“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.
