The Human Aura

Copyright (C) by Barbara Ann Brennan

Excerpt of "Hands Of Light" by Barbara Ann Brennan, Chapter 7 :

Exercise to See the Human Aura
The Anatomy of the Aura
The Seven Layers of the Auric Field
The Seven Layers and the Seven Chakras of the Auric Field
Location of the Seven Chakras
The Function of the Seven Chakras
The Etheric Body (First Layer)
The Emotional Body (Second Layer)
The Mental Body (Third Layer)
Beyond the Physical World
The Astral Level (Fourth Layer)
The Etheric Template Body (Fifth Layer)
The Celestial Body (Sixth Layer)
The Ketheric Template or Causal Body (Seventh Level)
The Cosmic Plane
Perceiving the Field
Answers to the Questions in Exercises To See the Human Aura

About The Author

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The Human Energy Field is the manifestation of universal energy that is
intimately involved with human life. It can be described as a luminous
body that surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body, emits its own
characteristic radiation and is usually called the "aura". The aura is
that part of the UEF associated with objects. The human aura, or Human
Energy Field (HEF), is that part of the UEF associated with the human
body. Based on their observations, researchers have created theoretical
models that divide the aura into several layers. These layers are
sometimes called bodies, and they interpenetrate and surround each other
in successive layers. Each succeeding body is composed of finer
substances and higher "vibrations" than the body that it surrounds and
interpenetrates.

Exercise to See the Human Aura

The easiest way to start to sense the HEF is trough the following
exercises. If you are in a group of people, make a circle and holds
hands. Allow the energy of your auric field to flow around the circle.
Sense this pulsating flow for a while. Which way is it going? See which
way your neighbor feels it going. Do they correlate? Now, without
changing anything or moving your hands, stop the flow of energy. Keep it
stopped for a while (everyone at once) and then let it flow again. Try
it again. Can you feel the difference? Which do you like better? Now do
the same with a partner. Sit opposite each other touching palms
together. Let the energy flow naturally. Which way does it go? Send
energy out your left palm; then allow it to come into your right.
Reverse. Now stop the flow. Next try pushing it out both hands at once.
Now suck it in both hands at once. Push, pull and stop are three basic
ways to manipulating energy in healing. Practice them.

Now, drop hands; hold your palms about two to five inches apart; slowly
move your hands back and forth decreasing and increasing the space
between them. Build something up between your hands. Can you feel it?
What does it feel like? Now, take your hands further apart, about eight
to ten inches. Then slowly bring them back together until you feel a
pressure pushing your hands out so that you have to use just a slight
amount more force to bring your hands together. You have now touched the
edges of one of your energy bodies together. If your hands are one to
one-and-a-quarter inches apart, you have touched your etheric body edges
together (first layer of the aura) . If your hands are three to four
inches apart, you have touched the outside edges of your emotional body
together (second layer of the aura). Now, very carefully move your hands
closer until you can actually feel the outside edge of your emotional
body or energy field of your right hand touch your skin of your left
hand. Move your right palm about one inch closer to your left palm. Feel
the tingling on the back of your left hand as the edge of your energy
field touches it. The energy field of your right hand went right through
your left hand!

Now, take your hands apart again and hold them at a distance of about
seven inches. Point your right index finger at the palm of your left
hand, making sure the fingertip is about one half to one inch away from
the palm. Now, draw circles on your palms. What do you feel? Does it
tickle? What is it?

With the light dim in the room, hold your hand so that the tips of the
fingers point toward each other. Hold your hands in front of your face
at a distance of about two feet. Make sure there is a plain white wall
for a background. Relax your eyes and softly gaze at the space between
your fingertips, which should be about one and a half inches apart. Do
not look into bright light. Let your eyes relax. What do you see? Move
your fingertips doser and then further apart. What is happening in the
space between the fingers? What do you see around the hand? Slowly move
one hand up and the other down so that different fingers are pointing to
each other. What has happened now? About 95% of the people who try this
exercise do see something. Everyone feels something. For the answers to
the above questions, refer to the end of the chapter.

