“Once you learn to harness the power of color, you’ll never see the world the same way again.”
Colors of Autumn
The autumn season where I live is breathtaking. The trees shift their leaves into dazzling shades of yellow, gold, orange, rust, and red. The pines keep their blue-green needles tight, while the vibrant leaves of the deciduous trees sway in the crisp, brilliant sky. Golden and purple autumn flowers speckle the fields, and all around, animals busily gather the bounty and abundance brought by the summer’s labor.
In Native American traditions, autumn is seen as a time to acknowledge your accomplishments and wisdom, to embrace gratitude. It’s a season tied to the west, embodying the energy of the setting sun. Picture yourself, drink in hand, after a day full of adventure or achievement, watching the sunset in hues of red, orange, and gold, feeling a deep sense of completeness and gratitude. As the daylight fades into the dark, we are gently invited into a time of rest—a yin energy of stillness and receiving.
In feng shui, we draw from these rich autumn colors, welcoming their energies into our lives.
October
October marks our transition into longer nights and shorter days. It invites us to retreat indoors and lean into the yin, a softer, more relaxed energy. Imagine sitting in your living room, pumpkin spice candles glowing, as you embrace this restful time. This is also the month of Halloween, when the veil between worlds grows thin—a time to honor those who have departed this earthly plane.
The orange of jack-o’-lanterns symbolizes creativity and community. As an earth energy color, it holds vibrant, playful energy. While bright orange might not suit your décor, incorporating shades from peach to pumpkin can bring that joyful, creative spirit into your home.
Purple, another Halloween color, connects us to the inner realms and our intuition. It holds the energy of abundance and spiritual connection, adding a touch of mystery and richness to your space.
Black represents the divine feminine, embodying the energy of receiving. It absorbs all light, keeping it within—a powerful metaphor for receptivity. Adding black to your décor can help open you to the flow of life’s mysteries, honoring the magic of this season.
November
As the days shorten, the nights call us even deeper inward. This is the season of gathering and gratitude. The colors of Thanksgiving—gold, brown, orange—reflect the earth’s grounding energy. As plants and animals prepare for winter, browns and tans dominate the landscape, evoking feelings of safety and comfort.
Bringing these cozy, earthy tones into your home’s seasonal décor helps create a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. This grounding energy can be a welcome refuge, especially when the world outside feels uncertain.
December
At the height of the year’s darkness, we turn to colors that mirror nature’s rhythm once more. The deep green of fir and pine, the vibrant red of holly berries, or the flicker of red flames in the hearth—these are no longer earth tones, but fire and wood energies in feng shui. These colors give us hope as we prepare for the return of light after the winter solstice on December 21st, ushering in new growth and renewal.
We incorporate red and green into our holiday décor, stringing twinkling lights to celebrate the return of the sun. Pine greenery brings its fresh, invigorating scent into our homes, acting as a natural antimicrobial, supporting our health as we spend more time indoors.
Red adds vibrancy, spirituality, and joy, while green introduces a calming, healing energy. Together, these colors balance the energy of holiday gatherings, fostering peace and warmth.
For the New Year…
Using color in harmony with the cycles of nature allows you to flow with the rhythm of the seasons, supported by nature’s energy. Autumn invites us to wind down, while winter brings a time for rest, introspection, planning, and dreaming. In feng shui, winter is connected to the north and reflected in soft greys, blacks, and deep blues—colors that encourage restoration.
You can harness the power of these colors anytime, in any season, to cultivate the energy you need. Whether through your home’s décor, your wardrobe, or your jewelry, colors offer a powerful tool for aligning with the energy around you.
Once you learn to harness the power of color, you’ll never see the world the same way again.
Master Educator LuAnn Cibik
Inner Harmony
“I’m passionate about creating harmony in the world”