Everything is made up of energy vibrating at its own unique frequency. Because of this, everything has an aura, which is the potentially visible vibration of all things. It’s possible to learn to become aware of and to see auras.
What is an aura?
noun
the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place.
Everything has a certain amount of auric energy. But it’s usually easier to see or sense the auras of growing living things: people, pets and plants. Rocks have auras, too, but they don’t change much and we usually sense them as being part of the rock. (This is related to clairsentience and reading the energy of people, places and objects.)
What do auras look like?
Auras are usually described as bands of energy or color around a person. Sometimes they are depicted as halos around the heads of saints or angelic beings. They can be seen or sensed as a band or layer close to the person or other living thing, with successive bands of energy further away. Some people believe these relate to our different energy bodies (etheric, emotional, mental, astral, celestial, etc.).
Auras can be seen physically, sensed intuitively/psychically, or both.
What are auras made of?
Auras are made of electromagnetic energy, partly composed of electromagnetic radiation, spanning from microwave to infrared to UV light.
The difference between auras and after images
When you look at something for a while, then close or your eyes or look away, you can often see an after image. Auras aren’t after images. After images are the same size and shape as the original image. If you’re seeing the aura as well, it’ll be the object surrounded by its aura, which will be larger than the original image.
After images also don’t have color associated with them, while auras do. Auras can appear to look a lot light after images, but they aren’t the same.
How to see auras
Being able to see auras is related to clairvoyance and your third-eye. You can practice looking at the aura of any living thing, but it’s often fun to try it with friends (plus they’re more likely to sit still longer than your pets or small children).
- Put up a white or light colored background behind where the subject is going to stand or sit. You can use a bed sheet or a plain wall.
- Choose a spot on the person — either slightly to one side or the middle of their forehead. Keep your eyes on that spot.
- Allow your eyes to relax. While you continue looking at the same spot, also use your peripheral vision to notice the background around the person.
You may see their aura as wavy lines, similar to heat waves on a hot day, or as a color or several colors, or as an energy field. It may appear suddenly or take several minutes to build up. You may also sense a color rather than see one.
Smelling auras
I did an exercise once with my mediumship students where we “smelled” the color of each others’ auras. (I have synesthesia so the idea made sense to me.) During meditation, we connected in with each person in turned and asked for a scent and a color.
It was a hugely successful circle with many people getting the same information for other students. One student smelled earthy and brown to several of us, for instance. Another was blue and smelled of water.
What does a person’s aura show?
There are several elements to be aware of when you look at an aura, in terms of understanding the meaning of what you’re seeing or sensing.
- Color and clarity – What are the colors of the aura? Are they bright and vibrant or dull? How clear are the colors?
- Location and shape – Where do you see certain colors in the aura? Colors (and their corresponding clarity and vibrance) may relate either to the adjacent physical areas or to the chakras associated with those body parts (e.g. third-eye chakra around the head, root chakra around the pelvis and hips)
- Consistency and spikes – Is the energy or color spiky or smooth? This is an indication as to overall health in those areas of the body.
Seeing your own aura
If you’d like to see your own aura, find a mirror in a well lit room with a light colored background.
Focus on one side of your head or on your third eye.
Relax your eyes while maintaining focus on the same spot.
You can also do this exercise with your hand, holding it over a plain background and looking just slightly to one side of your thumb.
Feeling your aura
This exercise will allow you to feel your aura and its electromagnetic energy.
- Rub your palms together vigorously for 10-20 seconds.
- Hold your palms facing toward each other, about two inches apart.
- Focus your attention on the feeling in your hands. Can you feel the energy moving between your palms?
You can also practice seeing your aura by looking at the space between your palms.
Now slowly move your palms further apart until you no longer feel the connection of your aura between your palms.
What do aura colors mean?
Aura colors aren’t quite as simple as: Red means anger. Red can also mean independence, or it can indicate inflammation of the body part it appears near. So, feel free to look up general color symbolism, but also use your intuition to discern what different colors mean.
Here’s a fairly in-depth look at the different aura colors and their possible meanings.
In general, the clearer, brighter and more vibrant an aura is, the better the person (or plant or pet) is doing. A vibrant aura indicates clear energy, without a lot of junk (negative thoughts, limiting beliefs, subconscious blocks, damaging habits or behaviors).
A uniform aura indicates a healthy and balanced body. Whereas, areas of spikes or holes show where there may be physical discomfort or disease.
Remember that auras change over time and are affected by many things, including how we’re feeling, temporary illnesses and how well we slept the night before. So if your aura isn’t as smooth or vibrant as you’d like, don’t worry.
Learn more about auras and your other psychic senses in my book, Led by Light: A medium’s guide to developing your intuitive and psychic senses, Book 2.