When it comes to colors and how to use them, a little knowledge goes a long way. The following color theory basics—grounded in Ayurvedic traditions and color therapy—will tell you what your favorite colors say about you and give you the know-how to recharge your life through color.

Colors are, for every culture, potent symbols of abstract ideas. Red is a near-universal sign of passion or danger. White in the West represents innocence and purity, while in the Far East, it symbolizes melancholy and sadness. Yellow almost always stands for cowardice, except its golden hues, which stand for power and glory.

Ancient Yoga Shastra texts identify seven principal chakras in the human body. Each chakra vibrates at a particular frequency and has a specific color. The Yoga Shastras suggest that the vibrations of these chakras, which indicate the spiritual attainment of an individual, account for our attractions to specific colors.

Basics of Color Therapy

Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a technique that uses the power of color to tune the vibrations of the body to a desired wavelength. This tuning is critical for maintaining the health and balance of body and mind. Therapeutic color treatments may be either physical or mental. Physical treatment involves direct exposure to the colored light. Mental treatment relies on color-related suggestion or visualization.

The writings of the sacred Indian Vedas state that the human body is made up of five elements: earth, water, fire, metal and air. These texts go on to say that every element has a specific color. Earth is green, air yellow and so on.

According to color therapy, all objects—including bodily organs—vibrate at a unique frequency. When a person is in good health, a steady, harmonious frequency is maintained. When a person is unwell, this frequency is disturbed. Each disease also has its own specific frequency. Rest, proper nutrition and medical interventions have the power to retune unhealthy frequencies.

The therapeutic application of color has been demonstrated in numerous studies to be an effective therapy for maintaining health and treating a variety of physical and mental ailments.

The Physics of Light

According to wave theory, light is transmitted to the eye from illuminated objects by vibration or waves. The length of these waves determine the colors the eye perceives.

When white light passes through a prism it splits into a rainbow of colors that we can see. Those we can’t are part of the infrared and the ultraviolet belt. When radiant energy and matter interact, it results in color.

For instance, an object or a body that appears black has completely absorbed the radiant energy of all light frequencies. An object or a body that appears white is the result of the reflection of all wavelengths. A red object is the one that absorbs blue spectrum light and reflects red. This selective absorption of light by matter is the physical basis of color.

The Character of Color

Each color, because of its unique characteristics, affects people in a unique way. Chromatic research has revealed the following about how colors across the visible spectrum affect us:

Red

Red stirs our passion and provokes the senses. It connotes energy, power, authority, excitement, life and love. It may affect us either positively or negatively. For example, mild pink shades may stir feelings of maternal love, while darker shades may incite lust and rage. Red is a useful treatment for low vitality and poor circulation. It can be harmful to those with mental disorders such as neuroses and psychosis, in which cases it should be avoided. It has the slowest vibrations of all the visible colors and affects emotions more quickly than any of them.

Orange

Creativity, ambition and active energy are invoked by the color orange. It also projects pride. But in excess orange may cause panic, restlessness and nervous behavior. Orange also connotes potent food sources, as exemplified by certain fruits such as … the orange.

Yellow

Yellow projects wisdom, insight and spirituality. It is the color of joy. Sunshine, cheerfulness and youth are all represented by yellow. Yellow can be an incentive to compassion and uplifts the soul. But too much yellow can be psychologically irritating. It can provoke both cowardice and prejudice. For the most part, however, yellow is a force for good. It can brighten a dark room—kitchens benefit especially from it. And yellow fruits tend to be high-fiber and good for digestion.

Green

Green is the color of nature. It acts as a balm for tired minds and bodies. On the negative side green can provoke jealousy, selfishness and laziness. Dark green can even cause depression. Green’s therapeutic applications extend to teething infants and to those in pain, for whom it can be an effective analgesic. Spring green is an especially refreshing shade, one that suggests renewal.

Blue

Blue is the color of the cosmos. It represents hope and peace. Deep shades of blue may stir feelings of love and gentle behavior. Light blue clothing provides good protection against tropical sun. Blue and green, when combined, stimulate creativity and make a great combo for those with an artistic bent. Blue is used therapeutically with positive results in asylums and prisons, but too much of blue may cause melancholia.

Indigo

Indigo lives between violet and blue on the visible spectrum and produces more positive vibrations than any color. Strangely, it represents the good and the bad, the positive and the negative, the constructive and the destructive forces of nature. Indigo combines reason with intuition and discipline with creativity. But it can also inhibit structured thinking. On the plus side, indigo can convert failures into success by suggesting new inroads, harnessing ambition and pushing us to achieve. It helps the body heal by purging toxins from the system.

Violet

Violet represents good intentions and is spiritually uplifting. It is associated with wealth, prosperity and an ambitious nature. Of all the colors of the visible spectrum, violet vibrates at the highest frequency and fades the earliest. Too much violet can make a person complacent. It can cause one to meander aimlessly and lose one’s way in life.

