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Evoking strong emotions, whether from passions of love or passions of war, red energy seeks victory and success, reąuiring courage and devotion. Vital and intense, its essence brings forth a strong statement, its

vividness requires awareness of present time. As one of the strongest colors in the spectrum, red’s boldness appears to advance towards one, furthering an atmosphere of assertion and calling attention to oneself.

Concerned with feelings of psychological and physicai well-being, red’s strongest connection is to the heart center. Although it gives the greatest energy of all the colors, surprisingly red has the slowest ratę of vibration, thus increasing circulation and bringing security and stability to the physicai body. Traditionally its allegorical stone, the ruby, was believed to bring the bearer good health and protection from disease.

Connected to the basie emotions of love, passion and virility, red affects the physicai body and psychological self-confidence. Its most positive aspect brings warmth and stability, incredible joy towards life, learning to love in all situations. Its moods shift when mixed with other base colors, varying from soft pink to rosę, from cherry red to strawberry, from cranberry to mulberry. Such colors promise new beginnings and new life. Cool reds are those that have blue in them, such as crimson, raspberry, cerise, pink and purple. These tones bring compassion after passion is spent, soothing unspoken frustrations and resentment. Yet no matter what the shade, red remains an emotional color evoking strong responses.

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