Over the last nine posts we’ve laid the groundwork for this course—The Color of Wellness and looked at the therapeutic properties of several colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
We learned that color is energy made visible; that every color has a different and distinct wavelength; and that we can be influenced by it. By incorporating a few easy-to-implement suggestions on how to weave color into the tapestry of our lives we’ve learned to enhance our sense of groundedness with red, increase our sense of delight with orange, cultivate our inner-landscape with yellow, develop our emotional empowerment with green, unleash our creative flair with blue, boost our insight with indigo, and strengthen the connection with our higher self with violet.
The photos in the slideshow are from our kitchen. As you can see, we enjoy a lot of color. We don’t set the table with every person receiving matching plates and dishes. Rather, we mix them up in bold fashion and have a lot of fun doing it! Our napkins are wild and crazy—no two are alike.
Every wall in our home is soft yellow (like the inside of a banana) with the exception of a very large sage green wall in the living room. We have liberal accents of chili pepper red throughout the house, with bold splashes of emerald green and cobalt blue here and there.
A few months ago one of my Gaia friends, a regular reader of this blog, asked me a question. My answer was to sit down and write a color meditation for her. With a little extra polish since that time, this is the result:
Rainbow Meditation
For this meditation, you may want to light a candle, dim the lights, and play music softly in the background. Each exhalation is designed to offload emotional baggage and to create space for unleashed, unlimited, potential and possibility— for joy!
Bring your attention to your base chakra—the tip of your tailbone, your foundation, where self-preservation, survival, and physical wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color red—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-preservation. I invite the healing energy of Divine Love to flow.”
Shift your attention to your sacral chakra—the area just below your belly button, where self-gratification, pleasure, and occupational wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color orange—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-gratification. I make choices that are for my highest good.”
Direct your attention to your solar plexus chakra, the area just below the point on your chest where your rib cage meets, where self-definition, personal power, and social wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color yellow—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-definition. I choose to fill my world with joy.”
Bring your attention to your heart chakra at the center of your chest, where self-acceptance, love, and emotional wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color green—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-acceptance. I lovingly forgive and release the past.”
Move your attention to your throat chakra, the divot in your throat, where self-expression, creativity, and emotional wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color blue—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-expression. I speak my truth with ease and grace.”
Direct your attention to your brow chakra, the point between and slightly above your eyebrows, where self-reflection, intuition, and intellectual wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color indigo—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-reflection. It see all things with insight and inspiration.”
Bring your attention to your crown chakra, the top of your head, where self-knowledge, divine connection, and spiritual wellness reside. In your mind’s eye, inhale the color violet—slow, deep, and steady—through your nostrils, drawing the breath past your chest and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale the “waste”—any toxic thoughts, emotional baggage—through your mouth. Using the power of intent say: “The energy of Divine Love fills my self-knowledge. “I am divinely inspired to live as I am meant to be. Thank you. And so it is.”
Below you will see a chakra necklace that I designed in April. I call it The Seven Selves as it goes hand-in-glove with my manuscript. The green stone (heart chakra) is perched neatly in the middle with three stones sitting in attendance on either side. You can’t see them all in this photo as they wrap around my neck, but from left to right as you look at the photo:
The red garnet reminds me to live courageously.
The orange amber reminds me of the importance of personal respect.
The yellow citrine reminds me to walk in dignity.
The green aventurine reminds me to drink from the well of calm and joy.
The blue lace agate reminds me to speak my truth.
The indigo lapis lazuli reminds me dive into endless possibilities.
The purple amethyst reminds me to live in the present moment.
The Seven Selves necklace by Laurie Buchanan
I hope you had as much fun receiving this “class” as I did delivering it. We’ll take a break from “coursework” through the rest of October and then jump into “Alphabetically Speaking” in the month of November. You may remember back in June (the day after my hard drive crashed) I took a reader survey and received lots of great topics that you’re interested in learning more about. I’m looking forward to delivering that “course.” In the meantime, I’ll post a bit of this and a dash of that …
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan
Copyright © 2010 Laurie Buchanan — All Rights Reserved. No part of this blog post may be used in part, or in whole, without written permission from Laurie Buchanan.
Tuesdays with Laurie 
I absolutely loved your color course Laurie! Being a “colorful” person, I appreciate learning how you’ve taught us to incorporate colors into our lives with more definition and intention. Have a wonderful rest of the week. Beth
Beth – I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed this “class.” Knowing you personally for years, I can say that you’re a lot like RED HOT ANNIE in your blog post today 🙂
Laurie! I have so enjoyed these color/chakra posts and the peek in to your world of color. Thank you! And for this beautiful meditation! I am sure you saw the news item yesterday about meditation increasing brain gray matter? You have known this forever, but it cool to see the media catching on. Hugs to you and blessings on your day. Love, Suzi
Suzie – It is with delight that I accept your hugs and blessings on my day, thank you! And thank you for attending The Color of Wellness — I appreciate you! yes, Yes, YES meditation increases brain matter. There’s a fascinating study that was done on nuns. If Kim Grady jumps into this conversation later today, she’ll be able to point us to it with a link. In the meantime, here’s a LINK to a cool article about brain activity during meditation.
laurie,
This color course has been an added extra to my journey with you while doing Life Harmony course! Has added to my knowledge of how and when to use and or select a color in the from of clothes, or stones, or to energize a space, as well as calling forth a color while in mediation to enhance that experience.