After you practice these exercises and the ones in Chapter 9 on
observing other people's auras, you may begin to see the first few
layers of the aura as shown in Figure 7-1A. Later, after you are used to
seeing the lower layers, you can practice the higher sense perception
exercises as described in Chapters 17, 18 and 19. With more opening in
your third eye (sixth chakra), you will begin to see the higher levels
of the aura. (Figure 7-1B.)

Now that most of you have felt, seen and experienced the lower levels of
the aura, let us go on to descnbe them.

The Anatomy of the Aura

There are many systems that people have created from their observations
to define the auric field. All these systems divide the aura into layers
and define the layers by locations, color, brightness, form, density,
fluidity and function. Each system is geared to the kind of work the
individual is "doing" with the aura. The two systems most similar to
mine are the ones used by Jack Schwarz, which has more than seven layers
and is descnbed in his book, Human Energy Systerns, and the system used
by Rev. Rosalyn Bruyere of the Healing Light Center in Glendale,
California. Her system is a seven-layer system, and is described in her
book Wheels of Light, A Study of the Chakras.

The Seven Layers of the Auric Field

I have observed seven layers during my work as a counselor and a healer.
At first I could only see the lower layers, which are the most dense and
easiest to see. The longer I worked, the more layers I could perceive.
The higher the layer, the more expanded my consciousness needed to be to
perceive it. That is, in order to perceive the higher layers, like the
fifth, sixth and seventh, I would have to enter into a meditative state,
usually with eyes dosed. After years of practice, I even began to see
beyond the seventh layer, as I will discuss briefly at the end of this
chapter.

My observations of the aura revealed to me an interesting dualistic
field pattern. Every other layer of the field is highly structured, like
standing waves of light pattems, while the layers inbetween appear to be
composed of colored fluids in constant motion. These fluids flow through
the form set by the shimmering standing light waves. The direction of
flow is somewhat govemed by the standing light form, since the fluid
flows along the standing lines of light. The standing forms of light are
themselves scintillating, as if they are composed of strings of many
tiny, rapidly blinking lights, each blinking at a different rate. These
standing light lines appear to have tiny charges moving along them.
Thus, the first, third, fifth and seventh layers all have a definite
structure, while the second, fourth and sixth are composed of fluid-like
substances that have no particular structure. They take on form by
virtue of the fact that they flow through the structure of the odd
layers, and thus somewhat take on the form of the structured layers.
Each succeeding layer interpenetrates completely all the layers under
it, including the physical body. Thus the emotional body extends beyond
the etheric body and includes both the etheric and physical bodies.
Actually, each body is not a "layer" at all, although that is what we
may perceive. It is, rather, a more expansive version of our self that
carries within it the other, more limited forms. From the point of view
of the scientist, each layer can be considered to be a level of higher
vibrations, occupying the same space as the levels of vibration below it
and extending beyond. In order to perceive each consecutive level, the
observer must move up in consciousness to each new frequency level. Thus
we have seven bodies all occupying the same space at the same timeJ each
one extending out beyond the last, something  we are not used to in
"normal" daily life. Many people erroneously assume that the aura is
like an onion, where you can peel away consecutive layers. It is not.

The structured layers contain all the forms that the physical body has,
including internal organs, blood vessels, etc., and additional forms
that the physical body does not contain. There is a vertical flow of
energy that pulsates up and down the field in the spinal cord. It
extends out beyond the physical body above the head and below the
coccyx. I call this the main vertical power current. There are swirling
cone-shaped vortexes called chakras in the field. Their tips point into
the main vertical power current, and their open ends extend to the edge
of each layer of the field they are located in.

