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E3-20250328-JV-NF-ORI

For my ancestors and my grandmother,
whose spirit is always guiding me through my aura

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INTRODUCTION

My intention in creating this book is to provide you with the tools that will initiate you in the process of activating your own light, finding alignment, and discovering that you are born with the ability to master and cocreate your dream reality with your aura.

I’ve been fascinated with the human experience for as long as I can remember, and credit this to an unusual upbringing where I spent much of my childhood in my inner worlds. Looking back, I am aware that I have always been highly sensitive and intuitive.

I spent my early years living in Taiwan, raised by my paternal grandparents while my parents focused on their college education in Texas, in the US. I was immersed in Eastern traditions as a child, speaking Mandarin Chinese, celebrating holidays that revolved around moon cycles, and spending hours with extended family, friends, and neighbors. Several times a week I tagged along with my grandmother when she visited the Taoist temple in Hsinchu that my family has managed for generations to this day. I was raised by a community, within a culture that understands the sacred balance and dualities of life. As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

At the age of three, my grandparents brought me back to the United States to be reunited with my parents. By this time my parents had jobs in Detroit, and it was time for me to be with them. When my grandparents returned to Taiwan, I remember crying endlessly for days, weeks, months. Everything I had known had been stripped from me. I was in a strange place with strange people who knew nothing about who I was, and so I retreated into my inner worlds. I had an innate sense of who I was from my time living in Taiwan and held onto that as it was all that remained of my former life. I can still feel the trauma of this experience in my sacral and solar plexus chakras. This aspect of my being is not only in my DNA, but stored within my aura.

I was introduced to the concept of energy and auras in my late teens. While it was an interesting concept, it wasn’t something I thought much about until I discovered the AuraCam several years later. I was living in Los Angeles at the time and one of my best friends, who was living in New York City, began going to Magic Jewelry in Chinatown to have her aura photographed every month. She would post her aura photo on Instagram and talk about what was happening in her life. It was incredibly interesting to see how her aura would be the same for several months, but would then change. Having taken film photography in college and being a hobbyist photographer in my teens and early twenties, I was hooked. The idea of a camera that could capture what the naked eye could not was beyond cool.

I began to collect books on the topics of light and energy, and learned about meditation and sound baths. In essence, I was fully immersed in the softness and metaphysical perspectives of West Coast life. An artist I worked for during those years had crystals all over her studio, and our studio manager would read our Mystic Medusa horoscopes every week. It was here that I learned how complex astrology truly is. I began taking an interest in color theory during those years working at the studio. And while it wasn’t clear to me at the time, the universe was calling out to me, starting to cast light on my purpose.

In 2016, a career opportunity took me back to Detroit. However, the universe kept calling out to me: aura camera, aura camera, aura camera! That phrase increasingly invaded my thoughts—so much so, that I could no longer ignore my inner voice. The following year, I took a leap of faith and invested all the money I had in my first AuraCam 6000, and during that summer, deciding that my career change was not working out, I made the difficult decision to leave my job and follow my calling. I understood that it was important to have faith in my vision and my abilities, and that the universe would support me along the way.

Seven years later, here I am writing this book. My whirlwind journey hasn’t always been easy, but it has flowed in ways unlike anything I’ve experienced in my life. The number of synchronicities and chance encounters that have occurred since I stepped onto my path of purpose has given me insight into the alchemical process of cocreating our realities through our energy and our aura. Without realizing it, I’ve been doing this for most of my life.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph tens of thousands of auras and to speak with most of the individuals I’ve photographed about the specific meanings each color holds for them. Through these conversations and relationships, I’ve amassed a library of knowledge that isn’t found in textbooks, so my perspective may be somewhat unconventional. Through my fieldwork, in conjunction with the more “scholarly” research I’ve done by reading books, watching documentaries, and attending the occasional workshop, I am constantly in the process of uncovering more layers of universal truth and understanding of the human experience.

Using This Book

Following a brief introduction to the aura and a short history of aura awareness, the chapters in this book take you through the various stages of understanding your aura so that, by the end, you are fully in tune with the ways in which your aura impacts everyday life and appreciate that your life is ultimately created by you, through your aura. Together, your mindset, choices, actions, and emotions weave the tapestry of your being.

This starts with an understanding of the “chakra system” of, primarily, seven subtle energy centers that intertwine with your central nervous system. You will discover how each chakra relates to a different level of consciousness and experience in your body, impacting specific physical and emotional states. Each chakra also relates to a different layer and color of the aura. Subsequent chapters explain the chakra colors in detail, and what they represent. The book then dives into understanding how to keep the chakras in balance, complete with descriptions of what a balanced or imbalanced chakra feels like, and exercises for restoring balance to a chakra that is either under- or overactive. In addition to this, there are recommendations for crystals to work with for specific chakras, ritual practices to incorporate into your life through creating altars for your aura, and breathwork exercises that can help to restore balance to the mind, body, and soul.

ONE

Everything is Energy

An aura is the electromagnetic energy field that surrounds living things. All living things actively generate frequencies in the form of electric and magnetic currents, which radiate through and around their physical body. Together these currents overlap as vertical gateways, forming a donut-shaped field of energy around the body, which is known as an aura. The aura is often perceived as a glow of colors—sometimes many colors and other times just one single color.

WHAT IS AN AURA?

If you were to look inside your body using an electron microscope, you would see billions of atoms swirling and sparking together, forming countless molecules acting as their own cosmos. Start to zoom out beyond your physical body, and you will enter the layers of light-energy particles of your aura. These layers of light wrap around your physical body to create your aura. Each layer of your aura is a universe of its own, infinite in its expression.

At its core, your aura and its layers are the building blocks of your personal universe. Since energy in its purest form is potential, I invite you to think of your aura as your potential as a multidimensional being. Everything is energy. It permeates the universe, the planet, and every living thing.

Sensing Auras

Every living thing has its own aura, and we are able to sense the energy field of a person when we pick up on their “vibe.” While your aura can be seen as an array of color by someone who is clairvoyant, it can be felt by everyone. An awareness of your personal space, having a perceived knowing about a person or place, and even how you attract others and situations are all ways you experience using your aura. When we talk about the “glow” of an expectant mother or how a person who is experiencing depression is “feeling blue”—these statements are essentially talking about the aura. We interact with each other through our auras everyday, often without realizing it.

As the aura is something we can feel, this means there are other ways to sense the aura beyond just sight. Sensing the aura can range from seeing layers of colors surrounding someone, to receiving information about a person through other forms of perception, such as smell, sound, taste, touch, or knowing. Often, just by seeing a client walk in the door, or if they tell me one small thing we spoke about the last time I saw them, a flood of information comes rushing to me such as what their aura photograph looked like and the entirety of our last conversation. In other instances, I will pick up on an overarching theme a client is going through, and perhaps why they are booking a session with me, so I can tune into their energy field through my natural gift of “claircognizance,” or clear knowing.

I once participated in an online aura workshop where the clairvoyant educator could see aura colors. She could also see objects in her mind’s eye and hear sounds when connecting with a person’s energy field. In the workshop, the educator asked for a volunteer from the group for an aura reading. During the reading, she mentioned seeing pencils and books, and she heard bells. She suggested that there was a feeling of completion and celebration. With nervous but delighted laughter, the volunteer revealed that she was about to graduate from school and had just got married, both significant changes that were impacting her life in a big way.

Ours auras are containers for our personal life stories. By understanding how your aura functions, my hope is that you will begin to see the ways in which it allows you to cocreate your reality from a place of intention rather than reaction. You will gain insight into your personal energetic patterns, helping identify the ones that keep you stagnant, as well as those that propel you forward, and most importantly, those that feel in alignment with your true self.

THE POWER OF DARK ENERGY

While we have a basic understanding that everything in our physical world is made of energy, what about the air we breathe and the space we move through? Physical matter makes up only 4 percent of the entire universe. But that doesn’t mean the remaining 96 percent is just empty space. What appears to be empty space in the universe actually consists of 73 percent dark energy and 23 percent dark matter that is not visible to the naked eye. This discovery came to light in the 1990s, when astronomers realized that the expansion of the universe is not slowing down due to gravity, but is actually speeding up, and that dark energy is the accelerating force.

Dark energy and dark matter are simply what lie outside the physical universe. Dark matter pulls galaxies together, while dark energy pushes them apart. This exists on not only a macro-, but also a microscale, at the atomic level. Dark matter does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects on visible matter. On the other hand, dark energy is a mysterious force that drives the universe’s expansion to accelerate. It is like an invisible nervous system that runs through the universe, connecting all things. Our aura connects us to this invisible nervous system, acting as a bridge to the infinite field of vibration and frequency, the universe. According to scientists, every second, millions to trillions of particles of dark matter flow through your body without a trace.

Within a physical body, neurons are types of cells that receive and send messages from the body to the brain and back again to the body. These messages are sent using a subtle electrical current. Neurons communicate via synapses, which are small contact points in which chemical messengers transmit a stimulus from one cell to the next. Electrical synapses are like the dark energy and matter of the brain. As synapses are the highways for neurons, dark energy and matter are the highways for universal energy and consciousness, and our chakras (see Chapter Three) are the gateways for us to access and utilize these invisible forces. The “void” is from where all things originate. From the emptiness of outer space to the vast oceans of our inner space, these places of stillness are where the potential for all manifestation lies. It is consciousness that alchemizes unseen potential into being, as our universe is participatory—our perspective creates a bias, which then determines our reality.

“All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force that brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.”

MAX PLANCK, QUANTUM PHYSICIST

THE DANCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND MATTER

Physicist Albert Einstein’s famous equation E = mc² expresses the fact that mass and energy are the same entity and can be changed into each other, all in relation to the speed of light. In essence, this formula speaks to the vibrational nature of our universe. Everything that exists is made up of sound waves, light, and energy, measured as frequency. Light and physical matter interact with each other in a multitude of ways, and spectroscopy is the science behind the dance between the two.

The electromagnetic spectrum of light consists of gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, microwaves, and radio waves. Each band of light has a different range of wavelengths, with gamma rays being the shortest and radio waves being the longest. Our eyes perceive the visible colors of light that sit right in the middle of the spectrum.

Light behaves like a wave and we measure light by its wavelength. Within the visible part of the light spectrum, we perceive differences in wavelengths and energy as differences in color. Longer wavelengths appear redder, while shorter wavelengths appear bluer. However, light also behaves like a particle, and a particle of light is called a “photon.” In 1905 Albert Einstein proposed the quantum theory of light, suggesting that light is made up of “packets” of energy related to the light’s frequency. Each photon holds a very specific amount of energy that corresponds to its wavelength. Blue photons carry more energy, while red photons carry less energy. Whether you think of light in terms of wavelengths or streams of photons, it is ultimately the same form of energy.

Matter and light interact with each other in many ways and are intrinsically linked. We define matter as anything that has mass and takes up space. All matter gives off some form of light. Physical matter can absorb light (take it in); emit light (give it off); transmit light (allow it to pass through); reflect light (cause it to bounce off); and refract light (cause it to change speed and direction). It is the way in which different wavelengths of light interact with a specific form of matter that makes it look different from any other form of matter. For example, a tree looks different from a flower because its expression or patterns of matter and light are different.

In the study of quantum physics, it has been observed that the electrons of an atom have the ability to pop into existence when we focus our attention on them, and then disappear when we look away. This phenomenon is caused by the duality of electrons, which can behave like waves or particles, depending on how they are observed. In science this is called the “observer effect,” meaning that the act of observing influences the phenomenon being observed. For example, for us to see or observe an electron, a photon must first interact with it, and this interaction will change the path of that electron. This means that what we shine light on, is what manifests; what we focus on, is what we experience. Within our aura this concept is linked to each color of the aura, or each chakra. When a color is present within our energy field, it indicates a focus on that color and it’s attributed qualities, and shows us which chakras are activated. For example, when violet is present within our aura, it can indicate a focus on connecting to our imagination and an active crown chakra. Quite literally, we are shining light into the realm of infinite possibility.

THE ENERGIES OF YIN AND YANG

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul.”

HERMES TRISMEGISTUS

Everything in our universe is designed with duality, but in perfect harmony. At its core, energy encompasses two primary forces, and the iconic yin and yang symbol serves as a representation of this dualistic concept. Originating in Chinese philosophy, the symbol visualizes the concept that everything in the universe operates in an opposite, but interconnected, self-perpetuating cycle. Yin and yang are complementary forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the individual parts, yet one cannot exist without the other. Within this symbol we see that darkness is on one side and light on the other, yet each contains a fraction of the other within itself. The black half represents yin and the white half represents yang.

Principles of Yin and Yang Philosophy

OPPOSITION
Yin embodies qualities of passivity, receptivity, and darkness, while yang represents assertiveness, activity or expression, and light. Their mutual dependence creates a dynamic equilibrium.

INTERDEPENDENCE
This concept lies at the core of yin and yang philosophy. Instead of being isolated, the two are interconnected, each containing the seed of the other, which can be seen as the white dot within the black yin, and the black dot within the white yang. This is symbolic of the perpetual transformation and exchange between these two opposing forces.

MUTUAL TRANSFORMATION
This principle recognizes that the universe is inherently dynamic and everything is always in perpetual motion and transformation. This concept of renewal acknowledges the cyclical nature of life and that nothing is static forever. Yin has the potential to transform into yang, as it has the seed of yang within it, and vice versa.

MUTUAL CONSUMPTION
With both yin and yang energies, each force has the potential to control or consume the other. The nuanced concept of mutual consumption helps us understand the ebbs and flows of energy in our inner and outer worlds.

“All things carry yin, yet embrace yang. They blend their life breaths in order to produce harmony.”

LAOZI, TAO-TE CHING

Yin energies can be viewed as having a negative charge and being receptive, while yang has a positive charge and is active. This does not mean one is good and the other bad, simply they are opposites of one another. The principles of yin and yang can also be applied to dark energy versus light energy and dark matter versus physical matter. Together these opposing forces create harmony and are the building blocks of consciousness and all that exists in our universe. Within our auras, the concept of yin and yang can be observed through the colors present in the aura, as each color is attributed to being either yin or yang. As we move upward or downward through the chakra system, each chakra alternates between the two polarities.

Yin and Yang Colors

Together, yin and yang represent balance and wholeness, recognizing the natural need for opposing forces. Yet, these forces exist in perfect balance, a perpetual dance of harmony. They symbolize an interdependence, as one cannot thrive without the other. They are mirrors of each other and the ever-shifting rhythms of life. When observing colors within the aura, a balanced aura will contain both yin and yang colors, no matter where the placement.

TWO

A History of Aura Awareness

Early in human history, our ancestors understood that subtle dimensions of energy exist within and outside of our physical bodies. They developed ways to work with, and heal, both the energetic and physical body in order to create balance between the body, mind, and spirit. Almost every ancient civilization across the globe believed in, and worked with, some form of the chakra system or subtle energy.

AURAS ACROSS CULTURES

Energy was the foundation of life in ancient Egypt, and played an integral part in its religion, culture, and art. The aura was symbolized as wings around the body. The ancient Egyptians believed that the sacred Nile River signified the backbone of the human body. The temples of ancient Egypt were placed strategically along the Nile to correspond with the seven major chakras of our energy system that exist along the spine. Each of the energy centers was also associated with a god, goddess, or other deity.

Yoga is a spiritual discipline that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to bring harmony to our mental and physical well-being. The science and practice of yoga comes from ancient India and is intrinsically linked with the chakra system, speaking of “prana,” or vital energy, which is the aura. The study of yoga and the chakra system originated in India between 1500 and 500 BCE in a large body of religious texts called the Vedas—a series of hymns and one of the oldest texts of Hinduism. The Hindu Vedas teach the origin of, and reason for, existence.

In early Chinese and Japanese art, images portrayed halos around Buddha, who is said to have attained enlightenment after meditating for seven days underneath a Bodhi tree, circa 500 BCE. The Taoist goddess of mercy and compassion, Guanyin, is likewise often portrayed with a glow or halo around her. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) our energy body is referred to as qi, speaking to the essence of life itself. This vital, life-force energy courses through every living thing, infusing existence with a sense of vibrancy. While rooted in origins of martial arts, the practice of both tai chi and qigong are disciplines that involve a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. They are traditionally viewed by the Chinese, and throughout Asia, as a practice to cultivate and balance our life-force energy.

“Truth is so great a perfection, that if God would render himself visible to men, he would choose light for his body and truth for his soul.”

PYTHAGORAS

In ancient Greece, philosopher and polymath Pythagoras wrote of light energy radiating from people, animals, and sacred places. He was known during his time for being a mystical teacher who spoke of auras, spreading knowledge of our ethereal origins.

References to the aura can be seen in the glowing halos of spiritual energy in art depicting Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Christian saints in the stained glass of churches and cathedrals. These halos were spoken of as “divine light,” or the “light of God,” seen around those who were holy and enlightened. As someone who is fascinated by auras and their colors, I’ve seen a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes of such halos in art portraying Jesus and other religious figures of the Christian faith, typically in a golden-yellow color.

CAPTURING THE AURA

As humans we are visual creatures. Studies show that we remember 80 percent of what we see, 20 percent of what we read, and 10 percent of what we hear. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research shows that the human brain processes images in 13–33 milliseconds—60,000 times quicker than text. The brain also favors visuals, which make up to 90 percent of the data it receives. Pictures are powerful. The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” speaks to this aspect of our human experience. Thus, the instinct to visualize the aura is only human nature, wanting to turn something that isn’t tangible into a physical or tangible form.

Early Developments

Researchers have tried to photograph the human aura for well over a century. As early as the Victorian era, there was a notion that a camera could capture what the clairvoyant eye could see. During the 18th century, German physician and astronomy enthusiast Franz Anton Mesmer theorized the existence of a process of natural energy transference occurring between all animate and inanimate objects, which he called “animal magnetism.” This was later referred to as “mesmerism.” Mesmer also believed he had the ability to tap into this universal flow because his hands secreted invisible energy that gave him the ability to manipulate this energy.

In the 1860s German chemist Carl Ludwig Freiherr von Reichenbach began photographing objects in total darkness, trying to capture their energy, or what he dubbed as their “od.” He proposed the idea that there is a special force floating through the universe and he sought to visualize this force. Reichenbach’s experiments marked the beginnings of effluvist photography, a spiritualist subset of occult photography that can be seen as the predecessor of modern aura photography.

During the late 19th century, German engineer and physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range we now know as X-rays, which supported effluvist photography. With new radiographic equipment, the invisible could finally be made visible, making it an official “science.”

Around the same time, French physician and parapsychologist Dr. Hippolyte Baraduc took the concept of photographing energy a step further. He claimed to have taken photographs of thoughts, emotions, and the human soul. Baraduc believed in the existence of “the fluidic invisible”—a “vital cosmic force,” which he called “Odic liquid,” that extends across the universe and “saturates the organism of living beings and constitutes our fluidic body.” He utilized the X-ray technology to document vital fluids by pressing a subject’s fingers or forehead onto sensitized photographic plates; Baraduc believed these images were able to measure both the mood and health of a person.

