As we've learned so far in our Color Wisdom Series, different colors can soothe or stimulate us, or may evoke positive or negative responses. Just as in various traditions we learn of "animal medicine," "food medicine" (conscious nutrition), and "fragrance medicine" (aromatherapy), there is also such a thing as "color medicine." The term "medicine," used this way, implies that which can offer, when consciously and appropriately used, wisdom and a healing effect or on mind, body, spirit and/or soul.

In general, the color yellow is among the colors considered to be "warm," and is associated with the Sun and Mars, mental clarity (or stimulation), cheerfulness (or mental fatigue), the astrological sign of Leo, the third or "solar plexus" chakra. The effects of the color yellow, like any color, can be consciously recognized and purposely prompted, if we have the information we need. While it's always great to rely first and foremost upon our own observations of our own responses and reactions, there are "average" psychological effects of each color, as well as for different shades, tones, or hues.

Yellow is said to be closest in the spectrum to "white", and thus reflects more light back than a darker or toned-down color might. For this reason, using too much yellow, of too bright a shade, or for too long a period, can be agitating to the eyes as well as the mind.

Initial responses to the color yellow include a general sense of cheerfulness, a "pick me up," and an observation or sense of increased mental clarity or ability to concentrate on what you're doing. Some say that this is why legal pads are provided in the color yellow - to help the person using the pad to focus more fully on what he or she is doing. Other people might choose to paint a room yellow, if it's one that is used for activities that call for mental clarity, analysis, and focus. Of course, one wouldn't want to use too bright a shade of yellow in that quantity, since it could just as easily create feelings of anxiety and hyper-stimulation, which could lead counter-productively to an inability to focus clearly and contribute to a feeling of eye strain.

Yellow is associated with the third chakra, which Eastern medicine and philosophy places in the vicinity of the solar plexus or "gut." The third chakra is often associated with one's "power center" or self-esteem, confidence, and sense of personal power. Some traditions also associate the third chakra with intuition, or one's "gut instincts."

When the third chakra is balanced, one would feel confident and clear, have a healthy sense of will (and will power), and have a clear sense of guidance from one's "gut instinct" or intuition. The corresponding mantra: "I can." When the third chakra is out of balance, one might feel insecure and unconfident, anxious, or on the other extreme, overly willful and bullying. A blocked or out-of-balance third chakra might also result in feeling "out of touch" with gut instinct or intuition. The voice of this imbalance? "I can't" or "I WILL!!"

Using yellow for wellness and balance

Conscious use of the color yellow would start with an assessment of how you feel. Are you feeling calm? Are you feeling unclear or sluggish? Are you feeling anxious or agitated? Are you feeling unconfident, or confident?

If you want to include yellow in your practices to help stimulate mental clarity, to help you focus, to create (but not over-stimulate) your healthy and balanced sense of confidence, capability, will, instinct/intuition, and Soul-Self power, consider some of these practices:

• Use yellow in a color meditation or visualization. This might mean visualizing yourself under a gorgeous yellow waterfall that cleanses and refreshes you, or it might mean visualizing yourself walking through a yellow room that is filled with yellow fruits and vegetables! If you're familiar with chakra-balancing visualizations or meditations, you can visualize clean, clear yellow rinsing and cleansing the third chakra.

• Use yellow in aromatherapy. The essence or aroma of lemon is brightening, stimulating, and refreshing. It can enhance a sense of well-being, when used at the appropriate time. The same is the case for grapefruit (yellow).

• Take a walk in the sunshine. You know the feeling, if you've escaped days of gray rain or fog and enjoyed a wonderful day of sunshine. Not only is walking healthful and enjoyable, but walking in the sunshine can be uplifting.

• Wear yellow, or add yellow to your surroundings. Yes, yellow isn't everyone's color to wear, but almost everyone can wear some shade of yellow. You can also add yellow to your surroundings, by selecting some bright yellow flowers, or placing lemons in a bowl. You can use yellow paper, or "sticky notes," too.

If you're already feeling over-stimulated, anxious, or "your gut" feels bothered or out of sorts, you might want to down-play the yellow, in favor of using more soothing or grounding colors, such as green, brown, blue, lavender, or even soft pink, in the ways outlined above.

Find more information on Color Wisdom in the other articles of the series, or check out the many other inspiration- and skill-building materials throughout Ivy Sea Online.