Color, Culture, Spirituality

Talking about how Color is used in spiritual traditions of different cultures, it is interesting to note the similarities of usage of color and cultural identities denoted by color usage.
Looking at how traditional religious Hindu and Buddhist art used color, it looks like they used the same palette with different intensities. Comparing Hindu Yantras with Buddhist Thangkas, this is quite evident. Then again, Zen art uses very muted colors or, most often Black on White.
In the ancient Asian traditions in particular, since all art was inextricably linked with spirituality, the significance of color extended to rituals like Pujas, where Red powder (Kumkum) or Turmeric powder (Haldi) are used for particular tasks to invoke particular mental states or dieties.

Book on Healing with Colour

Just came across a very comprehensive book on Colour Therapy called Colour Healing by Lilian Verner Bonds. It talks about how colour can be used for physical, psychological and spiritual well bieng. In a time when it is way too expensive to be sick, this might be a great guide to self- healing. Although, I must say that when I spent back breaking hours on the internet to find an authentic organisation or institution that gave a certificate for a course in Colour Therapy, I found one that said that if you're not sufficiently trained, you could get sick in self-healing - though I don't buy that! Its like Reiki - it stands as a complimentary therapy and has no side effects.
This one talks about the scientific basis of colour frequencies to the Psychology of Colour, to Colour in the Environment - includes homes, office spaces, hospitals etc and even healing relationships through colour and well as colour and children. It also has a list of Colour healing techniques like using gem stones, candles, dowsing etc. Theres also a list of ailments and which colour should be applied to the corresponding body part. If you're a colour science buff, believe me, this is by far the most complete book on it. Trust me, I've been looking for one for several years.
Jenny

Colour and Energy

Here's a few not-so-popular facts about Colour and Energy.

A Color can change a psychological state.
Staring at a Yellow square of 1 ft x 1 ft will affect your mind differently as compared to staring at a Yellow square of 3 ft x 3 ft. This is because greater expanse creates greater vibration.

The energies you attract depend on the Colors you wear.
White and Yellow will keep you in an airy environment / sensation
Green promotes comfort
Pink - protection
Blue- freedom, dreamlike states
Ultramarine Blue / Purple - Transcendence

Every colour has a certain rhythm / frequency that can be used to balance an individual's bio-rhythms.

A hyper active / aggressive person may use cool colours like blue greens to calm down
A person low on energy could use orange

Here's something to think about:
In our visual perception of the world, what separates one from another is colour.