings.
Green – The Correspondences
…and his eyes were so green they could turn carbon dioxide into oxygen.
~Rainbow Rowell
Foods that work in a green way:
- Food that is green, or works in a green way, tends to be rich in vitamins and nutrients.
- Eating foods in their natural season, or where possible, foods grown locally, allow the body to settle into the rhythms and patterns of our immediate surroundings.
- Apples, pears, avocados, green grapes, limes, kiwi fruit, cabbage, broccoli, kale, sprouts, green beans, peas, leeks spinach, herbs.
Green Essential Oils:
- Mint
- Ginger
- Sage
Green Crystals and Stones:
- Emerald
- Peridot
- Jade
- Adventurine
- Malachite
- Moss agate
- Amazonite
Green gemstones are used to attract money, prosperity and wealth. They are balancing stones that promote growth and fertility. Carry, wear or place green gemstones around your home or office to promote balance, change and growth.
Symbolic Meanings of Green:
- New life
- Resurrection
- Hope
- The sea
- Fertility and regeneration
- Recycling
- Environmental awareness
- A lucky color
- An unlucky color
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
Healing With The Color Green
Absolute green is the most restful color, lacking any undertone of joy, grief, or passion. On exhausted men this restfulness has a beneficial effect, but after a time it becomes tedious. ~Wassily Kandinsky
Overview:
Green is the color of the heart chakra. It has a calming effect, especially in inflamed conditions of the body. It is soothing to the nervous system. It is a great healer. It builds muscles, bones and other tissue cells. Its complement is magenta.
Green is cooling, soothing, and calming both physically and mentally. If you are exhausted, green initially has a beneficial effect, but after a time, it becomes tiring. Green acts upon the sympathetic nervous system. It relieves tension in the blood vessels and lowers the blood pressure. It acts upon the nervous system as a sedative and is helpful in sleeplessness, exhaustion, and irritability.
Green strongly affects the heart chakra, and it is balancing to the autonomic nervous system. It can be applied beneficially in cardiac conditions, high blood pressure, ulcers, exhaustion, and headaches. Green harmonizes, life-giving, calms the mind, nerves, fever, and acidity; balances the metabolism, stabilizes the weight, tones liver and spleen; and benefits the pituitary gland.
Healing with the color green:
- Green stimulates growth and is good for helping heal broken bones.
- Green is a muscle and tissue builder.
- Can dramatically assist with easing pain, promotes rapid healing of all kinds.
- Green is a disinfectant, germicide, antiseptic and bacteriocide.
- Green is used during pregnancy and labor because of its soothing and healing properties.
- Green provides an essential nourishment for the body, the spirit and the heart.
- Green is an aphrodisiac and a sex tonic.
- Helps the digestive system, relieves tension.
- It is good for shock and anxiety.
- Green dilates the capillaries and produces a sensation of warmth.
- A calm green light is an excellent remedy for headache and neuralgia.
- Green affects blood pressure and all conditions of the heart. Helps control the blood pressure (light green for high blood pressure and dark green for low blood pressure).
- Green helps with relaxation and can be effective for insomnia.
- Assists with healing past trauma and eases the impact of troubled memories.
- The olive green shade can help us work positively with our emotions, olive is cleansing and disinfectant, it can be used to heal and soothe, to regenerate and to gain awareness and understanding of situations.
- Green has both an energizing effect and a moderating or soothing effect.
- It cures hormonal imbalances.
- Stimulates growth hormone and rejuvenation.
- Cleans and purifies from germs, bacteria and rotting material.
- Harmonizes the digestion, stomach, liver, and gall bladder.
- Has a healing effect on kidneys.
- Increases immunity.
- Builds up muscles, bones and tissues.
- Stimulates inner peace.
- Strengthens the nervous system.
- Green in any form is one of the finest tonics for tired nerves. The shade or chroma should be bright and clear, but much will depend on individual preferences.
Specific treatments and recommendations using green:
- For low blood pressure focus the green light over the heart for half an hour treatments and drink the green solarized water at hourly intervals between meals in half a glass dosages. Eat freely of green salads.
- For high blood pressure follow the same treatment but use a paler green color.
- Neuralgic headaches are often relieved by just looking at the green light.
- Sitting in green light for an hour at a time will refresh exhausted nerves and aid in optimistic thinking.
- Ulcers can be relieved by the green ray treatment given over a long period of time. As they are caused by fear, anger, criticism and antagonism, the opposite of these emotions built in through the use of compassionate green will heal them.
- Influenza requires both the green and blue light treatment, as do mucus fevers, whooping cough and croup.
