Hermes Astrology Auras for Beginners There is a scene familiar from countless paintings and religious icons: a holy figure surrounded by a golden radiance, a luminous halo crowning the head, an emanation of light that sets the sacred apart from the ordinary. In Christian art, this is the halo or aureola; in Buddhist iconography, it is the aura of the enlightened Buddha, depicted in the seven colors of the Buddhist flag . In Hindu paintings, gods and goddesses are marked by a luminous field at the back of the head . This artistic convention, however, is more than mere symbolism. Across cultures and throughout history, there has existed a persistent belief that living beings actually do emit a visible field of energy—a luminous body that reflects physical, emotional, and spiritual states. This field is known as the aura . The word itself comes from Latin and Ancient Greek, where aura means "wind," "breeze," or "breath" . By the late 19th century, it had been adopted into spiritualist circles to describe a speculated subtle emanation around the body . Today, the concept has become a staple of contemporary spirituality, appearing in countless books, workshops, and online resources promising to teach seekers how to see, read, and interpret these colorful fields of energy. But what exactly is an aura? Is it a real phenomenon, measurable by science? Is it a product of perception—a way of seeing that reveals something genuine about human energy and emotion? Or is it, as skeptics maintain, an illusion born of the brain's remarkable capacity for pattern recognition and meaning-making? This introduction aims to provide a comprehensive and balanced overview of auras, tracing their historical development, exploring their relationship to chakras and subtle anatomy, offering practical guidance for those who wish to develop aura perception, and engaging honestly with the scientific evidence and skeptical critiques. For seekers and scholars alike, understanding auras opens a window into the human conviction that we are more than physical bodies—that we are beings of light, surrounded by light. 1. Defining the Aura: The Energy Body At its most basic level, an aura may be defined as a luminous, multi-colored energy field that surrounds all living beings . This field is believed to reflect the physical, emotional, mental, and 2 spiritual state of the individual, changing in color, brightness, and density in response to inner and outer conditions. 1.1 What Is the Aura? Contemporary spiritual teachers describe the aura in various ways: ● Electromagnetic Field: Some proponents, like artist Christina Lonsdale, point to the fact that human beings radiate a very low level of electricity—an electromagnetic field produced by the body's electrical activity . This field can be measured through techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG), and it extends beyond the skin, potentially forming what might be called an aura . ● Subtle Energy Body: In esoteric traditions, the aura is understood as a "subtle body"—a non-physical counterpart to the physical form that interpenetrates and extends beyond it . This subtle body is composed of increasingly refined layers, each corresponding to different aspects of the individual's being. ● Vibrational Frequency: The aura is sometimes described as the manifestation of one's "vibrational frequency"—the energetic signature that others sense as "vibes" . When we say someone gives off "good vibes" or "bad vibes," we may be intuitively sensing their aura. ● Map of Thoughts and Feelings: The aura has been described as "a map of the thoughts and feelings surrounding a person" . It reflects the inner landscape of the individual, revealing emotional patterns, mental habits, and spiritual development. 1.2 The Layers of the Aura According to many systems, the aura is not a single, uniform field but consists of multiple layers or "bodies," each with its own characteristics and significance . While the number and naming of these layers vary across traditions, a common seven-layer model has emerged: Layer 1st Layer Common Names Associated Aspects Physical/Ether Physical health, sensations, vitality, ic closest to the body 3 2nd Layer Emotional/Astr Emotions, feelings, mood states al 3rd Layer Mental/Lower Mental Thoughts, beliefs, logic, reasoning 4th Layer Astral/Heart Love, relationships, connection to others 5th Layer Etheric/Spiritu al Higher will, spiritual connection, divine will 6th Layer Celestial/Intuiti Intuition, dreams, spiritual ecstasy onal 7th Layer Causal/Absolu Ketheric template, integration of all te layers, connection to the divine The British healer and clairvoyant Paul Lambillion, drawing on decades of experience, described three visible layers: an inner layer about half an inch thick correlating with the etheric body; a yard-thick egg-shaped layer reflecting hormonal state and emotions; and outer, barely perceptible layers corresponding to the mental body and beyond . He noted that the aura is "light and denser than the air in which the body is immersed" . 