From 1879 to 1893, British medical electrician Walter Kilner was in charge of electrotherapy at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. Through a series of experiments, he was one of the first to attempt to study the human aura in a scientific manner. Kilner invented special eyeglasses that were sensitive to the ultraviolet energy spectrum. Two separate pieces of glass were cemented together around the edges, except for one small opening through which a bluish coal-tar dye, called dicyanin, was poured into the space between the pieces of glass, before the gap was sealed. By looking through these dyed lenses, Kilner observed vaporous energy extending from living bodies. His experiments are outlined in his landmark book The Human Atmosphere.

In subsequent years, others expanded upon Kilner’s experiments. British biologist Oscar Bagnall substituted the dye pinacyanol for dicyanin and spiritualist Harry Boddington discovered a method of viewing auras through special glass made in the former Czechoslovakia that was produced to the same spectroscopic tint as dicyanin.

The First Aura Photographs

Nikola Tesla is said to have created the first aura photograph in 1891. After inventing the Tesla coil, the electrical engineer made photographs showing sparks emanating from various parts of his body. During the 1910s, in Russia, scientist Jakob von Narkiewicz-Jodko experimented with components of radiographic devices, starting what’s known as electrography, which is the underlying foundation of modern aura photography. He believed that electricity was crucial to understanding a person’s vital energies and developed a photographic process that called for an induction coil, which he used to electrically charge a metal plate. When an object or body part was placed on photosensitive material on top of the charged plate, the coronal discharge produced a glowing silhouette of the subject.

Inspired by Tesla and his work, in 1939, Russian electrical engineer Semyon Kirlian and his wife Valentina discovered coronal discharge photography, or electrophotography, independently from Narkiewicz-Jodko, calling it “Kirlian photography.” Similarly to Narkiewicz-Jodko, the Kirlians believed that these photographs could provide psychic insights. Today, Kirlian photography and aura photography are often used interchangeably, because electrophotography is the premise of both. However, the two are not the same process and therefore, not the same thing.

In the early 1970s, professor and psychologist Dr. Thelma Moss experimented with Kirlian photography in the labs at UCLA. In 1975 she gifted musician David Bowie with his own Kirlian photography device, with which he famously experimented to see what his aura looked like before and after taking cocaine. Bowie’s fascination with Kirlian photography persisted beyond the 1970s, as evidence by the image of his fingertip, along with a crucifix gifted from his father, that was reproduced in the booklet for his 1997 album Earthling, and also as the cover art for the single “Little Wonder.”

Aura Photography Today

What we now know as modern aura photography, visualizing a field of energy around an image of a person, was first developed in the late 1970s by electrical engineer Guy Coggins. Unlike Kirlian’s energy-transfer printing, Coggins sought to fully visualize the human aura. Known as aura-imaging photography, his technique creates a full-spectrum color print of remote bioplasmic energy transfer, resulting in a visualization of the human aura.

Coggins introduced his aura-imaging system to the world in the 1980s, in the form of the AuraCam 3000. A decade later, he issued an updated version, the AuraCam 6000. These cameras house a vintage Polaroid Land Camera inside the body and require the use of Fujifilm FP-100C professional, peel-apart instant packfilm, the production of which ceased in 2016. Both cameras are sometimes simply referred to as the “Coggins Camera” with the only noticeable difference being the coloration of the images each produces. The 3000 series of AuraCams have a noticeable pastel or neon tone to the aura colors, while the 6000 series of AuraCams produce images that are more primary in their color. It is likely that these differences are simply the result of the materials from which the cameras are made—specifically the electrical components—and changes arising from advancing technologies over the years.

In the early 2000s Coggins created WinAura, an at-home aura detector and photography software package using a computer with webcam, the same proprietary algorithm as his film cameras, and biofeedback sensors. This digital system not only captures still images of an aura, but also records videos, giving users the ability to see their aura change in real time. While technologically more advanced, the computer-based system didn’t gain social popularity due to the lower quality of the images and videos, which is similar to that of photos captured using a Y2K flip phone or Blackberry.

In 2018 Coggins decided to shift his focus to virtual reality and transferred his company, Aura Imaging, and proprietary technology to a colleague who had designed a similar at-home computer system to WinAura in the late 1990s. As film-based aura photography began to gain popularity again, due to the rise of social media, Aura Imaging was tasked with finding an alternative solution to the original AuraCam 6000 following Fujifilm’s discontinuation of its FP-100C film. In 2021, the company introduced a new, “NextGen,” AuraCam 6000, which houses a modern Lomography camera inside the body and utilizes widely available Fujifilm Instax Wide film, first released in 1999. This innovation has ensured the longevity of film-based aura photography for years to come. To differentiate between the various generations of AuraCams, Aura Imaging now refers to the original Coggins cameras as “Legacy” AuraCams.

So, how do modern aura cameras work? Coggins says that his camera system “Transmits radio waves through the subject’s electromagnetic field, then converts the waves into electrical energy, which can be processed as light and color.” Since the seven major chakras find their correspondence in the hands, the subject places their hands on two sensors of the aura camera, made of silver, which read the meridian points. The camera system then codes the energy readings from the hands into frequencies, and each frequency corresponds to a specific color, which in turn corresponds to a particular chakra.

While the camera does not actually “see” auras, it perceives them electronically and converts energy impulses into an auric image through a computerized algorithm, displaying aura-chakra energy. In a double-exposure-like method, the camera captures a photo of the subject first, and then a second exposure is of the aura color frequencies.

Historically, both film- and digital-based aura cameras were seen at traveling psychic fairs or metaphysical shops such as the iconic Magic Jewelry on Canal Street in New York City. Practitioners would use the aura camera as a way to visualize a client’s aura and would then suggest a myriad of healing modalities based on what they saw. Others used them as a basis for psychic readings.

Today, aura cameras have become a medium for self-awareness and understanding, and to create modern-day selfies that are displayed as headshots or profile pictures for the world to see on social networks. An awareness of auras has snowballed over the past decade, seeping into many facets of popular culture. References to auras can be found in music and on television. In 2013 Lady Gaga released her album ARTPOP with a song entitled “Aura.” A handful of years later, in 2017, SZA mentions “I been lookin’ good, I been feelin’ nice, workin’ on my aura,” in an alternative, but popular, version of her song “Love Galore.” In 2022 Taylor Swift states that “some guy said my aura’s moonstone” in her song “Bejeweled,” and that same year Latto’s song “Big Energy” was quite literally about her aura. In 2019 an aura camera was replicated as a prop and used in the Netflix show Chambers, and in Season 2 of the series Hacks on HBO Max in 2022, main character Hannah was shown having a blue aura during a visit to a psychic.

In more subtle ways, color gradients that emulate the aura have found their way into art, fashion, and graphic design—gracing billboards, product packaging, and even a version of the Instagram logo that came out in 2022. Whether you believe in them or not, auras are here to stay, signaling a shift in our collective consciousness and heightened awareness of the energetic world we live in.

THREE

The Subtle Body and the Chakras

The aura is often referred to as the “subtle body.” The word “subtle” simply suggests that this is a body that we are unable to see with the naked eye. The subtle body, or aura, is created by the subtle energy system, a medium for consciousness to express itself. This system is comprised of three parts; meridians, chakras, and aura.

THE MERIDIANS AND FLOW OF ENERGY

Our central nervous system regulates and controls all functions within the physical body through the brain and spinal cord, serving as the conduit for messages between the brain and the various parts of the body. Similarly, the chakra system manages functions within our energetic bodies. Energy flows along the spine, serving as a powerful connector between mind, body, and spirit.

A column of light, known as sushumna, is a central river of energy that flows through the body and the seven chakras along the spinal cord. This main channel of energy connects the chakras and their dimensions. The chakras themselves are gateways between various dimensions, where the activity of one dimension connects and plays into another. This is why our auras can display multiple colors, demonstrating the dimensions in which we place most focus or attention. Around the seven major chakras and the central channel sushumna, is a complex network of channels that run throughout the body, acting as pathways along which energy travels within our tissues. These channels are called meridians and nadis, and they run on each side of the body, one side mirroring the other.

There are 12 major meridians, each correlating to an internal organ. Each organ has its own functions, which may be physiological or invisible energy functions, and which are highly dependent on other organ systems. Energy and blood flow constantly through the meridians. The meridians communicate information to the organs, such as the need for temperature regulation, emotional regulation, and more. When the meridians and organs are in harmony, the body is more likely to be in a healthy state. At times of stress, however, the meridians can become congested or blocked. This can have an effect on the mind-body-spirit connection. The practice of acupuncture is an ancient healing modality that helps open up these pathways to restore balance.

In addition to the major meridians are 72,000 smaller channels, or nadis, existing as three basic types—left, right, and center—that correspond to what are called ida, pingala, and the central sushumna. Ida is associated with yin lunar energy, the feminine, the right side of the brain, and the left side of the body. Pingala is associated with yang solar energy, the masculine, the left side of the brain, and the right side of the body. The ida and pingala channels, wrap around the central sushumna, weaving in and out, mirroring each other and intersecting at the seven major chakras. The nadis and meridians can be looked at as the bloodstreams of our aura, the pathways in which energy travels through our energy field.

THE SEVEN MAJOR CHAKRAS

In ancient Sanskrit the word chakra literally translates as “spinning wheel of light” and refers to the rotating vortices of subtle energy located throughout the body.

The “chakra system” is a network of channels consisting of different energy centers we know as the chakras. These energy wheels are subtle energy centers that are entwined with our central nervous system along the spine, and serve as portals through which the main energetic channels of the body flow. Each of the seven chakras relates to specific organs within the body and various physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual states.

The chakras are our gateways into different levels of consciousness. A practical way to think about this is that each chakra represents a lane or category of focus. When thinking of chakras in relation to quantum physics and light, chakras are a vehicle for electron activation, so what we choose to focus on manifests as the colors that appear in our aura.

1

Muladhara

ROOT CHAKRA

As the first chakra, the root chakra is considered the foundational starting point of the chakra system and is located at the base of the spine, just below the tailbone. It is also the first of the lower three chakras that are often grouped together, representing our earthly energies. The root chakra governs our basic needs for survival, basic material needs, physical security, and stability. Like the roots of a tree, these aspects of life connect us to the earth in order to ground our energy so that we are able not just to survive, but to thrive. This chakra manages our fight, flight, freeze responses.

COLOR

Red

ELEMENT

Earth

PLANET

Saturn

SENSE

Smell

TASKS

Eliminating waste, getting rid of what is not useful, letting go

MANTRA

“I have”

2

Svadhisthana

SACRAL CHAKRA

The sacral is the second of the chakras, sitting at the sacrum between the pubic bone and the naval. The word “sacrum” means “sacred” or “holy,” and this chakra governs our emotions, desires, and pleasures. With a foundation created with the root chakra, when we enter into the second chakra we flow into the complex streams of feelings and emotions that help us navigate the seas of our reality. This chakra is symbolic of the sacred waters of life and the nourishment we exchange with those we hold relationships with.

COLOR

Orange

ELEMENT

Water

PLANET

Jupiter

SENSE

Taste

TASKS

Reproduction, emotions, social functions and activities, relationships

MANTRA

“I feel”

3

Manipura

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

As we step into the third chakra, a fire ignites, bright like the sun, drawing in prana (life force) and transforming it into vital energies that flow throughout our body. This chakra is considered the second brain of the body, helping us to assimilate and digest information, knowledge, and, of course, food. This is where we begin to shape our thoughts according to our will and this chakra enables us to achieve, reflecting our beliefs and struggles with the ebbs and flow of our ego. In balance, we exude a strong sense of self that cannot be shaken.

COLOR

Yellow

ELEMENT

Fire

PLANET

Mars

SENSE

Sight

TASKS

Digestion of food, our emotions, and how we convert and utilize energy that is stored in the body

MANTRA

“I can”

4

Anahata

HEART CHAKRA

The fourth chakra, the chakra of the heart, is found at the middle of the chest and serves as the energy for love and our ability to both receive and give it unconditionally. It is the bridge that connects us to all living things and provides us with the capacity for forgiveness, acceptance, and compassion. The heart chakra aids us in realizing the interconnectedness that unifies us all, creating balance and harmony in our exchanges with others.

COLORS

Green, Magenta

ELEMENT

Air

PLANET

Venus

SENSE

Touch

TASKS

Connects the lower chakras to the upper chakras, governs the ability to feel and demonstrate unconditional love for ourselves and others

MANTRA

“I love”

5

Vishuddha

THROAT CHAKRA

As the fifth chakra, the throat chakra is the first of the upper three chakras. As a grouping, they are our spiritual energy center, connecting us to higher states of being. The throat chakra serves as a portal into the higher spiritual realm, governing our ability to both hear and speak universal wisdom and give expression to our soul. As the purification center for our energy, the throat chakra connects us to our purpose, integrity, and morals, providing us with the capacity for creative expression.

COLOR

Blue

ELEMENT

Ether

PLANET

Mercury

SENSE

Hearing

TASKS

Thought processes, self-expression, communication

MANTRA

“I speak”

6

Ajna

THIRD-EYE CHAKRA

The brow, or third-eye, chakra is our sixth main energy center, sitting in the middle of the forehead between the eyebrows. This mystical chakra is the energy center of our mind, governing our awareness, intuition, and foresight. It is often referred to as the “third eye” because it is an invisible eye that “sees” things beyond our five basic senses. The idea of extra-sensory perception (ESP) lives within this chakra. Our brow chakra guides us into the depths of our intuition, giving us the ability to trust our inner knowing and be comfortable in our chosen path.

COLOR

Indigo

ELEMENT

Light

PLANET

Neptune

This chakra is also associated with our moon

SENSE

Extra-sensory perception (ESP)

TASKS

Intuition and inner knowing, clear seeing

MANTRA

“I see”

7

Sahasrara

CROWN CHAKRA

As its name suggests, the seventh chakra sits at the top, or crown, of the head. The crown chakra governs our consciousness as well as our connection to the universe and divine intelligence. As the source of all manifestation, this energy center is considered the seat of enlightenment. As we ascend upward in the chakra system, each level brings us into new realms of freedom and awareness, with the crown being the ultimate state of liberation and infinite possibilities.

COLOR

Violet

ELEMENT

Thought

PLANET

Uranus

This chakra is also associated with our sun

SENSE

Nontraditional, connects us to the universe

TASKS

Unity, wisdom, and understanding, connecting us to pure higher consciousness

MANTRA

“I know”

THE DANTIANS: AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE OF CHAKRAS

Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the Taoist perspective groups the chakras together as three main energies, known as the “three treasures” or “dantians” of the body. Called jing, qi, and shen, the energies translate as essence, vitality, and spirit, respectively. These larger reservoirs of energy are called “treasures” by sages such as Laozi and Confucius because they are the very basis of our human experience and life—the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of our being. They are also referred to as “elixir fields.”

Taoism differs from Buddhism through its approach. Buddhists seek to reach enlightenment and spiritual awakening through purification, with an emphasis on liberation from the body. Taoists embrace the body as a vital part of the process of inner alchemy in order to reach immortality of the soul or spirit. While the ultimate goal is the same in both Eastern philosophies, the journey toward the destination is not. This book focuses on the Taoist perspective of alchemy.

The lower three chakras, known as the lower dantian, are associated with jing, the earthly or material world: essence. This elixir field of energy is said to be comprised of genetic material such as our DNA and the source from which our physical body is created. Jing gives us vitality and the will to survive. It circulates essence in order to gather, blend, and cook the energies of the body, mind, and spirit.

The middle dantian, the heart chakra, is associated with our qi, or life-force energy: vitality. It’s often said the heart chakra is the seat of the soul and bridges our spiritual and earthly physical selves, including our thoughts (upper three chakras) and emotions (lower three chakras). The heart chakra is linked with the lungs and, in Taoism, associated with the breath, as breath is the spark that gives us life. In this elixir field, breath is refined into spirit through energy moving from the lower to the middle dantian.

The upper three chakras, or upper dantian, house shen energy, or our spirit. When qi from the middle dantian moves into this elixir field, it allows for the capacity toward self-realization and fuels our spirit, completing the upward ascension and unifying body, mind, and spirit into one holistic field of energy.

This alternative perspective of the chakras helps us view the entire chakra system on a macro level, giving us a bird’s-eye view of how the lower three chakras work together to form our earthly energies and experiences, and the upper three chakras, our spiritual energies and experiences. Our earthly energies assist us in molding and shaping our physical realities, while our spiritual energies assist us in expanding our soul’s awareness and potential. And in the center of it all we find the heart, the universal connector and transformer of our dualities.

THE AURA AND ITS LAYERS

As our auras reflect aspects of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, this correlates to the etheric, astral, and spiritual bodies of the aura. These layers are often referred to as auric layers, or auric fields, each corresponding to one of the seven main chakras. Each auric layer operates on the same band of frequency as its associated chakra, filtering information, providing energetic protection, and transmitting psychic messages.

AURA
LAYER ONE
The etheric body is the first layer of the aura, and also the densest of all the auric layers, comprised of a weblike ether that is a state between energy and matter. This layer protects and attracts life-supporting energies and is often referred to as our “health aura.” It is a holographic blueprint for the physical structure of our being and operates on the physical plane of the root chakra.

AURA
LAYER TWO
The emotional body is the second layer of the aura and is more amorphous or fluid in its structure. This auric field screens and communicates feelings and emotions, and is the seat of our creativity and connection to other beings. Connected to the sacral chakra, this layer is where we tend to hold negative or positive emotions that are influenced by the relationships we have with others. Trauma and unresolved and repressed emotions can crystalize here and form a pattern.

AURA
LAYER THREE
The mental body is the third layer of the aura and contains fractal patterns like a snowflake, crystal, or mandala. This auric layer holds the patterns of our belief systems and mental processes, filtering and disseminating our ideas and beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world at large. This layer helps to validate all our thoughts and logical processes, and aids in our cognitive abilities. It enables us to identify our path of life and to fulfill our destiny. Mental health and psychological conditions can also form within this auric layer.

AURA
LAYER FOUR
The astral body is the fourth layer of the aura, containing what looks like a copy of our physical body only in spirit form. Made visible, it would look almost transparent or ghostlike. This auric realm is also fluid. It is where objects can shapeshift, and where we are able to transcend space and time because there is no division between the soul and personality. The astral body attracts and repels relationships and communicates love as everything here is alive and connected. The concepts of out-of-body experiences, astral projection, and lucid dreaming all occur in this layer of consciousness.

AURA
LAYER FIVE
The etheric blueprint is the fifth layer of the aura and the first of the spiritual bodies. Like the blueprint of an architect, this auric field contains the creative matrix for a person’s destiny, life path, and physical appearance, acting as a guide for a person’s highest potential and purpose. This energetic map can shift as an individual’s intentions and actions shift; it can attract, repel, and send guidance. Here, we become what we speak, as the throat chakra rules this realm of energetic potential.