The Seven Layers and the Seven Chakras of the Auric Field

Each layer appears different and has its own particular function. Each
layer of the aura is associated with a chakra. That is, the first layer
is associated with the first chakra, and the second with the second
chakra, and so on. These are general concepts and will get much more
complicated as we delve more deeply into this subject. For now we will
list them to give you a general overall view. The first layer of the
field and the first chakra are associated with physical functioning and
physical sensation - feeling physical pain or pleasure. The first layer
is associated with automatic and autonomic functioning of the body. The
second layer and second chakra are in general associated with the
emotional aspect of human beings. They are the vehicles through which we
have our emotional life and feelings. The third layer is associated with
our mental life, with linear thinking. The third chakra is associated
with linear thinking. The fourth level, associated with the heart
chakra, is the vehicle through which we love, not only our mates, but
also humanity in general. The fourth chakra is the chakra that
metabolizes the energy of love. The fifth level is the level associated
with a higher will more connected with the divine  will. The fifth
chakra is associated with the power of the word, speaking things into
being, listening and taking responsibility for our actions. The sixth
level and sixth chakra are associated with celestial love. It is a love
that extends beyond the human range of love and encompasses all life. It
makes the statement of caring and support for the protection and
nurturing of all life. It holds all life forms as precious
manifestations of God. The seventh layer and seventh chakra are
associated with the higher mind, knowing and integration of our
spiritual and physical makeup. Thus there are specific locations within
our energy system for the sensations, emotions, thoughts, memories and
other nonphysical experiences that we report to our doctors and
therapists. Understanding how our physical symptoms are related to these
locations will help us understand the nature of different illnesses and
also the nature of both health and disease. Thus the study of the aura
can be a bridge between traditional medicine and our psychological
concerns.

Location of the Seven Chakras

Figure 7-2

The location of the seven major chakras on the physical body shown in
Figure 7-2A corresponds to the major nerve plexuses of the physical body
in that area of the body. Dr. David Tansely, a radionics specialist, in
his book Radionics and the Subtle Bodies of Man, states that the seven
major chakras are formed at the points where the standing lines of light
cross each other 21 times.

The 21 minor chakras are located at points where the energy strands
cross 14 times. (See Figure 7-2B.) They are in the following locations:
one in front of each ear, one above each breast, one where the clavicles
meet, one in the palm of each hand, one on the sole of each foot, one
just behind each eye (not shown), one related to each gonad, one near
the liver, one connected with the stomach, two connected with the
spleen, one behind each knee, one near the thymus gland, and one near
the solar plexus. These chakras are only about three inches in diameter
at one inch distance from the body. The two minor chakras located in the
palms are very important in healing. Where the lines of energy cross
seven times, even smaller vortices are created. There are many tiny
force centers where these lines cross fewer times. Tansely says that
these tiny vortices may very well correspond to the acupuncture points
of Chinese medicine.

Each major chakra on the front of the body is paired with its
counterpart on the back of the body, and together they are considered to
be the front and rear aspect of one chakra. The frontal aspects are
related to the person's feelings, the Kar ones to her or his will, and
the three on the head to a person's mental processes. These are shown in
Figure 7-3. Thus chakra #2 has a 2A and 2B component, and #3 has a 3A
and 3B component, and so on through the sixth chakra. Chakras 1 and 7
may be considered to be paired if one wishes, because they are the open-
ended points of the main vertica1 power current that runs up and down
the spine into which all the chakras point.

The points or tips of the chakras, where they connect to the main power
current, are called the roots or the hearts of the chakras. Within these
hearts are seals which control exchange of energy between layers of the
aura through that chakra. That is, each of the seven chakras has seven
layers, each corresponding to a layer of the auric field. Each chakra
looks different on each of these layers, as will be described in detail
in the descriptions of each layer. In order for certain energy to flow
from one layer to another through the chakra, it must pass through the
seals in the roots of the chakras. Figure 7-4 shows the auric field with
all seven interpenetrating layers, and all seven interpenetrating layers
of chakras.

