Learn about color theory, a concept utilising symbolic and spiritual meaning of colors, and how they can be used to positively influence your environment and your mood.
Key Information
- Color theory is a powerful tool which can be employed to help create desired ambiances in spaces with particular uses.
- Different colors have been shown to evoke specific moods.
- Colors have varying connotations across different cultures.
Embracing the Spiritual Meanings of Colors
If you look at a color wheel, which are you most drawn to? Have you ever wondered why they hold such appeal for you personally?
Colors are a powerful part of our everyday lives, and yet they’re also an aspect of our surroundings that we often forget to notice.
Understanding the symbolism of particular colors can help us to create the specific ambience we desire in different environments in our lives.
Color has a profound influence over our emotions, evoking certain feelings and affecting our moods on a daily basis1.
This is why interior design places such emphasis on decorating specific areas of our homes and personal spaces in particular shades – color can deeply impact the atmosphere in which we exist. And while personal preference is a good place to start, selecting specific hues can be important and valuable for achieving the intended effect.
Color Theory
While color psychology is certainly fascinating, more research in this area is required.
That said, there is evidence to show that color can indeed influence us, both psychologically and physiologically2.
In a study of 24 students, heart rates were significantly affected by hue, with red and yellow colors causing notable increases, while blue colors increased feelings relaxation and calm.
Interestingly, specific colors which have been shown to evoke the same emotions in different people from various countries3. On the other hand, color has different connotations in different cultures4, for example, in Western cultures blue is often used to represent masculinity, while in Islamic culture it symbolises purity.
With the above in mind, understanding the powerful symbolism of particular colors might be beneficial, since it can help us to create the distinct ambience we desire in different environments in our lives.
Following is a breakdown of popular colors and the different ways they can influence the quality and flavour of our moods.
Spiritual Meanings of Warm Colors vs Cool Colors
Different colors can be described as either warm or cool, with different connotations and color meanings for each category, as follows:
Warm Colours
Warm colors are associated with heat, and they are known for making spaces feel more cosy and snug.
Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow, and positive connotations include intimacy, joy, and love. However they may also represent anger, hostility, and aggression.
Cool Colours
Cool colours are refreshing and are associated with making small areas feel more spacious.
Cool colours include blues, lilacs, and greens represent positive meanings such as soothing, calm, and relaxation. However negative connotations include sorrow or apathy.
Symbolic Meanings of Rainbow Colors
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the meanings and symbolism of the colors of the rainbow, as well as the chakra colors.
Red
Red is the color of intense passion, strength, and courage. It’s a hot color which symbolises energy, power, and excitement!
The color red symbolises the primitive parts of the psyche.
Red is the color of blood – a powerful color (which is likely why it’s used for stop signs and traffic lights). Its intensity is associated with strong emotion at both ends of the spectrum. It’s the the color of love and romance, but also aggression and rage.
In many eastern cultures red is also associated with luck.
Red is the color of the base chakra, also known as the Root chakra. It symbolises the primitive parts of the psyche, such as safety and survival.
Orange
The meaning of the color orange is associated with energy, warmth, and sensuality. Its vibrancy is uplifting and playful, and is also linked to healing, affection, and sexual energy.
Orange is the color of the second chakra, also known as the Sacral chakra. It symbolises feelings, sexuality, and creativity.
Yellow
Yellow is symbolic of empowerment..
The primary color yellow is a joyful, happy color, most often used to represent the colour of sunshine. It’s associated with healing, hope, and clarity of thought.
Bright yellow is the color of the third chakra, also known as the Solar Plexus chakra. It’s symbolic of intellect, confidence, and empowerment.
Green
As the hue most often associated with Mother Nature because of her green plants, the color is linked with healing, good health, and vitality. Green color meanings also include wealth, growth, and new beginnings. It’s also the most visible color in daylight. Spiritually, green is connected with emotional balance and peace.
The color green is the color associated with the Heart chakra.
The popular color at the middle of the rainbow spectrum is also associated with good luck and good fortune in the UK and USA.
Green is the color of the fourth chakra, also known as the Heart chakra. It symbolises love, openness, compassion, and forgiveness.
Blue
The color blue is a calming and soothing color.
Blue colors can range from dark blues, to sky blue, true blue, light blues, and the palest baby blue, with slightly different meanings attached to lighter or darker shades and varying hues. Blue is a calming and soothing color, making it a good color for relaxing spaces in the home, symbolic of truth, harmony, intuition, and inner peace.