AURA
LAYER SIX
The celestial body is the sixth layer of the aura and appears to be comprised of pure light, ethereal and opalescent, radiating like the glow of a star. This auric realm receives choices and visualizes decisions, connecting us to our higher intuitive self and inner wisdom, our capacity to just know. It is at this level that we begin to connect with energies from other dimensions, such as passed loved ones or spirit guides.

AURA
LAYER SEVEN
The causal body is the seventh layer of the aura, comprised of tiny thin threads of light woven together and vibrating at a high frequency. This is the strongest and most resilient layer of the aura, containing the main power current, or sushumna, that runs up and down the spine, nourishing the totality of our being, connecting to both the crown and root chakras. In this layer we connect with the divine and it is a conduit for our personal spirit or life purpose for this lifetime, giving us the ability to access pure creative thought and the realm of infinite possibility.

Each layer of the aura corresponds to a chakra and color. Together, the seven layers form the rainbow of human experience, mirroring back to us where we place our focus. Most of us only use one or two layers of our aura to relate to the world around us and this can sometimes lead to a lack of perspective or experience. However, by bringing our awareness to other areas of life that tend to feel challenging or where we might be struggling, we begin to activate the other layers of the human experience, creating a more holistic relationship between the layers of our aura.

FOUR

Aura Colors

The aura is much more than just a field of energy that surrounds us; it also radiates from and through us because we are comprised of light. Remember, everything is energy. The aura, or light body, is filtered through the chakra system, which acts as a prism, refracting the various colors of our conscious awareness.

Energetic vibrations in the form of our thoughts, feelings, memories, actions, and experiences resonate and are stored within the aura, reflected back to us as the colors of the rainbow. When we are aware of how these colors relate to our everyday experiences, we can begin to understand ourselves and others better.

The human aura consists of seven main layers, which are informed by the seven major chakras. Every one of these layers transcends outward from the physical body and emits a vibrant and colorful shine. The different colors of each layer provide insight and information about our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

As each chakra/layer/color of the aura represents a facet of the human experience, each color can be thought of as a world of its own, and the aura in its entirety as our personal universe, with each layer informing and interrelating our past, present, and future.

Often, when we have a color in our aura, it can have opposing meanings because we are embodying one of two polarities within that color. We tend to look at these polarities as positive or negative. However, a more holistic way to look at these polarities is as light and shadow. Light is what is illuminated within us and what we are conscious of, while shadow is what is hidden or repressed and behaviors that are unconscious to us. Without shadow or darkness there is no light. One cannot exist without the other and both exist within us, in order to create balance and wholeness. For example, a person with red as the only color in their aura can experience being ready to change career and take actionable steps toward this goal, such as applying for new roles and interviewing. At the same time, however, they might also be resistant to relocating their home to a new city if their job requires this kind of upheaval. A person with blue in their aura may be growing more compassionate, open, and honest in their relationships, while also saying too much at times, gossiping, or prying into the affairs of others.

While every color is available to us through our auras, we are all born with one or two colors as our “home frequencies.” These colors reflect aspects of our being that we are destined to learn from and master, and we often attribute these colors to our “personality” or “soul.” I like the idea of home frequency best as it speaks to authentic alignment. As you read through the descriptions of aura colors, and also the attributes of the chakras in the following chapters, you’ll begin to get a sense of what your own home frequencies might be.

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.”

OSCAR WILDE

As a color that is associated with fire and blood, red is a hue that is as primordial as the archetype it represents. In many cultures throughout history, red has been used to symbolize aggression and power, indicating danger, strength, and even sacrifice.

Historically, red is considered the first color used by man—on faces and bodies by Indigenous cultures, and in ancient drawings on the walls of caves. While red was widely used throughout history due to it being easily found and accessible in nature, it’s not mere coincidence that this color corresponds to the first chakra within the seven-chakra energy system.

In modern contexts we see red being used for things such as street signs asking us to stop, alerting us of possible threats with a firm need for response, a call to action. Whether we realize it or not, the color red correlates to our sense of safety. It stimulates our adrenal glands and increases blood pressure, which is why too much exposure to the color red, even within our auras, can sometimes cause stress or frustration and provoke anger. As the most intense color on the spectrum, red is an arousing color that captures our attention and evokes strong emotions.

Red is a purely physical color. It’s about taking action without thought. Red has a sense of urgency, and can be impulsive. Individuals who naturally have red present in their aura drive the creation of reality, they are designers of our 3D world. While, for most of us, manifestation can be a process, these masters of the tactile plane can bring an idea into fruition almost instantaneously. The frequency of creation literally runs through the blood in their veins and through their energetic makeup, chromatically visualized as a cherry-red hue that dominates their aura. Ambitious and determined, they are initiators, never sitting on a concept too long before taking action.

Natural reds move ideas forward, so the dreams they create in their mind’s eye can be birthed into their everyday lives. They understand the world in a very tangible way—by seeing, feeling, touching, hearing, and smelling. At their best they appreciate the beauty of the world, but in their shadow they can become materialistic and obsessed with the act of obtaining beauty and possessions as they define success through what they physically “have.” Adventurous and full of vitality, these individuals who naturally thrive in the color red also need to remember to take time to rest and recoup. Since they are go-getters and “get it done” types of people, it’s easy for them to become fixated on a project and work on it nonstop because they are so focused on the end result. They don’t have the patience for things that take a long time because it’s all about getting it done now. Reds tend to burn the candle at both ends. This kind of relentless output of energy can eventually lead to burnout.

It can be hard for a person on this plane of existence to relax as they have a need for activity and movement. Red is a “can’t sit still” type of energy, needing both grounding and some sort of physical release. Natural reds tend to be highly creative people and love to work with their hands. They need to physically see the result of their work or creations in order to feel accomplished or satisfied.

According to Eastern traditions dating back thousands of years, the root chakra sits at the base of the spine, acting as the foundation of energetic development. When seen in the aura of a person who isn’t naturally this frequency, red often signifies the end, but also the beginning. When one door closes, another one opens.

I’ve observed that red can appear in the human energy field when a person is in the midst of a tangible shift or life change. It shows up when we are embarking on a new chapter in life. Red is about new beginnings, the start of something completely new—one that feels like an upheaval or uprooting of sorts. Career changes, breakups or new relationships, starting a family, moving to a new city—these are all classic examples of “red” moments in life.

The root chakra is responsible for our physical reality, so symbiotically when our aura displays a significant amount of red, we are embodying the personality traits of this color in order to integrate into the new reality that we are looking to manifest.

At its core the color red is not only grounding, it’s about the forward movement we create in our everyday. This can look like starting a new daily habit, such as a morning or evening routine, so that you have grounding and consistency in your day to day. It can also look like taking that monumental leap forward by quitting the job you hate and looking for a new adventure.

Because red is related to both our energetic and physical roots, it can reflect an aspect of our being that resists change and forward movement. This is because each color contains a spectrum of possibility from light to shadow. For example, a person with a red aura might be ready to create a new life as a former chapter is ending, while also being resistant to change in their personal life, such as leaving a long term relationship that no longer aligns with the new reality that’s unfolding for them.

As a yang color, red is a state of being actively engaged in life, interacting with the world we live in. It involves letting your current reality crumble and fall apart, so that you can lay a new foundation down to build upon. It’s important to remember that the act of building or creating is a process and that every small step you take moves you closer to your end goal.

It is theorized that the color orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating mental activity and creativity, while simultaneously loosening inhibitions. It’s a color that was used by ancient cultures in works of art due to its bold hue. Some cultures regard orange as a sacred color because it balances the power of red and the perfection of yellow. In Eastern cultures, it is considered the color of transformation and is connected to the highest state of illumination. You will often find Buddhist monks wearing orange robes.

The color orange emanates from the sacral chakra. This frequency governs our emotions, desires, and social relationships. It’s the level of consciousness in which we experience pleasure, or the lack thereof. This color appears in the auras of those who are driven by their emotions, serving as fuel for their actions. Behind this fuel is desire, a want, or need. Desire is the seed of movement and pleasure is the root of desire. It is in this context that the sacral chakra is linked with our sexuality, both energetically and on an anatomical level.

Our emotions are literally energy in motion. In Latin, the word for emotion, motus, translates as “to move out,” speaking to the movement of our life force through which we create change. As emotions are inherently linked to motion, when we restrict movement, we repress our feelings. In turn, movement can then help us release any stressors or negative feelings, guiding us toward pleasure and away from pain.

As humans we connect with each other through our emotions. This color is often seen in those who are social butterflies and find pleasure in their social relationships. Natural oranges can walk into a room full of strangers and, by the end of the evening, be friends with almost every person. When it comes to relationships, the orange ray comes in when we have both the emotional capacity and emotional intelligence to relate to all kinds of personalities. It asks us to be dynamic in our approach, having the ability to connect through shared experiences and varied perspectives in life.

When socializing is something that doesn’t come naturally to us, we may be on the orange frequency when we find ourselves collaborating with colleagues at work or when being introduced to a friend’s new significant other at a party. Like water, there is a push and pull with orange energy. It’s adaptable, relatable, able to work with what’s in front of it. I’ve observed red to be a foundation for the color orange, as there is momentum of energy when emotions are involved, demanding that we be flexible. The red ray supports the orange ray, which would not exist without it.

Orange is the color of a thrill seeker, someone who is spontaneous and willing to take risks as they seek to experience the emotional breadth of what life has to offer. Ultimately the feeling an orange person seeks is pleasure, which can be attributed to traits such as addiction, whether good or bad. Addiction is interlinked with obsession, rooted in desire. Orange is like a rollercoaster for our emotional breadth and its unavoidable ebbs and flows.

When not innate to who we are, the orange ray tends to be seen in the aura during times that are challenging. Orange is the color of creativity and, more specifically, the practical application thereof. As a yin energy, orange asks us to be flexible and to flow, to be open with experimentation, to be creative in our problem solving, and to embody the traits of the risk taker who isn’t afraid to experience just for the sake of knowing how that experience feels. The phrase “you only live once” is very much an orange perspective of life. It’s the “why not try everything at least once?” mentality.

An example of when we embrace an orange mindset is when we are in the kitchen, trying out a new recipe for the first time. We are excited to try something new and have gathered all the necessary ingredients from the grocery store. Halfway through the process we realize one ingredient is missing, and it’s not possible to leave the house. Instead, we look for something we already have in the kitchen that could be a substitute. This comes with risk because this one ingredient could throw the entire recipe off. However, it could also be perfect, or even make the dish better. And we won’t know unless we try it, right? This is a perfect example of orange energy in it’s full glory—being flexible enough to dive into a trial-and-error process, having the ability to pivot, and not accepting no for an answer.

For centuries, the color yellow has been associated with both the sun and the metal, gold. In ancient Egypt, gods were depicted with yellow skin to resemble gold, and yellow ocher was used in artwork as far back as 17,000 years ago. In Buddhism, yellow is often used in temples, symbolic of a divine being. In Christianity, golden-yellow was not only used to signify status and wealth, but possessed a deep, spiritual significance, representative of divine light. In ancient Greece, this golden hue was linked to Apollo, the god of light, music, and prophecy.

As the source of our personal power, yellow shines from the solar plexus chakra. This energy center gives us the will to make choices, and defines who we are and what we believe in. Our solar plexus is where the power within fuels us: the sun, the spark. The ego exists on this plane of consciousness, the part of us that needs recognition, validation, status, separation, and individuation. While the ego tends to be looked down upon as a negative aspect of our being, in reality it’s a part of us that we need in order to survive. Our ego helps us to create an identity around ourselves and defines for us the world at large. In the context of our ego, the color yellow is ultimately about control. Our ego wants to know what to expect, thriving in familiarity in order to validate itself. When we feel as if we are not in control, we have nothing to attach ourselves to, or to identify with.

Those who naturally exist on this frequency exude a confidence in themselves and their abilities. They are steadfast in what they believe. At their best, natural yellows are open-minded and curious, while on the opposite end they can be stubborn and self-absorbed. “My way or the highway” is a very shadow way natural yellows might approach the world. They will do whatever it takes to get their way, even if it causes friction or creates conflict in their relationships. When this shadow self is visualized in the aura, dark or murky shades of yellow often reflect sarcasm, self-criticism, and self-limiting beliefs or perfectionism.

The solar plexus chakra is where our abstract ideas begin to take form through our willingness to choose one lane and move forward. In order for us to make decisions, we need to be in touch with our desires and we feel stuck when there is a disconnect to what we desire. This often happens when we give our power away, not being able to make a decision because we care too much about what others want or what they might think. Yellow asks us to choose. This is where boundaries come into play, or a need to set ground rules and expectations. I have seen that yellow within an aura can indicate that a person is naturally good at having boundaries, or when we are working on establishing them with people or situations in our life—even within ourselves. For example, it’s a very natural yellow trait to make it known if you feel you are being taken advantage of.

I often see the color yellow come up for people in relation to their work life—usually when they are taking on responsibilities that are not their burden to carry, or when instances of conflict arise. These examples involve a battle of wills—when my beliefs differ from your beliefs—and there is a need to find middle ground. Yellow can also signal internal conflicts when we are being too hard on ourselves. When we self-sabotage, this tends to be a solar plexus issue. We self-sabotage when we suffer from low self-esteem, negative self talk, feelings of worthlessness, fear of the unknown, or an excessive need for control and a need for the self preservation of our identity. The ego loves to attach itself to what is familiar.

The color yellow is also related to the concept of discipline. When we create boundaries or parameters with others, or ourselves, it’s to limit what is possible, to cut out the noise and things that no longer serve us. For example, I’ve seen yellow appear in the auras of people who have made a choice to cut alcohol or other substances from their lives, usually when these external influences are things that they have no control over. This is accountability; creating structure and having the will to stick to our choices helps us own our power and be in control, getting back into the driver’s seat in life. The yang energy of the color yellow asks us to move confidently in the direction of our dreams.

The yellow ray is commonly associated with happiness and joy. But that doesn’t simply mean that having a yellow aura means you are a happy and positive person. In fact, I often notice it’s the opposite for most individuals. These positive feelings and traits are only available to us when we feel empowered within ourselves and also in our lives. In its shadow, yellow can show up as anxiety, indecisiveness, overthinking, and the lack of will to take responsibility.

The yellow ray also helps us with digestion. What we consume is much more than what we physically eat to nourish our bodies, although this is important as well. Media, the people we surround ourselves with, the environments we are exposed to are all things we digest on various levels.

Green has a calming effect on the nervous system and is the easiest color for our eyes to see or adjust to. Throughout history it has symbolized love, regeneration, fertility, and balance. The ancient Egyptians called the color wadj, which means “flourish.”

When viewing Earth from space, we see a blue sphere covered with patches of green. The color green is often associated with nature, and by understanding the natural world we can begin to understand what the color green represents within ourselves. Linked to the heart chakra, green is the seat of the soul, the bridge between our lower and upper chakras. It connects our earthly self to our spiritual self, the literal center where we experience love and harmony. The task of the green light ray is to integrate and balance all the various aspects of our being. They green ray is our portal into zero point, the center of our personal universe, the center of You. This center is where universal energy and earthly energy merge—the conjunction point, the seat of the soul, the astral realm.

Natural greens need a sense of security within themselves and their relationships in life. They are nurturing personalities—often the giver in a relationship, caring for themselves comes as an afterthought.

As a yin energy, green is about acceptance and letting things just be, which is the most profound kind of love. This color occupies our aura during a period of personal growth and expansion. While red is about new beginnings in our external world, green is about new beginnings within ourselves, a sense of renewal. It’s an unraveling of who we used to be, and acceptance and patience of who we are becoming.

When the aura is green, I like to think of the metaphor of a caterpillar in a cocoon. During metamorphosis, the caterpillar dissolves into a goolike substance. In this raw, uncomfortable state it then has to reform into a new version of itself—be it a moth or a butterfly. Similarly, when we are experiencing a period of transformation, we are asked to shed or dissolve an aspect of who we once were, in order to reform into a new version of ourselves.

I’ve seen the green ray occupy the aura in a person who is taking on a new role in life, such as becoming a parent for the first time, or at work when getting a promotion. Zooming out, this occurs when we are tasked with navigating new spaces or exploring new territory for the first time. Literally when we are “green” at an aspect of life.

The heart chakra asks us not only to hold loving space for others, but also for ourselves. When our aura is green and it’s not innately who we are, we must remember that growth takes time, and we all evolve at our own pace. It’s not a process that should be rushed as it can throw things off balance, and green is all about getting back into a place of balance and harmony within.

When we experience loss in life, of ourselves or others, this can also be when the green ray starts coming into our energy field. Experiencing grief in the form of losing a beloved pet, loss or separation in a relationship, or the death of a family member, requires time to heal. Relating back to nature, when a tree or plant experiences trauma like losing a limb or branch, it needs time to heal and restore balance. Likewise, green gives us the ability to restore balance within, asking us to find ways to become whole again.

During the pandemic in 2020, I began to notice the green ray showing up more often in auras. When speaking with individuals, I discovered that they had started going to talk therapy for the first time, a process of unpacking and shedding aspects of their former selves and healing old patterns that no longer served them. Therapy is often a transformative process that, at its core, is what the heart chakra facilitates within the human experience.

In popular culture, the color green is associated with money. However, I don’t subscribe to this perspective as money is not green in most countries. Holistically, I recognize that green is about abundance. Psychologically it triggers our relationship with the resources we have in our lives—be they material objects, our relationships, or even, yes, money itself. The idea of having either an abundance or scarcity mindset is within the frequency of the heart chakra, a reflection of our own perceptions of self-worth and security. Green is a color that gently reminds us that everything is interconnected, and as long as we act out of love, and listen to our heart, we can get back to a state of harmony.

Blue is a color that wasn’t actually recognized by human beings until modern times. Back in the 1800s, scholar William Gladstone noticed that, in the Odyssey, Homer describes the ocean as “wine-dark” or the sky as “broad” or “starry,” but never actually uses the word “blue.” It is said that the human eye has changed over time, and as we evolved, the retina became more exposed to light, and as a result more sensitive to the visible spectrum.

This phenomenon is interesting as blue mainly exists naturally in the unearthly realms of the sky and the sea, and is absent from the true material world. Skies appear blue because, when sunlight travels through the Earth’s atmosphere, shortwave blue photons are disrupted by molecules in the air and scattered across the sky in all directions. This is known as Rayleigh scattering. The ocean is blue because it mirrors the sky, with water reflecting short wavelengths of light and converting remaining wavelengths into heat. In between the sky and the sea, the horizon also appears blue due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and arial perspective—as objects move away from us, they are covered more by scattered light, appearing more and more blue. Thus, these naturally occurring fields of blue are merely apparitions, asking us to question what is true and what is not.

