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The Power of Red
EDITED By Kathleen Karlsen, MA
Last Updated:
July 1, 2010
The Meaning of the Color Red
The Happiness Symbol
Red Envelopes for Prosperity
Red Envelopes and Spiritual Teachings
Red Envelopes and Happiness
More Information About Color Symbolism
More Resources for Chinese Astrology
The Meaning of the Color Red
By Joey Pebble
 Red may be the most powerful color in the spectrum. Less somber than black, but more powerful than orange, it is a color which incites emotions, and causes people to react, in both biological and psychological ways.
Aside from understanding that red has symbolic meaning, you also have to realize that this meaning will be different depending on the experiences as well as the culture of the individual.
In China the color red is associated with good luck and prosperity. In addition to this, many women in the East will wear the color red when they get married. By contrast, red is the color worn by mourners in South Africa. Red was also the color of the communist revolution in Russia, and so politically it is associated with communist causes.
 In the United States and the rest of the Western World the color red is connected to the dual symbols of love and hate. This connection is based on the intensity of these two emotions, and the fact that both of them get your blood pumping, and can make your face flush red.
Romantically, red is the color of cupid, hearts, roses, and love. In a bedroom this color is often used in pillows, sheets, and covers to add excitement to a relationship that has gone stagnant. This is effective if you can channel the energy which is generated by these hues into passion rather than battles with your partner.
 In other environments red can be used to create an atmosphere which is edgy and exciting. In a place where you need people to be creative, use this color to incite energy and inspiration. Just be careful that this trick doesn't backfire, causing interpersonal problems and infighting.
When decorating, red is used to emphasize certain features. It is a good color to use in focal and accent points, and as a way of bringing attention to certain features. In small doses it can be a powerful and invigorating option.
Red is arguably the most powerful color in the rainbow. It incites visions of passion and pain, war and love, and can actually have a biological effect on a person, increasing their metabolism and speeding up their breathing and heart rate. In this way it can be used to inspire energy, but you have to be careful, as that energy can be used for either positive or negative purposes.
| This article was written by Joey Pebble on behalf of PebbleZ.com - makers of decorative stone wall clocks, and natural stone home accessories. Their line of clocks consists of hand picked, one of a kind, exotic stone pieces, which are coupled with your choice of face and alignment to create a truly unique piece of home décor. Article Source: The Meaning of the Color Red. |
Happiness Symbol - 3 Effective Uses Of Chinese Color Of Happiness!
By Abhishek Agarwal
There are a lot of symbols and colors that are associated with the varied aspects of life, of love and most importantly, happiness. Chinese people especially believe in these symbolisms. They believe that your life can be pushed to move in the direction that you want, if you have a whole lot of these symbols and colors everywhere around you.
 The search for happiness is universal. All people, irrespective of their age, culture and race yearn for the common goal of happiness. This hold true for the Chinese people as well. The Chinese people never miss any occasion or event to bestow on other people a chosen symbol to bring them happiness. Be it a wedding, a birthday or even New Year or any other event, Chinese people like to gift something that can bring happiness in the life of the person receiving it.
The red envelope is a popular Chinese symbol for happiness. It has been a long-standing belief that red envelopes bring happiness, good luck and prosperity. In fact the color red stands for all these, in itself. So the person gifting these wishes the person receiving it to be bestowed with all these things.
Red Envelopes For Prosperity
Red envelopes are seen also as a symbol for prosperity in your house. But don't be disappointed if no one has gifted you these red envelopes yet. You can still use them. Just put two coins inside the red envelope and put them in the doorframe in your home.
If you want to wish someone prosperity, you too can take this red envelope and gift it to them. While wishing for their prosperity, you also include your wishes for their happiness.
Red Envelopes and Spiritual Teachings
Red envelopes play an important part in the master- disciple relationship in Feng shui. For every teaching a master bestows on his student, the student has to give a red envelope to the master. Although nothing is put in these envelopes when are given, yet according to traditional beliefs, small gold coins, gold bars or other valuable gifts should be put into it before giving them to the master.
 Most traditional masters follow this practice till date. There are many theories as to why these red envelopes are gifted by the students to the masters. Some think that these red envelopes are tokens of gratitude for the master since he has taught such useful teachings to the students. Feng shui is an art that requires a lot of time and practice to be able to understand and practice it, so this thank-you gift is only a gesture by those students who have received some of the essence of this art.
The other theory is a little negative in nature. Some believe that the knowledge and information that the masters give will ultimately bring them bad luck. This however depends on the way the students use this art. So these red envelopes block out the negative forces and protect the master from its effects.
Red Envelopes And Happiness
Red in itself is a symbol of happiness in the Chinese culture. So envelopes made in red help you share this happiness with other people.
You may see many red envelopes floating around these days, especially on occasions such as Christmas or New Year. You might not have garnered their significance till now. But we are sure after reading this information, the next time you get a red envelope, you will take them seriously as symbols bringing happiness and prosperity to your home.
More Information About Color Symbolism
For more information about color symbolism, please see the following recommended Amazon books:
Symbolism of Color
Color Synergy: Power of Color, Creative Visualizations, and Affirmations to Transform Your Life
The Symbolism of Color
Color and the Edgar Cayce Readings
Color and Meaning: Art, Science, and Symbolism
More Resources for Chinese Astrology
For more information on Chinese astrology, see these recommended books on Amazon:
Chinese Astrology: Exploring The Eastern Zodiac
Animal Symbolism of the Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Astrology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Using the Chinese Zodiac
The Year of the Tiger: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac
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