Red – Making Love and War

The colour Red is often associated with Saint Valentine’s Day. The day we celebrate our love for that someone special in our lives but is it the correct tone to set for what traditionally is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year?

Red is hot. A strong colour conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil.

 

Nature of Red:

A stimulant, red is the hottest of the warm colours. Studies show that red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure. The expression ‘seeing red’ indicates anger and may stem not only from the stimulus of the colour but from the natural flush (redness) of the cheeks, a physical reaction to anger, increased blood pressure, or physical exertion.

 

Culture of Red:

Red is power, hence the red power tie or red braces for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs.

Flashing red lights denote danger or emergency. Stop signs and stop-lights are red to get the drivers’ attention and alert them to the dangers of the intersection.

In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is the colour of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck.

Red is often the colour worn by brides in the East, while it is the colour of mourning in South Africa. In Russia the Bolsheviks used a red flag when they overthrew the Tsar, thus red became associated with communism.

 

Using Red:

Use the colour red to grab attention and to get people to take action. Use red when you don’t want to sink into the background. Use red to suggest speed combined with confidence and perhaps even a dash of danger. A little bit of red goes a long way. Small doses can often be more effective than large amounts of this strong colour.

When used properly, red will bring the desired feng shui energy into your home. It carries the energy of the fire feng shui element. Fire has always been a symbol of divine energy and can be both destructive and creative. Fire represents the energy of sun and life. A balanced feng shui fire element in your home will bring joy, excitement and strong sexual desire.

So, perhaps Red is the correct colour for Valentine’s Day after all!