Communication is the foundation of expression, and truth is the foundation of communication. The color blue is connected to the throat chakra, which is the realm of consciousness that transmits and receives communication through sound, vibration, creativity, and self-expression, both within ourselves and with others. It’s about expression in all forms: verbal, nonverbal, internal, and external. Vibration is an oscillation of energy waves that creates correspondence with your environment. In this case, verbally spoken sound gives us the ability to speak our world into existence. This idea is referenced as early as the King James version of the Bible, in John 1:1, stating “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The throat chakra is where we purify our truth through verbal expression. Natural blue auras are great communicators, speakers of truth who have the ability to synthesize old ideas and concepts into something completely new. They are honest to a fault as they don’t see any point in hiding who they are or what they think or feel. They tend to be the most compassionate and understanding of all the colors on the spectrum, but in their shadow this personality type can be the narcissist, gossip, or person that overshares and says too much.

When we find ourselves with a blue aura, we are exploring ways to express ourselves authentically. While the spoken or written word is one way to communicate, there are infinite ways in which people express who they are. It’s what makes us human. Creative expression can be found through art, dance, music, and food, to name a few. Blue asks us to find our voice, no matter the medium.

By definition, communication is the process of transmitting and receiving information through symbols. Communication is an act of connection, an essential key to accessing our inner worlds and deepest truths. Through communication, we are able to shape our reality and forge the future by the process of naming. By giving something a name, we are creating structure and meaning to our thoughts and ideas. With words and symbols, consciousness has a tool with which it can begin to create order, mirroring the transformative properties of fire in the solar plexus by creating a template of what can be made manifest.

Many of us find self-expression not alone, but through community and in connection with others. Once, a blue aura appeared for a client during a session and in conversation she mentioned she had recently purchased a Jeep. She said she had found a sense of purpose within a group of women who are passionate about the sense of freedom and adventure owning a Jeep represents—right down to displaying little rubber ducks on the dashboard. The blue in her aura spoke of creative expression, connection, and sympathetic vibrations between herself and her fellow enthusiasts as they resonated on the same frequency. A woman and beloved client of mine who usually photographs in the warmer colors of red and orange in her aura, turned blue when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This dramatic change came about when she shifted her focus in life to community and advocacy, connecting with, and encouraging, women to seek out preventative care when it came to their health. Breast cancer awareness became the platform for her truth and newfound purpose.

Like the boundless waters of our oceans or the endless sky, blue-ray energy doesn’t have firm boundaries and acts as a beacon of hope for others. This openness gives others the ability to walk into your aura, so it’s important to practice discernment with whoever you share space and time with, and learn ways to protect your energy.

Within relationships, the color blue is seen when partners are open with each other, creating a safe space to be honest. Vulnerability and communication are fundamental for intimacy. The blue ray can also come into our lives when we begin to stand tall in our truth, learning to lean into being seen and heard by our peers. Individuals who are in the public eye often have blue in their aura. Being seen for who we are takes the courage to be truly vulnerable, without the fear of judgment. Embodying your own creative expression, and being transparent about who you are and what you believe in, are both marks of the blue aura.

Indigo is a color that was first used in Peru as early as 4000 BCE. It has since been used by many ancient civilizations. Rooted in Greek, the word for “indigo” (indikon) translates as “from India.” Our ancestors in India, East Asia, and Egypt, all used this blue dye derived from the Indigofera tinctoria plant to color their clothes. Held in high regard, indigo was a color woven into the burial customs of many different ancient cultures. Ancient Egyptians threaded thin indigo lines into the edges of their linen mummy cloths. A ceremonial robe of the infamous Tutankhamun was almost entirely indigo. In northern Africa, males of the Tuareg tribe are given headscarves at a special ceremony that marks the right of passage from boy to man. It was as if the ancients somehow understood the meaning behind this highly spiritual color.

Correlating to the third-eye, or brow, chakra, this energy center is about surrender and going with the natural flow of life. Surrender requires us to trust that what is meant to be will always find its way to us, and that we should also surrender our ego. Expectations related to timing and outcome serve no purpose at this level of conscious awareness. Going with the flow means letting go of how we perceive life to be and embracing universal flow instead. This requires tuning in to the life force within us instead of pushing, pulling, and fighting the currents that keep coming up against us. Surrender is not about quitting, rather it’s about giving up the need for control and aligning your intentions with higher wisdom. This is the difference between force and flow. While in flow, things happen without effort. Synchronicities emerge. A strong sense of feeling drives the indigo aura, using intuition and inner knowing as a North Star in life, with surrender as the portal.

The indigo ray asks us to be open to receiving alternate perspectives and insight from our higher selves, which can only be done once we have cleared through the physical gateways of the lower chakras, releasing attachments to old beliefs, security, and even perceptions of who we are. It’s a center of exchange where we are able to internalize the outside world and, in turn, externalize our inner multidimensional self through observation.

Being an observer or witness helps us step into our soul or higher self, and enables us to see things objectively as they really are. It allows us to step off the worrisome ego stage of our lives, and review things from a neutral perspective. Those who exist naturally in the indigo ray move though life with less resistance, accepting things as they are and not how they want them to be. It’s a state of detachment and letting go. Be like the river and just flow. Lean into how it all feels.

When these qualities don’t exist within us naturally, we tend to find ourselves in an indigo aura during transitional times. It’s a liminal space, where we are in between worlds or in between life circumstances. This often feels like being in the waiting room of life. Outcomes and timing are typically out of our control, and the universe is asking for us to let go. It is asking us to surrender and lean into the unknown, to embrace the mystery of life.

The upper chakras, especially the third eye, are where energy becomes less dense. This creates space for awareness of what is happening in our inner worlds. It’s a time for stillness, slowing down and getting quiet, learning to trust our intuition, and also the universe—understanding that timing and outcomes are often not aspects of our being we can dictate. Instead of being the driver of our reality, we recognize sometimes it’s necessary to be the passenger, just along for the ride. When we move half as fast, we notice twice as much. The indigo ray asks us to trust in the process, that everything is unfolding in a way that’s for our highest good.

I’ve found that, when those who naturally thrive in the lower chakras suddenly find themselves in the indigo space, they feel as if life is stagnant. However, it’s important to recognize that this doesn’t mean life has come to a complete halt. It just means things are happening behind the scenes as the universe is working in our favor, allowing things to fall into alignment, and gently guiding us along to our next destination.

As we become heightened in our awareness, our sensitivity levels also rise. We become more porous and easily influenced or affected by our surroundings—both the people we interact with and the physical environments we occupy. The social butterfly all of a sudden finds themselves an introvert or hermit, choosing to stay home instead of going out with friends. Watching a romantic comedy or an emotional drama may induce a good cry session. Your friends begin telling you that you’re being overly sensitive. “What’s wrong?” they’ll ask when you are simply just feeling.

The task of the indigo frequency is to attune us to our spiritual and inner selves, to better understand the sensations we are feeling and the messages they are trying to deliver. This level of consciousness is unstructured and free flowing, which translates to moving through life in a state of just being. When we find ourselves here, the key is to be intentional, to understand that there is no rush as time is just a construct of our ego and doesn’t exist in the quantum field of all that is.

Violet is one of the oldest colors used by humans. Throughout history, violet, or purple as we commonly call it, was a color associated with royalty and high religious status. In the ancient world many cultures cultivated the violet hue that they called Tyrian purple from sea snails or sea urchins. This deep hue was used mostly in garments for high-ranking individuals in the Mediterranean region, but also in Mexico and Central America. The Mayans used violet dyes for religious ceremonies, and the Aztecs used them for paintings of ideograms symbolizing royalty. In Native American culture, violet represents spiritual development, connectedness, awareness, and magical elements. In ancient Christianity, the sea urchin represented the cosmic egg, the marriage between the sacred masculine and feminine—unity. In many ancient cultures, the sea snail also symbolized wisdom, becoming more spiritually aware, and trusting in divine timing. As their shells follow the golden ratio, these creatures also are symbolic of spiritual expansion and consciousness.

Violet is linked to the crown chakra, the energy center for inspiration and our connection to all that exists—past, present, and future. It is an energy vortex that acts as a bridge between us and the universe.

True violet personalities are dreamers, head-in-the-clouds kinds of people. They come off as whimsical and are always sharing their ideas because they have literally a million of them. These individuals are forward thinkers, concerned more with concepts and ideals rather than physical reality itself. They are visionaries who are highly magnetic, and love to be the center of attention. They are here on Earth to help inspire others, showing humanity what is possible when we are open vessels to a higher power, channels of dreams, prophecy, and endless possibility of what it means to be a spirit incarnate on the physical plane. These individuals are often celebrities, actors, or influencers. They might also occupy roles in mysticism as they are focused on the idea or “bigger picture” concept rather than the physical manifestation of reality.

We may embody the violet ray at times when we are looking toward to the future, imagining and envisioning what is possible. These are periods when we are exploring what feels inspirational, seeing what options are available to us. During this time of seeking, we may feel drawn to moving beyond our limited experiences in life as we become very affected by our environment. Activities such as travel and experiencing new cultures can bring us into this color frequency, helping us reach that lightbulb moment where we see potential in a direction that comes from higher realms. It gives us the ability to literally “download” from the universe, the realm of limitless possibility.

However, when the world is our oyster and everything is possible, this can sometimes become overwhelming. It can almost feel like we have too many options and don’t even know what we truly want, or even where to start. I often see violet in an aura when an individual is on the precipice of something new, but still in the discovery and concepting stage. Creating a vision board for a new project, figuring out how you are going to decorate the new home you just bought, or even when someone is trying to decide what city they want to move to next, based on whether it’s a place they can envision a future in—these are all examples where we may be tapping into the violet ray. When you are in the world of violet, it can be helpful to take time to focus or meditate, so that you can get back in touch with your true vision.

The color violet is inherently what the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is about. In one specific instance in the book, she speaks of a story concept that she didn’t see through. After a period of time, another woman published the exact same concept for the exact same story she’d had. Everything, down to the details and characters, was almost identical. How can this be? Aren’t all of our ideas original? This theory—that ideas actually find us and not the other way around—exists within the violet ray. We are simply vessels for the universe to bring the abstract into physical expression. When we wait too long, or don’t act on inspiration, this energy finds another form of consciousness—another person—who is able and willing to bring it into physical expression.

In the world of metaphysics, everything already exists, so technically there are no original ideas and everything comes from an original source. Our expression of them merely fractals of a larger whole. Violet is the color that brings us in direct contact with the “source.” Our crown chakra asks us to be open. It acts like a radio antenna. When we are clear and open, we can receive the messages and magic that are meant for us.

The violet ray is often seen as the realm where psychic abilities reside. This is true, but not the entire truth.

White is a color that represents innocence, purity, and spirituality across many cultures. In my experience it’s not a rare aura color as most of us use this color ray at some, if not many, points in our lives. However, what is rare is an all-white aura with no other color present. It’s said that an all-white aura can be seen in maybe one person on Earth at a time. This is an individual who has completely transcended their attachments to the physical world and lives a life solely on a spiritual path. Since this idea is not practical for the majority of us, let’s explore what it means when white appears amongst other colors in our aura.

Outside of the seven major chakras, white is linked to the soul chakra, which hovers right above the head, essentially just above the crown chakra. This is where our higher self resides and our direct connection to the Divine, the Source, God, the universe. I’ve experienced that white in a person’s aura typically represents use of spiritual energy as a tool in their life to some degree, but also a belief in something bigger than themselves. They understand that they are just a tiny speck in a vast universe of conciseness and have an unwavering belief in a higher power.

Some of us are devoutly religious and attend church or temple weekly and pray during designated times in our days and weeks. Others of us are spiritual but don’t identify with a specific religion and rather believe in the oneness and interconnectedness of all living things. No matter what our approach to spirituality, it all shows up as the color white in our aura. I have observed those who are fairly new on their spiritual journey and are just starting a regular meditation practice will also just simply display white in their energy field—the exact same white as the pastor who serves a congregation and leads sermons every Sunday at church. Both have the belief that they are part of a bigger picture and that life is a process of cocreation, not self-creation.

When white appears in our aura, it might be because we have found ourselves feeling lost or confused and it’s during these times that we tune into a higher power for guidance or answers. We are in a state of seeking and wanting, or needing, to believe in something outside of our earthly selves, and this requires true belief in something bigger than ourselves. So when I hear the common phrase “white means you’re spiritual” that is a true statement, but it’s only one side of the mirror, a half-truth. It’s an incredibly basic way of viewing the cosmic white ray. This kind of confusion state of white tends to look intense, cloudy, and almost electric or neon, instead of soft and luminous.

A friend who was experiencing crippling vertigo for almost eight months displayed an incredible amount of this intense kind of white in her aura. Another friend who was also going through health issues, but related to fertility, displayed an intense white in her aura during a tumultuous period of trial and tribulation. These instances of white indicate a period of reset where, energetically, we are overwhelmed but also need to reconnect with pure, higher energy from the universe. This kind of interaction with the white ray feels akin to being in a fog and trusting that it will dissipate instead of actively looking for clarity.

As white is a color that is symbolic of the spiritual world, it can also appear in our aura when we are accessing that realm in a multitude of ways. Connecting with a loved one who has passed, asking your spirit guides for a sign, praying to an archangel for protection, seeking out creator for guidance, or even simply trusting that the universe has your back—these are all ways in which we connect with white energy. This can often show up as a sphere or orb in our aura, however its interpretation is ultimately up to the individual. In sessions, I tell clients that however they have been connecting to energy in that realm of consciousness is what it represents.

During one of my stops on tour, a couple had a white circular energy show up in their aura, but only in their collective aura and not in either of their individual aura photographs. During our discussion, they talked about a mantra they practice when they are together, speaking out loud their trust that the universe always has their back. But they only do this together, and never alone. The mantra is simply “Everything will always work out for us,” stemming from one of their tattoos in French: les meilleure choses dans la vie sont déjà les miennes, which translates as “the best things in life are already mine.” This incredibly simple, but powerful, phrase is their North Star. The couple also revealed that when they are together is when magic happens and things tend to work in their favor, no matter how impossible the situation. This is yet another example of actual proof that what we believe in and bring into focus through devotional practice, is what manifests in our lives—even something as abstract and intangible as a belief in the Divine or, simply, the universe. What we believe in is the most powerful force there is, especially when the belief is in something outside of ourselves, and we surrender.

It is said that magenta can lighten moods, inspire joy, and encourage people to feel more optimistic. As a color that resides between red and indigo (blue-violet) this aura color acts as a bridge between aspects of the root and third-eye chakras. While unconventional, I believe magenta to be the secondary color of the heart chakra, what is commonly referred to as simply “pink.” It’s true that there are many shades of pink, but magenta is the Source, or Mother, if you will. The hue magenta is the complement of green: magenta pigments absorb green light, thus magenta and green are opposite colors.

Magenta is a hue that represents authenticity, a free-spirited approach to life. Natural magentas are nonconformist and march to the beat of their own drum. They like to approach life in their own unique way and push societal boundaries. They love to break the rules. Magenta individuals are always finding new ways of doing things and tend to be incredibly innovative or artistic. In some cases, you may even go as far as calling them bizarre, weird, or controversial. While magentas are sometimes outrageous or eccentric, these individuals are fun-loving and prioritize their sense of freedom above all else.

When magenta appears in our aura for only a short period, it’s usually during a time when we are needing to prioritize ourselves in life, or when we are seeking out pathways back to our authenticity. As children we are our true authentic selves, before we are exposed to parental and societal conditioning. We act (red) on what we intuitively feel (indigo) and are rooted (red) in our awareness (indigo) whether we realize it or not.

I’ve observed magenta in many of the people I have photographed and, interestingly enough, our conversations often take shape around the theme of inner child. It’s important to note that I have seen both yellow and magenta relate to themes of our younger selves and in very different ways, yet they are often interlinked. Yellow has structure and is rooted in power, recognition, curiosity, and individual identity, while magenta is free flowing and reconnects us with our passions and pure childlike joy, free from attachments, validations, and any need for identity other than being a human following their heart.

Most of the individuals who displayed magenta with themes of inner child were at a point in their lives where they needed to stop taking everything so seriously, and to reimmerse themselves in play. Some took up hobbies they had loved as teenagers. Others focused on self-care or spending more time with friends and community. The common thread amongst all of them was not caring what anyone thought of their actions or choices, but tuning into their own intrinsic needs.

Very often, I’ve observed that a shadow aspect of magenta in adults is people-pleasing. When this occurs we prioritize the wants and needs of others before our own. It also happens when we make decisions based on what is expected of us, instead of what we truly want: a first-time mom who has lost herself in the trenches of motherhood; the newly engaged couple whose family wants every extended family member to attend the wedding when all the couple wants is an intimate gathering; the CEO who has lost touch with his friends and family through long working days. I’ve seen magenta show up when a person is going through divorce and, for the first time, they are able to tend to their own needs first. These are all instances where magenta begins to envelop our energy field.

Magenta also often appears in tandem with the color yellow in relation to prioritizing ourselves when we have given our power away or lent too much energy to others. During these groundbreaking moments, there is a realization that the best way to restructure life (yellow) is to follow what is in our hearts at the most true and authentic level (magenta). This is often visualized in aura photographs with the color magenta closest to the head and yellow above it.

FIVE

Auric States

It is possible for the aura to be a single color or multiple colors, reflecting our current state of being and the themes we are experiencing in life. I refer to the varying archetypes of our energy, or the different color combinations and color patterns our auras can display, as our “auric states.”

I have been asked many times in my practice why one person’s aura can look just like someone else’s. We are told that our auras are as unique to each one of us as our fingerprints, which is true. But this uniqueness doesn’t express itself simply as color. The uniqueness of our auras takes form in the stories that the colors hold for us, and the meanings we attribute to them.

As humans we are all born with the same physical and biological anatomy. We have the same internal organs—heart, lungs, pancreas, kidney, intestines, brain, and so on. Externally we all have a torso, legs, arms, head, face, hands, feet. What makes our physical anatomy unique are our features, or the expression of our genes. You might have a smaller nose but larger ears than the next person. Or maybe you are tall due to having long legs. Inside our physical bodies we all have a heart, however each person’s heart may look or function differently—in terms of size and resting heart rate, for example. Over time a person’s heart might not function optimally due to clogged arteries related to diet, stress, or other factors. Our physical features and organs are influenced by many things like our DNA and genetics, but also our lifestyle choices.

Energetically, we also have the same anatomy person to person. Every human is gifted with a chakra system—the energy system we utilize to experience the world through both our individual and collective consciousness. This experience of being a human being is expressed through frequency or color. So, yes, of course you will display similar color patterns to those of another human being, but what makes your aura colors and patterns different is the narrative the colors represent, because your life story and experiences are ultimately unique to you. This is your unique energy signature.

