An aura is an energy field that surrounds all living things. It is invisible to the naked eye but some people can see auras in the form of colors around people, plants, and animals. Understanding and reading auras can provide insight into the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of a person or object.
What is an Aura?
An aura is a colored glow or light that surrounds a person or object. It emanates from the energy body and reflects the subtle life forces within us. Auras contain information about our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual states. The colors and patterns within the aura can reveal thoughts, feelings, strengths, weaknesses, health, and even life lessons.
According to ancient esoteric texts and modern metaphysical teachings, there are multiple energy bodies that surround the physical body. The main energy body containing the aura is often called the subtle body or etheric body. It interacts with the physical body and helps energize it. The aura emanates from this subtle body.
The aura extends outward from the body in an oval shape. Most auras are 3-6 feet wide, but in some cases can be even wider. The most vibrant aura activity happens within 1-3 feet from the body.
Auras surround not just people but all living things. Animals, plants, trees, and even locations can possess auras. The color and appearance of an aura provides insight into the energy, health, mood, and qualities of its owner.
Origin of the Term Aura
The word aura comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning breath, breeze, or air. It was believed that a subtle essence surrounds living beings and emanates from them. This vital energy was sometimes called prana, chi, qi, or life force. It was believed to sustain physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
References to a subtle energy body date back over 5,000 years in many spiritual traditions. In Vedic philosophy from India, prana was believed to flow through energy channels in the subtle body called nadis. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, qi flows through meridians. The Kabbalah from Hebrew mysticism describes nefesh or the soul energy that animates the body.
The actual term “aura” was first used in the mid-19th century by spiritualists describing the energy fields around mediums and psychics. It then became more widely known through theosophy and other new age teachings in the 20th century.
Composition of the Aura
The aura is made up of electromagnetic energy as well as subtle matter and light. It contains the spectrum of visible and invisible energies within the universe. This includes various frequencies of light, sound, infrared, microwave, radio waves, and more that we cannot normally see.
The aura is comprised of different colored bands, streaks, swirls, and blots of vibrating energy. These auric energies continually influence one another and the physical body. For example, our emotional state may alter our energy aura, which then in turn can affect physical health.
There are seven main layers of aura that emanate above and below the body. Each layer becomes more subtle and extends further from the body. The layers interact with and penetrate each other.
- Physical aura – Closest to the body. Relates to the physical body and nerve activity.
- Etheric aura – Vital life force energy within the body.
- Emotional aura – Relates to feelings.
- Mental aura – Relates to thoughts and reason.
- Spiritual aura – Energy connecting to oneness and higher consciousness.
- Intuitive aura – Energy for clairvoyance, empathy, intuition.
- Absolute aura – The cohesive energy field surrounding all other levels.
Colors and Meanings of the Aura
Different colors, patterns, and textures within the aura hold different meanings about a person’s health, thoughts, spirituality, environment, and more. Here are some of the most common aura colors and what they indicate:
| Aura Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Vitality, passion, sexuality, anger, competitiveness |
| Orange | Creativity, socialness, confidence |
| Yellow | Optimism, new ideas, mental activity |
| Green | Healing, peacefulness, love of nature, money |
| Blue | Spirituality, calmness, healing abilities, devotion |
| Indigo | Intuition, psychic abilities, seeking meaning |
| Violet | Wisdom, transformation, enlightenment |
| Pink | Unconditional love, empathy, sensitivity |
| Brown | Stability, wholesomeness, earthiness |
| Gray | Moodiness, loneliness, lack of energy |
| Black | Absorbing or blocking energy |
| White | Perfect balance, purity, angelic |
In addition to colors, the aura may contain clouds, mists, ribbons, cords, crystals, fire, brightness, and more. A healthy aura appears smooth, clear, and vibrant. Jagged areas, gaps, dark spots, or dullness may signify blocked energy, health problems, or detrimental environments.
How to See Auras
Though invisible to most, some people can naturally see auras, while others learn to do so. Auras are most visible against a neutral, soft background in dimmer light. Removing eyeglasses can also make them easier to see. Here are some techniques to try:
- Relax your eyes while gazing at a person’s face, shoulders, and periphery. Look for areas of haze or colored light around them.