1.3 The Aura and Chakras In most contemporary systems, the aura is intimately connected with the chakras—the seven energy centers arrayed along the spine . Each chakra is associated with a specific color, and these colors are said to appear in the aura, particularly in the areas corresponding to each chakra's location. ● Root Chakra (base of spine): Red — physical vitality, grounding, survival ● Sacral Chakra (lower abdomen): Orange — creativity, emotion, sensuality ● Solar Plexus Chakra (upper abdomen): Yellow — personal power, confidence, intellect ● Heart Chakra (center of chest): Green — love, compassion, healing ● Throat Chakra (throat): Blue — communication, truth, self-expression 4 ● Third Eye Chakra (forehead): Indigo — intuition, insight, spiritual perception ● Crown Chakra (top of head): Violet/White — spiritual connection, transcendence When a chakra is balanced and functioning optimally, its corresponding color appears bright and clear in the aura. When a chakra is blocked or imbalanced, the color may appear dull, murky, or absent . 2. Historical and Cultural Origins The concept of a luminous field surrounding sacred or enlightened beings has ancient roots, but the modern understanding of auras as personal, colored, and meaningful energy fields is largely a 19th- and 20th-century development. 2.1 Ancient and Classical Precursors Throughout history, various cultures have depicted luminous emanations around divine or holy figures: ● Hinduism: In many Hindu paintings, gods and goddesses are marked by an aura on the back of the head . Ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas describe the human being as composed of multiple layers, including an energy body . ● Buddhism: The Buddhist flag represents the six colors said to have emanated from the body of the Buddha upon his enlightenment . In Tibetan Buddhist iconography, enlightened beings are depicted with halos and rainbow-colored auras. ● Zoroastrianism: In ancient Iran, the concept of farr or "glory" was depicted as a luminous emanation surrounding Zoroastrian kings, indicating divine favor . ● Jainism: The concept of lesya links colors to mental and emotional dispositions, describing how the soul takes on different colorations based on karma and consciousness . ● Christianity: The halo in Christian art derives from earlier pagan traditions and symbolizes sanctity and divine light. The symbolism of light in the Bible is sometimes associated with the idea of an aura or "body of light" . ● Neoplatonism and Kabbalah: In classical Western mysticism, the aura was associated with the "luster" of the astral body, which was linked to the planetary spheres and 5 various mental faculties in elaborate systems of correspondence . 2.2 The Theosophical Synthesis The modern concept of the aura—as a personal, colored energy field with specific meanings—was largely created by Charles Webster Leadbeater (1854-1934), a former Anglican priest and prominent member of the Theosophical Society . Leadbeater had studied theosophy in India and believed he possessed clairvoyant powers that enabled him to make "scientific investigations" of the subtle realms . His claims were extraordinary: he asserted that most men come from Mars, that more advanced men come from the Moon, and that hydrogen atoms consist of six bodies contained in an egg-like form . In his 1903 book Man Visible and Invisible, Leadbeater illustrated the aura of man at various stages of moral evolution, from the "savage" to the saint . In 1910, he introduced the modern conception of auras by incorporating the Tantric notion of chakras in his book The Inner Life . However, Leadbeater did not simply present Tantric beliefs to the West; he reconstructed and reinterpreted them, mixing them with his own ideas without acknowledging their sources. He described chakras as energy vortices and associated each with specific glands, organs, and body parts—innovations with no basis in traditional Tantra . Leadbeater's ideas were subsequently adopted and reinterpreted by other Theosophists, including Rudolf Steiner (who later founded Anthroposophy) and Edgar Cayce . However, his occult anatomy remained of minor interest within the esoteric counterculture until the 1980s, when it was rediscovered by the New Age movement . 2.3 The New Age Transformation In 1977, American esotericist Christopher Hills published Nuclear Evolution: The Rainbow Body, which presented a modified version of Leadbeater's occult anatomy . Whereas Leadbeater had drawn each chakra with intricately detailed shapes and multiple colors, Hills presented them as a sequence of centers, each associated with a single color of the rainbow. Most subsequent New Age writers based their representations of the aura on Hills' interpretation . 