- Colds in the head yield to green solarized water and green light, sometimes with the help of indigo.
- Green can be used as an aphrodisiac and sex tonic. It is very useful in stimulating sex glands and will be found equally helpful to men and women. It is the color of youth, the springtime of the year when vegetation shows its greatest growth and vigor.
Contra-Indications:
- Too much green can deepen depression and social withdrawal in some who are already so inclined.
- Some people caution that green should not be used in treatment of cancer because of its association with growth.
- It is not to be used where there is anemia or lack of vitality.
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Bright Blessings.
The Color Green
Green how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches.
~ Federico Garcia Lorca
Green is the color of growing grass and leaves, of emeralds, and of jade. Green is the color most commonly associated with nature, the environmental movement, Ireland, Islam, spring, hope and envy. Green is a soothing
refreshing color associated with the Heart Chakra. Green is about growing, expanding, and living – it’s no coincidence that our money is green.
Green is the color of Nature, and the keynote of our planet Earth. Man’s first environment was a garden. The green radiance is essential to our health and happiness. As the color of nature and vegetation, it has a soothing, harmonious radiation that is essential for the well-being of our nerves, and the proper functioning of the body. Green pastures and fresh air are indeed a wonderful aid in recuperation of health, and it seems in line with this that the leaves of the Tree of Life are used for healing. As a color of earthly, perceptible growing things, it represents the field of sensation, and also the victory of life over death, as in spring. Fertility of the fields; immediate natural life.
Green helps to restore balance and equilibrium. Walking through woodland where the light is predominantly filtered through green leaves creates a sense of calm in the emotions and an expansive increased sense of connection with our surroundings.
Green is the great healer. It is neutral to the other colors and serves as a general tonic and neutralizer. When in doubt, use green. It is a calming color and has a neutral effect on the human nervous system.
Studies have shown a decrease in blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing rate when people are exposed to green light. Green is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision.
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Bright Blessings.
Healing with Color Meditation
The Meditation:
Choose the color you feel is most appropriate for your needs. Here’s a quick list: Healing Colors
For this meditation either sit in a chair or stand. Imagine an egg shaped bubble around you.Breathe in deeply from your nose imagining that color entering your feet and filling your entire body. When you exhale image the color exiting your body into your visualized egg shaped bubble. Continue to do this until the egg shaped bubble is filled with the color.
When you are complete take a few moments to come back into the room.
Enhancements:
- If you can find a light bulb in your color of choice, you can bathe yourself and the room with color.
- If no light bulb is available, consider putting colored cellophane over the window. Use your imagination and creativity.
- Find a piece of cloth, paper, or other object in the required color. Spend time before the meditation staring at it, taking in the color.
- Wear clothing, or cover yourself with a blanket or sheet that is the color you’ve chosen. Alternatively, you could wrap ribbon or yarn around your wrists.
- Drink water that has been charged with the color: Fill a glass bottle with water, wrap it with colored tissue paper or cellophane and set it in the sun for several hours.
After the meditation:
- Eat some food of the same color.
- For example: Green beans, Red cherries, Purple plums, Blue berries…
Note:
For best results, the meditation should be repeated twice a day until the symptoms begin to subside. After that, you can gradually taper off – paying attention to your body’s response.
If you feel that you have taken in too much of one color, you can easily balance yourself with a meditation on green, and/or black and white.
Credits:
The amazing artwork is called Nature’s Prophet, and it’s by Natural Warp. There’s also a facebook page, Natural Warp Art check it out and give it a thumbs up!
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Bright Blessings.
Yellow – In Depth
The sound of colors is so definite that it would be hard to find anyone who would express bright yellow with bass notes or dark lake with treble… ~Wassily Kandinsky
The word “yellow” comes from the Old English geolu, geolwe, meaning “yellow, yellowish”, derived from the Proto-Germanic word gelwaz. It has the same Indo-European base, –ghel, as the word yell; –ghel means both bright and gleaming, and to cry out. Yellow is a color which cries out for attention.
The English term is related to other Germanic words for yellow, namely Scots yella, East Frisian jeel, West Frisian giel, Dutch geel, German gelb, and Swedish gul.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the oldest known use of this word in English is from The Epinal Glossary in the year 700.
In Ancient Egypt, yellow was associated with gold, which was considered to be imperishable, eternal and indestructible. The skin and bones of the gods were believed to be made of gold.
The Egyptians used yellow extensively in tomb paintings; they usually used either yellow ochre or the brilliant orpiment, though it was made of arsenic and was highly toxic. A small paintbox with orpiment pigment was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Men were always shown with brown faces, women with yellow ochre or gold faces.
