The Energy of Colours: Yellow

Yellow is an interesting colour that represents opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. On  one hand there is the association with the sun and all it represents – warmth, happiness, activitity and growth. The flip side is the association with cowardice (hence the terms yellow-bellied, or saying someone has a yellow streak). This is because yellow represents the third charka – the solar plexus or ‘will’ center, which is also the seat of fears, and when yellow is not functioning well, it respresents nervousness, fear, irrational behaviour, anger and cowardice.

When well balanced, the Will center is responsible for activating our ‘drive to thrive’ and propels us us forward in the direction we want to go. Unlike other yang colours (red and orange) it does this through the powers of thinking and reasoning. So yellow is connected with the power of rational thought, intelligence, discrimination, analyzing, studying and memory.

What happens when a person has too much yellow in their surroundings? Consider that we use yellow as a colour meaning ‘caution’ (e.g. in traffic lights and road signals). It doesn’t mean the person is cautious (though they might be); it means that we mght wish to be cautious around them because too much yellow can manifest in willful and manipulating behaviour. 

Physical effects of yellow include:

–> raises low blood pressure
–> strengthens the nervous system
–> stimulates the brain
–> increases liver activity

In the Chinese culture, yellow is for longevity and good luck!

Where to use yellow in your home: it is best used in areas that are active, such as kitchens, breakfast and dining rooms. Here it will be helpful for getting people up and going in the morning, and to stimulate lively discussion around the dinner table. It can help to have small touches of yellow in a bedroom if you have difficulty getting up in the morning — but only small touches because yellow bedrooms are very stimulating, increase mental activity and and can keep you awake. Consider adding yellow to home offices for increased concentration, organization, optimism and communication.

Copyright Deborah Redfern 2007. All rights reserved.

Tags: Deborah Redfern, Feng Shui Colours