Figure 7-3, 7-4

Energy can be seen flowing into all of these chakras from the Universal
Energy Field (Figure 7-3). Each swirling vortex of energy appears to
suck or entrain energy from the UEF. They appear to function as do fluid
vortexes we are familiar with in water or in air such as whirlpools,
cyclones, water spouts and hurricanes. The open end of a normal chakra
in the first layer of the aura is about six inches in diameter at a
distance of one inch from the body.

The Function of the Seven Chakras

Each of these vortices exchanges energy with the UEF. Thus, when we
speak of feeling "open," that is literally true. All the major chakras,
minor chakras, lesser chakras and acupuncture points are openings for
energy to flow into and out of the aura. We are like sponges in the
energy sea around us. Since this energy is always associated with a form
of consciousness, we experience the energy we exchange in terms of
seeing, hearing, feeling, sensing, intuiting or direct knowing.

Therefore, we can see that staying "open" means two things. First, it
means metabolizing a lot of energy from the universal field through all
the chakras, large and small. Second, it means letting in, and in some
way dealing with, all the consciousness that is associated with the
energy that is flowing through us. That is not an easy task, and most of
us cannot do it. There would simply be too much input. Psychological
material related to each chakra is brought to consciousness by
increasing one's energy flow through that chakra. Too much psychological
material would be released by a sudden flow of energy, and we could not
process it all. We therefore work in whatever growth process we are in
to open each chakra slowly, so that we have time to process the personal
material that is released and integrate the new information into our
life.

It is important to open the chakras and increase our energy flow,
because the more energy we let flow, the healthier we are. Illness in
the system is caused by an imbalance of energy or a blocking of the flow
of energy. In other words, a lack of flow in the human energy system
eventually leads to disease. It also distorts our perceptions and
dampens our feelings and thus interferes with a smooth experience of
full life. We are not psychologically prepared, howeveI to stay open
without working and developing our maturity and clarity.

Each of the five senses is associated with a chakra. Touching is
associated with the first chakra; hearing, smelling and tasting with the
fifth (or throat) chakra; and seeing with the sixth (or third eye)
chakra. This is discussed in detail in the chapter on perception. The
chakras of the auric body have three major functions:

->To vitalize each auric body and, thusl the physical body.

->To bring about the development of different aspects of self-
consciousness. Each chakra is related to a specific psychological
function. Chapter 11 deals with psychological effects of opening
specific chakras in the etheric, emotional and mental bodies.

->To transmit energy between the auric levels. each auric layer has its
own set of seven major chakras, each located in the same place on the
physical body. Since each progressive layer exists in ever increasing
octaves of frequency, this is possible. For example, for the fourth
chakra, there are really seven chakras, each of a higher frequency band
than the lower one. These chakras appear to be nested within each other
like nesting glasses. Each chakra on each higher layer extends out
farther in the auric field (to the edge of each auric layer) and is
slightly broader than the one below it.

Energy is transmitted from one layer to the next through passageways in
the tips of the chakras. In most people these passageways are sealed.
They open as a result of spiritual purification work and thus the
chakras become transmitters of energy from one layer to another. Each
chakra in the etheric is directly connected to the same chakra in the
next finer body that surrounds and interpenetrates it. The chakras in
the emotional body are connected to those in the next finer bodyr the
mental, etc., and so on for all seven layars.

In eastern esoteric literature, each of the chakras is seen as having a
certain number of petals. On closer investigation, these petals appear
to be small rotating vortices spinning at very high rates. Each vortex
metabolizes an energy vibration that resonates at its particular spin
frequency. The pelvic chakra, for example, has four small vortices and
metabolizes four basic frequencies of energy, and so on for each of the
other chakras. The colors observed in each chakra are related to the
frequency of energy being metabolized at its particular rate.