6 By the late 1990s, chakras and auras had become a mainstream part of esoteric speculations, though they were now less connected with their Theosophical and Hindu roots and more infused with New Age ideas. A variety of books proposed different links between chakras, aura colors, personality traits, illnesses, and even Christian sacraments . 2.4 Contemporary Aura Practitioners Today, the concept of auras is widely accepted within New Age and holistic healing communities. Practitioners claim to use aura reading techniques for bioenergetic analysis, energy medicine, and spiritual guidance . Authors like Robert Bruce have further developed aura theory, classifying auras into three types—etheric, main, and spiritual—and suggesting that auras are not actual light but a translation of other sensory readings added to visual processing . Contemporary teachers emphasize that auras cannot be seen in complete darkness and cannot be perceived unless some portion of the person or object is also visible . This suggests that aura perception is a form of enhanced or refined ordinary vision, not a separate psychic faculty. 3. Aura Colors and Their Meanings One of the most popular aspects of aura lore is the interpretation of colors. While different systems offer varying interpretations, certain patterns have emerged . 3.1 Primary Aura Colors Color Common Interpretations Associated Qualities Red Vitality, passion, Grounded, energetic, physical energy, strong-willed; can indicate anger strength, willpower or nervousness if dark or murky Orange Creativity, enthusiasm, emotion, sociability, warmth Adventurous, thoughtful, expressive; muddier shades may indicate pride or vanity 7 Yellow Intellect, optimism, Creative, relaxed, friendly, joy, personal analytical; darker yellows may power, happiness indicate shyness or overthinking Green Balance, harmony, Social, communicator, nurturing, healing, reliable; dark green can indicate compassion, love jealousy or uncertainty of nature Blue Calm, intuition, spirituality, honesty, sincerity Intuitive, spiritual, freethinking, loyal; can indicate moodiness or depression Indigo Intuition, wisdom, psychic ability, deep knowing Curious, spiritually connected, gentle, perceptive Violet Spirituality, mysticism, transcendence, vision Wise, intellectual, independent, visionary; may indicate obstacles or feeling misunderstood if dark 3.2 Other Aura Colors ● Pink: Love, compassion, gentleness, romance. Light pink indicates a gentle, loving nature; darker pink may point to immaturity . ● Magenta: Rare combination of red and blue, indicating a potent understanding of the physical world combined with elevated intuition. Well-suited to creative endeavors . ● White: Purity, truth, spiritual attainment. Often one of the first colors beginners see; as a dominant color, it reflects high spiritual development . ● Black: Protection, hidden aspects, negativity, blockages. May indicate someone hiding something, carrying emotional baggage, or with bad intentions . Darshan Kaur reports seeing a black aura around someone who later was convicted of assaults against women . ● Brown: Earthiness, grounding, new roots, centeredness. Indicates logical, analytical, practical people who are detail-oriented . ● Gold: Spirituality, wisdom, high attainment. Rarely seen; indicates a naturally gifted spiritual teacher . 8 ● Tan: Extra logical or analytical, strategic, linear thinking. Methodical, practical, risk-averse . 3.3 The Challenge of Interpretation It is important to note that interpretations vary significantly among different practitioners . A red aura to one interpreter might mean anger or rage, while another claims red is passion and love. Both anger and love are commonly associated with red, though the two emotions are quite different . This lack of consensus poses a challenge for any claim that aura colors have fixed, objective meanings. Additionally, the brightness, clarity, and location of colors matter. A color may appear only in a specific area, indicating a localized condition. Kaur describes seeing green on a friend's shoulder and discovering she had recently received a massage for a sports injury, with the green indicating healing energy focused on that area . 4. Learning to See Auras: Practical Techniques For those interested in developing the ability to perceive auras, numerous techniques have been developed. These methods emphasize patience, practice, and the cultivation of a relaxed, receptive state. 