What Is An Aura? 16 FAQs About Seeing Auras, Colors, Layers, And ...

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat Is an Aura? And 15 Other Questions, Answered

Medically reviewed by Kerry Boyle D.Ac., M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CYT — Written by Kimberly Holland — Updated on January 16, 2026

What is it?
Color meanings
Are they real?
Auras vs. vibes
Who has it?
How it looks
How to see it
How to see someone else’s
Presence of colors
Colors and chakras
Layer meanings
Changes over time
On vs. off
Cleansing
If you can’t see it
Professional readings
Takeaway

Some people believe you can read a person’s aura and sense the energy field around their body. And that each aura corresponds to a different chakra. Proponents believe that tuning in to your aura can benefit your overall health and well-being.

You may have heard of the term “aura” mentioned in popular culture. But what does it mean? Is it real? And can seeing it help you?

Read on to find out what auras are, what proponents of aura reading believe, and what the evidence says.

1. What exactly are auras?

People believe that auras are a luminous body that surrounds your physical one.

“As human beings, we radiate a very low level of electricity that’s otherwise known as an electromagnetic field,” says Christina Lonsdale, a Portland-based artist behind a popular aura photography practice called Radiant Human.

Ancient systems of medicine, such as Hindu scriptures (like the Vedas), believe that this energy is expressed in seven layers. Each layer is said to correlate to a different element of your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

2. What do the different aura colors mean?

General interpretations by shamans and practitioners suggest the following:

Aura Color Chart — Illustration by Wenzdai Figueroa

3. Are auras real?

Though no scientific evidence exists to prove the existence of auras, many practices and philosophies believe that they are real. Though interpretations of what an aura actually is may vary across practices and philosophies.

One way to think of auras is as the energy that someone around you emits. Some people make you nervous; others relax you. This, in some ways, could be seen as a reaction to the energy a person radiates.

Proponents believe that auras reflect your state of being and that this energy is a manifestation of your spiritual and physical bodies.

4. Are auras the same thing as vibes?

Kind of!

“‘Vibes’ are short for ‘vibrational frequency,’ which is what an aura is comprised of,” Lonsdale says.

Your energy may “tell” someone around you that you’re angry or elated, distraught or excited, even without you saying a word. Likewise, you may sense those emotions from another person.

“You’re tapping into the frequency that person is operating on,” Emma Mildon, author of “The Soul Searcher’s Handbook” and a self-described spiritual activist, tells Healthline. “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.”

5. Does everyone have an aura?

Proponents of auras believe that every living human has an energy field around them. Other living things, such as trees, flowers, or animals, may also have an energy field.

“We’re all broadcasting like radio stations without even knowing it,” Lonsdale says.

A 2018 paper published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences hypothesizes that the human body contains both visible and invisible parts. The author goes on to suggest that measuring a human energy system would require tools beyond those available to scientists today.

Some believe that the so-called human energy field is also more complex than that of other organisms, the reason being that humans are more evolved.

While no scientific studies prove that people have auras or that humans produce a different type of energy than other organisms, it’s generally accepted that every living being produces energy.

Examples of this include the generation of heat by cells or the production of weak electromagnetic fields by specific cells, such as neurons and muscles. Doctors often use medical scans and tests to pick up on this energy, including:

PET scan
CT scan
MRI scan
EEG scan
EKG scan
electromyography (EMG)
thermography
ultrasound
X ray

6. What does an aura look like?

Some people believe that how an aura looks depends on how you capture it.

In her Radiant Human project, Lonsdale uses a specialized camera to capture a subject’s energy.

“The camera uses hand sensors that pick up this energy field, and a proprietary algorithm matches this energy to a color,” she says.

Another type of aura photography, known as Kirlian photography, is believed to capture the aura as an egg-shaped circle surrounding the physical body.

“Artists have depicted it like a halo or a bubble of light surround[ing] the physical body,” Pat Longo, spiritual healer and author of “The Gifts Beneath Your Anxiety: Simple Spiritual Tools to Find Peace, Awaken the Power Within and Heal Your Life,” tells Healthline.

7. How can you see your aura?

Cameras like the one Lonsdale uses are said to be one way to see your aura.

But if you don’t have access to this special equipment, there are other ways people claim can sense the energy fields around your body.

“Some people are able to see their aura by softening and slightly squinting their eyes and looking in a mirror,” Longo says. “However, this takes some practice.”

Some believe your aura is best picked up by your peripheral vision. That is, if you focus on it, you won’t see it. But if you look away, you may begin to see colors or light arise.

“I have been seeing auras for many years. Initially, I saw it as a fuzzy white light about an inch or two in thickness,” Longo says. “Over time, it accelerated to vibrant colors.”

Longo points to a refrain many spiritual advisors share about auras: it can take time and attention to sense them.

8. Is it easier to see someone else’s aura?

It depends. When you’re trying to sense your own aura, you have the ability to focus, meditate, and spend time trying to engage with your spiritual energy.

But you have almost no control over those elements in another person.

However, some people believe that certain people have a more pronounced aura than others. This could make it easier for you to sense theirs before you’re ever able to see your own.

9. Why are there often several different colors in one aura?

Each layer of your aura is said to be represented by a different color.

Some believe that the way these colors vary and interact illustrates how emotionally, spiritually, and physically complex you are.

For example, it’s said that some layers may be brighter if you’re more vibrant or have greater energy. Some layers may be dull if you’re under a great deal of stress, depressed, or physically ill.

Something else to consider: A lack of color generally isn’t thought to be a cause for concern.

Your aura is said to change over time, so colors may come and go.

