Colour Reflexology for Health and Healing, by Pauline Wills

(Vega, 2002, ISBN: 1-84333-018-0)

Among the books recommended by Kevala for the Reflexology Diploma Course, one in particular caught my eye: Reflexology and Colour Therapy by Pauline Wills who is a pioneer in the integration of colour therapy and reflexology and the founder of the Oracle School of Colour in London. I had no idea both therapies could be applied together and therefore found the subject fascinating. However, I had trouble finding this particular book at first and stumbled across Colour Reflexology by the same author while browsing in a bookshop: more recent, and on the same subject.

Pauline Wills has a very intelligent, clear way of presenting the two therapies. The book starts with a section introducing the main concepts: reflexology, its history and practice together with foot and hand charts; colour therapy and use of light, aura and chakras and the integration of both therapies. I was particularly interested to discover, for instance, that colour therapy could be used during reflexology treatments instead of compression techniques to make the treatment less painful and uncomfortable and also to induce a deep state of relaxation.

The rest of the book is divided into the colours of each of the seven major chakras and their complementary colours. Each section is extremely in-depth and includes a description of the colour and its symbolism, its ‘location’ on the hands and feet – illustrated with charts – and the associated chakra, reflexes and endocrine gland. Wills also explains how some common ailments can be treated with colour reflexology, using the relevant colour. What I found particularly interesting and well-thought of in this book is the addition in each section of a visualisation and a meditation to raise awareness and sensitivity to each particular colour: maybe an interesting thing to consider during a treatment aimed at relaxing a particularly nervous patient? Another added bonus: the use of gorgeous, vibrant photographs throughout the book which really set the mood.

Colour Reflexology concludes with a short section on ‘self-help’ explaining how people can maintain their good health in between treatments with the help of what Wills calls their ‘prescribed’ colour.

A fascinating book offering an in-depth yet clear and easy to understand introduction to the use of colour in reflexology aimed at both reflexologists interested in using both therapies and anybody who would like to learn more about both subjects.

By Sandy Beaunay - Kevala Student