4.1 Foundational Principles Before attempting any specific technique, several principles are essential : ● Relaxation: Tension inhibits subtle perception. The observer must be physically and mentally relaxed. ● Soft Focus: Auras are perceived through peripheral vision, not direct staring. The technique involves softening the gaze and becoming aware of the whole visual field. ● Patience: Seeing auras is a skill that develops over time. Most beginners do not see colors immediately; they may first perceive a faint, colorless glow. ● Practice: Regular practice with willing subjects accelerates development. ● Belief and Openness: A skeptical, closed mind may inhibit perception; a balanced, open attitude is most conducive to success. 9 4.2 Step-by-Step Technique for Seeing Auras Darshan Kaur, an NLP therapist who learned aura reading while working in a bank, provides clear instructions : 1. Prepare the Setting: Place your subject against a pale, neutral background such as a white or cream-colored wall. Good lighting is essential—auras cannot be seen in complete darkness . 2. Position Yourself: Stand about 10 feet away from your subject. 3. Relax the Subject: Ask them to take a few deep breaths and release any tension, particularly in the shoulders. A relaxed subject emits a clearer aura. 4. Ground Yourself: Take a few moments to calm and center your own energy. 5. Soft-Focus Gaze: Begin to look at the person, but gradually defocus your eyes so that you become more aware of the space around them than of their physical details. Shift your attention to your peripheral vision. 6. Wait and Observe: After a minute or so, you may begin to perceive a faint, cloud-like glow around the outer edge of the person's head and shoulders. This may appear as a colorless mist or a pale blue outline . 7. Continue Gazing: As you maintain the soft focus, colors may begin to appear—first as flashes, then as more stable fields. The entire process typically takes 3-4 minutes . Traveler, a practitioner on a spiritual forum, confirms this approach: "To see energy or someone's aura you need to unfocus your eyes. Find a spot in the distance of whoever or whatever you're gazing at so that you have the person or the object in the foreground and you're looking past them to a spot in the background where you still see the person or object. After a few moments you should begin to see a bright energy light outline or a dark blue outline that is very close to the body or object" . 4.3 Alternative Methods Self-Observation: Stand before a mirror in dim light. Gaze softly at the space around your own head and shoulders. Some practitioners find it easier to perceive their own aura than another's . Partner Practice: Work with a partner, taking turns as subject and observer. Compare observations to overcome doubts about 10 whether the perceptions are "real or imaginary." Kaur's team of seven bank workers all saw the same colors when reading the same subject, confirming for them that they were onto something . Sensing Rather Than Seeing: Not everyone sees colors visually. Some people "sense" colors intuitively, receiving impressions of color without visual perception. This is equally valid . 4.4 Observing Aura Changes Once you can perceive auras, you may notice how they change with mood, activity, and health. Kaur describes reading a friend's aura before and after attending a Rainsabai Kirtan (Sikh devotional singing). Before, the aura was blue and purple around the top of the head; afterward, it had moved to the throat area and was much larger, reflecting the friend's focus on "singing" rather than thinking . 5. Scientific and Skeptical Perspectives Any scholarly introduction to auras must engage honestly with the scientific evidence—or lack thereof. 5.1 Controlled Tests Attempts to prove the existence of auras under controlled conditions have repeatedly failed . Key studies include: ● Dark Room Test: One test involved placing people in a dark room and asking psychics to state how many auras they could observe. Results were no better than chance . ● Partition Test: An aura reader stood on one side of a room with an opaque partition separating her from several slots that might contain either actual people or mannequins. She failed to identify the slots containing people, incorrectly stating that all contained people . ● Behind-the-Partition Test: Another aura reader was placed before a partition where five people were standing. He claimed he could see their auras from behind the partition. As each person moved out, he was asked to identify where that person had been standing. He identified only 2 out of 5 correctly—chance level . Psychologist Andrew Neher concludes that "there is no good evidence to support the notion that auras are, in any way, psychic in origin" . 