Are Auras and Energy Fields Backed by Science?

For years, people have believed that there was a shining sphere of some energy surrounding our physical bodies. This idea goes under various names such as a life force, a subtle body, and a mystical aura. However, regardless of the name, auras and energy fields are depicted in spiritual paintings, in ancient traditions, and in holistic health beliefs nowadays. People believe that auras may be seen as a shining haze, a shining circle, or even a colorful halo surrounding a human being. 

Nevertheless, taking into consideration the point of view of modern biology, physics, and psychology, a question arises: is there any scientific proof of auras and energy fields? Although there is no scientific evidence of a literal glowing spiritual cloud, there is no doubt that human beings interact with the Universe through many physical forces. Read on to discover how science separates myth from reality when it comes to the human aura.

The Cultural History and Metaphor of the Aura

The word "aura" has come from the Greek word meaning a gentle breeze or emanation. Various cultural traditions have used different terms for describing the forces of vitality which animate human beings throughout the history of humanity. 

For example, in traditional Chinese medicine the vitality force is qi, whereas in Hindu and Buddhist Tantric traditions the invisible physiology that extends beyond the physical skin layer is called pranamayakośa (the subtle body). Even Aristotle supposed the existence of the pneuma which allowed the soul to interact with the physical world.

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the Theosophical Society tried to combine the ideas of ancient times with new scientific achievements, for example, with such inventions as X-rays and electricity, thus creating the term "aura" which described invisible fluid which was emitted by all alive creatures. 

Even though mainstream science came to the conclusion that the mythical fluids do not exist, this idea became a great metaphor in understanding how humanity feels the presence of someone. People feel body language, facial expression, and tone of voice, thus understanding whether a person has good or bad energy.

Natural Electromagnetic Fields and the Human Body

To understand the nature of the energy of a human being, it is necessary to consider it on the cellular level. Every single cell of the body needs electricity in order to perform its functions. Our heart works due to electrical impulses, muscles work due to electrical impulses, and the brain performs our thoughts using billions of firing neurons.

According to physics, a flowing electrical current creates a magnetic field in its vicinity. As the human body is full of electrical currents which move inside it, the human body creates the electromagnetic fields. Medical doctors measure and map these fields using their equipment:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures the electrical activity of the brain.

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) tracks the movement of electrical impulses through the heart muscle.

Nevertheless, these fields are very weak and disappear in a couple of inches from the skin. Also, they cannot be seen by the naked eye and can only be measured by highly sensitive equipment.

The Biology of "Seeing" Light and Halos

Since auras are supposedly invisible, how could people see them? Science can explain this phenomenon using the biological features of our vision and neurology:

• Afterimage: Our eyes have cells sensitive to light called rods and cones. Looking intently at one specific color makes these cells tired. Then our brain compensates by adding the color that contrasts to the color that we are looking at. That makes us see an imaginary halo around a person.

• Eye strain: If you stare long enough at a person who is standing against a solid background, it will make your retina tired. While trying to concentrate and maintain sharp vision, your eyes may show you a halo effect around the silhouette of the person.

• Synesthesia: People with neurological conditions have crossed connections between the senses in the brain. Some stimuli in one sensory area cause sensations in another one. For example, a person with this condition may see the color of an object just by looking at it or experiencing some emotions, which means they perceive their personal aura created only in their head.

Read More: Can You Read Your Own Aura? A Beginner's Guide!

Modern Aura Cameras and Kirlian Imagining

Modern aura cameras came from the discovery of the Kirlian photography that occurred in the middle of the twentieth century and those made photos showing the glow around objects placed on the photographic plates. The science behind these phenomena is quite simple:

• Coronal Discharge: Kirlian photography captures a high-voltage electrical discharge that occurs when an object interacts with an electric field. This glow is influenced by such physical conditions as skin temperature, humidity, and moisture. A dead leaf or a coin will produce the glow of the same edges as a hand of a person.

• Biofeedback cameras: Today, the process of aura imaging requires the participant to place their hands on the metal sensors that will measure such physiological factors as skin temperature, heart rate, and sweating (galvanic skin response).
  

Conclusion

As it becomes clear, science shows us that although we continuously interact with our surroundings through warmth and electromagnetic currents, there is nothing like a mystic glowing aura surrounding us. Besides, the ability to see auras naturally has nothing supernatural but the features of human eyesight and synesthesia.

Looking to explore your aura beyond the basics? Connect with AuraHeal experts for a personalized reading and meaningful energy insights.