Each aura color has its own interpretation:

Red: well-grounded, energetic, strong-willed
Orange: adventurous, thoughtful, considerate
Yellow: creative, relaxed, friendly
Green: social, communicator, nurturing
Blue: intuitive, spiritual, freethinker
Indigo: curious, spiritually connected, gentle
Violet: wise, intellectual, independent

10. What does the color placement mean?

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Illustration by Ruth Basagoitia

Each layer of your aura is said to correspond to a different chakra. Chakras are thought to be energy centers within your body.

Some layers or chakras may be more dominant. Others may be less visible and more difficult to sense.

Here’s a breakdown of the different layers and their colors:

Root or physical layer: red, which may be sensed or may even be visible between your tailbone and pelvic bone
Sacral layer: orange, which may be sensed below your navel
Emotional layer: yellow, which may be sensed around your solar plexus, or the area below your ribcage and around the center of your stomach
Astral layer or heart chakra: green, which may be sensed in or around your chest
Spiritual layer or throat chakra: blue, which may be sensed at the base of your throat
Intuitional layer or third eye: indigo or deep purple, which may be sensed at the center of your forehead
Absolute layer or crown chakra: white, which may be sensed at the top of your head

11. What do the different layers mean?

General interpretations suggest the following:

Physical. This layer may be diminished while we’re awake and replenished when we rest. It’s said to be connected to our physical comforts and health, as well as our five senses.
Astral. This emotional layer is said to reflect our sensitive nature. It’s where we provide self-love.
Lower mental. Your waking self may use this layer frequently, because it’s said to be where reason and thought patterns reside. You use the energy of this layer to work, study, focus, and execute on your beliefs and values.
Higher mental. In this layer — which may serve as a bridge between the other layers — you connect your care for yourself to your care for others.
Spiritual. At this level, you may connect with other people over spiritual matters. You’re said to grow and shine brighter when you teach, share, and engage with others on a spiritual level.
Intuitional. The celestial plane is said to act as your third eye. It may help you see your dreams and be aware of your own intuition or instincts.
Absolute. The final aural layer may act as a “net” of sorts, keeping each individual layer confined and balanced in harmony.

12. Can your aura change over time?

Proponents believe it can!

“Everyone’s energy changes,” Lonsdale says. “It changes differently for everyone. There is no set formula.”

Your emotions and experiences are said to have a real-time impact on your aura. This means that if your aura is dim now, it likely won’t stay that way forever.

13. Is it possible to turn your aura “off”?

People in the aura community do not think it is possible to turn off a person’s aura.

“That’s like wanting to turn our emotions off and on,” Mildon says. “It’s part of us, like an energetic organ.”

14. Can you cleanse your aura?

“Yes, you may be able to cleanse and repair your aura,” Longo says.

Techniques that may be able to help include:

Positive affirmations. As you might take a shower to wash away physical dirt, you may also “bathe” yourself in positive thoughts to wash away negative energy and allow you to focus on more optimistic ideas.
Meditation. Spending time focused on your emotional and mental health may make your aura more vibrant.
Visualization. Imagining yourself “cleaning” your aura by breathing in positive energy and breathing out negative light may help you eliminate smudges or dark spots in your layers.
Smudging. Burning sage is an ancient tradition used to clear rooms or people of negative energy.
Energy balancing and healing. Spiritual teachers and advisors may be able to help you find the source of energy imbalances and work to even them out.

15. What if you can’t see or feel anything?

Sensing your own aura may take time. Learning how to cleanse it can also require time and effort.

“As humans, we spend a lot of time on the physical aspects of ourselves,” says Kadeem Alston-Roman, a wellness practitioner and self-described aura healing guru.

“If we spend more time focusing our attention on the aura, which is a portion of our divine self or the soul, we would experience less pain and hardship,” Alston-Roman says. “If the aura is clear and strong, it would literally guide us and put us in the position to live the best life we know we deserve and desire.”

16. Are professional aura readings legit?

Aura readings and healings lie outside of scientific consensus, and objective evidence is lacking. Most people, therefore, use their own subjective experiences and personal beliefs to find meaning in their readings.

Despite this, if you find value in your healer or guide’s words and advice, you may reap many benefits and develop healthier practices.

And if you don’t find any clarity in the reading, that’s OK, too. Each person approaches this element of spiritual health differently.

Remember that self-titled spiritual advisers and energy practitioners may lack the formal training, certification, credentialing, or background checks required for medical licenses. Therefore, caution should be exercised when seeking medical advice from unverified providers.

The bottom line

Many spiritual advisers, energy practitioners, and others who work in this realm believe that the physical body is closely connected to the emotional and spiritual bodies. The aura is seen as just one representation of this connection.

Though the existence of auras is not proven, many people find it gives them comfort, and focusing on your own spiritual and emotional health may go a long way to helping your overall health, regardless of hard evidence.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Alston-Roman K. (2018). Personal interview.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0898010116678709
Liu T. (2018).The scientific hypothesis of an “energy system” in the human body.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754818300358
Longo P. (2018). Personal interview.
Lonsdale C. (2018). Personal interview.
Mildon E. (2018). Personal interview.
Placebo effect. (2020).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/placebo
Shields, D. et al. (2016) 'Human Energy Field: A Concept Analysis.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881613/#:~:text=The%20HEF%20has%20gained%20increased%20attention%20over,whole%20*%20Recognized%20by%20its%20unique%20pattern

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Medically reviewed by Kerry Boyle D.Ac., M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CYT — Written by Kimberly Holland — Updated on January 16, 2026

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