11 5.2 Alternative Explanations Scientists have proposed several natural explanations for aura perceptions : ● After-Images: Staring at a person and then looking away can produce an after-image—a ghostly outline in complementary colors. This is a normal physiological phenomenon, not evidence of an energy field . ● Synesthesia: Some people experience synesthesia, a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic experiences in another. For example, seeing colors when hearing sounds or, potentially, when sensing emotions . However, a 2012 study found no link between auras and synesthesia, concluding they are "phenomenologically and behaviorally dissimilar" . ● Migraines and Epilepsy: Some forms of migraine and epilepsy produce visual auras—perceptual disturbances that can include colored lights and patterns. These are neurological phenomena unrelated to external energy fields . ● Eye Fatigue: Prolonged visual concentration can produce optical effects, sometimes called "eye burn" . ● Psychedelic Drugs: Substances such as LSD can produce vivid visual phenomena, including the perception of colored fields around objects and people . ● Psychological Factors: Bridgette Perez, writing for the Skeptical Inquirer, notes that "perceptual distortions, illusions, and hallucinations might promote belief in auras... Psychological factors, including absorption, fantasy proneness, vividness of visual imagery, and after-images, might also be responsible for the phenomena of the aura" . ● Pattern Recognition: The human brain is wired to find patterns, even where none exist. The tendency to see faces in clouds or hear voices in random noise (pareidolia) may also lead people to perceive meaningful patterns in ambiguous visual stimuli. 5.3 Aura Photography Attempts to capture auras photographically have a long history: ● Kirlian Photography: Discovered in 1939 by Semyon Davidovich Kirlian, this technique involves placing an object on photographic paper and passing high voltage across it, producing an image of a glowing contour around the object . 12 Some parapsychologists proposed that these images show psychic energies. However, studies have found that the Kirlian effect is caused by moisture on the object. Electricity produces ionization around moist objects (including living things), altering the charge pattern on the film. No mysterious process has been discovered . ● Aura Imaging Cameras: Introduced by Guy Coggins in 1992, these cameras claim to use biofeedback data to color the subject's picture. The technique has failed to yield reproducible results . Christina Lonsdale's Radiant Human project uses hand sensors and a proprietary algorithm to match energy to color, but this is an artistic interpretation rather than a scientific measurement . 5.4 A Balanced Perspective The scientific evidence strongly suggests that auras, as objective energy fields visible to all, do not exist. However, this does not mean that aura perceptions are meaningless or without value. Many proponents acknowledge that auras are not physical light. Robert Bruce suggests that auras are "not actual light but a translation of other unknown sensory readings that is added to our visual processing" . This interpretation allows for the possibility that aura perception is a genuine form of intuitive or energetic sensitivity, even if it does not involve literal photons. Christina Lonsdale offers another perspective: "We're all broadcasting like radio stations without even knowing it" . What we call "vibes" may be a real, if subtle, form of communication—a sensitivity to the emotional and energetic states of others that manifests in consciousness as color perceptions. 6. Working with Auras: Practical Applications Regardless of one's position on the objective reality of auras, many people find value in aura work for personal growth and healing. 6.1 Aura Cleansing and Protection Proponents believe that auras can become clouded, depleted, or contaminated by negative energy, and that regular cleansing is beneficial . Common techniques include: ● Positive Affirmations: "Bathing" oneself in positive thoughts to wash away negative energy . 13 ● Meditation: Spending time focused on emotional and mental health to make the aura more vibrant . ● Visualization: Imagining "cleaning" the aura by breathing in positive energy and breathing out negative light . ● Smudging: Burning sage to clear rooms or people of negative energy—an ancient tradition in many cultures . ● Energy Balancing: Working with spiritual teachers or energy practitioners to identify and correct imbalances . 6.2 Aura Reading for Self-Knowledge Aura reading can be a tool for self-understanding. By observing how one's aura changes with different moods, activities, and environments, one may gain insight into personal patterns and needs . 6.3 Aura Reading in Relationships Understanding auras may enhance relationships by providing insight into others' emotional states and energetic compatibility. As Mildon notes, "Our frequency, or vibe, is what others can sense or what attracts or repels us from others, depending on how our frequency works with theirs" . 