As discussed yesterday, in the movie of the same name Shrek said “Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers… You get it? We both have layers.”
Donkey points out the cakes also have layers.
Yesterday I talked about Shrek’s onion, so today it is time for some cake.
The picture attached to this post makes me cringe with the amount of sugar and colourings required, and yet it does make me think of our human layers. It reminds me of chakras and their energetic potential that affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
How does this relate homeopathically you ask? An American Homeopath named Ambika Wauters, while living in England, created remedies from colours. The remedies were made by placing a glass of water on top of a mirror and surrounding it with a colour, leaving it for four hours, then potentising it in a normal homeopathic manner. The remedies were then “proven” or taken by volunteers and their responses recorded to give us the homeopathic picture. The colour remedies all corresponded with the colours of the chakras, and so their usage can be aligned to blockages or upset in the chakras.
Red is the colour of the root chakra, which is found at the base of the spine. It is the base upon which our safety and security is built.
Red is a remedy for connection and to help with life’s purpose. It can be used for exhausted people who are going through a transition phase or have had a major shock. It may be useful to help ground people who are dreamers or are disconnected with reality. There is an affinity with circulation and blood pressure, and for people who are anaemic and weak, or who take a long time to recover. Red should not be used by people with high blood pressure, or those who are angry, anxious or aggressive as it can inflame things.
Orange is for the sacral chakra, in the lower abdomen. This is the chakra for creative energy and sexuality.
Orange is a remedy for self acceptance and physical well being, as well as supporting energy for people under a lot of stress. If may be used in a low dose for immunity, and can be useful for menstruation problems and infertility, appetite and bowel problems. Orange should not be used by people who are angry, or anxious, or have trouble resting as it may make them restless and exacerbate those feelings. It should not be taken at night.
Yellow is the solar plexus chakra, found below the rib cage. This is tied up with emotions, confidence and self esteem or can manifest physically with digestive issues.
Yellow is a remedy for people who lack confidence and need reassurance, and helps with clearing the mind and concentration. Physically it helps with digestion including assimilation of nutrients. It should not be used by people with a strong ego, and should only be used during the day as it could disturb sleep.
Green is the heart chakra, and unsurprisingly is for love, compassion and trust.
Green is a remedy for major life changes when there is emotional instability. It helps with nervous tension and hysteria, to help calm and balance. Physically it has an affinity with the heart and the pericardium, as well as for congestion, inflammation and oedema. It should not be taken by night because it may have a diuretic effect, and caution should be taken if there are fluid balance issues. It also has a tranquilising effect so not to be used for people who lack energy.
Turquoise is the throat chakra. It is involved with communication and expressing self.
As a remedy Turquoise helps with hearing and expressing truth, and may help open up closed minds with fixed ideas. It can be used to help strengthen a person after overuse of drugs (prescribed or recreational), smoking or drinking alcohol. Physically it can help with thyroid, upper respiratory tract infections and mouth ulcers or tooth pain. It should not be used by people on allopathic medication.
Indigo is for the third eye chakra, which is found between the eyebrows. The third eye is where our intuition and instinct comes from, and is for our self knowledge.
Indigo Blue is a remedy for focus and clear thinking, and anxiety and fear states to calm agitation and relax. It may help lower blood pressure, relieve pain and help with lymphatic congestion. It should not be used by people who are depressed or who overanalyse every situation.
Violet is for the crown chakra found at the top of the head, or the crown, and is about spiritual enlightenment.
Violet can be used to open up spiritual understanding and ease emotions, bringing peace and insight. It may help where there is anxiety or chronic worry, and help with personal growth. Physically it can be useful for headaches, as well as pain in the neck and shoulders, or conditions like alcoholism and epilepsy. It should not be taken frequently, and caution is needed in over sensitive people.
Those are the seven major chakras, and the associated colour remedies. Ambika Wauters also proved two other colours:
Pink, which unsurprisingly was associated with the heart chakra. It helps bring love and softness and help with emotional shutting down. Many of the provers had dreams of their mothers, and there may be a maternal love aspect. It is not just a remedy for women but can be used in men as well. Physically it can help with shock, trauma, as well as exhaustion.
Magenta is a remedy which Ambika Wauters associated with the Alta Major chakra, which she says is a foot above the head. Various texts call this the soul star chakra, and place the Alta major chakra at the base of the neck where it acts in a triangle with the crown and the brow chakras. Either way it is a remedy used for people who need perspective when their emotions are too engaged, to awaken creativity and stimulate sexuality. It should not be used by anyone with a medical condition or people who are hysterical.
And finally, if you can’t decide on a single layer of this cake, Spectrum, which is all the colours of the rainbow. This can be useful for autoimmune conditions, stress and for long term convalescence after serious illness. It is for nervous exhaustion, emotional upset, and breakdown or exhaustion after stressful events. It can also be used in pregnancy, labour and post partum care. It can be stimulating so should be taken in the morning or during daylight.
These remedies can be a bit “out there” for some people, especially if Homeopathy is already a little out of their comfort zone. But if you are willing to embrace what we call imponderable remedies, and spiritual aspects where homeopathy intersects with other modalities, then the colour remedies could be a fantastic addition to your homeopathic toolkit. I have used a number of them with great success, although I am still waiting for someone needing Magenta to come through my door.