mental health

I purchased my copy of The Language of Color over ten years ago and *still* dig it out from time to time for fun and insight. I love it! Written by a former art instructor, Dorothee Mella discovered trends in her students' color preferences. Intrigued, she decided to work directly with many people to find correlations based on observation to develop this book. (The approach has no metaphysical nor occult origin, and it is NOT a New Age book as one might suspect. Anyone can use it regardless of belief system.) Those on more of the intuitive/artsy side and interested in self-insight would especially enjoy The Language of Color.

The main feature is a simple, fourteen question color test called SICA (Self-Image Color Analysis). There are twenty possible color categories to chose from for your answers to each question. These colors ranges even include achromatics and basic metallics (gold and silver). The result is an accurate personality and mood profile which is easily decoded by the book's answers. It gives insight into one's identity, inspiration, motivation, stresses, and all other sorts of helpful things!

Out of interest, I've learned about several psych & personality "typing" systems over the years. With this approach, however, rather than falling into one of a short number of "types", the SICA really provides a very unique portrait from over 1.6 quintillion possible combination results! The interpretations for each answer are straightforward, fast and easy.

The rest of this book explains how to utilize one's personal portrait colors for enhanced communication, self-actualization, and even decorating various environments with color from your office to your bathroom! There are charts and lists explaining color symbolism and images for business, the messages you give according to what colors you wear, and best color recommendations for your wardrobe according to your SICA. I especially enjoyed her case examples of unhappy people who chose new careers, improved relationships and thus changed their lives after their personal Self-Image Color Analyses. Fun, fast, accurate - The Language of Color is a rare and fun find, a real treasure in the legacy of color research.

I actually purchased this book first in 1990 at a book sale in the library because I thought it was kind of interesting. After I began to take the test and research the color's meanings, I found myself quite hooked. I managed to buy a second copy five or six years later, after my old copy had become totally overused. Although there are some things I disagree with, I've found her meanings to be quite accurate, even in so far as for assisting healings. This is a simple test with twenty colors.

The first time I read this book, it was on a loan from a dear friend! I discovered a great deal about my psyche, my personality, and what makes me tick as an individual! I would recommend this read to anyone wanting to discover who they are in depth. Never before had I found such an accurate and detailed view on how color effects our lives, actions, and emotional states! Dorothee Mella is an unequalled color authority. She really knows her stuff!