Laurie Buchanan is the author of the Sean McPherson novels, including Indelible. You can read more about her here, see her books here, and read her last post here.
Though I’m a full-time writer now, I used to be a holistic health practitioner. When I had my private practice, one of the many energy-based modalities I used was color therapy.
Color is simply energy; energy made visible. As human beings, color is the only energy we can see. While the speed of light is a constant 186,282 miles per second, the speed of color—its frequency—travels at varying rates depending on the color and shade. As it meets the rods and cones in our eyes, the frequency sends a signal to our brain that allows us to distinguish one color from another.
The colors we wear and surround ourselves with in our home and office stimulate the way we think and feel and how our body’s organs, glands, and systems function. That’s where color therapy—treatment with the appropriate color—comes in. We can use color to stimulate or inhibit the functioning of different parts of our body; to restore balance and normal function.
The energy signature (frequency) of BLUE is cooling and protective. In color therapy, it’s used to help address physical symptoms such as high blood pressure, migraine, fever, cuts, stings/burns, and negatives states of mind such as timidity, fatigue, distrust, indecision, fear of speaking up, and confrontation. Using the color BLUE can help to lower blood pressure, decreases respiration, and is ideal for sleep and over-activity.
BLUE is associated with self-expression and creativity. Essential to writers, BLUE is the color that unleashes creative flair! The frequency of BLUE additionally enhances the absorption of knowledge, promotes relaxation, and improves overall wellbeing. BLUE is calming, expansive, and cool. The muted hues recall a post-rain sky, while the dignified shaded tones exude comfort and rest.
Color speaks volumes about our personal style without us having to say a word. And while color perception is highly individual and connects directly with personal memories and emotions, it’s also universal. BLUE stimulates harmonious, open, and clear communication, ingredients that are vital to working with others peacefully.
Do you need a boost in the areas of self-expression and creativity?
Wear a piece of BLUE clothing. Add a splash of BLUE to your décor with flowers, pillows, a candle, or a throw. Use BLUE sheets that will gently encourage you to sleep at night. Wear jewelry with BLUE gemstones such as aquamarine, turquoise, chrysocolla, sapphire, iolite, or blue topaz.
Unleash your creative flair with the color BLUE!
Laurie, thanks for your “cool” blue post! It was calming to read. Walking, seeing the blue of water and sky, can help us all around, but I hadn’t really thought about the creative benefit until you just pointed that out. As a holistic healer, did you ever work with synesthetes who see various colors associated with words and musical notes? I’m a synesthete, though not of that type, which is why the idea popped into my head.
Sherrill — I’m glad you enjoyed this post. In reading every book in your BOTANIC HILL DETECTIVES MYSTERIES series, I’ve read about synesthesia. I know you have a type of it (maybe I learned that from your author’s website?)—but I haven’t personally worked with any. I find it fascinating!
What do you know? Blue is my favorite color, and now I know why! Thanks for this “cool” post.
Saralyn — I bet that’s why you’re such a prolific writer!
Thanks for the great information in this post, Laurie! And loved the photos in cool shades of blue!
Margaret — I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. My favorite one is the one I took of the little pier on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. Pre-Covid, I would rent a house there and invite three other writers to join me for a writing retreat. We always had a fantastic time! Probably because we were surrounded by turquoise blue water!
Laurie, I loved this informative post. I did know that color therapy works for some things, but didn’t know the significance until reading your post. I’m replying here, because, I think I’ve mentioned before–if you decide to do another retreat at the Eleuthera Islands, I hope to be one of the authors you invite 🙂 It sounds Wonderful!!
Tracey — If and when the opportunity presents itself for me to host another writing retreat on Eleuthera Island, I’ll definitely invite you.
Not to be the iconoclast here, but I’m really curious how this works when I really don’t care for blue that much. It’s not orange, which I really don’t like. But my favorite color is green, and I always feel happier when I’m wearing it or am surrounded by it.
Anne — I’m cracking up at the inside joke (Iconoclast is book two in the Sean McPherson series).
