Posted: June 2009

Did you know that color plays a significant part in the practice of the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui? By simply changing the color of our walls, we can positively impact our busy, stressful lives, and achieve balance in our homes.
     
What is Feng Shui?

In Chinese, Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) means wind and water. It is a collection of practices and techniques that, driven by the energy of these two powerful elements of nature, fill life with positive energy. With Feng Shui, we can re-arrange all the things that surround us on a daily basis to create the most harmonious flow of vital life energy, including color.

The Meaning of Colors in Feng Shui

Like many other Chinese practices, Feng Shui has a yin and a yang. Yin colors bring about healing and relaxation, each one associated with particular characteristics and feelings:

Black: Careers, money and income; emotional protection and power.
Blue: Adventure and exploration; calm and soothing; reflects love as it heals and relaxes; peace and trust; navy blue is the color of intellect and wisdom.
White: Poise, confidence and purity; combined with gold or silver, generates a calm atmosphere.
Purple: Physical and mental healing; spiritual awareness.
Other: Pink and green

Yang colors provide the enthusiasm or positive energy required for motivation to do something:

Orange: Collaboration and cooperation; organization; strengthens concentration and creativity; gives a sense of purpose.
Yellow: Auspicious; sunbeams, warmth, motion, cheerfulness and friendliness; prolonged exposure to large amounts of intense yellow may cause anxiety.
Other: Tan / beige, brown, red, mauve, maroon, lavender and gold.

Feng Shui color practices can also be applied outdoors. For houses facing South, white, grey or blue colors enhance the flow of Chi in the home. For houses facing East. earth or metal tones enhance the positive energies of the house.