An aura is a colorful glow or energy field that some people say surrounds living things like a halo. Auras are said to reveal insights about a person’s emotions, health, and character. But not everyone believes auras exist or can be seen. So how do you know if you actually have an aura?
What is an aura?
The concept of auras dates back thousands of years in many spiritual traditions. The term “aura” comes from the Greek word for breeze or breath. Early texts describe auras as luminous vapor or exhalation.
Today, aura readers and energy healers describe the aura as a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object. Like an electromagnetic field, the aura is said to consist of energy vibrating at different frequencies. These vibrations interact with the energy fields of other people and objects.
Each aura is believed to have multiple layers corresponding to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of the individual. The colors and patterns of the aura reflect what is happening in the layers. For example, bright, vivid colors may indicate good health, while dull, dark colors may suggest illness.
What are the layers of the aura?
There are many different interpretations, but most aura systems describe 7 main layers or energy fields:
- Physical aura: Closely surrounds the body. Reflects health, vitality, and physical sensations.
- Etheric aura: Vital energy field. Indicates life force and strength of Constitution.
- Emotional aura: Reveals feelings and attachments.
- Mental aura: Center of thought and mental processes.
- Astral aura: Connects physical and spiritual realms. Relates to subconscious.
- Celestial aura: Reservoir of energy from divine realms. Seat of creativity.
- Ketheric aura: Holds blueprint for life purpose. Indicates spiritual wisdom.
What do aura colors mean?
Each aura layer is associated with specific colors that convey information about a person’s state of being:
| Aura Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Vitality, passion, anger, sexuality |
| Orange | Creativity, confidence, ambition |
| Yellow | Optimism, intelligence, mental activity |
| Green | Balance, healing, empathy, love |
| Blue | Calm, intuitive, sensitive, spiritual |
| Indigo | Psychic, visionary, deep feeling |
| Violet | Spiritual awareness, enlightenment |
| White | Purity, truth, angelic |
| Black | Stress, obstacles, poor health |
| Gray | Depression, exhaustion, confusion |
A healthy, balanced aura is said to contain a rainbow of colors. When overlaid, the colors create white light. An imbalance in the aura may result in excessive colors in some areas.
Can anyone see auras?
Some aura readers claim the ability to perceive auras naturally from birth. But most have to learn how to tune into subtle energy through training and practice. Experts say aura reading requires a combination of:
- Clairvoyance – psychic ability to see subtle energy fields
- Energy sensitivity – feeling shifts in frequencies
- Intuition – grasping insights through the subconscious
- Visual acuity – noticing subtle changes in light, color, and outlines
Many aura readers rely on their intuition to sense the meaning behind the colors and patterns they see. Some use tools like Kirlian photography to photograph auras.
You may be able to see a faint aura or energy field around people if you relax your eyes and gaze softly around the edges of their body. But interpreting the meaning of the colors takes time and practice.
How do you read an aura?
Most aura readers recommend the following tips for viewing and interpreting auras:
- Relax your eyes and body. Avoid staring.
- Be patient. Allow your peripheral vision to detect subtle colors and light.
- Notice shape, size, texture, and patterns in the aura.
- Interpret colors based on spiritual meanings, not scientific color theory.
- Feel for shifts in temperature or density in the aura.
- Pay attention to your intuition and impressions.
When reading someone’s aura, stand or sit 2-3 feet away from them against a plain, light background. Avoid wearing bright colors that could interfere with your view. Have the person relax and breathe gently.
Scan around the person’s head and torso area. Notice any glow, mist, or shimmering light extending out from their body. You may need to practice focusing your eyes differently to perceive it.
Look for changes in the aura color, size, and brightness over time to detect their emotional state and energy levels. Also notice any gaps, cracks, sticky spots, or unusual textures that could indicate problems.
What can aura reading tell you?
Aura readings can allegedly reveal information about someone’s:
- Health – bright vs. dull aura, clean vs. distorted
- Mood – color meanings, stability vs. pulsing
- Thoughts – intellectual vs. intuitive colors
- Personality – dominant aura colors and layers
- Spirituality – white light, purple, connectedness
- Relationships – aura blending, cords, compatibility
- Chakras – aura colors at energy centers
- Psychic abilities – vibrancy of aura, color range
By noticing changes in a person’s aura over time, readers aim to detect potential problems before they manifest physically. They may suggest cleansing techniques, emotional healing, dietary changes or spiritual guidance based on the aura.
Are auras really visible?
There is no scientific evidence that all people have visible auras around them composed of electromagnetic energy fields. However, some studies suggest there may be subtle optical effects related to visual perception, mental states, and mood that could account for some aura viewing:
- Afterimages – Staring can cause retinal fatigue and prolong persistence of images.
- Contrast effects – Outlines appear with reduced background brightness.
- Synesthesia – Mixed sensory signals may produce colors from emotions.
- Optical illusions – Expectations influence perception of faint light and color.
- Pareidolia – Seeing meaningful images in random data like visual static.
These effects combined with intuition and imagination may heighten sensitivity to subtle cues from someone’s appearance, body language, and presence. This information provides insight into their health, mood, and character without necessarily confirming metaphysical energy fields.
Conclusion
Interpreting auras requires a mix of visual sensitivity, energy awareness, and intuitive psychology. While auras may not be directly observable in the scientific sense, learning to detect and explore subtle cues can help increase empathy and attunement with others. If you practice relaxing your eyes and mind, you may start noticing halos of light or color around people that reveal information about their inner and outer state.
