Adapted from "The Healing Power of Color" by Betty Wood (Inner
Traditions, 1998).
Whether we're a vibrant Orange, or a peaceful Blue, our color
preferences are a key to understanding our personalities. Find out
what this color expert has to say about your favorite color. What
does it reveal about who you really are?
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
White: Symbolic of purity, innocence and naivete, white has strong
connotations of youth and purity. If you are an older person, your
preference for white could indicate a desire for perfection and
impossible ideals, maybe an attempt to recapture lost youth and
freshness. It may also symbolize a desire for simplicity or the
simple life.
Red: The color of strength, health, and vitality, Red is often the
color chosen by someone outgoing, aggressive, vigorous and impulsive-
-or someone who would like to be! It goes with an ambitious nature
but those who choose it can be abrupt at times, determined to get
all they can out of life, quick to judge people and take sides. Red
people are usually optimistic and can't stand monotony; they are
rather restless and not at all introspective, so they may be unaware
of their own shortcomings. They find it hard to be objective and may
blame others for any mishaps. Quiet people with a preference for red
may feel the need for the warmth, strength and life-giving qualities
of the color, or they blanket their true feelings under a sober
exterior. Red is usually chosen by people with open and
uncomplicated natures, with a zest for life.
Maroon: Harsh experience has probably matured the Maroon person into
someone likeable and generous. It is often a favorite color of
someone who has been battered by life but has come through. It
indicates a well-disciplined Red personality--one who has had
difficult experiences and has not come through unmarked but who has
grown and matured in the process.
Pink: This color embodies the gentler qualities of Red, symbolizing
love and affection without passion. Women who prefer Pink tend to be
maternal. Pink desires protection, special treatment and a sheltered
life. Pink people require affection and like to feel loved and
secure, perhaps wanting to appear delicate and fragile. Pink people
tend to be charming and gentle, if a trifle indefinite.
Orange: This color of luxury and pleasure appeals to the flamboyant
and fun-loving person who likes a lively social round. Orange people
may be inclined to dramatize a bit, and people notice them, but they
are generally good-natured and popular. They can be a little fickle
and vacillating, but on the whole they try hard to be agreeable.
Orange is the color of youth, strength, fearlessness, curiosity and
restlessness.
Yellow: The color of happiness, wisdom, and imagination, Yellow is
chosen by the mentally adventurous, searching for novelty and self-
fulfillment. Yellow usually goes with a sunny and shrewd
personality, with a good business head and a strong sense of humor.
It is the color of intellectuality and all things to do with the
mind. Yellow folks are usually clear and precise thinkers who have a
good opinion of their own mental capacities and who have lofty
ideals. They may at times tend to shun responsibility, preferring
freedom of thought and action.
Green: The color of harmony and balance, Green symbolizes hope,
renewal, and peace, and is usually liked by the gentle and sincere.
Greens are generally frank, community-minded people, fairly sociable
but preferring peace at any price. Green people can be too self-
effacing, modest and patient, so they may get exploited by others.
They are usually refined, civilized and reputable.
Blue: Soft, soothing, compassionate and caring, Blue is the color of
deliberation and introspection, conservatism and duty. Patient,
persevering, conscientious, sensitive and self-controlled, Blues
like to be admired for their steady character and wisdom. They are
faithful, but are often worriers with somewhat inflexible beliefs
and can be too cautious, and suspicious of flamboyant behavior.
Blue-Green: Exacting, discriminating, poised and attractive, the
Blue-Green person tends to be sensitive, intellectual and refined,
persevering and stable if rather detached. Blue-Greens have
excellent taste, and are usually courteous and charming, capable but
often refusing help or guidance.
Turquoise: Complex, imaginative and original, Turquoise people drive
themselves hard and may be in a state of turmoil under their
outwardly cool exterior.
Lavender: This is often chosen by a person who lives "on a higher
plane," who never notices anything sordid and who is always
impeccably and beautifully dressed. Lavender people may be on a
continual quest for culture and the refined things of life, high and
noble causes but without the necessity of getting their hands dirty.
A Lavender person is usually creative, charming, witty and
civilized.
Purple: Purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty and
sensitive, with a strong desire to be unique and different.
Temperamental, expansive and artistic, a Purple person may become
aloof and sarcastic when misunderstood. If you chose Purple, you
tend to be unconventional, tolerant and dignified, likely to achieve
positions of authority.
