Color Therapy

A discussion of colors as energies, and their application in healing treatments

 

All colours throughout the solar system emanate from one Ray of Divinity, manifesting first as a triplicity and then as a septenary. These seven rays eventually become the seven colours, blended by the Synthetic Ray, which blends all rays: the Love-Wisdom ray, or indigo.

These seven colours are esoterically known as one band of light that serves as manifest matter. Science has proven that matter is energy. Energy is vibration. Vibration manifests as varying colours and tones.

Therefore it follows that we can manipulate matter by altering vibrational frequencies through applied colour or sound. This simple yet profound therapy can be used in meditation, healing, or the co-operative building of form life.

In Occult Meditation, by Alice A. Bailey, the Tibetan says that "..colours are the expressions of force or quality. They hide or veil the abstract qualities of the Logos, which are reflected as virtues or faculties. Therefore, just as the seven colours hide qualities in the Logos, so these virtues demonstrate in the life of the personality and are brought forward objectively through the practice of meditation; thus each life will be seen as corresponding to a colour."

The basic premise of the ancient art of Colour Therapy is that all manifested life is energy, emanating from One Source, to and including all directions, encompassing all possibilities. It is here that we begin to see just why colour and sound play a very important part in our everyday lives. Each day we see colours and hear sounds which act upon our bodies. When we find a colour or ray quality lacking or in excess, the result can be dis-ease, dis-harmony or dis-cord.

Identifying the body in which the imbalance occurs, we can then apply colour or sound vibration to restore harmony. As the goal of those on the Path (of discipleship) is to achieve alignment, the use of colour therapy is a valuable means to this end.

The modern interpreter of colour therapy, or chromo therapy, was Dr Edwin Babbitt with his widely known work The Principles of Colour Therapy, printed in 1878. It is interesting to note that Babbitt's diagram of the atom is found in A Treatise on Cosmic Fire by Alice Bailey. The Tibetan illustrates that this energy system is repeated throughout the manifested universe, from the smallest atom up to and including the largest solar system. Here again we find agreement between exoteric and esoteric scientific theory.

RED is the first visible colour we see after the infra-red band is passed. Red is thermal, heating, warming, yang and positive. It has many tendencies including the promotion of cellular growth and activity, stimulating the Will aspect, corresponding to our life force, or the circulatory system. It is therefore indicated for all colds, sluggish or dormant conditions, such as pneumonia, bursitis, paralysis, arthritis, anaemia, as a liver stimulant, an energy builder, for raising the

blood pressure and increasing circulation.

BLUE, on the other hand, is at the opposite end of the visible spectrum and is electric, cooling, yin and negative. Dr Babbitt has called blue one of the greatest antiseptics in the world. Blue light will stop bleeding of the lungs, decrease fevers, cure sore throats, give relief to most inflammations of the skin and gums, and can be used with infants for pain while teething. Blue is also used for goitre, measles, chickenpox, cuts, bruises and burns. Relaxing, soothing blue rays will also bring great calm and peace to the mind that is worried, excited, or in a constant nervous state. More diseases are treated by blue light than by any other colour, which is not surprising considering that cosmic fire in our system is clear cold blue. This, the second of three systems of our Solar Logos, manifests as indigo or Love-Wisdom, the color of synthesis or of absorption. The manifestation of the system toward which we are progressing will appear as red.

GREEN is the colour of balance, harmony, nature, neutrality and of non-resistance. It was the colour of the first system from which we evolved and remains with us to this day as the calming, peaceful green of spring and nature. Green corresponds to the heart center on the physical plane and heals many illnesses of this nature, specifically including heart troubles, decreasing and stabilizing blood-pressure, ulcers, cancer, headaches, nervous disorders and influenza, and acts as a general tonic. The secondary colours, or the minor four, are similar to the closest ray of which they are a combination. In other words,

ORANGE - joy and constructivity - animates like red, although different cures are effected by this ray. Included are inflammation of the kidneys, gallstones, prolapses, menstrual cramps, epilepsy, wet cough and all sinus conditions.

YELLOW is stimulating to the nervous system and the intellect. These rays have an alkalizing effect which strengthens the nerves, and are awakening, inspiring and vitally stimulating to the higher mind or manas, aiding self-control. Typical diseases treated by yellow are constipation, gas, liver troubles, diabetes, eczema and skin troubles, leprosy and nervous exhaustion.