Here we explore some of the most common archetypes, or color combinations, along with the overarching themes each color pattern represents. Color is the vessel, and your individual expression, perspective, bias, experience, and stories form the substance that fills the vessel.

Red Only

This is a time when you are hyper-focused on setting goals and the necessary steps it takes to get to the end destination. There may be change on the horizon or you might be in the thick of bringing new ideas or concepts to fruition. Life is moving along at a rapid pace and your main objective is to be prepared and stay ahead. There’s no time to waste. You’re the main character of your reality, taking initiative in your own life or stepping up within a group, leading by example. If you don’t feel ready to take a leap forward, just know the ability to do so is available to you. Ultimately your aura reflects being in a process of actualization.

Red / Orange

You’ve been in the process of manifestation or creation, but have come across challenges and hurdles. However, a roadblock doesn’t mean having to give up. Rather, this gives you a chance to take the road less traveled. The passion and drive you need to keep going are available and will enable you to tackle a challenge head on. You never know unless you try, right? The colors of your aura offer you a soft edge during these times, asking you to be flexible and to redirect your emotions and desires to help fuel the next steps you need to take. Remember, it’s about the journey and not the destination.

Red / Violet

Your aura is setting the stage for external changes in your reality, while connecting you to inspirations, dreams, possibilities, and new perspectives. In the world of infinite potential, what concept or idea do you want to bring to life? What foundations do you need to lay down in order to build upon it? This yang state of being tends to reflect embodying a master manifesting state. Whatever you imagine can materialize quickly, as long as you act on it.

Red / Magenta

New beginnings. When one door closes, another one opens. This is a time not just to talk about what you want, but to start taking steps toward it. It’s also a time to reconnect with yourself or perhaps the child within. Prioritize what feels good without overthinking it. Are you moving in a certain direction because it’s expected of you, or is this authentically you? What choices would your teenage self make? Do that. It’s important to fill your own cup before you can pour into those of others.

Red / Yellow

When in a process of writing the narrative of our life, we often forget that manifestation is a cocreation process. You’ve created a new foundation for consistency, showing up daily through your actions. Now is a time to connect back to your power from within, to find the determination and will to make decisions, being confident in the roadmap you are laying out. It’s important to understand that, while a healthy sense of discernment can be beneficial, not everything in life has to make sense. While being in control can feel safe and empowering, there are times when you need to reevaluate and question whether the illusion of control is actually serving you or sabotaging you.

Green Only

Growth requires that you step outside of your comfort zone. Your aura is asking you to take a leap of faith forward into the unfamiliar. It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to fall apart. It’s okay not to recognize who you are right now. This period of time is all about learning and integrating. Be gentle with yourself, as you are transforming. Metamorphosis is meant to be a messy process. Let go of who you used to be and start accepting who it is that you are becoming. An open heart isn’t just for others—it’s important to hold space for yourself. This is a time for learning how to grow flowers along the edges of your discomfort.

Green / Red

Both your inner and outer worlds are shifting at the same time. In order to create space for something new to come into your life, you must embrace the unraveling of yourself and all that surrounds you. This process of metamorphosis requires you to remain dedicated to the process, taking the necessary steps forward while allowing yourself to sit in the discomfort of change. Leading with your heart, this period of renewal is meant for you to step into a new version of yourself and a new life. Recognize the only way out is through.

Green / Red / Yellow

Life is uprooting your belief systems and ideas about your place in the world. When you are going through shifts within and without, it’s common for old patterns and ways of thinking to feel like they don’t fit you anymore. In what ways can you reclaim your power in this new you and in this new reality? This is a time to focus on things you can control and to be okay with the parts you cannot. Shed the past and embrace what is in front of you. Now is all that matters. Standing up for what you believe in now, and what you want, is the best way to connect with who you are becoming. The person you desire to become is within you, not outside of you.

Green / Indigo / Blue

Swim in and surrender. Float along the river of letting go. Trust in the direction of the stream of your growth. This is a time when you may be feeling as if you are falling apart and having to face difficult truths in order to connect back into your true essence. Like water, periods of calm and stillness can help us heal, releasing stress and heavy energy. Now is time to embrace the unknown and discomfort of traversing new waters. Learning to accept the ebbs and flows of life will carry you to where you’re meant to be. Trust in the timing of your life. Growth often happens most in spaces where nothing seems to move. May you pause and open your heart long enough to receive the wonder and beauty of all the magic that surrounds you.

Indigo Only

Being in a flow state is not about movement, yet it’s not about complete stillness either. It’s about being aware of your environment and responding accordingly. This is a time when your intuition is your compass, guiding you toward greater awareness of your inner worlds. Remember, you are a human being, not a human doing. By tuning in within, you will become more aware of everything around you and appreciate things for how they are, not how you want them to be. Perception is simply a state of mind.

Indigo / Blue / White

Feeling lost is a normal part of life’s journey. Being in a heightened state of awareness, you are in a place where you are attuned to all of life’s frequencies, and this can be overstimulating at times. Your superpower is your depth of feeling and sensitivity, you are currently in a state where you are resonating with your highest truths. This can feel liberating, but also overwhelming. Things might be falling apart. You might be floating in the ether of a liminal space. Lean into it all. While it’s important to be honest with others, more importantly you need to be honest with yourself during this time. True vulnerability is the key to finding clarity and connection. Be clear about what you want, while practicing patience with an openness to receiving what is meant for you. Enlightenment comes when we accept what is true without judgment.

Indigo / Violet

When we view life through the lens of the upper chakras, it can often feel as if we are disconnected from our physical reality. You aren’t meant to take forward steps right now, because the path hasn’t yet been illuminated. In this moment, new ideas and thoughts are streaming through your consciousness, coming and going at the speed of light. So many directions, a million possibilities, but which is the right one? This is a time of exploration, letting the abstract and your dreams take center stage. Your imagination is your ally, providing you with the opportunity to paint a new vision to hold. There’s no rush. Take your time and tune in to what is coming through you. The magic that is meant for you will always find you.

Primary and Secondary Colors

The color combinations on the previous pages are the most common to see within our auras and should be considered foundational energies, or the colors that set the stage for what you are experiencing, determined by your mindset and focus. When there are more than three colors present in your energy field, this can symbolize reaching a time when many aspects of your life are at a culmination point. When examining the meaning behind your particular rainbow state, you’ll want to focus on which colors are most prevalent and primary, and then consider the secondary colors that are “layered” on top of those foundational colors.

For example, having orange in your aura will always have a red foundation and having blue in your aura will indicate an indigo foundation. A color such as yellow has a foundation of either red or green. This reasoning comes from examining the Venn diagram of the colors of visible light, and specifically the colors of visible human light, which is slightly different than when we look at light in the context of science and physics.

When I began studying the human aura and it’s colors, I noticed that the colors orange, indigo, and violet weren’t displayed in the typical Venn diagram showing the primary colors red, yellow, and blue with their additive colors. (The term “additive” refers to the process of mixing different colors to create a brighter and more vibrant result.)

It wasn’t until I came across the work of Christopher Hills in his 1977 book Nuclear Evolution: Discovery of the Rainbow Body that I had a lightbulb moment and realized the main colors of our aura are actually red-orange, green, and violet-blue—also known as indigo. Secondary colors in Hills’ theory are magenta, yellow, and blue, with white, of course, at the center, when all the colors are combined. With my understanding of the Eastern philosophy of dantians and how chakras are divided into three larger reservoirs of energy, everything clicked. This was the missing piece of the puzzle I was looking for.

Hills’ work and revelation of the primary colors of human light supported a working theory of mine that respectively ties into the famous quote by Heraclitus: “Change is the only constant in life.”

A red-orange foundation indicates materialization and represents change related to the actions we are taking toward reforming our physical reality. This is a state of doing, where we initiate or have to react. A green foundation indicates metamorphosis, when we, ourselves, are changing in some way. This is a state of transforming, where we are allowing ourselves or our lives to move from one state or another, like water turning into ice, or a snowflake melting back into water—the current runs both ways. An indigo foundation indicates surrender, creating space by letting go. This is a state of being. When we look at the cyclical nature of life, we are always in one of these states. Some of us cycle through them often, while others tend to stay in one state all of the time. By understanding your aura colors, you can begin to understand your personal patterns, which are a reflection of both your internal and external worlds.

SIX

Anatomy of the Aura

By definition, anatomy is the study of the structure, or internal workings, of something. When learning about your own energy field, it’s important to understand the anatomy of your aura, as it acts as a map of your internal worlds.

UNDERSTANDING AURA ANATOMY

In Chapter Three we talked about the energetic chakra system and its layers, which is one facet of your aura’s anatomy. Every human aura consists of these seven main layers, which are connected to a corresponding chakra based on both color and attributes.

The layers of your aura provide a framework and it is important to understand the movement of energy through your aura, placement of color, size of the aura, and the various textures and patterns that can appear in your energy field. All of these aspects are woven together to create a story, a reflection of your personal journey through the human experience.

Movement of Energy

The aura doesn’t just extend around you, but it also flows through you. The energy field around your body is a three-dimensional torus, or donut-shaped field of energy. The human aura appears as a series of nested spherical torus formations, or toroidal fields, reflecting the spiral of life. Think of the Milky Way galaxy, since this is also a torus shape.

The torus is the flow of life described by the universal law of Oneness. You may be familiar with this as the law of karma, law of cause and effect, of yin and yang polarities, or of duality. What goes up, must come down and what goes in, must come out. This law acknowledges that there has to be an activating power that moves into a field of substance to create something, and then there is a flow that returns back to the source of activation. Our physical bodies function based on toroidal flow. Our heartbeat circulates oxygen-rich blood from the lungs, through the arteries, to the cells, and then oxygen-depleted blood returns to the lungs through the veins.

When we look at the human aura, energy is circulating both from our feet to our head in a circular manner, but also body left to body right. Together these two-dimensions form a three-dimensional field of energy that is ever flowing and circulating. When looking at a photo or portrait of an aura, energy circulates right to left (body left to body right), which also coincides with how blood generally circulates through the body. I had this confirmed once by a medical physician at a party where I was photographing auras. When I explained to him how energy moves, he told me that is how our blood flows through our body.

Placement of Color

Understanding the meaning behind our aura colors is important, but where they appear within the aura is also significant. Our energy field is multidimensional with layers of meaning within each area. It’s important to note that with most aura camera technologies we are only able to visualize the aura from the chest upward. This means we only are seeing colors from the heart chakra through the crown chakra. However, it’s important to understand color placements from the solar plexus chakra down through the root chakra as it’s possible to visualize the aura through clairvoyance.

The left side of our body (image right) is our yin, or feminine, receptive side. Colors that appear within this area relate to our subconscious, our internal emotional world. When looking at the aura as a timeline, the left side of the body is focused on the future and includes aspects of our being that we are focused on cultivating. This can impact the actions we begin to take and the decisions we are in the process of making, and often reflects how we perceive ourselves at any point in time. Lack of color in this area often indicates overwhelm or a need to take a pause on letting something new into our lives. It can also indicate a hesitation toward the future, or a person having too much on their plate and feeling the need to focus on the present instead of what is to come.

The right side of our body (image left) is our yang, or masculine, expressive side. Colors that appear within this area relate to our conscious external, physical world. When looking at the aura as a timeline, the right side of the body is focused on the past, what we are releasing and letting go of. This can impact our memory and often reflects our persona, or how others perceive us. When there is a lack of color here, it often indicates a person is holding on to memories, dwelling on past events, and not quite ready to let go. It can also reflect hesitation toward expressing oneself.

The area from the forehead moving upward, represents what we are currently experiencing in the moment and day to day—a true reflection of our consciousness. The closer the colors are to the head, the more immediate and intense they are. Colors that tend to form an arch within this area can indicate things we are working on, such as a goal or an aspiration. Colors that appear over the throat indicate how we are communicating or vocalizing ourselves. They can also indicate what we are communicating, such as a topic of interest.

Colors that appear over the heart represent feeling and emotion, connecting to our heart’s desires. I’ve noticed in aura photographs, when there is a color here that isn’t present in other areas of the energy field, there’s an aspect of the person’s being that they are holding close, like a secret, wanting to bring it into their lives.

Colors that appear over the solar plexus relate to the central vibration of our being. This area can give insight into what is driving a person’s abilities or where their power lies.

Colors that appear over the sacral chakra can indicate how we are relating to others, often through shared experience. It can also indicate what challenges a person might be facing at the time and areas where they need greater flexibility.

Colors that appear over the root chakra reflect what we are materializing into the world as this is the energy of the physical plane and material reality. It can also indicate areas in a person’s life that need to take root.

Size of the Aura

Auras that expand outward can indicate expressiveness, spiritual expansion, and desire for connection and communication with others. In a healthy state on all levels—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—the aura expands outward and is full. Ordinarily the aura extends to about half the distance the arm can reach, roughly 12–18 in. (30–45 cm). Auras that are closer in toward the physical body can indicate sensitivity, a need for emotional and interpersonal boundaries, or a desire for solitude and rest. I’ve noticed, when we actively work on not being affected by the environment we are in, or the people that surround us, this can look like a closed aura, or one that is not expansive.

Patterns, Textures, and Shapes

Our auras are elastic and can morph or stretch like a cloud in the sky. Density is one aspect of texture within auras. In aura photographs, when a color is dense and thick, it is generally associated with a certain emotional state as some emotions are “denser” than others. However, every color can appear muddled or dark, usually taking on shadow aspects of that particular color or chakra. For example, a dense or muddled yellow that appears tan can indicate worry, overthinking, self-criticism. On the opposite end, when the aura is thin and transparent, this can indicate a stressor or lack of energy.

Occasionally circular orblike shapes appear in the aura, typically in the area over the head, our present consciousness. Ranging anywhere from two to five circles, these can be looked at as “exclamation marks” within your aura, indicating a strong signature of energy. They can also be viewed as thought forms—energetic patterns that exist within our aura, created by our own thoughts and emotions. The color they are gives us insight into what our current thought pattens are consisting of, or what they are about, as they relate to the bigger themes of the color and its significance in the chakra system. For example, a series of blue orbs can indicate a person’s need to express their true self, and each orb is reflective of how this will be accomplished. White orbs indicate connecting with, and trusting, the universe, or even our higher selves. In some cases, when there are only one or two white orbs, it can reflect a connection with our spirit guides or that we have been thinking of a loved one who has passed, as both exist within the same frequency or dimension.

Occasionally, white rays of light or vertical streaks appear in our auras, indicating an open channel to higher universal energy. These tend to appear during a period of seeking clarity or answers, or when the person has been in a continuous and consistent channeled state, such as meditation or prayer. On other occasions I’ve seen little rays that look like shooting stars in a person’s aura. This usually indicates that the person is hoping to receive a sign from a higher force, such as a spirit guide, the universe, or God.

SEVEN

Aura Alchemy

The purpose of understanding the colors of our aura and their attributes is to become self-aware. Through self-awareness, we enable ourselves to master our energy. When we are able to master our energy, we can then consciously create our reality. Self-awareness requires being honest with yourself about both the light and shadow aspects of your being, as balance is necessary in order to bring your energy into alignment. Coming into balance aligns you to your true, naturally magnetic self and is the key to mastering your aura.

Balancing the Chakras

Our chakras are an important driving factor in every aspect of our daily lives. Each chakra holds a world of experience, a dimension in which we explore a specific aspect of our being. As everything is energy, when we maintain a healthy aura by balancing the chakras, we can often heal issues before they manifest in a physical form. For example, the energy of emotion is stored in the organs, muscles, and tissues of the body when it hasn’t been properly processed or cleared from our energy field. This stored trauma can lead to pain and health issues. When our chakras are in balance, we experience harmony in our lives. When our chakras are out of balance, we may begin to experience emotional, mental, or physical distress. It’s important to recognize that when a chakra is out of balance it is either underactive or overactive. The common idea of a chakra being blocked is when it is underactive. By balancing and bringing our chakras into alignment, we are able to heal ourselves from within. We are all born with the ability to heal ourselves, and each other.

When looking at the colors within our aura, it’s not always apparent which chakras are in balance or out of balance. This is why it’s important to have a foundational understanding of the symbolism of the chakras and which dimension of life each places focus on. However, in general, when a color is not showing up in your aura, that chakra is most likely less active. The pages that follow explore each chakra in turn. For each one, there is a description of how things are when the chakra is balanced. This is then followed by examples of imbalance in that level of consciousness and an exercise aimed at restoring balance.

When the root chakra is in balance, we have a secure foundation and understanding that we will always be provided for. We have a knowledge that our basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and love will be met. We are connected to nature, family, and community in healthy ways. We feel grounded and safe within the physical reality around us, but also within our own bodies. These aspects are our literal roots, like those of a tree, providing us with a sense of secure attachment and the ability to survive whatever life throws at us. The energy of the root chakra determines our ability to be firmly rooted within ourselves and the world. We trust in the natural ebb and flow of our day to day and act out of passion and courage instead of fear. There’s a sense of self-trust and physical ease with the material world and our own abilities to manifest our desires into reality.

ROOT CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

When the root chakra is out of harmony, we feel disconnected from our physical self, the natural world, and our family or community. We feel ungrounded, as if our roots have been pulled up, and thus do not feel safe or secure in knowing that our most basic needs will be met. When we feel unsafe, we act out of fear.

An underactive root chakra occurs when we don’t have enough energy and become passive and apathetic. When we overextend ourselves, or do too much physically, our root chakra energy becomes weak and depleted. As our foundation is not secure, we may find ourselves in a place where we are easily taken advantage of, or get sucked into pointless dramas or arguments. We may be experiencing shame, rejection, or feelings of abandonment. We can become restless, resentful, or pessimistic, all of which lead to overwhelm and not being able to focus on the simplest of tasks.

An overactive root chakra is experienced as too much energy, like adding gas to a flame, ready to explode at any moment. In this state, our adrenal system is on overdrive, and our stress response kicks in. A scarcity mindset can begin to take over, and we experience feelings of not having enough or unworthiness. There is a surplus of energy and no clear place to direct it, so we become overly attached to the material world and what we find comfortable or secure. This results in an overindulgence with money, work, food, sex, and other tangible aspects of life—a need for instant gratification in order to satisfy a false sense of security through material means.

The root chakra governs the adrenal glands, spine, bladder, kidneys, and lower extremities. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Fatigue

Stress

Anxiety

Feeling unsafe

Eating disorders

Negativity

Pessimism

Lack of focus

Lower back pain

ROOT CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

The easiest way to harmonize the root chakra is through the practice of grounding. Grounding is a way for us to cope with tension by plugging ourselves into the natural world around us. Like a lightning rod that sends excess voltage into the ground, when we root ourselves back into the earth, we protect our bodies from becoming overloaded by life’s stressors. Grounding can also help restore energy when we are depleted. As the body touches the ground, it dissipates static electricity and negative electrons while receiving a charge of energy in the form of free electrons. This helps the body synchronize with the natural rhythms and frequencies of Mother Earth.

