The Rainbow

The Rainbow is gymnastics for the brain and is so much fun (albeit challenging). Be patient. You may find at first that you have an easier time concentrating on a simple colored object such as a red rose, blue pitcher, green leaf or yellow lemon instead of an abstract color. Eventually you will be able to experience pure color without the need for an image.

Since this may be your first try with this type of exercise, it is especially important to keep your breathing low, slow and steady.

1. Close your eyes and wait for your breathing to slow. Create a mental picture of a bright RED object such as a red wagon. Hold the image in your mind’s eye for as long as the color is vivid. Trust me, you will get better and better at this.
2. When the RED object fades, create an ORANGE image. Stay focused as long as possible.
3. Follow with YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE and finally VIOLET.
4. Take several additional breaths with your eyes closed before you “surface.”

It is preferable (but not mandatory) to work from warm (red, orange, yellow) through cool (green, blue, violet). When you feel ready to move from image to pure color, try initially to enlarge the colored object in your imagination, until it is huge, filling your entire mental screen. Then shift easily to color alone.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.