6.4 Auras in Healing In holistic and energy medicine, aura reading is used to assess health and guide treatment . Practitioners claim that imbalances or disturbances in the aura can indicate physical or emotional issues before they manifest as disease. While this lacks scientific validation, many clients find value in the holistic perspective it provides. 7. Auras and the Spectrum of Consciousness As we conclude this exploration, it is worth considering where auras fit within the broader spectrum of spiritual topics we have traversed in this series. From Kabbalah, we learned of the subtle bodies and the emanations of divine light. From astral projection and travel, we encountered the astral body—a subtle counterpart to the physical form that is often described as luminous. From dream analysis, we discovered the symbolic language of the unconscious, where colors carry meaning. From lucid dreaming, we found a state where conscious exploration of inner worlds becomes possible. 14 From spirit guides and spirit animals, we explored the concept of nonphysical entities whose presence might be perceived as colored energy. From guardian angels, we encountered beings of light whose traditional depiction includes luminous halos. From the Akashic Records, we learned of the cosmic library of all knowledge. From third eye awakening, we explored the faculty of inner perception that makes aura vision possible. Auras represent the visible expression of the subtle energies and states that these other topics describe. They are the interface between the physical and the subtle, the outer manifestation of inner conditions. To work with auras is to engage directly with the energetic dimension of human existence—whether that dimension is understood as objectively real, as a useful metaphor, or as a fascinating product of the mind's interpretive capacity. Conclusion: The Light We Share The aura remains one of the most visually compelling and personally meaningful concepts in the world of spirituality. Whether approached through the elaborate color systems of modern energy healing, the practical techniques of aura vision, or the critical lens of scientific skepticism, it invites us to consider a fundamental question: Is there more to human beings than meets the physical eye? For those who practice aura reading, the answer is a resounding yes. They see—or sense—a world of color, energy, and meaning surrounding every person they encounter. They use this information for healing, guidance, and deeper connection. And they report that their perceptions have been confirmed countless times through comparison with others and through feedback from subjects. For skeptics, the answer is equally clear. The controlled tests have been done; the results are negative. Auras are best explained as a combination of perceptual illusions, physiological phenomena, and the human mind's remarkable capacity for pattern recognition and meaning-making. Perhaps there is a middle way. Perhaps the aura is not an objective physical phenomenon but a genuine expression of something real—the subtle, complex, multi-dimensional reality of human consciousness. Perhaps the colors are not literal but 15 symbolic, the mind's way of translating subtle energetic impressions into a language it can understand. Perhaps the value of aura work lies not in its objective truth but in its capacity to deepen our attention, sensitivity, and connection to ourselves and others. As Darshan Kaur writes, "Being able to see and appreciate auras is one way of developing our subtle abilities. Spiritual states are experienced through our senses at a very subtle level, manifesting as visions, enchanting sounds, depth of feeling outside our normal range of experience, tastes and fragrances, movement and communication beyond the usual dimensions of time and space. These spiritual experiences are the flowers growing naturally on the wayside, they can be admired and connect us to an increasing sense of awe of the magnificence of the Creator as we walk on our spiritual path" . Whether we see auras or not, we can all appreciate the beauty and mystery of human consciousness—the invisible light that each of us carries, the energy we share, the luminous field of connection that binds us all. For a limited time, you can receive a free copy of ‘The Astrologer’s Guide: Mastering Birth Chart Interpretation’ by subscribing to our newsletter. Get your free book here: https://hermesastrology.substack.com/p/your-free-book 16 About the Author Trusted Astrology Expert with 15,000+ Followers. Hermes Astrology is a digital sanctuary where ancient celestial wisdom meets modern self-discovery. Named after Hermes—the divine messenger who bridges worlds—this project seeks to translate the symbolic language of the stars into practical insights for contemporary life. 📧 Substack Join our newsletter for new articles and exclusive content (10,000+ Subscribers). ✍️ Medium Read extended articles and astrological reflections (5,000+ Followers). 17
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