GROUNDING EXERCISE

This exercise can be done indoors or outdoors. I suggest going outside if you are able to, in order to fully connect with the earth. Begin by lying down in a comfortable place or sitting with your feet firmly touching the ground. Open yourself up to the sensations in your body and observe how you feel. Bring your awareness to your lower back and any pain or feelings that may exist there. Move down to your legs and feet. Continue downward to the soles of your feet and then your toes. Wiggle your toes and begin to visualize thick, red roots dropping down from your lower back through your legs, feet, and toes deep into the rich soil of the earth. Your body will feel relaxed when your energetic roots find their footing.

As you imagine connecting to the earth, bring your attention to your breath. As you breathe in, allow the earth’s nurturing vibrations to flood your body. With each exhale, consciously release old emotions, negative thoughts, and fears down through the roots and allow the earth to absorb them. Continue this process for as long as you have time for, to allow yourself the space to really feel the sensations this frequency brings to your aura as well as your body.

When in harmony, the sacral chakra gives us the ability to live life uninhibited. We have the capacity to experience pleasure and truly enjoy taking up space in our quest to fulfill our desires. We are in flow with our creative expression and in touch with our emotions. With high emotional intelligence, we understand our own needs and are able to use our emotional world to bridge the messages between mind and body. In balance, the sacral chakra enables us to create and maintain healthy relationships through connection and intimacy.

SACRAL CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

An underactive sacral chakra is experienced as an inability to express emotions. We may feel numb and disconnected, and avoid our emotions because we are in a freeze response state. Unprocessed traumas live within this chakra as it’s often impacted by energetic baggage carried over from our root chakra. This is why the color orange is almost always seen together with red in auras. This imbalance can influence the creative and sexual aspects of our being. We may suffer from a low libido and sexual desire, challenges with fertility, issues around intimacy, relationship problems, and the inability to birth our ideas into the world. An overactive sacral chakra manifests as an emotional rollercoaster. We experience mood swings and everything in excessive highs and lows. In relationships, we become codependent and are possessive, always finding ourselves in dramatic situations. Our need to fulfill our desires is on overdrive and we become addicted to drugs and alcohol, social media, sex, or obtaining material possessions.

The sacral chakra relates to our sexual organs, hormones, liver, and spleen. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Hormonal issues

Boredom

Lack of fulfillment

Mood disorders

Addictions to substances

Guilt

Emotional imbalance

Pelvic pain

Sexual dysfunction

SACRAL CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

Movement is the key to restoring balance here. When we experience an imbalance in this realm, it’s typically related to unprocessed trauma or repressed emotions. Our mind and body are in constant battle with each other as our fight, flight, or freeze response is the body’s natural reaction to perceived danger from any kind of emotional stress. Neuroscience has offered us insight into how emotions become stored in the body. Neuroscientist Candace Pert’s research on the connection between mind and body suggests that emotions are electrochemical signals that carry emotional messages throughout the body. They are then expressed, experienced, and stored within the mind and body. Her work proposes that each cell carries a kind of consciousness that stores memories and emotional states. As our hips physically house the sacral chakra, when we begin to create physical movement in this region, we begin to release trapped and unprocessed emotional energies.

“Your body is your subconscious mind, and you can’t heal it by talk alone.”

CANDACE PERT

SOMATIC RELEASING EXERCISE

Somatic movement is practiced consciously, with the intention of focusing on the internal experience of the movement rather than any external experience or end result. This allows you to reconnect with your body with complete internal focus and attention.

Begin by lying on a comfortable surface. It can be your bed, or a blanket or yoga mat on the floor. Bring your knees together while planting your feet flat on the surface beneath you so your legs naturally form an upward triangle. Allow your arms to fall by your sides with palms facing down. Let your body feel heavy and sink into the bed or floor beneath you. Allow your legs to slowly fall open and bring the soles of your feet together so they are touching. Now bring your awareness to your breath and inhale slowly and deeply, then exhale. Practice this slow and deep breathing for a few cycles. Now bring your knees back together but only by about 2 in. (5 cm) while your feet are still touching, so that your legs form butterfly wings. You may notice your thighs and legs will begin to shake, which signals a release. Feel into this while continuing to breathe in and out, slowly and deeply. Be sure to keep your back heavy and spine aligned beneath you. Now bring your legs and thighs upward by another 2 in. (5 cm), while continuing your deep breathing. Be sure to take your time, focusing on your breath and the sensations in your lower body. It is completely normal to experience an emotional release during any point of this exercise. Crying helps release oxytocin and endorphins as we let go of stress, stored trauma, and repressed emotions, restoring our sense of well-being. When your knees are completely back together, with the soles of your feet flat on the floor, start to move your knees 2 in. (5 cm) to the left, and then mirror the movement as you bring your knees 2 in. (5 cm) past center to the right. Your knees don’t need to be touching during this process, only moving in tandem in either direction. Your back should remain heavy while your legs act as a pendulum, moving back and forth, left to right. As you slowly move your knees and legs from one direction to the other, continue to breathe in deeply, and exhale out slowly.

When the solar plexus is in balance, we move through life with a strong, powerful sense of self. We know exactly what we want and how to achieve it. Our mind is sharp and able to easily find balance between intellectual reasoning and gut instincts. This innate self-confidence can’t be shaken and enables us to be true to ourselves and our belief systems. We have healthy boundaries in all aspects of life and the ability to discern what is truly ours and not what is being projected onto us, as we understand our true self-worth. We are able to digest food and information in healthy and regulated ways. We feel whole and centered in who we are.

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

An underactive solar plexus chakra often takes form as worry and anxiety. We are immersed in self-doubt and confused about our identity and the role we play in our own life, leading to insecurity and self-sabotage. We tend to have no boundaries in our relationships and give our power away to others. We are easily swayed by the opinions of others because we don’t know what we want. As this frequency rules our lower mental states, the Buddhist notion of the “monkey mind” sets in. This is where our minds are restless and constantly jump from one thought to the next, directionless and unaware of our true path. Feeling lethargic, unmotivated, and a lack of self-discipline all indicate a blockage.

When this chakra is overactive, it manifests as the ego taking over control of your being. Dominating behaviors, such as the need to be in control of people, situations, and outcomes no matter what the cost or how it affects others, are common. Excessive energy in this realm leads to arrogance and being overly critical of oneself or others. In our quest to get what we want, we may be unrealistic in our expectations or we may become perfectionist and stubborn, resulting in disappointment and feeling depleted when the narrative doesn’t play out as we wanted. Similar to when we consume too much caffeine, an overactive solar plexus chakra can lead to manic activity, followed by burnout.

The solar plexus chakra relates to the digestive system of our stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Digestive issues

Fatigue

Restlessness

Anxiety

Diabetes

Liver disease

Bloating

Weight gain

High blood pressure

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

The solar plexus attributes of personal power, will, vitality, boundaries, and self-discipline are ultimately based on self-esteem. The shadow within this frequency often originates from a sense of shame. When the third chakra is out of balance we are trying to avoid this feeling, either by being unwilling to participate in life because we are afraid of failure due to lack of confidence, or by being unwavering in our sense of self and intolerant of anything outside of our personal beliefs. We feel that, to accept something different than what we know, or to acknowledge we aren’t always right, would invalidate who we are and bring us shame within. When we are overconfident, any kind of failure or breakdown of the ego leads to such feelings. As the root of this imbalance often stems from childhood, we are able to restore a healthy sense of self by doing reparenting work. Reparenting is giving your adult self what you didn’t get from your parents during childhood.

REPARENTING EXERCISE

The goal of this reparenting exercise is to develop self-compassion and self-awareness, to better understand why you feel the way you do by identifying your triggers. How you feel is foundational, shaping your beliefs and ultimately how you see yourself. For this exercise you will need a journal and a pen. It is recommended you do this exercise daily, in the morning, for 90 days, or roughly three months. This is a commitment to yourself and an act of discipline. Scientifically it takes about three months of repetitive behavior for the brain to form new neural pathways. However, this timeframe can fluctuate as each brain is unique.

STEP 1: GRATITUDE

In your journal, create a list of three things you are grateful for in your life. This doesn’t need to be complex. It can be as simple as being grateful for the air you breathe that gives you life, or it can be related to something positive that has happened to you, such as receiving a promotion at work. This practice is to help bring awareness to the abundance and support you have in your life.

STEP 2: ACCOUNTABILITY

Keep one small promise to yourself everyday. In your journal, write this down, starting with the statement “I will ______.” This promise should be so small that it’s almost insignificant. You need to choose something that sets you up for success, based on your personal schedule and capabilities. Some examples: Wake up 15 minutes earlier every day; meditate for three minutes daily; cook one meal for yourself every day; take a 5-minute walk around your neighborhood every evening; give a stranger a compliment; sit outside in the sun for 2 minutes each morning while you have coffee. The simpler the promise, the better. Time is also important, and I recommend choosing a promise that takes less than 10 minutes to carry out. This practice is to help you build confidence in your abilities and the choices you make.

STEP 3: IDENTIFY YOUR FEELINGS *

Using a feelings wheel can be helpful in building self-awareness around your emotional states. Identifying and understanding your feelings will help improve your emotional intelligence, isolate root causes of your emotions, see how different feelings connect, and find new ways to cope and work with these emotions. Start in the center circle and choose the core emotion you are experiencing. Move outward to the middle circle where it breaks down that core emotion even more. Then identify and select the more specific feelings that you connect with on the outer edges of the circle. As you keep track of your emotions in your journal, you may begin to notice patterns over time that will help you better understand what triggers you and how you can transmute these emotions in the future before they take over in ways that don’t serve your highest good.

STEP 4: TEND TO YOUR NEEDS

Write down a few sentences about what you need in this moment. Do this without judgment and keep things simple and realistic. Instead of something like “I need a million dollars,” you might consider what the root cause is behind that need. Is it a lack of financial security? Or are you seeking the freedom that money can provide? It’s perfectly OK if, when you begin asking questions, you feel confused or there are no answers. Just continue asking and being honest with yourself. Your private journal is a safe space to explore what you truly need. It’s a practice of connecting with your intuition.

STEP 5: CONNECT WITH YOUR INNER CHILD

It’s important to be recognized as the unique person you are. Acknowledge the courage it takes to do the shadow work of reparenting and nurturing your inner child. Own the progress you are making and celebrate the person you are becoming. In your journal, write a sentence or two to your inner child and praise them with words of affirmation. Some examples include:

You are safe

I support you

You are loved

It’s OK to say no

Feeling sad is OK

It’s fine to make mistakes

You are creative

STEP 6: CREATIVE PLAY

As children, unstructured play is critical for our developmental health. It allows us to learn and practice new skills, explore our curiosity, and develop problem-solving abilities. It helps us build confidence, resilience, and empathy while also teaching us cognitive skills such as focus, learning, problem-solving, and creativity. An approach to creative play as an adult is to immerse ourselves in new hobbies or activities just for the sake of fun. Explore what excites you or makes you curious. This can be as simple as choosing to take some time each week to draw and doodle. Maybe you’ve always wanted to have a garden or connect with plant life. Start with something as simple as a houseplant that you can learn to take care of and expand from there. No matter the activity, in your journal you should reflect on how the activity makes you feel and what you like or don’t like about it. Through this process, you will begin to learn what brings you joy and ultimately empowers you from within.

* IDENTIFY YOUR FEELINGS

When in balance, the fourth chakra serves as the center for unconditional love and our ability to both give and receive compassion and forgiveness. It facilitates our connection to all living things, Earth, and the cosmos. As the epicenter of energetic transformation between the lower and upper chakras, we feel deeply connected and harmonious in our exchange with others. This frequency allows us to realize the interconnectedness of all things, appreciating the beauty in the smallest of details and seeing the good in everyone. Deep feelings of gratitude, acceptance, joy, and love expand outward, affecting every area of our lives and touching everyone we encounter along our path. As a point of integration, or our zero-point calibration, the heart chakra vibrates at a state of perfect resonance that contains the frequencies of all that is and ever was—limitless possibility.

HEART CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

When the heart chakra is underactive, energy flow is stagnant, and we find our hearts closed off and unable to give or receive love. We struggle with forgiveness and compassion—both with ourselves and others. Heartbreak in its many forms can lead to an underactive heart center. Grief, loss, rejection, and betrayal invite us to experience pain and emptiness. We self-isolate as an act of self-preservation, disconnecting from ourselves and numbing our emotions. A hardening of the heart is often experienced as defensiveness and bitterness.

When the heart chakra is overactive, we tend to overly connect to others, giving too much, which leads to codependency in situations and relationships. An excess of heart chakra energy can lead to people-pleasing, saying yes to everything, neglecting our own needs and interests, and taking on the role of martyr. Because of a deep desire to be loved, we are prone to tend to the needs of others and end up feeling resentful because this exchange lacks reciprocation. Other feelings that come up in this kind of imbalance are jealousy, possessiveness, and envy.

The heart chakra rules our heart, lungs, respiration, and the thymus and lymphatic glands. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Respiratory issues

Chest pain

Panic attacks

Depression

Lack of energy

Heart disease

Breast cancer

Immune system deficiencies

Shortness of breath

HEART CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

The frequency of our heart is the most powerful source of electromagnetic energy in the human body, and it generates an electromagnetic field that is about sixty times greater in amplitude than the electrical activity generated by the brain. Additionally, the magnetic field created by the heart is a hundred times greater in strength than the field produced by the brain and can be detected up to 3 ft. (1 m) away from the body in every direction. In studies conducted by the HeartMath Institute, it’s been discovered that there is a direct relationship between the heart rhythm patterns and the spectral information encoded in the frequency spectra of the magnetic field radiated by the heart. This means that information about a person’s emotional state is encoded in the heart’s magnetic field and is communicated throughout the body and into the external world. So, in order to create harmony within our heart space, we must create balance within our emotional states.

APPRECIATION EXERCISE

You can practice this meditation lying down or seated, whichever is most comfortable. Place both hands lightly over your heart center. Focus your awareness on your heart and chest area, breathing in through your nose for five seconds, and out through your mouth for five seconds. With each inhale, breathe a little deeper, and with each exhale, a little slower. Imagine breathing through your heart and, with each inhale, a bright, golden-white shimmering light pouring in. Five seconds in, five seconds out. Repeat this cycle for several minutes until you begin to feel any negativity, apathy, or feelings of frustration leave your body. Now activate a positive feeling as you maintain your heart focus and breathing. Think about a time when you felt good inside and try to experience this feeling of love as you breathe in deeply, and exhale slowly. Five counts in, five counts out. The key is to focus on something you truly appreciate, such as a treasured animal companion, close friend, or special place. As you finish this exercise, hold this feeling of appreciation in your heart and notice how it feels in your body, and the effects of it on your aura. You should feel lighter, with a sense of renewal.

When the throat chakra is balanced, we are open and honest in our communications, having the ability to translate an authentic idea into expression, such as the spoken or written word. We are able to speak confidently and with clarity but also possess the ability to listen to others. We find it easy to connect to an avenue of expression that feels purposeful—not only speaking our truth but also living it. Our morals and values cannot be compromised as we create from a place of compassion and connection, and are not afraid to be seen or heard. Vulnerability comes easily in relationships, as we have nothing to hide and want to share freely and openly with the world.

THROAT CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

The fifth chakra is underactive when we are unable to speak up due to fear of speaking the truth, or when we are suppressing how we feel. This manifests as being overly timid, introverted, and insecure about how we are perceived by others. We are afraid to be seen and heard because we don’t want to be judged. You might also find it challenging to own your creativity, feeling disconnected from your purpose or life mission. When this chakra has a surplus of energy, it expresses itself through gossip, telling lies, and overall communication breakdown. There’s a lack of control over what you say and you overshare ideas or thoughts with those who may not connect with you or have the same values. This may lead to feeling undervalued, while others might perceive you as condescending or rude with your speech. You may be domineering or talk over people when in conversation, and judgmental of others. In this overactive state, the nonstop chatter may prevent you from truly hearing your inner voice, causing you to live out of sync with your personal truths.

The throat chakra governs the throat, mouth, teeth, neck, thyroid, shoulders, arms, and hands. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Thyroid issues

Speech impediments

Jaw or mouth pain

Teeth grinding

Hearing issues

Neck pain

Sore throat

Swollen glands

Tight shoulders

THROAT CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

To restore harmony to the throat chakra is to connect back to our highest truths and ultimately our conscience, as this chakra governs both our inner voice and our ears. As this energy center is about purification through sound, a simple way to begin harmonizing the throat chakra is by listening to sound, or using your own voice to create sound. It’s been scientifically proven that music has a healing effect on the body. Optimal sound-wave frequencies create resonance within the cells of the body, stimulating the parasympathetic system.

SOUND EXERCISES

To find balance within the fifth chakra, there are two different exercises you can try. Both relate to sound, but in very different ways. One is meant to help you connect with your self-expression and to find your voice. The other opens up a gateway to your inner voice and improves your listening skills, inside and out.

Vow of Silence

Yogis take a vow of silence for extended periods to better tune into and purify their subtle vibrations and audible sounds. While speech is an important form of communication, so, too, is listening. Avoiding verbal communication allows you to open up other portals of communication with yourself and higher realms. You will want to begin with an hour, or maybe even a few hours, of silence. Notice what your inner dialogue is about and keep notes in your journal so that you can reflect upon the experience. The process should open up an understanding of yourself, connecting you to your inner world and truths. What do you speak about with yourself during this time? What are your beliefs? Who are you? How does this make you feel? When you are comfortable with not speaking for a few hours, try practicing the vow of silence for a whole day, or longer. It’s amazing what your inner world reveals to you when you take the time to tune in and listen.

Vocal Warm Ups

The act of using your voice helps activate dormant throat chakra energy. This exercise won’t require you to sing words out loud, but rather to connect with the sound vibrations you generate within. Begin by sitting in a comfortable place and breathe in deeply for a few seconds, then exhale slowly for a few seconds. Reduce tension in your jaw: place your palms, or fingers, on the sides of your face and slowly massage the cheek and jaw muscles with a slow small circular motion. Continue to massage while raising then lowering your jaw. Now that your jaw is relaxed, move on to doing “tongue trills” to relax your tongue while engaging your breath and voice. Gently place the tip of your tongue behind your upper teeth, and exhale while vibrating the tip of your tongue in a trill. Hold the sound steady as you breathe out. Trying varying the pitch up and down while you are trilling. Do this for a couple of minutes, until your tongue feels relaxed. Lastly, start humming, which will help open up your throat chakra and activate your vocal cords. Begin with your lips gently closed and your jaw relaxed. Take a slow breath in and exhale while humming “hmmmmm.” Repeat and change to “ahhhhh” halfway through the exhale. Repeat, but this time start go from “hmmmmm” to “ommmmm.” Alternate between these sounds for as long as it feels comfortable—a few minutes at least.

