On Seeing Auras: Beyond the Body
A personal account of seeing the natural aura.
“A Mother and Unborn Child” by Dora van Gelder Kunz from The Personal Aura
An aura is, by my personal definition, a material manifestation of our human energy field, comprised of a spectrum of light rays that encompass our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual emanations1. The natural aura is the moving image of our mind, heart, body and soul. To me, the aura is proof that we are much more than a physical body.
My first memory of seeing auras was in second grade, sitting in my school chair after lunch - the windows were open letting in a secret breeze along the warm sun. I lazily rested my head on the desk sinking into a daydream like state - the smell of old books and the hum of the teacher speaking created a hypnotizing atmosphere. As I stared at my teacher against the blackboard - I noticed a white light growing all around them. It glowed brightly in an oval shape, even after rubbing my eyes and blinking. I didn’t give it much consideration, as I reasoned everyone must see this dancing cloud of light. Over the years it has always remained a part of my experience of seeing - colored light around all people, animals and even objects, too.
Me, a baby psychic in the mid 1990s
It was not until my first optometrist appointment in my early twenties, that I asked the doctor about these unique visuals. They assured me this was not a condition, but had no explanation for what it could be. Prior to taking much notice of this curious light, I would primarily see a glowing white light emanating from all things of this earth - but as I slowly unfolded deeper into my psychic work, I began to see more colors of the aura too. The aura is something you cannot think yourself into seeing, but merely allow it to come in to your awareness with no effort at all. I realize now, that being in a state of relaxation was what first prompted the awareness of my teacher’s aura. In seasons when I take great care of my physical and spiritual body, I notice my ability to perceive the fantastic aura with greater clarity - as well, auras also become much visibly louder when I find myself in the right lighting conditions to see them.
The aura is something beautiful to be reverent or in awe of - like a night blooming flower or seeing the moon at daytime. It presents almost like moving vibrant hues that glow outward in an oval shape around the body, with a deep phosphorescent quality. The aura can also be seen within the ‘minds eye’, and is surely felt on a physical level. It is our energy garden - remnants of the past, creations of the present and seeds of the future. I believe it is the doorway to psychic information about our lives and history. I hold space for the mystery of if the aura and spirit (or soul) are one thing, or two.
There are many texts citing and detailing what each color of the aura means, but I hold these resources with the same weight as a dream dictionary. While it can give us a language to work with, there is such nuance and depth to these symbols that it can’t possibly be prescribed or pigeonholed to singular meanings. Further, Kirlian photography is a brilliant homage to the aura - but a portrait is but a snapshot of a moment that is alive and changing.
Plate XII Sudden Rush of Devotion from Man Visible and Invisible by C.W. Leadbeater
Even though I see auras, my experience does not give me all the answers - or even any answers. I am certain there are many varied layers and faculties to the aura that I have not yet perceived. I once had a dream that I was shown the aura contained rings - not unlike a planet, but I have yet to witness it. All that is finitely confirmed through my objective clairvoyance, is that we are all more than a physical body. Some spiritual teachers will make claim to the one correct ‘truth’, though every incarnate human is subject to perceiving all information through their personal frame of reference. In the same way we can expect to describe the qualities of the sky differently than our peers, we also have unique pictures of describing qualities of energy. In the interpretation of energy, readers will always pass along their own ‘self’ signature as a consequence of communication. I believe in the importance of owning the power of my thinking self, and actively examining how my beliefs influence my work as a psychic medium.
Even now, if I pour over books on quantum physics or vibrational healing in search for answers as confirmation to my own ego - the information seems impossible to grasp. It’s like trying to catch a floating ember in your hand. What I’ve learned, is to be warmed by the light of the fire - not burned by its flame. That its purpose is to provide illumination or comfort, but the flame is not for mine to hold in the palm of my hand.
‘All matter is a condensation of light into patterns moving back and forth at average speeds which are less than the speed of light,’ he said. ‘You could say that when we come to light we are coming to the fundamental activity in which existence has its ground, or at least coming close to it.’
Words of David Bohm from Understanding the Higgs 1: Frozen Light
Definitions from Oxford Languages
em·a·na·tion
/ˌeməˈnāSH(ə)n/
noun
an abstract but perceptible thing that issues or originates from a source.