Red is the longest wavelength (lowest vibration) of the spectrum and one of the three main primary colours (both a subtractive (hue) primary and additive (light) primary). It is the most powerful of colours, it has the trick of appearing to be closer than it is and as a result is attention grabbing and “in your face”.

It is one of the most primitive, base colours and taps into our inner animal, heightening our sexual awareness and passion as well as firing up our physical energy.

It has a whole host of positive attributes and naturally several negative attributes. Each attribute relates to how we feel when we are in the presence of the colour as well as what it says about our own personalities when red is our favourite or least favourite colour.

Positive traits:

Strength. Courage and steadfastness

Vigour. Sexuality and passion

Vitalizing and stimulating

Dynamic

Fire

Power

Exciting and motivating

Pioneering

Energy

Spontaneous

Negative traits:

Aggression, defiance and anger

Strain

Heat, hotheadedness, quick-tempered

Brashness, unsubtlety, over-stimulating

Demanding, domineering and brutal

Resentful, spoilt and obstinate

If you love the colour red, you are probably highly energetic, extrovert, warm, powerful and passionate, you may come across as arrogant and brash however. If you dislike the colour red you may have difficulties with energy and adventure, preferring to be calm and collected, you may also need to tap into your inner passion and fire up your sexuality, as a dislike of the colour red could hide an inner fear of sex and relationships.

In the house, red is a fabulous colour for the dining room, stimulating appetites and conversation, it is also and ideal colour for an exercise room as it is a “doing colour” and will get you going. As a highlight it is perfect in the bedroom to inject a sousant of passion, but beware of overdoing it otherwise you won't get any sleep!

Red is related to the base charka, associated with self awareness.

In Tarot, the Major Arcana cards Judgement, Tower and Emperor all have red as their significant colour and the minor arcana suit of Wands is associated with red.

Red is the colour for the element Fire and the direction South.