                        Figure 7-5

         MAJOR CHAKRAS AND THE AREA OF THE BODY THEY NOURISH

CHAKRA    NO. OF SMALL       ENDOCRINE      AREA OF BODY
          VORTICES           GLAND          GOVERNED

7-Crown   972 Violet-White   Pineal         Upper brain, Right eye

6-Head    96 Indigo          Pituitary      Lower brain, Left eye, Ears,
                                            Nose, Nervous system

5-Throat  16 Blue            Thyroid        Bronchial and vocal apparatus,
                                            Lungs, Alimentary canal

4-Heart   12 Green           Thymus         Heart, Blood, Vagus nerve,
                                            Circulatory system

3-Solar   10 Yellow          Pancreas       Stomach, Liver, Gall bladder,
  Plexus                                    Nervous system

2-Sacral  6 Orange           Gonads         Reproductive system

1-Base    4 Red              Adrenals       Spinal column, Kidneys

Since the chakras serve to vitalize the body, they are directly related
to any pathology in the body. Figure 7-5 lists the seven major chakras
along the spine with the area of the body each governs. Each chakra is
associated with an endocrine gland and major nerve plexus. The chakras
absorb the universal or primary energy (ch'i, orgone, prana, etc.),
break it up into component parts and then send it along energy rivers
called nadis to the nervous system, the endocrine glands and then the
blood to nourish the body, as shown in Figure 7-6.

Figure 7-6

The psychodynamic functioning of the chakras, which will be discussed in
detail, relates mainly to the first three bodies of the aura, those
associated with physical, mental and emotional interactions on the earth
plane. For example, when one's heart chakra is functioning properly, one
is very good at loving. When the first chakra is functioning
healthfully, one usually has a strong will to live and is connected well
to the ground. This is the person who is very grounded in his life. When
someone's sixth and third chakras are functioning well, he will think
clearly. If they are not functioning well, his thoughts will be
confused.

The Etheric Body (First Layer)

The etheric body (from "ether," the state between energy and matter) is
composed of tiny energy lines "like a sparkling web of light beams"
similar to the lines on a television screen (Figure 7-7). It has the
same structure as the physical body including all the anatomical parts
and all the organs.

The etheric body consists of a definite structure of lines of force, or
energy matrix, upon which the physical matter of the body tissues is
shaped and anchored. The physical tissues exist as such only because of
the vital field behind them; that is, the field is prior to, not a
result of, the physical body. This relationship has been supported in
the observations of plant growth by Dr. John Pierrakos and myself.
Through the use of High Sense Perception, we observed that an energy
field matrix in the shape of a leaf is projected by the plant prior to
the growth of a leaf, and then the leaf grows into that already existing
form.

The web-like structure of the etheric body is in constant motion. To
clairvoyant vision, sparks of bluish-white light move along its energy
lines throughout the entire dense physical body. The etheric body
extends from one quarter to two inches beyond the physical body and
pulsates about 15-20 cycles per minute.

The color of the etheric body varies from light blue to gray. The light
blue color has been connected to a finer form than the gray. That is) a
more sensitive person with a sensitive body will tend to have a bluish
first layer, whereas a more athletic, robust type of person will tend to
have a more grayish etheric body. All the chakras of this layer are the
same color as the body. That is, they will also range between blue to
gray in color. The chakras look like vortices made of a net of light,
just like the rest of the etheric body. One can perceive all the organs
of the physical body, but they are formed of this scintillating bluish
light. As in the leaf's energy system, this etheric structure sets up
the matlvc for the cells to grow; i.e., the cells of the body grow along
the lines of energy of the etheric matrix,  and that matrix is there
before the cells grow. If one were to isolate the etheric body and look
only at it, it would look like a man or woman made of bluish lines of
light in constant scintillation, rather like Spiderman. By observing the
shoulder of someone in dim light against a plain white or plain black or
dark blue background, you may be able to see the pulsations of this
etheric body. The pulsation rises, say at the shoulder, and then makes
its way down the arm, like a wave. If you look more dosely, there
appears to be a blank space between the shoulder and the blue hazy
light; then there is a layer of brighter blue haze that slowly fades as
it extends from the body. But be aware that as soon as you see it, it
will be gone, because it moves so fast. It will have pulsated down the
arm by the time you take a second look to check yourself out. Try again.
You will catch the next pulsation.