INDIGO, as previously stated, is the colour of our solar system. It has been particularly beneficial in treating cataracts, glaucoma and various eye problems. Other uses of indigo include purification of the blood and of the mind. Ear and nose complaints, diseases of the lungs, asthma, infantile convulsions and mental complaints may be remedied through the use of indigo.

VIOLET is the last colour we can see before light passes on to ultra-violet. This colour is an excellent remedy for neurosis, diseases of the scalp, sciatica, tumors, rheumatism, cerebro-spinal meningitis, concussion, cramps and epilepsy. Violet animates and cleans the venous blood. Esoterically violet is white and synthesizes all form manifestation.

The practical application of a specific colour for a bodily condition requires common sense and experimentation. Generally, dis-harmony that produces a cold, wet condition requires red. Conditions of a hot, thermal nature require blue to calm and effect a stabilization of the subtle body in question. Therefore, contra-indicated to any red condition is the use of a red colour application such as with

sunstroke. The use of red will aggravate the problem. The same is true of any blue condition; ie, contra-indicated for colds or pneumonia is the use of cold blue. Certainly one will see immediate results. I have found, throughout my period of experimentation with colour, that three applications are always necessary, and at least one per day, ideally two.

Colour can be applied in two ways. With the use of the sun, coloured glass or plastic is held over the afflicted area. When the sun is not shining a 100-watt tungsten bulb will closely approximate to the vibrational frequency of the sun's rays. Naturally this requires a bit of monitoring but information is now readily available. A good guide to time and exposures is as follows.

RED: 5-10 minutes. Never more than 10 minutes. ORANGE: 5-15 minutes, with 15 minutes used only for sinus problems. YELLOW: 15 minutes. As a nerve tonic 15 minutes is ideal. GREEN: 10-25 minutes. This is the only colour that can be applied at such length. BLUE: 5-15 minutes. Never over-expose around the head region. INDIGO: 10 minutes. For eye therapy usually 1-5 minutes is sufficient.VIOLET: 5-25 minutes. The only occasion for a 25-minute application of violet would be in treating sciatica, exposing only the back or sides of the body.

Any colour that is applied to a specific area must be localized; this is very important. Green, yellow and blue may be general.

Red is never to be applied to the head region.

Coloured glass as found in stained glass stores is the best. Try to find the basic colour without any additives such as manganese to blue, or cadmium to yellow or orange, if possible. Plastic-gels obtainable through theatrical light suppliers also work well.

The general rule of thumb is to place the affected area 12 inches from the glass and approximately 10-12 inches from a 100-watt bulb if you are inside. Twice a day is the ideal and, once started, the treatment should continue until the complaint is gone. If you start a treatment and stop you will find it necessary to begin anew to effect a correct resealing of the auric vehicle.

Colds are the most dramatic to experiment with. Use red with the sun or a light bulb. Focus over the chest and leave it there for 5-7 minutes. Colds and asthma, utilizing red and orange respectively, bring dramatic results in a very short time. When taking 'baths' of colour in the sun, common sense as to the heat of the day is the best guide. If you are not sure of any colour, always under-expose the time of treatment.

One simple experiment to demonstrate the power of solar rays is to leave pure water in the sun with the colour plates Red or Blue over it. Expose for at least 8-12 hours and experiment by either placing a clean cloth soaked in the exposed water directly over the afflicted areas, or by drinking no more than 3 ounces at a time. Use the 'blue' water for all red conditions, and the 'red' water for blue conditions. Again, you will see dramatic results for such simple therapy.

In meditation, you may visualize or 'breathe in' a specific colour for treatment of any conditions previously named. By consistently practising this form of colour therapy, you will achieve the desired result, though the time period may be slightly longer. As we have seen through example and experiment all is Energy and that Energy generates a force which is applied either correctly or not. In the correct apprehension of force and its action upon our bodies, we can truly effect lasting change within ourselves. "Colour is therefore 'that which does conceal'. It is simply the objective medium by means of which the inner force transmits itself; it is the reflection upon matter of the type of influence that is emanating from the Logos, and which has penetrated to the densest part of His solar system. We recognize it as colour. The adept knows it as differentiated force, and the initiate of the higher degrees knows it as ultimate light, undifferentiated and undivided." - The Tibetan.

This ancient art is still practical today, and its uses are many and varied.

Reprinted with the kind permission of Share International Magazine.