Blue

At the end of the film The Truman Show we see Truman sailing across a calm blue ocean, he is met by a blue wall and steps on the horizon. At the top of the steps is a blue door.

The character has no idea what awaits him on the other side of the door, all he knows is that it leads to the truth.

This example of The Truman Show shows that films use colour psychology in subtle (or not so subtle) ways. Light is used to convey an emotion for the viewer, also characters costumes can be used in a comparable way.

Charity in The Greatest Showman begins by wearing a blue dress and pink scarf. The pink is linked to innocence, femininity, and a sweet nature.

Towards the end of the film the scarf has changed to blue. She is now speaking her truth, standing in her power of expressing who she is and what she wants.

Blue in colour healing is linked to the throat chakra, it is our seat of self-expression and communication, trust, honesty, and creativity. It is the ability to speak our truth. Are you authentic with yourself and others?

It is a tranquil colour that cools and calms, also linked to loyalty and purity.

On the negative side it can be cold, linked to sadness and depression. Think of the phrase “feeling blue.” Another phrase is “shouting till your blue in the face” so you are trying to communicate but not getting your message across.

Physically this colour is connected to the thyroid, throat, trachea, and lungs, some also link it to the lower part of the face, the nose, mouth, and sinuses.

It is a great colour for high blood pressure, fever, stings, tonsilitis and sore throat. It has been used in hospitals for babies with jaundice. Use it when you need to feel calm. I have personally used it for insomnia.

Do not use it for sadness, depression, and low temperature. For these the opposite colour orange would be used.

A quick introduction to Colour Therapy.

“So, you can tell me what colours I should wear and what my season palette is?” 

This is usually what I get asked when I tell people I am a Colour Counsellor; I then must disappoint them. “No, I can’t do that.” 

So, what do you do Keeley? 

Colour Therapy is a complimentary treatment, it is also sometimes referred to as Light Therapy or Chroma Therapy. It uses the light waves of the visible spectrum to aid with bringing the body, mind and spirit back into alignment. Each colour subtly affects us at different levels.  

 

Image by Dobromir Hristov on pexels.com 

 
 

It is thought to be one of the earliest forms of healing. Think of ancient civilisations who worshipped the sun, surely, they had a knowledge of its effects? It is believed that they used sunlight reflected off crystals and herbal remedies enhanced with colour vibration to aid with healing. 

In the 19th century scientists and philosophers began to study colour and its effects on us. Doctor S. Pancoast wrote a book on the therapeutic use of colour on the human body in 1877. Other books from doctors and scientists followed such as Doctor. Edwin Babbit in 1878 and Dinshah Ghadiali in 1933. I aim to own a copy of these one day! 

 

Image from goodreads.com 

 
 

Ghadiali discovered that we absorb and emit specific light frequencies and began using different coloured light filters shone on the body in various places. This method is still widely used today. It is one of the ways I would give a treatment. 

Today we are encouraged to use a full spectrum light to help with SAD during the winter months when there is less natural day light. We are encouraged to get out and absorb as much light as possible as it is now known what a great source of vitality it is. 

We have a variety of treatments today that use colour, such as colour Acupuncture, Reiki, Reflexology and Art therapy. It is also used in interior design with careful choices being made on what paint to use in waiting rooms and surgeries, and the choice of paintings in different environments. For example you wouldn't want to sit looking at a blood red scene whilst waiting to go in to see the dentist! Well, most wouldn't, a more calming scene of blues and greens would be better.

 

Image from gettyimages.co.uk 

 
 

Over the years I have used a few different methods to give a colour healing treatment but my main go to are using a light box with coloured filters or coloured scarves. The scarves are laid over the corresponding chakra, so if green is needed it is draped across the heart chakra, blue the throat. The opposite colour is also used to ensure balance is achieved. 

I have also used solarised coloured water. To make this I tape a coloured filter round a glass bottle, fill it with water and leave it outside or on a windowsill for a few hours. You then drink the water and absorb the colour vibration. 

You can also use crystals, meditation and visualisation. Don’t forget diet and clothing as well. If you always wear blue, you will be absorbing a lot of that colour, wear the opposite, orange, occasionally to ensure you stay balanced. If you don’t like the colour and don’t want to wear it visualise yourself surrounded by it, I like to imagine I’m in a bath or shower of the colour. If you get caught in the rain you can visualise the raindrops being a certain colour, or a rainbow! Makes getting soaked more bearable I find! 😊 

Have fun with it! 

I will be going into more detail of each colour in future blogs, beginning with the base chakra, red. 

For now, I will leave you with an observation. We’ve recently had the Spring Equinox here in the UK. Every year around this time I hear people talking about how much better they feel now that the days are lighter for longer. The flowers are beginning to bloom, all the colours appear more vibrant and there is an overall feeling of optimism and renewed energy. This is Colour/Light Therapy in action.