Blue is also associated with the fifth chakra, also known as the Throat chakra. It represents communication and self-expression of creativity, truth, and perception.
Indigo
The color indigo is associated with psychic sensitivity, empathy, spiritual connection, and intuition.
Indigo is the color of the sixth chakra, also known as the Third Eye chakra. It symbolises psychic ability and inner wisdom.
Violet
Violet is associated with the Crown chakra.
Violet is symbolic of healing and the integration and synthesis of mind, body, and soul. It has great symbolic significance as the color of spirituality and higher consciousness, carrying great perception and wisdom.
Violet (or white) is the color of the seventh chakra, also known as the Crown chakra.
Symbolism of Other Colors Not in the Rainbow
Following are the meanings of the colors not represented in the rainbow.
Pink
Pink is the color of romance, tenderness, and unconditional love. It also symbolises nurture and femininity.
Pink is an alternative color sometimes associated with the fourth Heart chakra.
Purple
The color purple, especially deep purple, is linked with royalty and power. Light purple is symbolic of intuition and spiritual enlightenment.
White
The color white is associated with healing, purity, and truth. It’s symbolic of innocence, clarity, and peace.
Black
Black is produced either by an absence of color, or a blend of all colors combined together. In this sense, it represents intrigue and mystery.
The color black also symbolises elegance, allure, and sophistication. It’s also associated with black magic.
Brown
The color brown symbolises being down to earth, stability, and common sense. It also represents support, and protection.
Gold
Gold is associated with energy, power, and wealth. It’s also symbolic of confidence, healing, and courage.
Silver
Silver represents imagination, and abundance. It also symbolises the moon, intuition, and feminine energy.
How to Use Colors to Enhance Your Spiritual Journey
Understanding the psychology of color and appreciating its potential can be a huge advantage.
Color can be used intentionally to create variations of mood in your environment.
You can use this information to power dress in tones associated with the vibe you are trying to evoke. Or to influence the moods of yourself and those around you, whether through clothes choices in your favorite color, or the decor you choose for your home or office.
In fact, that’s the beauty of color: it can be used intentionally in different ways, to consciously create variations of mood in your environment, to suit your color preferences, and spirituality.
What Are Healing Colors?
Healing colors include:
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue
- Violet
- White
- Gold
The Meanings of Aura Colors
According to spiritual realms, auras are the colored energy fields surrounding living beings, and are said to be visible to those with psychic abilities.
The color of the aura exhibited by somebody is very telling of their emotional state and may reflect key personality trait /s. Here’s what each aura color is supposed to indicate:
- Red aura – energetic and fiery
Cloudy red indicates anger and aggression.
Clear red means passion and sexual energy.
- Orange auras – adventurous, creative, and considerate
- Yellow aura – exuberant, positive, and charismatic
- Green auras – compassionate, affectionate, empathic
A great listener and communicator, easily led, so boundaries are super important for this aura color.
- Blue auras – serene, intuitive, insightful, and spiritual
- Indigo aura – sensitive, empathic, and spiritual power
- Purple aura – spiritually perceptive; empathic and intuitive
Deeply sensitive to the psychic realm.
- White aura – unusual, prone to perfectionism
Naturally exhibits and provides therapeutic care to others.
Whilst there’s some evidence to support the idea of color theory, the most important thing to bear in mind when decorating your own spaces or choosing your preferred colors to wear is what resonates with you.
The best colors to pick are the ones that call you; ultimately color preference is subjective and it’s your personal power to choose whichever color or colors are most pleasing to your own eye.
Sources
- Jicheng Yang, Xiaoying Shen, “The Application of Color Psychology in Community Health Environment Design”, Journal of Environmental and Public Health, vol. 2022, Article ID 7259595, 10 pages, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7259595.
- Aseel AL-Ayash, Robert T. Kane, Dianne Smith, Paul Green-Armytage, “The influence of color on student emotion, heart rate, and performance in learning environments”, Wiley Online Library, 20/02/2015. https://doi.org/10.1002/col.21949.
- Jonauskaite D, Abu-Akel A, Dael N, et al. Universal patterns in color-emotion associations are further shaped by linguistic and geographic proximity. Psychol Sci. 2020;31(10):1245-1260. doi:10.1177/0956797620948810.
- Madden, T. J., Hewett, K., & Roth, M. S. (2000). Managing Images in Different Cultures: A Cross-National Study of Color Meanings and Preferences. Journal of International Marketing, 8(4), 90–107. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25048831.