When fully activated, our third eye allows us to see things as they truly are, inviting our intuition to guide us in our everyday. It provides us with clarity and long-term vision. This chakra stimulates both the creative right side and the rational left side of the brain. These two aspects come together so we can trust our inner knowing and the depths it takes us to beyond what the physical eye can see. It provides us with the ability to use both feelings and facts to make decisions, and to be comfortable in our chosen path. In balance, our third eye enables us to be fully present in the now.

THIRD-EYE CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

When the sixth chakra is underactive or blocked, we are disconnected from our intuition and have to second-guess our inner knowings. We focus on making choices with our intellect and are only able to see life on a purely physical plane, unaware of the wisdom we hold within. This can also manifest as a challenge to processing information, focusing, and being decisive. Deficiencies in this energy center can also result in an inability to see the obvious, denial of problems, and perception issues. An overactive third eye can cause us to get lost in fantasizing and overthinking, hindering our ability to focus on the big picture. Our imagination is in overdrive, clouding our intuition. We may begin to experience psychological symptoms such as delusions and obsessiveness.

The third-eye chakra rules the pineal gland and eyes. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Blurred vision

Migraines

Insomnia

Nightmares

Dizziness

Sinus issues

Hallucinations

Vertigo

Adrenal fatigue

THIRD-EYE CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

When we lose touch with our inner wisdom, we must restore balance in order to connect back to our innate psychic gifts. Awakening the third eye restores the main power source for our minds, giving us clear thinking. The simplest way to do this is through meditation. When our minds are calm and clear, we can then access our intuition and act from our higher self.

INNER COMPASS EXERCISE

Lie down on a comfortable surface and close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat this deep breathing for a few minutes until you feel your muscles soften and your body is relaxed. Once you are relaxed, as you breathe in, visualize your breath as a shimmering ray of indigo light entering in through the space between your brows, and with each exhale, see the indigo light move into your head and swirl around. With your eyes still closed, bring your awareness back to the indigo light that fills the space between your brows. Visualize a round orb of energy. Observe this energetic ball of light. What color is it? Is it moving or spinning? Is it changing size? Now take notice of any thoughts or feelings that arise as you look at this orb that symbolizes your third-eye chakra. What messages are coming? Can you sense an imbalance or blockage? Take as much time as you need. Once you receive clarity around what needs to be done in order to bring this chakra back into harmony, you can gently open your eyes.

An open and balanced crown chakra channels higher energies of inspiration and creativity. You will feel connected with the spiritual aspects of life and your higher self, leading you to trust the guidance of your soul. There is a sense of oneness and openness as you develop a strong connection with the universe and all that is. There’s a heightened awareness and shift in perception of what is possible, and an understanding that life is infinite and endless. We become open to new ideas, paradigms, and thought patterns. As this energy center opens, you may begin to feel intense sensations on the top of your head, such as a tingling sensation or a more powerful pulsating vibration of the nerves at the crown.

CROWN CHAKRA: OUT OF BALANCE

When this chakra experiences a deficit of energy, we become disconnected from Source and may feel alone and separated from others. We begin to suffer from apathy, cynicism, depression, and lose our sense of direction and purpose. We become disorganized, emotionally numb, and lost in our own imagination, completely disconnected from physical reality. An overactive crown chakra presents itself in many forms, including becoming obsessive with our spirituality, constantly looking for signs from the universe in everything we see or experience. We may become arrogant and have feelings of superiority about life, furthering our disconnect from humanity. Instead of focusing on what unites us, we only see what separates us from others.

The crown chakra governs the pituitary gland, central nervous system, and cerebral cortex. You may experience these physical symptoms when imbalanced.

Cognitive issues

Neurological disorders

Nerve pain

Psychological issues

Inability to learn

Confusion

Apathy

Chronic fatigue

Hormone issues

CROWN CHAKRA: RESTORING BALANCE

While releasing earthly attachments and opening ourselves up to the spiritual side of life is important, we must not float off into the cosmos at the cost of our earthly experience. As human beings, we are here to become an embodiment of our spirit and master our God-given gift of free will. Through meditation, we are able to bring the crown chakra back into harmony, enabling us to tune into the universal matrix of consciousness and access all of the information it holds.

KUNDALINI KRIYA MEDITATION EXERCISE

Kundalini yoga is often referred to as the “yoga of awareness” because it is designed to increase consciousness and elevate awareness through awakening the chakras.

Begin by sitting upright in a cross-legged position, keeping your back straight and your chin slightly upward. Close your eyes and roll your eyes up toward your third eye. Breathe deeply in through your nose, and then back out. Continue this slow breathing throughout this meditation. Now place your hands on your lap with your palms facing up, your right hand over your left, and your thumbs gently touching to form a triangle shape. Hold this dhyani mudra hand pose in front of your belly area and focus on your breathing. Visualize a clear quartz crystal rotating above you on its axis, creating a white fog around you. Continue holding this meditative state for 10 minutes.

Before opening your eyes, bring your palms together in a prayer pose and gently rub them together to create a warming sensation for a few seconds. Keep your palms in a prayer pose and draw them close to your heart center. Close your meditation with a mantra: out loud, chant or sing “sat nam,” which translates as “truth is my essence.”

EIGHT

Crystals

Crystals are all around us. We fill our homes with them. We adorn our bodies with them. There are the very foundation of carbon-based life. From the water in our body, to our organs, and even our bones—we are crystalline-based beings. We live on a crystal planet in a crystal universe. The rocks that form the moon, meteorites, and Earth’s layers are made up of minerals, and almost all of these minerals are the building blocks of crystals and gemstones. Crystals offer a subtle but tangible and powerful way to work with, and heal, your aura.

THE HEALING POWER OF CRYSTALS

While crystals alone do not heal, they assist in our natural healing abilities by facilitating movement within the chakras and the aura. Crystals are channels of life-force energy and have a correcting effect depending on our needs and the properties of the crystal. If you were to look at the molecular structure of a crystal, you would see incredibly organized repeating formations called “crystal lattices.” These highly ordered lattices of different geometric shapes, sizes, and colors determine what a crystal looks like. Crystal gemstones are the perfect embodiment of sacred geometry in the physical. Since they are a physical substance that is highly ordered on the atomic level, they are incredibly energy efficient.

When we bring a crystal into our energy field, our aura tunes into the resonance of the crystal, which then provides harmonizing frequencies. Crystals are nature’s tuning forks, holding a resonance of Earth’s magnetic field within, and aiding us in connecting back to the vibrations of Mother Earth. They are energy amplifiers, purifiers, and conductors with the power to transform frequencies of chaos and dissonance back into harmony and order. Crystals are vessels with the capacity to hold information such as our intentions, thoughts and emotions. They will take in this energy and respond to it, because gemstones have, and hold, consciousness. However, unlike humans, crystals don’t have the ability to choose, they have no free will. Think of crystals as perfect computer programs that can help attune us to their frequency and vibrations. They are one of Earth’s most ancient technologies.

We are naturally drawn to crystals for a reason—because we, too, are power conductors of energy and light. Their colors are often seen as their most striking features. They can also hint at a crystal’s healing properties, correlating back to the seven major chakras and the colors found in our aura.

How to Use Crystals

The relationship between humans and crystals is ancient. Our ancestors have been drawn to gemstones since the dawn of time, using them in myriad ways. Crystals are worn as adornment and utilized for energetic attunement, as well as in divination and ritual practices. Similarly, there are many ways to use crystals and gemstones to help support our energy and aura.

We are naturally attracted to crystals that match our current state of vibration so that they may support us. A good rule of thumb is to select the ones you are most drawn to. This process is intuitive because, on a subconscious level, your aura can sense what it needs at any given time. Crystals can positively influence your aura, activating the chakras and nervous system and stimulating the corresponding endocrine glands. The body naturally attunes to the crystalline frequencies, which, in turn, amplify the senses and open portals to help us access multidimensional fields of knowing and being. As different crystals carry different energies and vibrations, the gemstones you’re drawn to may change over time, depending on your personal needs and experiences.

Cleansing and Activating Crystals

Since crystals hold information and memory, it’s important to cleanse, and then activate, a new stone when bringing it into your life. You can cleanse and activate a crystal by placing it in direct sunlight or moonlight for several hours, allowing it to connect with the natural rhythms of the celestial energy body. Crystals are natural energy conductors, which makes them ideal for storing, amplifying, and transmitting the energy of the sun and moon. Another option is to immerse a crystal in sacred herbal smoke by burning sage, cinnamon, rosemary, palo santo, or another sacred plant that may be available to you. You can also bury a crystal in the ground for a few hours, allowing it essentially to “reset” in the womb of Mother Earth.

Working With Crystals

Crystals are ancient advanced technology that can take sunlight and convert it to forms of energy that can be absorbed bio-electrically and absorbed into the organs and tissues of our bodies. They increase the amount of light in the aura, stimulating and activating subtle layers of our being. Some crystals have protective qualities and can shield us from harmful frequencies.

Since we are constantly in flux, crystals are the stable force of energy in our relationship with them. As we absorb their frequencies, we shift our energy based on which part of the body they correspond to. Gemstones mirror the subconscious, shedding light on our shadows, traumas, and suppressed emotions, connecting us to our inner awareness, power, and truth.

A common way to work with crystals is to wear them. They can be made into jewelry, or you can carry them around in a pocket. Another way to work with gemstones is to infuse the water you drink with their essence or create an elixir with them. As they are powerful transmitters of intention and consciousness, you can “program” your crystal with an intention and it will infuse the water into which it is immersed with that frequency or intention. It’s important to use distilled or purified water when creating gemstone essences and elixirs because you want the water to be free from any potential toxins or harmful substances.

On the following pages are some of my favorite crystals that you can easily find at your local metaphysical shop and begin to access the healing properties they offer.

(ROOT)

Black Kyanite

Black kyanite emits a soothing energy that aids in restoring comfort and clarity. It works with all of the chakras, but mostly the root chakra, helping combat negative energies and offering protection from energy vampires. It is capable of both grounding and energizing simultaneously.

(ROOT)

Black Tourmaline

This crystal offers grounding properties and helps us work with the root chakra. It is famously known as a protection stone, not only grounding our energy, but embodying the ideal of psychic protection, deflecting all negative energies within your orbit.

(ROOT)

Obsidian

Born from the magma of volcanoes, obsidian is a powerful protector. It eliminates negative energies and is incredibly grounding by balancing the root chakra. It is a gemstone of clarity, helping us release physical, emotional, and spiritual blockages while drawing out tension and stress.

(ROOT)

Shungite

As an activator of the root chakra, shungite is an ancient, rare, carbon-based gemstone known for its protective qualities and ability to heal and detoxify. It aids in shielding us from electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) and radiation by absorbing negative energies, boosting the immune system, and improving mental clarity and focus.

(ROOT)

Smoky Quartz

As a powerful grounding crystal, smoky quartz absorbs and transmutes negativity by grounding it in the earth. It activates the root chakra and can also clear and restore balance to the aura. Smoky quartz is often used to help soothe nightmares, relieve stress, and overcome depression by stimulating the natural crystal in our body tissues and fluids to resonate at the highest healing frequency.

(ROOT)

Aragonite

The aragonite gemstone is known for its grounding effect, helping pull energy down from our crown chakra to the root chakra, promoting a sense of safety and connection to Earth. It is a great stone for meditation and can help connect us with higher realms and our spirit guides, while offering emotional and physical balance.

(ROOT, SACRAL)

Coral

Coral activates the root and sacral chakras. It can strengthen the circulatory system and metabolic processes, and promotes feelings of inner peace and emotional stability. It can help us overcome negative emotions such as anger or fear. On a physical level, coral can help ease pain and provide support for the skeleton as coral’s calcium composition is similar to that of human bone.

(ROOT, SACRAL, SOLAR PLEXUS)

Tiger’s Eye

Tiger’s eye is a powerful stone that supports us in releasing fear and anxiety, promoting mental clarity. Associated with the lower three chakras, it helps heal the emotional body and bring insight to conflicts and relationships. Tiger’s eye can also protect against negative energy, such as the evil eye and other toxic forces.

(ROOT, THIRD EYE)

Hematite

Hematite activates the root and third-eye chakras. As a rock that holds the most gravity, this metallic gemstone aids us in releasing emotional baggage while fostering emotional healing. It’s an ally during times of stress, and helps strengthen the physical body due to it’s phenomenal grounding effect. It is known to help with mental clarity, stimulating concentration and focus, and enhancing memory.

(ROOT, SACRAL)

Carnelian

This stabilizing, red-orange stone activates both the root and sacral chakras. Carnelian restores vitality and motivation, and stimulates creativity. It promotes positive life choices, gives courage, and motivates us toward success.

(SACRAL, SOLAR PLEXUS)

Pyrite

Often referred to as “fool’s gold,” pyrite enhances energy levels and promotes physical strength and vitality by clearing the sacral and solar plexus chakras. It aids mental clarity, problem-solving, and protects against negative energies. As an activator of personal power, pyrite can also bring us luck and wealth.

(SACRAL, SOLAR PLEXUS)

Amber

Amber is a great stone to strengthen the sacral and solar plexus chakras. If the hue is more golden, it would benefit the solar plexus more. If the hue is more orange, the better it would benefit the sacral chakra. This crystal radiates a natural warmth, aiding in relieving pain and energizing the aura.

(SOLAR PLEXUS)

Citrine

Often called the “success stone,” citrine promotes good fortune and abundance. It helps activate the solar plexus chakra, strengthening our will and personal power. It provides mental clarity, while boosting the ability to manifest our desires.

(HEART)

Jade

An activator of the heart chakra, jade harmonizes and restores balance to our heart center and helps cultivate our qi or life-force energy. As a symbol of serenity and purity, it can also help balance bodily fluids, cleanse organs, and remove toxins. In Eastern cultures jade is considered a protective stone, shielding us from harm, while bringing harmony.

(HEART)

Malachite

Malachite is revered for its ability to open the heart chakra, aiding us in spiritual growth and transformation. In meditation, it facilitates a deep connection to our inner self and higher consciousness. It can help us heal depression and anxiety, while encouraging us to let go of past trauma and toxic patterns.

(HEART)

Rose Quartz

Known as the stone of unconditional love, rose quartz is an activator of the heart chakra. This pink crystal vibrates with infinite peace, fostering deep inner healing, self-acceptance, compassion, and self-love. Rose quartz has the power to enhance positive affirmations, to aid in emotional healing, and to restore trust and harmony within relationships.

(HEART)

Moldavite

An activator of the heart chakra, this green-hued crystal was the result of a meteorite impact that occurred some 15 million years ago. Meteor crystals carry a different vibration than Earth-based crystals, assisting us in accessing spiritual knowledge. It’s said that working with moldavite will lead to positive synchronicities and serendipitous events that help expand our inner worlds.

(HEART, THIRD EYE)

Serpentine

Activating the heart and third-eye chakras, serpentine is known for its transformative and renewal properties. It encourages us along the path of personal growth, asking us to shed the layers that no longer serve us so we can create space for something new. It promotes emotional balance and inner peace, providing calming energy.

(THROAT)

Aquamarine

Corresponding to the throat chakra, aquamarine is often referred to as the “breath stone,” and assists us in clear communications. It has a soothing, calming, and cooling effect, both emotionally and physically. This gemstone was believed to be treasured by mermaids and thus used as a good-luck talisman by sailors.

(THROAT)

Turquoise

As one of the longest-used gemstones in human history, turquoise resonates with the throat chakra. It encourages clear communication and promotes self-awareness. Turquoise provides a layer of protection against misunderstandings and negative forces. It fosters a sense of peace and understanding, and can elevate our mood and prevent panic attacks.

(THROAT, THIRD EYE)

Lapis Lazuli

This gemstone activates the throat and third-eye chakras, enhancing our clairvoyance and precognitive abilities. It provides access to our higher mind and boosts our intellectual ability. This deep-blue stone stimulates the desire for knowledge, truth, and understanding, and aids the process of communication using both the spoken and written word.

(THIRD EYE, CROWN)

Amethyst

This crystal helps us connect with the third-eye and crown chakras. It offers calming attributes, encouraging healthy sleep patterns and dissipating tension and headaches. Amethyst assists us in cultivating our intuition and shielding us from psychic attacks.

(THIRD EYE, CROWN)

Labradorite

As the “gemstone of magic,” labradorite enhances our natural intuitive and psychic abilities. It is beneficial for all chakras, but especially the third-eye and crown chakras. It promotes transformation and self-discovery with its rainbow of hues, encouraging spiritual growth. Labradorite also creates a protective shield around the aura, safeguarding us from negative energies and unwanted influences.

(THIRD EYE, CROWN)

Herkimer Diamond

This special, clear quartz is known for its clarity, double-ended formation, and high vibrational energy. It can only be sourced or found in Herkimer County, New York. It can aid the third-eye and crown chakras, facilitating the removal of energy blocks, and stimulates healing by increasing the amount of light energy the aura and physical body can utilize.

(HEART, THROAT, THIRD EYE, CROWN)

Fluorite

Fluorite has many healing and activating properties due to its many colors. It is often seen with any combination of green, blue, violet, and white. It offers connection to our fourth through seventh chakras, calming and relieving anxiety or stress, while purifying the emotional body of our aura.

(THIRD EYE, CROWN)

Selenite

Named for the goddess of the moon, selenite is also considered a “master crystal,” for its powerful clearing abilities. It not only helps clear our chakras, but can also clear other crystals and gemstones of negative energy. It promotes positive energy flow within our aura, but also our physical environment. Selenite is a great activator for our third-eye and crown chakras.

(SACRAL, HEART, THIRD EYE, CROWN)

Moonstone

As an emotional healer, moonstone is associated with new beginnings. It helps awaken our feminine energy and facilitates connection to our subconscious, helping with self-discovery of our truest path. With links to the sacral, heart, third-eye, and crown chakras, the moonstone soothes emotional instability and stress by balancing emotions and providing peace.

(ALL CHAKRAS)

Clear Quartz

Known as the “master healer,” clear quartz has the ability to boost positive energy and magnify our natural healing abilities. It acts as an amplifier and can be placed by other crystals to augment their healing properties. While it benefits all of the chakras it offers most healing to the crown chakra.

(CROWN)

Spirit Quartz

Known to be a master healer, spirit quartz is a protective stone that releases our emotional body of all negative attachments. As an amplifier for the crown chakra, it is beneficial for supporting dream work and astral travel, allowing your soul to leave your body while in a dream state and come back to the present moment with newfound wisdom and insights.

(CROWN)

Howlite

Known as the “calming stone,” milky-white howlite helps facilitate awareness and encourages emotional expression. It promotes inner peace and calms emotions during times of change. It helps balance the crown chakra, soothing our body, mind, and spirit, while ensuring access to higher realms.