Brown: A Brown person has stamina and patience, tending to be very
solid and substantial, conscientious, dependable, steady and
conservative. Browns
COLORS AND YOUR SUN SIGN
By Rohan Joshi
ARIES
Mars rules the fiery Sign Aries. All kinds of reds, rose, crimson, and
maroon suit Aries. For this festive season use all these colors but
sometime Martian energy is not suitable as it is fiery and can be
destructive as well. For those who are not comfortable wearing Red can prefer
Brown. It may provide the comfort and reduce the destructive force.
Green is not good for health particularly in this season it might affect
the digestive system. Silky white is the other color to avoid as it may
increase expenses and also not good for health.
Taurus
Taurus is a pure earthy sign ruled by planet of beauty Venus. Blue is
the most suitable color for Tuarian as it is associated with Venus, but
light shades of blue and pink are also good for them. Green can be the
secondary color but very useful for love and relationship. So Green can
be handy in this jovial season. Yellow is not good for health and it
might create obstacles in life. Blood red should also be avoided as it
will increase expenses and also not good for health.
Gemini
Gemini is the dual sign and ruled by Mercury. Green and pearl gray are
most suitable colors for Gemini. Yellow is excellent for good
relationship and married life. White is not good for health and gives problems
in domestic life and relationship, thus it must be avoided in this
joyful time of year. Blood red is not good for health and creates problems
in relationship.
Cancer
Cancer is very emotional, sensitive and soft sign due to Moon's
lordship. And as the moon is very gentle, all shades of light green, light
yellow, silver, violet and lavender come under the influence of Moon.
Light Red can be helpful for love and keeping relationship in good shape.
Green and Blue are not good for health and it will increase expenses as
well.
Leo
Leo is ruled by the royal Sun. The vibrations of the Sun are evident in
the colors golden yellow, bright orange and royal purple. Dark Red is
good for Happiness so it can be very useful in this pleasant season.
Light Red can be used for domestic happiness and also for good luck.
Green and Blue are not good for health and it will increase frustrations.
Virgo
Mercury is the ruler of this dual earthy sign. All shades of gray,
white, brown, and light greens are come under the Mercury's authority.
Utilize Green color for good health and Happiness as much as possible.
Yellow is good for domestic Happiness and also good for maintaining good
rapport with spouse and beloved one. Light or Dark red must be avoided as
it is - not good for health and will give obstacles and will increase
expenses.
COLORS AND YOUR SUN SIGN
LIBRA
Libra comes under the Venus lordship. In this sign the Venusian
influence is more pronounced. Venus manifests through the colors blue,
sapphire blue, light shades with light oranges and pinkish tones and a hint of
blue. Blue is also good for domestic happiness, health and for love
and relationship. White will prove beneficial while going for dating or
meeting beloved one. Light Red and Yellow not favorable for health and
gives struggles in relationship.
SCORPIO
Magnetic and mysterious sign Scorpio comes under the Mar's lordship.
Crimson red, blood red, maroons are associated with this planet. But
these colors should be used sensibly. Dark Red is good to maintain good
health. White is good for good luck and to remove tensions. Yellow is good
for love and relationship.
SAGITTARIUS
Jupiter owns this bold, confident and ambitious sign. Jupiter's colors
are yellow, blue, pink, light purple and even shades of golden yellow
and orange. Yellow should be used for good health and domestic
happiness. Dark Red is for good luck and happiness and Green is for maintaining
good rapport with partners. Blue and white are not good for health and
it will give struggles.
CAPRICORN
Disciplined, reasonable and practical sign comes under Saturn's
lordship. The colors represented by Saturn are all shades sapphire blue, dark
blue, blacks, dark grays. Blue must be used for domestic happiness and
health. Silky white is good while going to meet someone and
relationship. Dark Red and Yellow are not good for health and gives obstacles and
increase expenses.
AQUARIUS
This sensitive, sympathetic and unconventional sign also comes under
Saturn's lordship as Saturn holds dual rulership over Capricorn and
Aquarius. The colors for Aquarius are almost the same as Capricorn. Black,
gray, purple and dark blue are its colors; the use of amethyst color can
be lucky for Aquarians. Light Red can be also be used. Silky white is
good for domestic happiness and for good luck. Dark Red -and white are
not good for health and give obstacles.
PISCES
This carefree, sympathetic, imaginative comes under the Jupiter 's
control. Jupiter holds dual influence over Sagittarius and Pisces, but here
water element is in influence. The colors it rules are all shades of
yellow, white, pearl, golden and mango. Yellow is good for good health.
White is good particularly for love and relationship. Light red can
also be used for good luck. Dark red and Silky white are not good for
health and gives problems and obstacles.
Learn Telepathy Exercise using Colour
get 5 different coloured objects ready (the same object but 5
different colours, e.g. coloured pens, rubber bands,sweets,sheets of
paper etc.)
