The Mystery of Feng Shui Colors
The use and meaning of Feng Shui colors and their symbolism is a subject that is often only lightly touched-upon in writings, and there is a great deal of confusion about how Feng Shui colors should and shouldn’t be used.
A comprehensive guide to Feng Shui colors can be found here.
To understand the meaning of Feng Shui colors, we need to look at their origins and cultural background. In traditional Taoist theory, the world is balanced between yin (negative / feminine) and yang (positive / male) energies, which govern all existence. Feng Shui colors fall on either side of this continuum of energy. On the Yin side, Feng Shui colors include blue, white, green, purple and black. On the Yang side, Feng Shui colors include yellow, orange, tan, brown, red, maroon and gold. Of course all these Feng Shui colors have particular meanings which need to be explained. Blue for example, is a calm and soothing color which is associated with intellect, wisdom, adventure and exploration. Purple is associated with healing and spiritual awareness. Black is associated with money and income. The Yang Feng Shui colors are associated with concentration, warmth, motion and vibrant energy.
The yin-yang spectrum of Feng Shui colors is only one way that Feng Shui practitioners look at color however. The colors can also be similarly sorted according to the five Feng Shui elements, or by the bagua diagram, which states that: wealth is purple, fame is red, relationships are pink, health is green, unity is yellow, creativity is white, knowledge is blue-green, the career is black and elders are gray. This is yet another explanation of Feng Shui colors.
A straightforward way to apply Feng Shui colors can be found here.
With so many different ways to consider and use Feng Shui colors, the unseasoned practitioner can often fall prey to information overload. The general advice given by most well-meaning practitioners is this: consider what colors work for you. No, this isn’t an attempt to say it’s all-too-complicated and brush the Feng Shui colors issue aside – we all seriously mean to consider things like your cultural background, your personal preferences and character. Take for example the color white. In European and Western traditions, white symbolizes purity, innocence and blessings. In Eastern cultures, white symbolizes death and stillness. It’s still the same color, but with two different meanings. Consider what colors symbolize in your culture, and what colors blend well with your personal space and lifestyle. Just remember to keep in mind the general Feng Shui principles, such as using moderation (too much of any of the Feng Shui colors is no good), and working colors together complimentarily to create a pleasant and free-flowing environment. Have fun with your Feng Shui colors!
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