NINE

Breathwork

Breath is life. We often take this seemingly automatic process for granted. The air we breathe in fills the lungs, transporting oxygen into the bloodstream, which is then carried throughout the body. At the same time, carbon dioxide moves from our bloodstream back to the lungs and is removed from the body when we exhale. Oxygen not only nourishes the body on a physical level, but also on an energetic level. While the act of breathing itself doesn’t actually effect our chakras, it is the prana, or qi, within the breath that has an effect on our energy centers. In essence, when we breathe in air, we also breathe in light.

THE ORIGINS OF BREATHWORK

“Where there is breath, there is possibility.”

Breathwork, in various forms, has been used for centuries to restore balance to the mind, body, and soul. One of the earliest forms of breathwork can be traced back to the ancient practice of pranayama in India. Pranayama is a Sanskrit word where prana means both “life-force energy” and “breath,” and yama means “to control.” Ayama means to expand or lengthen. So, pranayama can be translated as “the regulation and expansion of life-force energy through breath,” or, quite simply, “breath control.” Pranayama is a key component of yoga, with origins dating back more than 5,000 years. Ancient Indian texts discuss the importance of breath control for accessing higher states of consciousness. Through conscious breathing, we can purify our physical and energetic bodies, leading to greater physical and spiritual well-being.

The ancient Egyptians also understood the importance of breath control and developed a variety of breathing techniques to promote well-being. These methods were not only used for spiritual and physical health, but also in their religious practices. One of the ancient Egyptian breathwork techniques was the practice of heka, translating as “magic,” or “magical power.” Heka was believed to be the force that created and sustained the world, and the ancient Egyptians believed that, by harnessing this force, they could achieve higher states of being, both physically and spiritually.

In ancient China, the practice of qigong also emphasized the importance of breath control. Qigong dates as far back as 2,500 years ago, although Chinese archaeologists and historians have found references to qigong-like techniques from at least 5,000 years ago. It is believed that shamans and healers living in close contact with nature developed these techniques in ancient China. Qigong involves a series of slow, gentle movements, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Practitioners of qigong believe breath is closely connected to the body’s vital energy, and that controlling the breath can help balance and harmonize the body’s energy and aura.

With the basic breathwork techniques that follow, you will gain the ability to bring conscious awareness to your energy and aura. Get into the habit of observing your breath, and you will have the power to bring balance to all aspects of your being—mind, body, and soul.

Using Breath to Clear Your Aura

While there are many forms of breathwork, what follows are some simple meditative breathing practices that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. These exercises can also be done on occasions when you are looking to clarify your energy to enhance creativity, access inner wisdom, or to reduce tension, anxiety, depression, and more.

As breathwork is a form of meditation, it is best to do these breathing exercises in a quiet environment where you are able to focus. The key is to be comfortable so that you can feel anchored and safe within your body as you connect with your breath.

BOX BREATH

Commonly known as square breathing or 4 x 4 breathing, this technique is great for helping you activate your root chakra, reducing stress and anxiety, while restoring a sense of calm.

This exercise is best done sitting on a chair, with your back supported and both feet planted firmly on the ground. If you feel more comfortable sitting on the ground or lying down, you can do so. It’s important to be in a position where you feel supported, so that your body is open to allow your breath to flow freely.

Begin by exhaling through the mouth on a slow count of four, allowing all your breath to exit your body. Then gently inhale through your nose on a slow count of four, allowing your lungs to fill up completely, while softening and allowing your belly to expand. At the top of the inhale, hold your breath for a slow count of four. Now gently exhale through your mouth for a slow count of four. At the bottom of the exhale, pause and hold for a slow count of four. Continue this breath pattern for five minutes.

BREATH OF FIRE

This breathing exercise is warming and will help activate your solar plexus chakra.

Begin by sitting upright in a cross-legged position to lengthen your spine. Place your hands on your knees, palms facing upward. Inhale through your nose, feeling your belly expand as you breathe in. This first breath will be the only active inhale during the exercise. Without pausing, exhale forcefully through your nose, while contracting your abdominal muscles. Inhale again through your nose, but passively, focusing your attention on the forceful exhale rhythm. As you exhale, the inhale will happen almost automatically, with your inhales and exhales being equal length. Your exhales should be powerful and loud, while your inhales should be passive and quiet. Work rhythmically at a pace that is comfortable for you, and repeat for at least 30 seconds, up to 3 minutes.

4–7–8 BREATH

This breath is based on a pranayama technique that is practiced during yoga for relaxation. It is wonderful for managing anxiety and stress. Using the 4–7–8 breath activates the parasympathetic system, which promotes relaxation.

Find a comfortable place to sit. Gently place the tip of your tongue against the back of your top teeth, keeping it there. Through an open mouth exhale all the air out quickly, making a “whoosh” sound. Close your mouth and quietly inhale through your nose for a count of four. At the top of the inhale, hold your breath for a count of seven. Now exhale quickly, through your mouth and making the “whoosh” sound for a count of eight. It should feel as all if the air has left your lungs. Repeat these steps for four more cycles.

LION’S BREATH

This breathing exercise releases stress and tension, boosts confidence, and clears the throat, helping activate the throat chakra.

Begin by sitting in a kneeling position with knees together and sitting back on your heels. Inhale and exhale slowly through your nose at a steady pace. Roll your shoulders back and downward, opening up your chest and relaxing; notice any tightness. Now take a slightly fuller inhale through your nose. At the top, open your mouth as wide as possible and exhale with your tongue out, saying “haaaaaaaah.” Inhale through your nose, exhale, tongue out, “haaaaaaaah.” Continue this for at least five more cycles. Close your mouth and return to a slower inhale and exhale through your nose, noticing how you feel.

DIAPHRAGM BREATH

This slow, deep, intentional breath is ideal before stressful events or when stress-inducing situations arise. Engaging the diaphragm influences respiratory function and digestion, while supporting mental and emotional health.

Begin by sitting in a comfortable cross-legged position or lying down. Place your right hand on your chest. Place your left hand right below your rib cage to feel your diaphragm expanding. Take a slow, deep breath in through the nose for a count of five. Visualize the breath traveling down into your belly as you feel your belly expand and rise under your hand. Open your mouth slightly, form pursed lips, and exhale slowly for a count of five as your belly softens and relaxes. Now bring the inhale back in through the nose for a count of five, and back out through the mouth for a count of five. Continue this cycle for about 5 minutes.

ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATH

Known as nadi shodhana, this pranayama technique translates to “channel cleansing.” This exercise clears and balances the energetic body through the three major nadis. It downregulates the nervous system, creating ease and calm throughout your whole body. It’s an effective technique to use when you need to access a state of relaxation and relieve tension speedily.

Begin by closing your eyes and sitting in a cross-legged position, lengthening your spine so you are sitting up tall. Soften the weight of your hips and shoulders toward the ground. Draw your awareness inside your body and slowly begin to deepen the rhythm of your breath.

Take your right hand and place it in front of your face. Gently rest your thumb over your right nostril and your ring finger over your left nostril. After a full exhale, press down with your thumb to close your right nostril. Inhale deeply through your left nostril, filling your belly. At the top of the inhale, release your thumb and use your ring finger to close your left nostril. Exhale through your right nostril. Inhale again through your right nostril. At the top of the inhale, close it with your thumb. Release your left nostril and exhale through the left side. Continue to follow this pattern for a few minutes, alternating nostrils with each breath.

TEN

Aura Altar

Altars are used in many religions as sacred places to engage in ritual practice or worship. Creating an altar anchors intention and provides space to practice daily, weekly, and seasonal rituals. This is a physical practice of focusing energy toward a desire by using a vignette of curated objects that act as a physical symbol of that intention. Altars can be created for a myriad of purposes, such as manifestation, healing, honoring ancestors or loved ones, working with cycles of the moon, observing holidays, and more.

CREATING AN ALTAR

Altars are powerful spaces because they provide a place for us to focus our intention. Dedicating an altar to your aura can help you focus on the energy you are trying harness and bring into your life. It can also help you to connect better with the energy you are currently working with. Often integrating the classic five elements of nature, altars also serve as a portal for us to connect with the unique internal qualities that these elements help us cultivate. The elements of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood exist within us, as well as the natural world.

There are no established rules for designing an aura altar. It can be as small as a corner shelf or as large as an entire table. Start by identifying an area of your home that feels welcoming or sacred—a place that feels right for you and your intention. Once you have chosen an area, decide on one or two colors that you want to work with.

These can be colors that already exist within your aura, or colors that you are looking to call into your energy field. For example, if you are working on enhancing your intuition, you may want to cover your altar area with an indigo cloth (representing the earth element) and a use a blue or purple candle (representing the fire element) during your meditation or ritual practice at your altar. You can include any objects that represent intuition to you. If you resonate with the symbolism and the messages of tarot, you might want to include the Moon or High Priestess tarot card, both of which represent aspects of intuition or subconscious. Maybe you’ve been seeing the angel number 333 everywhere and it makes you feel connected to your higher self. You can write 333 on a piece of paper and display it on your aura altar.

Another example could be that you are working on manifesting a change in your career path. Chakras you might consider working with in this instance are your solar plexus and heart chakras, represented by the colors yellow and green. Working with the color yellow is reflective of our identity, owning our chosen path and igniting the spark or willpower needed to move forward. The color green can be reflective of being open to transformation, self-acceptance, and growth. In this instance, you might choose a green candle (representing the fire element), yellow chrysanthemum flowers (representing the earth element), a golden chime bell (representing the air and metal elements), and a clear quartz crystal (to help amplify the energy of your intention). Having these visual reminders during your daily meditation or journaling practice at your aura altar can shift your mindset and influence your actions—two key factors in changing your aura. As altars are a container for devotion, consistency in your practice is also important in order for your intention to materialize.

Styling Your Aura

While creating a traditional altar space is one way to connect with your energy, you can also do this through the decor or objects in your home and through your clothing choices. Our environment is an extension of our aura and can set us up for success or keep us stagnant. By tapping into the power of color and curating what you have in your environment or on your physical body, you are stepping into your energy from a place of self-awareness, reflecting your desires, moods, and what you want to be experiencing. Styling your aura aligns you with your inner self, so that your outer world can better match your vibrational energy and promote a sense of well-being.

YOUR HOME OR PERSONAL SPACE

When styling your home or personal space you want to set an intention, just as you do when you are creating a traditional altar. The only difference is this “altar” is now extended to a larger space. I suggest starting with one room so that this process is manageable and not overwhelming. Perhaps focus on a room you spend a lot of time in, such as a living room or common room. What is your intention for this space as it relates to your overall intention right now in your life? Say your intention is to create a space and life that is more spontaneous and creative. A place that is warm and welcoming, that fosters social connections and relationships. Chakras and colors you would want to bring into your space are the sacral and solar plexus chakras, orange and yellow. The obvious way to align with these energies is to introduce the colors orange and yellow—for example, by adding a bright yellow blanket to your couch or maybe orange throw pillows.

However, I invite you to connect with these colors and chakras on a deeper level. The solar plexus chakra encourages us to be curious and playful. Consider adding elements to your space that invoke these characteristics and remove anything that currently hinders these energies from coming into, or developing within, that space. For example, maybe you have a stack of old newspapers or magazines that you never read. Why not replace them with favorite books from childhood that bring you joy each time you see them? These books could also be great conversation starters when a guest visits your house, opening up a pathway for human connection. While a couch is a necessity in most common quarters, are there other seating options that better facilitate play or interaction? Consider incorporating a few floor cushions that can be moved around and used anywhere throughout the room, such as round tatami cushions made of natural materials and comfortable to sit on. Instead of focusing on physical objects alone, think about how you want to feel when you are in the room and what you want to experience in this space.

Perhaps you want to create somewhere calming that facilitates peace and acts as a refuge from your hectic daily life. Colors you may want to focus on are green and various shades of blue, correlating to the heart, throat, and third-eye charkas. These hues can help us connect with the aspects of our being that relate to balance, harmony, peace, and stillness. You may want to incorporate living plants, soothing music, or elements of water such as a indoor fountain—features that bring these energies through their quality rather than color.

YOUR WARDROBE

Take a peek inside your closet. What do you see? A kaleidoscopic array of options or a sea of black and earth tones? There’s no right or wrong way to dress, however your clothing choices can affect the way you feel about yourself and how you move through the world. There are a few ways to connect with your aura through personal style and clothing. You can dress according to the qualities of the chakras, or simply according to whichever color you want to connect to for a specific vibrational frequency. For example, if you are looking to embody a person who is strong and rooted in their being, you can incorporate the color red in a piece of clothing or dress in a fashion that makes you feel and appear powerful. To connect with the root chakra, or red energy, you might decide to wear a coat with a bold pattern for a night out with friends. Or, perhaps it’s your first day at a new job and you decide on a classic gray suit but in a sophisticated form-fitting cut. Tapping into the energetics of red means making a statement, feeling confident and powerful, an unstoppable force.

As your aura shifts and changes with your moods and experiences, your style and wardrobe choices will naturally shift too. When you are experiencing a throat-chakra era of self-expression and connecting with your highest purpose, you might naturally be drawn to things that are blue. But this can also show up as clothing choices that are casual, clean, and laid back—the qualities we embody during a blue era—and a feeling of moving through life with ease. You might find yourself wearing your favorite pair of lived-in blue jeans every day, or choosing one iconic, yet timeless, jacket that makes you feel like “you,” instead of several mediocre ones that don’t light you up. By embracing and expressing your internal world through your style, you are signaling to the universe the person you want to be in your own life.

Living Aura Altar

Energy always comes first—waves of vibration signaling to the universe, whispering of your intentions and desires. While designing and curating physical representations of your energetic identity can be a potent way to connect with your aura, it’s important to remember that you yourself are a living, breathing altar. Your aura comes from you and through you.

YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE, AND YOUR AURA IS AN ALTAR

Your intentions, mindset, feelings, and actions weave together the fabric of your being and are reflected back to you as the colors of your aura. A physical altar for your aura can anchor your intentions and create space for you to focus, while creating an environment to exist in that mirrors these intentions can help solidify your mindset and support your feelings. Through your clothing choices, you enable yourself to express and connect to the feelings that support your desired outcome, which in turn can influence the actions you take toward your dreams and visions. In essence, your aura itself is an altar, holding the energetics of your intentions as you move toward manifesting light into physical form.

ELEVEN

Everyday Aura

The most fundamental purpose of being human is to create. We are born to make our thought forms manifest into reality on the physical plane. The act of creation is an everyday activity that we do through our energy field, our aura.

DAILY CHAKRA ACTIVITY

“Your soul’s purpose is to participate in wholeness; to express love, delight, joy, creativity, and all those qualities that emerge from Source, from wholeness. When you can align your creative project with both your soul’s purpose and your incarnation purpose, you will greatly increase your power to create and manifest it.”

HIRO BOGA

Visions and ideas are transmitted to us through the portals of imagination and intuition, our crown and third-eye chakras. We understand our purpose and have a dream to hold in our mind’s eye. The vibrations of our words cast spells into the collective consciousness through the alchemy of language within the throat chakra, sending the frequency of our intention out into the universe. We activate our connection within ourselves and others through the heart chakra, sharing our dream through relationships, bridging the abstract world of possibility with the tangible world of reality with an understanding that we are supported. In the solar plexus we awaken our will through curiosity and intellect, choosing which path to move forward with and mapping out the route to get there. Our passion is tested through the sacral chakra, encouraging us to move and be flexible with how our dream takes shape, remembering what our motivations are as we propel forward. The density of the root chakra requires consistency, moving through resistance, while acknowledging what we’ve accomplished so far, asking us to take continued daily action toward completion—the final step of the journey toward actualization.

Manifesting and Liberating Energy Currents

Manifesting With Our Chakras and Auras

Manifesting through, and with, our chakras reminds us of the never ending circle of life. We are always in momentum to some degree, mirroring the impermanence of the universe and the cyclical nature of the cosmos. As we move toward density, we are bringing heaven to Earth, a conduit for expression of Source into the physical world. This downward journey through the chakras reminds us of our power and role as creator of our personal universe. As we move up through the chakras toward spaciousness, we release our earthly attachments, bringing us back into connection with our soul and spirit. We integrate back into oneness, reminding ourselves that all of life is interconnected, yet limitless.

MINDFUL MANIFESTING

The big questions to ask yourself as you awaken each day are:

What do I want to experience?

What do I want to create?

Wherever your focus goes, energy flows. This is your superpower. With an understanding of the chakra system and how it functions, along with the dualistic range of meaning your aura colors hold, you can consciously use your energy, your aura, to paint the canvas of your life. Whether you choose to paint with one color or many colors, the picture of your life will naturally unfold with each choice you make. In the end, this canvas will become a masterpiece, filled with the colors of your life stories and experiences. You get to decide what colors you want to use, and how you want to use them. This masterpiece can only be painted by you, its creator.

You have been given a gift by being born here on Earth. Honor and embrace this gift fully by showing gratitude for being alive. Enjoy the ebb and flow of the journey, because everything is temporary, but your soul and consciousness are infinite. So play and have fun as you create your dream life. Remember—anything you dream of is possible, so dream infinite.

1

ROOT CHAKRA

COMPLETE STEPS

ACTION / COMPLETE

What roadblocks are coming up and how do I handle them?
What needs to be completed?
How can I be more consistent?

2

SACRAL CHAKRA

MOVE WITH PASSION

CONNECT / MOVE

How do I continue to move things forward?
How can I be flexible?
What other resources do I need?

3

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

CREATE AN ACTION PLAN

WILL / DO

What are my commitments?
What needs to be done to accomplish my vision or goal?
What is my role and the role of others?

4

HEART CHAKRA

FIND AND CREATE RELATIONSHIPS

LOVE / RELATE

How do I want to be in a relationship? With whom?
Who do I want to share my dream and gifts with?
How can I grow through relationship (with myself, others, situations)?

5

THROAT CHAKRA

CHOOSE SPECIFIC GOALS AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS

DISCOVER / SHARE

How do I communicate my dream?
Does this express my purpose?

6

THIRD-EYE CHAKRA

VISUALIZE YOUR DREAMS

SEE / PLAN

How do I align with my purpose?
What kind of a world do I want to live in?
What is the vision I want to hold in my mind’s eye?

7

CROWN CHAKRA

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE

KNOW / CHOOSE

What is my purpose?
How do I want to live?
What is the bigger picture?

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About the Author

Eileen Lee is a Detroit-based conceptual artist and energetics researcher who uses aura photography as her medium. Her work in studying human consciousness through color meets at the intersection of science, spirituality, and art. A trailblazer in her field, Eileen’s expertise and unique perspective on the human aura comes from extensive study of esoteric and modern-day texts, along with her first-hand experience of documenting the human energy field. Since 2017, she’s captured and interpreted tens of thousands of aura portraits through her personal practice AURA AURA, touring in cities all over the United States. She has been featured in Marie Claire, Women’s Health Inc. Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, Teen Vogue, as well as local affiliates of PBS, ABC, and NBC.

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