Be present in this moment
Center yourself
Feel yourself to be truly "here" and "now" present
Still your mind
Do not think of any other place. Do not think of the past or the future
Do not think of anything
( this is the hardest part of learn telepathy, to still the mind -
meditation can be a good telepathy exercise in preparation for
transmitting telepathic signals)
Sit down with another person
Choose one person to "send" and the other to "receive".
The person who sends (Sender) chooses a color in their mind.
Sender then 'send' this color to the mind of the other person
beginning the sending by speaking the work"begin"
Receiver then tries to connect with senders mind to see if they can
pick up what is being telepathically send
the receiver might then say a colour - maybe red
sender then says one of two things "yes" if the colour was correct
and then choose another and says "begin" to send another colour or the
same one again.
If the correct colour was not picked up by the receiver the sender
simply says "no" and keeps transmitting the same colour thereby the
receiver keeps trying to read the transmitted colour..
Start with doing this exercise for five minutes increasing it to ten
minutes when comfortable
Take a break and then complete the same telepathy exercises with the
roles of sender and receiver reversed.
Native American Dye Recipes
Thank you Ms. Gayle for sharing!
Yellow Dye
Plant - Gaillardia "Indian Blanket" (Actinea gaillardia)
Harvest time - June
Material - Fresh flowers, leaves, stems
Vessel - Enamel or granite
Boil 1 pound of fresh material in 5 gallons of water for 2 hours.
Strain; add ¼ cup of raw alum to the water. Allow to dissolve by
boiling 10 minutes before adding 1 pound of wet yarn. Mix well and
boil the yarn for 2 hour. Steep overnight before rinsing several times.
Light Yellow Dye
Plant - Wild celery (pseudocymorpterus montanus0
Harvest time - June, July
Material - fresh flowers, leaves
Vessel - tin or aluminum
Boil 1 pound of wild celery in 5 gallons of water for 2 hours. Strain;
add ¼ cup of raw alum and boil for 10 minutes. Add 1 pound of we yarn
and boil 15 minutes before rinsing.
Rose dye
Plant - prickly pear cactus (Opuntia polycantha)
Harvest time - September
Material - fruit, fresh
Vessel - earthenware or enamel Kettle
Squeeze the juice from 2 pounds of cactus and strain into 3 gallons of
water. Add 1 pound of yarn and soak for 1 week in a warm location. Rub
the yarn daily. Rinse several times. To deepen the color, repeat the
process a second time.
Note-the Native Americans removed the spines by rubbing the cactus in
the sand
Purplish Brown Dye
Plant - Chokecherry (Prunus mlanocarpa) and Wild Plum (Prunus Americana)
Harvest time - Fall
Material - Fresh bark peeled from roots
Vessel - Earthenware or enamel
Soak 1 pound of each bark in 5 gallons of water overnight. Then boil 2
hours and strain. Add 1 pound of yarn and boil 2 more hours. Steep
overnight before rinsing.
Green Dye
Plant - Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)
Harvest time - Fall
Material - Leaves and vines
Vessel - Granite
Boil 4 pounds in 5 gallons of water for 2 hours. Strain; add ¼ cup of
raw alum. Boil 10 minutes before adding 1 pound of yarn. Stir and
steep overnight before rinsing.
Tan Dye
Plant - Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja integer)
Harvest time - June, July
Material - fresh flowers
Vessel - Enamel or granite
Pour cold water to cover 4 pounds of flowers. Soak for 2 days and mash
the flowers. Add 1 pound of wet yarn and steep for 1 week, mixing the
yarn often. Rinse several times.
Orange Dye
Plant - Ground Lichen (parmelia molluscula)
Harvest time - Scraped from underneath sagebrush, especially after a rain
Material - Fresh or dried lichen
Vessel - Earthenware or granite.
Boil 1 pound of lichen in 4 gallons of water for 1 hour. Strain; add ¼
cup of raw alum and boil 15 minutes before adding 1 pound of wet yarn.
Boil 30 minutes before rinsing. Boil longer and steep overnight to
produce a deeper orange or reddish color.
Salmon Red Dye
The Native Americans of New Mexico and Arizona dyed wet yarn in rain
water puddles in the red mesas. After a heavy rain, they would collect
the reddened water and add ½ pound of wet yarn to 4 gallons of water.
They boiled this for 4 hours to produce a salmon red dye.
Maroon Dye
The Hopi cooked 2-3 cups of sunflower seeds in 8 cups of boiling
water. After about 30 minutes the seeds split open, turning the liquid
a bluish maroon color. This would be strained and prepared with wet yarn.
Mother Nature's Herbal