Later today I will be in Philly to photograph and witness for the first time a Rainbow Flag to be flown on City Hall, presented by Mayor Nutter to Honor GLBT people in the city and around the country that being GLBT is welcomed, respected. In the rash of suicides in the past few weeks of gay youth due to bullying and hate thus upon them. The Rainbow flag will fly high and proud in Philly .
The rainbow of color calls together the diversity to all people to claim their space in the world!
I am Love, Jeff
Jeff – Ohhhhhhhh you’ve simply got to blog about your day in Philly today when you return! That’s excellent and I can hardly wait to see the photographs! I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed this “class” and have incorporated some of the things you’ve learned. Whoohoo!
Laurie….many, many thank you’s for this. The timing was perfect. On the day of your indigo post I was blessed to see the most vivid rainbow that I had seen in a very long time. The blue and violets were particularily bright. There have been MANY syncronicities during this course. It has been such a pleasure to be here.
Colleen – I’m tickled PINK to hear that; thank you so much for letting me know!
A bit of this and a dash of that! That is kind of like a rainbow of blogging, I think. Love the rainbows you post here, Ms. Laurie!
Hey Miss Kathy – I’m sure glad you came by for the last day of this class. And in addition to the “A” you received in this class for perfect attendance, you got the CHERRY ON TOP award over on Lake Superior Spirit. Way to go!
It’s been a soulful and fascinating course, and I’m glad I registered for it, even though I may have been late to some of the sessions. But like any other class, it’s the instructor who draws you in, and Professor Buchanan has treated her readers to enrichment that would well be worth revisiting in the future.
I was thinking just on Sunday of the color red, in Yashujiro Ozu’s exquisite EQUINOX LOWER (1958). The central image/prop/symbol in the film is a bright red kitches kettle that appears in the frame, before and after sdome of the more emotional films in the scene. Your own definition of red fits its usage through the film, and aesthetically it’s a real feast for the yes.
You deserve to take a bow Laurie!
Sam – I’m so glad you swung by this afternoon. I just checked with our library for Equinox Lower and they don’t have it, but they can get it from a sister library – cool! I’m glad you enjoyed this class. I had fun pulling it together (a lot of it’s from my manuscript), and taking the photographs was fun too! Thank you for the bow — it’s coming right back atcha, Namaste’ style!
Thanks Laurie. The title though is EQUINOX FLOWER, I did leave off the F, lamentably.
No worries, Sam. With the two additional pieces of information that you gave (1958 and Yasujiro Ozu) the librarian knew exactly what I was talking about!
Love the necklace!!! All the colors. Did you make t yourself or possibly one of you artist friends??
I am unable to see the slide show! I can’t wait…
As for the Nun Study—-
The book is called Aging with Grace. The is a study of the brains of nuns and the effect of a steady regimented lifesyle to increase lifespan and vitality. The Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato Minnesota are involved in this life long study and the when they pass away,usually at 95 or older…Their brains are studied even after death, as most of them have donated their brains to science.
Visit http://www.ssnd.org for more information. Or you can Google….
Kim – I just knew you would see that notatioin and provide the link. thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! That particular necklace (mine – the one in the photograph) I actually made after Easter dinner at Karen Wylie’s house (our jeweler at HolEssence). I had an idea in my mind and asked her if I could go sit in her corner where she keeps all of her stuff and that’s when I designed it. She put the lobster clasp on the back (I don’t have a clue how to do that), and then I asked her to start making them to sell at HolEssence.
Its beautiful!
Kim – Somehow I’m not surprised that you have Peacock Blue Fiestaware!
This is really cool, Laurie. I saw a rainbow this afternoon before I read today’s lesson. It must be something in the air . . .
That is a very nice meditation, too. Do you ever record these and put them on CD to sell? I would buy one in a heartbeat. HolEssence Guided Meditations . . .
Great class. I am looking forward to the next series of lessons.
Barbara – I haven’t seen a rainbow (other than in a photograph) in a month of Sundays. I’m glad you got to see one today! I haven’t done guided meditation CD’s to sell, and I have been asked before. Depending on the client and the type of session, I may use a Belleruth Naparstek guided imagery CD, or simply speak one myself. I’m glad you enjoyed this class. I enjoyed presenting it.
That is just crazy….I was on facebook and Jeff mentioned Rainbow as well……
LOVE all the colors of Fiestaware!!!!
I LOVE it too……Peacock Blue is my color…only one!
I have the same runner you have…that is too funny!
Thank you. This was an enriching course for me. The journey towards the final piece was wonderful. The rainbow meditation is supreme! You have a talent for integrating the mystical with the practical. A master of holism. Thank you again for your generosity of spirit in sharing this so unconditionally.
much love
Gil
Thank you Laurie for the amazing series on the colour of wellness. A real gem of an experience. I hope this is going to be part of one of your books.
Terrill – I’m so glad you enjoyed The Color of Wellness. It is, indeed, part of the book I’m currently working on 🙂
Oh, Laurie, I LOVE your colors! So vibrant! So alive! Just what I would have expected of you!
Hugs,
Kathy
Kathy – I’m so glad you popped in and enjoyed it. Thank you 🙂
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