Feng Shui Colors
What Are The Feng Shui Colors All About?
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art promoting harmony in living, and the feng shui colors are one aspect of this art form. Those who practice Zen, yoga, or take part in one of the martial art forms, are familiar with the concept of Qi (also spelled ki and chi). Qi is energy, and an art form, whether it be karate or feng shui, seeks to harness this energy, and get it to flow in manner that will benefit the practitioner.
The feng shui colors relate to what the ancients considered to be the basic elements of our environment. These elements are fire, water, earth, metal, and wood, far easier to deal with than the 100 plus elements in the Periodic Table. Each element can be represented by one or more colors. It's through the choice of colors, and color patterns, applied to objects surrounding us that, according to the principles of feng shui, can channel energy and bring harmony to our lives.
You can walk into someone's home and feel completely at peace and harmony. On the other hand their choice of colors may, in your mind, seem uninviting, rather disturbing, or in downright poor taste. Often we are barely aware of these feelings, or when we are, we're not sure why. One answer is that certain combinations of colors, given to certain objects, in specific locations, can indeed promote a sense of well-being and harmony. Some, who seem to be blessed with good taste, have a knack for choosing the right colors, others are professional decorators and there is a method to their madness. Still others may be applying the principles behind the feng shui colors. Let's then take a look at the five feng shui elements, and their associated colors, and see what can be learned.
Not surprisingly, the element "Fire" implies energy. Within the feng shui system, it also indicates passion. Red is one of the feng shui colors associated with fire energy, as are a very strong yellow, orange, pink, and purple. Fire colors are used in places, or on objects, designed to help you activate your own energy.
"Water" is something that is abundant, and at the same time, refreshing. There are two colors associated with water, blue and black. When you view an oil painting featuring a scene containing water, blue and black are often the dominant colors.
We draw our nourishment from the "Earth", and the ground we stand upon also represents stability, and with it a sense of being protected. The colors used to represent this element are light yellow and beige.
The feng shui element of "Metal" signifies precision, efficiency, and clarity, many of the attributes we ascribe to a piece of machinery, or to a fine tool. Gray and white are the feng shui colors you would use to represent metal.
"Wood", in the feng shui tradition, like water, also represents abundance. At the same time, wood is associated with growth, vitality, and good health. The colors representing wood, as you might expect, are brown and green.
Knowing just how to combine these colors can be rather complex. Feng shui also dictates how objects should be placed, and in what direction they should face. Insofar as colors are concerned, if you want to follow the principles of feng shui literally, certain elements, and their colors, should be used at specific points of the compass. For example, you would use colors associated with fire on a south wall in your home, and other colors on a north wall. Also certain elements will clash. You would not use blue or black, signifying water, in the same area you use red (fire), as water clashes with (puts out) fire. You can go as deeply into this subject as you wish. Some feng shui interior decorators make a living doing just that. Or you can simply use the feng shui system as a framework, or basis to work with, in designing your own decorating scheme. One that will hopefully give you a sense of harmony and well being.