November 25 is International Aura Awareness Day. So, what is an aura? Well in spiritual beliefs it’s a coloured energy field said to emanation from and enclose the body of a human, animal or object. In alternative medicine, the aura of a human being is seen as part of a hidden anatomy that reflects the state of being and health, often understood to even comprise centres of vital force called chakras. As Lucian Freud (British painter, specialising in figurative art) said, “The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh”.
In Latin and Ancient Greek, aura means wind, breeze or breath. It was used in old English to mean “gentle breeze”. By the end of the 19th century, the word was being used in spiritualist circles to describe a speculated subtle emanation around every creature.
Charles Webster Leadbeater (1854 to 1934) was the first to talk about auras like this. Originally a priest in the Church of England, his interest in spiritualism caused him to end his affiliation with Anglicanism in favour of the Theosophical Society. In his book “Man Visible and Invisible,” published in 1902, he illustrated man’s aura in various stages.
Auras have different colours, which can change over time. Each colour is believed to have an alternate importance. Red often depicts a fearless and passionate personality. Orange is imaginative and full of emotion. Pink is delicate and calm. White is devoted and has an uplifting positivity. Yellow has high self-esteem and is confident. Green is drawn to wildlife and nature, and are natural healers. Tan cherishes detail. Blue is caring. Purple has a richly powerful personality. These are the colours seen in different auras.
White is the rarest, indicating a high level of spirituality and purity. The white aura is linked with the crown chakra, so people with this aura colour can reach heightened states of consciousness, wisdom and intuition.
Some children and a few adults claim to see auras around others; saying auras give an understanding of an individual’s convictions, thoughts, and personality. Auras can be dark too or injured. A damaged aura demonstrates an emotional, physical or mental issue. Meditation, positive affirmations, visualisation, and energy balancing can help cleanse the aura and bring recovery when an aura is damaged.