Spiritual Photo Tip 11: Colour

Colour has a language of its own.

It awakens, soothes, reminds, and speaks a whole gamut of emotions.

The way you use colour in your photos, wardrobe, home and your life can have a significant impact. You don’t have to understand it to feel it.

Welcome to Spiritual Tip 11 on colour – opening new ways of seeing and living your world..

I’m not going to go deep into the theory of colour psychology or therapy.

Instead,  I’ll give you a few basics and an invitation to experience it for yourself.

As an artist and naturopath, I’m constantly working with the energy of colour. The more you feel it, the more you’ll understand it on a level that counts.

Take your time by clicking on one image and scrolling one at a time to really feel its effect. Please don’t rush this!

Know that you’re receiving the energy of the subject, but part of that energy is coming through on the wave lengths of colour.

In this first collection, colour is the very subject of the image.

At times it’s the magnificent array of them that caught my eye.  At others it was the impact of a tiny bit of colour in an otherwise neutral scene.

Notice also how some feature bright colours while others are in pastels.

Do you prefer one over the other? How does each make you feel?

Your life is a work of art.

The way you live, the way you dress, the way you decorate your home and your plate represents a choice in colour.

Some people thrive on drama and excitement. Others on peace & quiet.

What about you? Do you prefer neutrals with a splash of colour or the excitement of the full spectrum.

If your life doesn’t reflect your preference, see how you can add or reduce the amount or nature of colour in it.

When you put colours that are opposite on the colour wheel together, it excites the senses. This is the power of difference!

In my culture, the combination of red & green often symbolize Christmas – a happy time of celebration in the middle of a white winter. It’s no accident that this combination was chosen to market this holiday.

Look at these pictures, then look around you for example of the use of complimentary colours.

What feelings do they bring out in you? Do you like that feeling? If so, add more complimentary colours in your photography, wardrobe, home & office.

They say that opposites attract. Take a look at your relationships. Are they fuelled by the excitement of differences?

Or do you prefer a more monochromatic approach. Let ‘s dive into that below as you continue to reflect on your way of seeing & being in the world.

The word monochrome literally means “one colour”.  A monochrome photograph basically has one colour, but many shades of it.

You can also stretch that to include colours that are very close to each other on the colour wheel – including the colours between those on the simplistic wheel above – for example blue-green, magenta, red-orange, etc.

Let’s explore the power of sameness.

As you do, also feel the impact of that particular colour scheme. Each has a different symbolism – some universal, some personal. Cool colours (greens, blues, purples) will have one effect on you.  Warm colours (reds, oranges, yellows), will have another.

You can read more online about the meaning & symbolism of various colours, but I encourage you to read your own heart first as you scroll one at a time through this collection of monochromatic images.

There’s great beauty in finding your tribe – like-minded people who share various commonalities.

Where in your life are you experiencing the power of sameness?

Colour choices definitely have an effect on the mood of the photo.

Light can be uplifting. Dark touches the soul in it’s own beautiful or troubling way.

Feel your way through this collection before answering the questions below.

Do you honour the beauty of both the light & dark in your life?

As we value day & night, so too should we recognize the value of of our shadows, our moods, our challenges. They offer us gifts and opportunities to emerge more fully into who we truly are.

This is part of the practice of loving what is – in yourself & others.

I never thought it would happen, but a few years back, I got tired of wearing so much black.

I decided that black with a splash of colour was OK, but wearing more bright colours better suited the mood I wanted to frame myself in and offer to others.

Pastels don’t cut it for me. But vivid colours do. That’s reflected in my paintings as well as my wardrobe.

Interestingly, I prefer a peaceful neutral life with splashes of colour. I’m way too sensitive to run on constant excitement.

Today, you’ve experienced and reflected on the impact of colour. Continue exploring this through your photographs, relationships, wardrobe, and lifestyle.

Be the inspiration you were meant to be. If you got any aha moments, please share them here in the comments below. Then spread love & beauty in the world through your shared reflections & photos.