The Dark Side of Yellow
Yellow is the only color that reacts badly to black: Add a little black and it becomes a sickly yellow-green.
In some cultures and situations, the color yellow represents cowardice, betrayal, egoism, and madness. Furthermore, yellow is the color of caution and physical illness (jaundice, malaria, and pestilence). Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the sources of yellow pigments are toxic metals – cadmium, lead, and chrome – and urine.
The original formula for Indian yellow, the bright yellow long used in Indian miniatures was banned due to the way it was made. Cows were poisoned with mango leaves and the color was made from their urine.
In Russia, a colloquial expression for an insane asylum used to be “yellow house.” Bright “marigold” yellow may be associated with death in some areas of Mexico. Those condemned to die during the Inquisition wore yellow as a sign of treason.
A yellow patch was used to label Jews in the Middle Ages. European Jews were forced to wear yellow or yellow “Stars of David” during the Nazi era of prosecution.
Interestingly, in China, adult movies are referred to as yellow movies.
Seeing Yellow:
Although yellow occupies one-twentieth of the spectrum, it is the brightest color, the most luminous of all the colors. It’s the color that captures our attention more than any other color.
In the natural world, yellow is the color of sunflowers and daffodils, egg yolks and lemons, canaries and bees. In our contemporary human-made world, yellow is the color of Sponge Bob, the Tour de France winner’s jersey, happy faces, post its, and signs that alert us to danger or caution.
Spectral coordinates:
- Wavelength: 570-590 nm
- Frequency: 525-505 THz
Color coordinates:
- Hex triplet: #FFFF00
- sRGBB: (255, 255, 0)
- CMYKH: (0, 0, 100, 0)
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
Using The Color Yellow
You put a blob of yellow here, and another at the further edge of the canvas: straight away a rapport is established between them. Colour acts in the way that music does… ~Georges Braque
Wearing Yellow:
Wear yellow to present a cheery, uplifting effect. Use it around your office to help keep a clear your mind, and improve memory and decision making.
Put yellow in your life when there is:
- Confusion and indecision, poor memory.
- Fear and anxiety caused by unknown factors leading to nervous and digestive disorders.
- Nervous exhaustion, nervous breakdown, “burn out,” panic attacks, hot flashes.
- Poor memory, inability to concentrate or study.
- Tendency to SAD, or lethargy and depression in dull weather.
- Irritability, tension, restlessness, feelings of depression and inability to make decisions.
Questions to ask yourself when drawn to yellow:
- Is there a need to start thinking clearly?
- What are you afraid of?
Loving Yellow:
Watch out for self-centered, “me first” energy when someone prefers yellow to the rest of the rainbow. If yellow is your favorite color, temper your use of the word “I” when you’re interested in someone else. You can come across as too ego-centric otherwise. Now, if you’re dating someone whose favorite hue is yellow, make sure to jump in and share stories about yourself, since this person may not give you much room.
Yellow is the color of cheerfulness, curiosity, alternation, flexibility, progress, amusement, contact through traveling and communication, learning and practical knowledge. People of high intellect favor yellow. A person who loves yellow may have a feeling for writing and speaking.
Not loving yellow:
A person who has aversion to yellow may be emotionally disappointed and bitter. May have tendency to rationalize feelings, or to avoid the depth of life by often changing relationships, many superficial relationships and/or constant changing activities.
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
Variations of the Color Yellow
“The yellow glistens.
It glistens with various yellows,
Citrons, oranges and greens
Flowering over the skin.”
― Wallace Stevens
Light Clear Yellow: This color helps to clear the mind, making it open and alert.
Lemon Yellow: Lemon yellow promotes self reliance and a need for an orderly life. This yellow increases our sensitivity to criticism.
Citrine Yellow: Citrine is a superficial and fickle color. It encourages the serial relationship hopper, the teaser, with unstable emotions. This yellow can be deceitful and retreats from responsibility.
Golden Yellow: This yellow is the color of the loner with an intense curiosity and interest in investigating the finer details of its interests. Golden yellow is sensitive to criticism.
Light Cream: Tinted with a hint of yellow, encourages new ideas. However, this very pale color can also indicate a lack of confidence and a need for reassurance.
Dark Yellow: The darker shades of yellow indicate an inclination toward depression and melancholy, lack of love and low self-worth. Dark yellow relates to the constant complainer and the cynic.
Gold: Gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance, the color psychology of gold implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance.
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Color Therapy, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
I think it's time to go shopping... maybe even buy some really cool stuff at my online shops!!