How does choice of colour affect your feng shui? Colours and colour schemes are factors that are considered thoroughly in interior design. And so it is in feng shui, too. In this issue, our feng shui consultant, Jennifer Brand Palencia, shares some tips on the choice of colours for your home and workplace. Selecting and using the right colours can bring personal prosperity and harmony into your life. In feng shui, there are five elements that symbolise the five basic forces in the universe. These five elements continuously affect our fortunes, for better or worse. Each element is associated with a colour. These elements are metal, wood, earth, water and fire. White, gold, silver and metallic colours represent metal, while wood is related to shades of green, blue and brown. The water element is depicted via the use of black and grey, while the fire element uses red along with purple and pink. The earth element uses colours such as yellow and beige. Colours affect us physically, psychologically and emotionally. They are the first things we see when we open our eyes and are the last thing we see each night before we go to sleep. Colours affect everything from our choice of clothing to our moods. In the business world, careful use of colours for branding and corporate identity can affect employees and customers subconsciously. As an example, certain fast food chains use red and yellow a their business colours. It is suggested that red and yellow give a sense of urgency, inducing people to perhaps eat quickly and leave, there by promoting higher turnover. Another example is that of certain airline some years ago, which had its cabin colours in green and yellow. The number of passengers suffering from motion sickness or nausea on their flights was phenomenal! After they changed their colours to a more soothing blue, the number of sick passengers was reduced considerably. The presence of colours in our homes, lives and workplace is important because without it we deplete our energy system. The colours of our walls, floors and furniture all activate, balance, or depress our chi. Feng Shui and the adjustment of colour in our surroundings ensures that we receive a correct balance of energy that helps us feel energised and happy. Colours may also be used to complement, or migrate aspects of persons elements in their set of the Four Pillars Of Destiny also known as Pat Chee. The Four Pillars is an eastern theory that attributes everyone with a combination of the five elements based on the date they were born. People may be strong in one element or weak in another. A general tip is to avoid an all-neutral colour scheme. Having an all-neutral colour scheme lends itself to apathy and indifference. People who use exclusively neutral tones may be trying to neutralize their feelings. Colours invoke feelings, and having no colour at all invokes neutrality. If you are partial to these colours or if you already have these colours on your walls, dont panic. Try painting a room or even just one wall, or hang some colourful artwork on the walls. Of course, before you go on a painting spree in your property, several factors must be taken into account. Your birth date and kua number, along with the nature of the property (residential or commercial) also contributes to the choice of colours. Also, while using colour based on feng shui theories is a possible solution, this is a complementary solution to contribute to other more substantial feng shui counter measures like installing the element itself. The complete strategy of determining what elements you have in your composition is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of this article and should be performed by a properly trained feng shui consultant. He or she can give you a full analysis of your favourable elements and also what solutions you can use to maximise the benefits of colour management. Feng Shui Colour Theory In Action Lisette is a water person born in the spring season where wood element is strongest. As water gives birth to wood, the wood will exhaust the energy of the water element and weaken it. Thus, she is considered a weak water person requiring the support of the metal element and the reinforcement of the water element itself in her environment. If she decorates her office of home, then metallic colour tones or white (symbolising metal) and some black or grey furniture (symbolising water) would be most appropriate. Wood and fire elements are not too favourable for her, as they will exhaust her water energy. Thus, she should use less red, purple and green and avoid having too many plants in her working and living space. She may also wear more black and white or metallic-hued clothes to balance her Four Pillars. WHITE - White is the colour of purity and innocence in western culture, but it is also the colour of mourning and despair for eastern cultures. Representing metal, white maybe used to give an air of serenity or contemplation or to enhance the metal element in a room. More physical metal cures like coins or metal wind chimes may be preferred. GOLD - A universal colour of luxury and wealth in any culture and contest, it strongly relates to the metal element. It can be used to introduce metal and prosperity in an area, though it would be wise to be selective when using this colour. Unfortunately, excessive use of this would be considered tacky. GREEN - Green is the colour of growth, healing, and relaxation and relates to the wood element. Excessively used, it can bring about relaxation to the point of lethargy. Use this colour in a space to recharge and heal. Green is not often used as a colour tone cure, since powerful wood energy comes easier as a live plant itself. BLUE - Blue is the colour of inner contemplation, spirituality, peace and trust. However, it is also a sombre colour of mourning. It represents consistency, reliability and loyalty. Blue is related to the wood element, but westerners adopt it as signifying the water element. Personally, I associate it with water, but try it out yourself. One multinational computer firm has their corporate colours in blue to represent their reliability and dependability. DARK BROWN - Dark brown is one of the colours of the wood element unless its mixed with orange, which would make it appear mud like. It gives a representation of ha rd work and industry. BLACK - Black is a powerful colour that represents the water element, strength and authority. It is a colour that has Yin connotations and also symbolizes the night or winter. It can be used to show intrigue and class, though painting it in a bedroom or living room would not be advisable. Best used with other colours to express creativity. GREY - The colour of neutrality and ambiguity, grey represents the water element. Excessive use gives a sombre air to a space. RED - Red is the colour of prosperity and joy to the Chinese, represents the fire element, and implies passion. It has the converse effect of possibly giving too much energy (and perhaps insomnia) if used in a space where you need to rest. PURPLE - A colour once used to represent royalty, purple is used to heighten spiritual awareness. Purple relates to the fire element, so a reading or meditation room would do well I light shades of purple. PINK - A colour that relates to the fire element, pink has been associated in western cultures as a colour of romance, often more so than red. It is a colour that calms and negates rage and may be used in spaces where you need to make rational or calm decisions. YELLOW - A colour that represents energy and eastern royalty, yellow is also a colour of religious significance. Yellow depicts the earth element and may create feelings of cheerfulness, warmth and motion. If used in excess, however, it can actually give a sense of anxiety. BEIGE - Beige relates to the earth element and it portrays neatness and the concealment of emotions. FIVE ELEMENTS EXPRESSED IN COLOURS METAL - White, Gold,
WOOD - Green, Blue, Brown,
WATER - Black, Grey,
FIRE - Red, Purple, Pink,
EARTH - Yellow, Beige |
