Have you ever noticed that a color can transmit a feeling? If you walk into a room that is all blue, for example, you will feel more serenity and tranquility, but if you walk into a room that is all red, you may find your feelings rise to the surface. The psychology of colors is responsible for explaining this phenomenon.

According to color psychology, every shade we see is interpreted by our mind as a sensation or as an impulse. When you see a color, your mind does much more than decide whether or not you like what you see. It actually translates a given shade into a stimulus that affects both your body and your state of mind.

Colors are so powerful that movies, series, big companies, and advertising use them according to what they want to convey to the public. Can you imagine, for example, a circus that is all black? No way. How about a wake scene that is all colored? Never! How about a wedding with all the people wearing red clothes? No way.

The truth is that color psychology is more applied in your everyday life than you might think, however you may not know as much about it yet. That is why we are going to help you unravel the mysteries of your mind, from the content we have prepared.

In the following, you will venture into the meanings and effects of the color gray. It may seem that it is not so present in your life, but is this true? The best way to find out is to learn the details about it, so analyze everything that gray can bring to your emotions, to your life, and even to your New Year.

The meaning of gray in psychology

The main way to analyze the power of a color is through psychology. According to this theory, gray is an intermediate tone between black and white. Thus, the color is often associated with lack of stimulus and absence of emotion.

At the same time, if the gray has a darker tone, it can adopt the characteristics of the color black. On the other hand, a lighter shade of gray brings out the characteristics of white.

In the next topic you will have the opportunity to go deeper into this topic. For now, there is another important factor about gray that can explain the lack of stimuli and the absence of emotions when thinking about the color.

In psychology, gray is a color that refers to depression, loss, isolation, and loneliness. It brings a desire to withdraw from reality, refusing chances to feel happy or to feel sad. In other words, it is an apathy toward the world.

In the business world, however, gray conveys a sense of maturity, responsibility, and efficiency, and indicates the predominance of reason over emotion. In this context, the color can be used in a beneficial way.

In other words, the color gray can bring a negative idea, when associated with the human psyche, or a positive idea, if associated with the corporate environment. The context in which the tone appears is determinant.

Meanings of Shades of Grey

As we saw earlier, the shades of gray are determinant to the sensation that the color will convey. Compare each one of them:

Light gray: symbolizes old age, maturity, and balance, and can be used to extend wisdom and convey seriousness.

Medium Gray: Being farther away from black and white, medium gray represents the absence of stimuli and emotions, so it is a resource for calming very intense and destructive sensations.

Dark gray: Synonymous with experience and luxury, it is often used to symbolize confidence, endurance, and elegance.

Gray in Spirituality

Another area of knowledge that takes on the analysis of the color gray is spirituality. According to this aspect, gray represents much more than the absence of feelings, old age, or elegance. Understand the different symbolisms that gray can acquire in spirituality in the next few paragraphs.

According to Feng Shui (a Chinese practice that analyzes the energies of an environment), gray in lighter shades can bring security and elegance to an environment. In addition, the color stimulates serenity and can attract protection when used in interior decoration. When it is necessary to create balance and harmony in a space, gray can be the right choice.

In Christianity, on the other hand, the darker shade of gray represents the resurrection of the dead, and an example of this is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. In this celebration, gray is a synonym of faith and hope, reinforcing Christian values.

Another important fact is that the consecration rituals of temples and cathedrals used to include the scattering of ashes all over the environment, with the purpose of making it sacred. However, according to the Tarot perspective, gray is more connected to the end of cycles. It is like a representation of the end of the day, when you can no longer enjoy the light and night has not yet begun.

For Umbanda, the meaning of gray is also more negative than positive. According to this aspect, the color refers to umbral vibrations, which are related to spirits that have not evolved or that bring negativity to Earth. Therefore, it can symbolize stagnation.

In spirituality, darker shades of gray, which are closer to black, vibrate the same energies as black. This is why the shade can symbolize mourning or the need for a new beginning.

How and when to use gray

Based on the meanings that gray can assume, you should use it with caution in your everyday life, because although the color can be positive, it also carries a negative charge, depending on the tone and context in which it is used.

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In your work, you can use the color gray to convey seriousness, commitment, and confidence, whether in presentations of ideas or when disseminating the company's values to other employees and customers.

In interpersonal relationships, the color gray can lead to a scenario of isolation and sadness, so it is good to avoid it. You should only use gray when you want to have a more rational conversation, without so many emotions involved, such as when dividing bills, setting budgets, and making agreements. A gray paper or pen of this color will already help.

If you are feeling bad, but can't talk about it, gray is an important ally. You can express yourself with paintings or drawings that show this tone, showing them to people you trust. From this, it will be easier to talk about your feelings.

Another way to use gray is in your clothing, in which case it brings neutrality, subtlety, and delicacy, and is also responsible for indicating a more collaborative and stable personality.

Gray can also be used, in lighter shades, in the environments of your home. In the following topic you will understand the details about this, but already keep in mind that the color brings elegance and balance to any space in which it is used.

Chromotherapy in decoration

Chromotherapy is another way of analyzing the effect of colors on our body and mind, interpreting each tone in a more practical way. For this reason, it is possible to apply chromotherapy to decoration to understand how the color gray in an environment can influence you.

Even if the color gray is synonymous with sadness and loneliness in some interpretations, in decorating it is an ideal choice. In this context, gray reflects organization, order, elegance, and harmony, making the environment more warm and inviting.

The use of lighter shades of gray is indicated for communal settings such as the living room, kitchen, or dining room. The color can appear on furniture, walls, or decorative items such as vases, candles, pillows, and statues.

In other spaces, such as the couple's bedroom and bathroom, gray is not the most suitable color. This is because there are shades that vibrate energies more suitable for these spaces. Still, it is possible to incorporate some decorative items in this color, such as black and white pictures or towels that follow a gray scale, respectively.

If the color gray is associated with some other more vibrant color, it will bring a breather and relief to the environment, preventing an overload of emotions. The darker shades of gray, on the other hand, should be used in work environments, mainly because they are more related to business.

In any space in which gray is applied sparingly, people will feel confidence and inner peace.

Meaning of the color gray in the new year

Besides applying gray in your home decor and in different aspects of your life, it is possible to use the color in the New Year. In Brazil, there is a tradition of wearing clothes or accessories that have a specific tone, capable of vibrating energies that will accompany those who wear them throughout the year.

Gray is not a very common color to wear on New Year's Eve, but it has power. In celebration, it can attract flexibility and modernity. It is the perfect choice for those who want to dedicate themselves to new plans, for those who want to change their lives, or even for someone who wants to modernize some aspect of their own routine.

If you are in need of success in business, gray is also the right color for the New Year. Because it is closely linked to the corporate environment, it will bring you confidence and credibility to make decisions.

If you don't have a gray outfit, you can wear earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, handbags, shoes, and even makeup that has this color. The most important thing is that the tone appears in some way in your look. This way, the energies of gray will accompany you throughout all the months to come.

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Considering the information presented about the color gray, you already know how to use it to increase your well-being. However, there are many other colors from which you can benefit. Keep studying the meaning of each one to transform your life!