- Widen your field of vision and relax the tiny muscles around your eyes. Allow the person’s outline to become blurry as you look for aura colors.
- Look at your hand against a plain wall. Focus past your hand while still holding your hand in your peripheral vision. Note any haze or colors that appear.
- Photographing auras is possible through special imaging techniques. Digital aura imaging cameras can now capture instant pictures of auras.
- Meditation, breathwork, and energy work can strengthen your subtle perception of auras over time.
How to Read Auras
There are many ways to conduct an aura reading. First take note of the aura’s overall color and appearance. Vibrant, bright colors reflect positive moods and energy while dull, muted colors suggest depletion. Flowing shapes show coherence while jagged areas indicate stress. Here are some techniques to interpret auras:
- Scan the entire aura from head to toe and back again. Make mental notes about colors and patterns you see in each area.
- Look for changes in colors and pulsing in different regions which reflects chakra activity. The strongest aura emanations occur around the head/neck, hands/arms, and lower torso/legs.
- Notice both complementary and contrasting colors. Nearby colors influence each other. For example, red next to green suggests balance between passion and calmness.
- A symmetrical and evenly distributed aura reflects equilibrium while asymmetrical patterns point to imbalances. Differences on the left vs right side may relate to contrasting brain hemispheres.
- Look for any motion or flow within the aura. Gentle, smooth movement reflects health. Chaotic and darting energy suggests disturbances or nervousness.
- Use your intuition and subtle senses to interpret the information held within colors, shapes, and patterns.
How to Balance the Aura
Imbalances or blocked energy within the aura can manifest as emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual issues. There are many ways to clear and harmonize the aura for improved wellbeing:
- Breathe deeply and picture your breath flowing through and around your aura. Envision any stuck energy being released on each exhale.
- Absorb the light codes of healing colors. Visualize waves of the needed colors washing through your aura and chakras.
- Practice meditation and repeat positive affirmations to still the mind and shift focus to an expanded state of consciousness.
- Spend time in nature and absorb the vitality of plants, water, sunlight, and earth energies.
- Drink plenty of pure water and eat light, fresh, high vibration foods to nourish your energy field.
- Rest and get sufficient sleep to allow your aura time to recharge and regenerate.
- Release limiting beliefs, stuck emotions, grudges, judgments and other energy blocks within the aura.
- Engage in exercise, yoga, qigong, or other embodied movement practices to stimulate aura flow.
- Energy healers can detect aura imbalances and clear blockages through practices like reiki, biofield tuning, and color light therapy.
Scientific Research on Auras
Though auras cannot be measured by current scientific instrumentation, some research has been conducted on the bioenergetic fields present around the human body:
- Kirlian photography uses high voltage to capture corona discharges or glowing areas around objects. Some believe these images reveal the aura, though they may also reflect moisture, heat, and gases around living things.
- Aura imaging cameras utilize optical imaging technology with computerized sensors to visualize a person’s aura in real time. However, controlled studies have not confirmed that these devices consistently detect or measure auras.
- Electrodermal activity research shows the skin can detect electromagnetic energies. This plays a role in phenomena like dowsing, energy healing, and detecting danger signals.
- Studies on heart rate variability find that positive emotions like appreciation can synchronize heart rhythms between people, possibly through energetic transference.
- Quantum physics theories describe subatomic particles and energy waves that may relate to subtle energy systems like the aura.
- Neuroscience studies on the pineal gland suggest physical structures in the brain tied to intuition, extrasensory perception, and sensitivity to light and electromagnetic frequencies.
Though auras are not yet recognized in conventional science, many cultures and spiritual traditions hold longstanding beliefs around the energy body and its influence on wellbeing. Continued research may lead to new insights on the science behind the aura.
Conclusion
The aura is an energetic field that surrounds all living things. It reflects physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual states. Though invisible to most, the aura can be seen as bands of light and color around people. Interpreting auras provides insights into wellbeing. Imbalances in the aura may relate to issues affecting health. There are many ways to balance the aura through energetic techniques and holistic self-care practices for greater harmony and vitality.