The Emotional Body (Second Layer)

The second auric body (Figure 7-8), or next finer after the etheric
body, is generally called the emotional body, and is associated with
feelings. It roughly follows the outline of the physical body. Its
structure is much more fluid than the etheric and does not duplicate the
physical body. Rather, it appears to be colored clouds of fine substance
in continual fluid motion. It extends  one to three inches from the
body.

This body interpenetrates the denser bodies that it surrounds. Its
colors vary from brilliant dear hues to dark muddy ones, depending on
the clarity or confusion of the feeling or energy that produces them.
Clear and highly energized feelings such as love, excitement, joy or
anger are bright and clear; those feelings that are confused are dark
and muddy. As these feelings become energized through personal
interaction, body psychotherapy, etc., the colors separate out into
their primary hue and brighten. Chapter 9 deals with this process.

This body contains all the colors of the rainbow. Each chakra looks like
a vortex of a different color and follows the colors of the rainbow.

The list below shows chakras of the emotional body and their colors.


     Chakra 1 = red
            2 = red-orange
            3 = yellow
            4 = bright grass green
            5 = sky blue
            6 = indigo
            7 = white

Chapter 9 gives a number of observations on the emotional body during
therapy sessions. In general, the body does appear to be blobs of color
moving within the matrix of the etheric field and also extending beyond
it a bit. At times a person may throw off color blobs of energy into the
air around him. This is especially observaUe when someone is releasing
feelings in a therapy session.

The Mental Body (Third Layer)

The third aura body is the mental body (Figure 7-9). This body extends
beyond the emotional and is composed of still finer substances, all of
which are associated with thoughts and mental processes. This body
usually appears as a bright yellow light radiating about the head and
shoulders and extending around the whole body. It expands and becomes
brighter when its owner is concentrating on mental processes. It extends
from three to eight inches from the body. The mental body is also a
structured body. It contains the structure of our ideas. This body is
mostly yellow. Within this field can be seen thought forms. They appear
to be blobs of varying brightness and form. These thought forms have
additional colors superimposed on them, actually emanating from the
emotional level. The color represents the person's emotion that is
connected to the thought form. The clearer and more well-formed the
idea, the clearer and more well-formed is the thought form associated
with that idea. We enhance these thought forms by focusing on the
thoughts they represent. Habitual thoughts become very powerful
"wellformed" forces that then affect our lives.

This body has been the hardest for me to observe. This may be partly
caused by the fact that human beings are really just beginning to
develop the mental body and are just beginning to use their intellects
in clear ways. For that reason we are very conscious of mental activity
and consider ourselves an analytical society.

Beyond the Physical World

In the system I use for healing (Figure 7-4), the lower three auric
layers are associated with and metabolize energies related to the
physical world, and the upper three metabolize energies related to the
spiritual world. The fourth layer or astral level, associated with the
heart chakra, is the transforming crucible through which all energy must
pass when going from one world to the other. That is, the spiritual
energy must pass through the fire of the heart to be transformed into
the lower physical energies, and the physical energies (of the lower
three auric layers) must pass through the transformative fire of the
heart to become spintual energies. In full spectrum healing, dicussed in
Chapter 22, we use the energies associated with all the layers and all
the chakras and pass them through the heart, the center of love.