White

Comprised of all the colors of the spectrum, white represents harmony. It connotes cosmic consciousness, purity and an inclination towards perfectionism. Too much white light is unbearable to those who feel greed, hatred, jealousy and to those with a violent attitude. Truth is white. White also stands for both frankness and modesty.

Black

Black represents the absence of light. It absorbs the least amount of the spectral light. Black is the opposite of white and is the color of death. But black is also a timeless hallmark of style and an enduring source of mystery. That said, being exposed too much black can sap a person of his or her vitality and can cause fatigue.

Brown

The color brown represents warmth, nature and fertility. It also represents simplicity, friendliness and dependability. However, it has very slow vibrations and should be used sparingly around the house. As represented by the robes of Catholic monks, brown conveys honesty and piousness.

Color and the Body

In the laboratory many colors have been shown to have direct physical effects. Pink can cause a decrease in aggression by depressing adrenal response. Respiration is stimulated by red while it is diminished by blue. Below is a guide to the measurable effects of color on the body.

Red

Red stimulates the pituitary gland. It often causes a release of adrenaline. The effects of red are:

• Rise in blood pressure
• Increased pulse rate
• Rapid respiration
• Stimulation of the autonomic nervous system
• Increased sensitivity of the taste buds
• Improved appetite
• Enhanced sense of smell

Yellow

Yellow is the first color the eye is able to detect when looking at person, place or thing. It prepares one for flight or fight. Yellow painted rooms cause children to cry more often. Yellow can also cause allergies. The effects of yellow are:

• Heightened appetite
• Decreased blood pressure
• Mental relaxation
• Sleepiness

 Blue

In western medicine, blue represents cardio-pulmonary processes. It is tranquillizing color that facilitates the release of essential neurotransmitters. The effects of blue are:

• Reduced pulse rate
• Deeper breathing
• Reduced body temperature
• Decreased perspiration
• Decreased appetite

Green

Favorable metabolic responses occur inside the body when a person is exposed to green. Its effects are:

• Decreased release of histamine

• Decreased severity of food allergies
• Decreased allergic skin reactions
• Decreased severity of gastrointestinal disorders
• Improved eyesight

Brown

The effects of brown are:

• Improved synthesis of serotonin.
• Reduced anger, frustration and irritability
• Increased levels of tryptophan

What Our Favorite Colors Tell Us

Favorite colors speak volumes about our personalities. Color preferences are often inherited. Research has demonstrated that they are the combined result of genetics, parental influences, early childhood memories and cultural background.

This is evident in the way that children not who are not yet fully capable of language revel in expressing themselves with crayons. A child who uses black crayon excessively may have over-dominant parents or be experiencing repressed emotions. Overuse of yellow indicates a dependent personality. Red suggests a carefree nature. Green indicates an uncomplicated nature and an emotionally balanced child.  It is interesting to note that children prefer soft, pastel shades when drawing mothers and darker shades for fathers.

Want to know what your favorite color says about you? Read on.

Red

People who prefer red are extroverts who are naturally outgoing. They tend to be assertive—brazen even—and are prone to impetuous actions. They feel compassion for fellow human beings and can get carried away by causes. They are passionate and have strong sex drives. They are optimistic and opinionated.

Orange

Orange lovers like to socialize. They have gregarious dispositions. They are good workers and extremely loyal but are easily distracted and prone to loss of focus.

Yellow

Those drawn to yellow are imaginative types that have a structured way of thinking. They would rather theorize than spring into action. They crave respect and revel in admiration. They are usually good friends and trusted confidantes.

Green

People who prefer green tend to be good citizens. They believe in social responsibility to the point of near-obsession. They value austerity. They are teachers par excellence. They are deeply affectionate towards their families and friends, and their affection is returned.

Blue

People who love blue are introspective and prone to self-inventory. They tend to be perfectionists. They are conservative by nature and deliberate in their behaviors. They often fantasize, but work hard realize their dreams. They are not unpassionate, but are experts at self-control.

Purple

Those drawn to purple have ready wits and a rapid minds. They are keen observers and notice of changes immediately—especially those not perceived by others. They tend to be vain and aren’t shy about speaking their minds. They are creative types with artistic inclinations.

Brown

People who like brown perform their duties with a great sense of responsibility. They are shrewd with money and stubborn in their habits. They can’t stand impulsive behavior. They are hugely dependable.

Gray

Those who prefer gray are cautious by nature. They adjust well to new situations and circumstances. They tend to be people-pleasers—sometimes at the expense of their own happiness.

Black

People who love black are worldly, regal and mannered. They have the tendency to get gloomy.

Color Yourself Up

Now that you’re an expert on color, it’s time to put your new knowledge to work. Eat a piece of fruit with a fresh appreciation of nature’s vibrant colors. Put a colorful new coat of paint on the walls of your house or apartment and experience the effect it has on your mood and state of mind. Or design an outfit around your favorite color, or a color that expresses the characteristics that you most want to project, the person you most want to be. Things are looking brighter already.