GREEN is a wonderful color; it has the vibration of healing. I just extracted the following information from my first book, NOTE TO SELF: A SEVEN-STEP PATH TO GRATITUDE AND GROWTH:
Green is associated with self-acceptance, love, and emotional wellness. It enhances love, peace, and inner balance. It’s the color of growth. Think of freshly mown grass that springs back after a barefoot step, the vibrant green of newly beached seaweed, a wedge of lime hugging the rim of a glass, moss-covered rocks in a stream, freshly snapped sugar peas, the dusty green of pistachios peeking out from their split shells, or new leaves unfurling as they herald spring.
The positive properties of green are expressed as warm, sympathetic, compassionate, soothing, relaxed, fair-minded, and consistent.
Now we know why you’re so likable!
I’m wearing blue right now–my instincts must have been correct (I needed a de-stressor). Thanks for the reminder.
Sheila — Your gut instinct is SPOT ON!
Blue has always been my favorite color. You’ve written great nonfiction books that look at colors and how to use them, so I was familiar with this concept of using blue for creativity and more. There’s a novel called Sacre Bleu, too, and I understand that blue used to be a treasured color and hard to come by at one point in time, too. Because of its popularity you’d think book publishers would use blue on books more often. Nice post!
Christine — Blue and your go-get-em attitude are a powerful combination that accounts for your abundance of published work. I will check out the book you mentioned, Sacre Bleu, and add it to my TBR list. I love the color blue too. My granddaughter’s name is Luna Bleue.
Laurie, I loved this post because I knew nothing about color therapy except the value of purple. Interesting that I’ve bought several clothing items with blue in them these past few years.
Marilyn — PURPLE (referred to as VIOLET in color therapy) is a grand color. I just extracted the following information from my first book, NOTE TO SELF: A SEVEN-STEP PATH TO GRATITUDE AND GROWTH:
Violet is associated with self-knowledge, connection, spiritual wellness, and the divine.
It enhances creativity, wisdom, and inspiration. It’s the color of royalty. Think of juicy
plums, purple grapes, the velvet petals of an African violet, or the rich color of eggplant.
When was the last time you picked turnips fresh from the earth? Have you ever seen a
spiny purple sea urchin on the ocean floor while snorkeling, or been waved at by an iris
dancing in the breeze?
The positive properties of violet are expressed as inspiration, dignity, creativity, nobility,
spiritual awareness, altruism, independence, and personableness.
Buying clothing items with the color BLUE in them is a grand thing for a writer! I wonder if you were following a nudge from your internal guidance system?
I guess my office walls are the right color. 🙂
Valerie — Rock on, siSTAR! ⭐
Thanks for the great lesson in color therapy! I’m a green and purple gal, but blue never fails to disappoint! No wonder I seem to choose blue over and over in photos I post. That blue sky is always a boost.
Joy Ann — In response to Marilyn and Anne above, I posted some information about GREEN and PURPLE (violet). I love that you manage to capture and post blue in your photos. I just refreshed my memory on your Instagram page. You’re a Blue Sky Kinda Gal!
You’re amazing, thank you.
Love this reminder! Have your read “Blue Mind” —all about our innate draw to BLUE water.
Victoria — I will check out the book you mentioned, Blue Mind, and add it to my TBR list. Thank you for the recommendation.
I have two book titles with “Blue” in the title including one about a French artist who “invented “ his own shade of paint— International Klein Blue. I love blue
Lisa — Oh, how cool is that?! I’m going to check out International Klein Blue.
wondered why it’s my favorite color. I like it with a dash of green! Thanks for the informative post!
Laurie — BLUE (enhances creativity) with a dash of GREEN (boosts healing) is a dynamite combination!
Great post, Laurie! I meditate with a visualization of blue light for healing. It always makes me feel better! After 2020 we painted our walls gray with a hint of blue to freshen our lives. They make us so happy 🙂
Sharon — Those action steps trigger positive results. Yes!
Love this! Color has long been used by a variety of business such as restaurants to encourage appetite and counseling centers to assist patients with a sense of calm. Individuals also use their “power” color for confidence in stressful situations like job interviews or meetings with supervisors. Great blog idea!!