So far in this discussion, we have focused on the lower three layers.
Most of the body psychotherapy I have seen in this country primarily
utilizes only the lower three layers and the heart. As soon as one
begins to examine the upper four layers of the auric field everything
changes, because as soon as you open your perception to layers above the
third you also begin to perceive people or beings who exist in those
layers who do not have physical bodies. From my observations and those
of other clairvoyants, there exist layers of reality or other "frequency
bands" of reality beyond the physical. The upper four layers of the
auric field correspond to four of those layers of reality. Again, I must
reiterate that the discussion that follows is only an attempt at a
system with which to explain observed phenomena; I'm sure in the future
there will be better systems created. This one is useful to me.

In Figure 7-4 I have in general associated the upper three chakras with
the physical, emotional and mental functioning of the human being in her
spiritual reality. That is because most of us only use that portion of
ourselves in those limited types of functions. They are the higher will,
the higher feelings of love and the higher knowing, where whole concepts
are understood at once. The fourth layer is associated with love. That
is the doorway through which we can enter into the other states of
reality.

However, the picture is actually more complicated than that. Each of the
layers above the third-is an entire layer of reality with beings, forms
and personal functions that go beyond what we normally call human. Each
is an entire world in which we live and have our being. Most of us
experience these realities during sleep but do not remember them. Some
of us can go into those states of reality by expanding the consciousness
through meditative techniques. These meditative techniques open the
seals between the roots of the chakra layers and thus provide a doorway
for consciousness to travel. For the following discussion, I will focus
only on the description of the auric layers and their limited functions.
Later on in this book there will be more discussions of the higher
layers or "frequencies of reality."

The Astral Level (Fourth Layer)

The astral body (Figure 7-10) is amorphous and is composed of clouds of
color more beautiful than those of the emotional body. The astral body
tends to have the same set of colors, but they are usually infused w*h
the rose light of love. It extends out about one half to one foot from
the body. The chakras are the same octave of colors as the rainbow of
the emotional body, but each is infused with the rose light of love. The
heart chakra of a loving person is full of rose light on the astral
level.

When people fall in love, beautiful arcs of rose light can be seen
between their hearts, and a beautiful rose color is added to the normal
golden pulsations I observe in the pituitary gland. When people form
relationships with each other, they grow cords out of the chakras that
connect them. These cords exist on many levels of the auric field in
addition to the astral. The longer and deeper the relationship, the more
cords and the stronger they are. When relationships end, those cords are
torn, sometimes causing a great deal of pain. The period of "getting
over" a relationship is usually a period of disconnecting those cords on
the lower levels of the field and rerooting them within the self. A
great deal of interaction takes place between people on the astral
level. Great blobs of color of various forms whisk across the room
between people. Some of it is pleasant and some not so pleasant. You can
feel the difference. You may feel uneasy about someone across the room
who is apparently not even aware of your presence; however, on another
level a lot is happening. I have seen people standing next to each other
in a group pretending not to notice each other, when on the energy level
there is a whole communication taking place with lots of energy forms
moving between them. You have no doubt experienced this yourself,
especially between men and women. It is not just body language; there is
an actual energetic phenomenon that can be perceived. For example, when
a man or woman fantasize about making love with someone, say in a bar or
at a party, there is an actual testing in the energy fields to see if
the fields are synchronous and if the people are compatible. More
examples of this auric interaction phenomenon will be given in Chapter
9.

The Etheric Template Body (Fifth Layer)

I call the fifth layer of the aura the etheric template (Figure 7-11)
because it contains all the forrns that exist on the physical plane in a
blueprint or template form. That is, it looks rather like the negative
of a photograph. It is the template form for the etheric layer, which as
was already stated is the template form for the physical body. The
etheric layer of the energy field derives its structure from the etheric
template layer. It is the blueprint or the perfect form for the etheric
layer to take. It extends from about one and one half to two feet from
the body. In disease, when the etheric layer becomes disfigured, etheric
template work is needed to provide the support for the etheric layer in
its original template form. It is the level at which sound creates
matter. It is at this level that sounding in healing is the most
effective. This will be discussed in Chapter 23 on healing. To my
clairvoyant sight, these forms appear as clear or transparent lines on a
cobalt blue background, much like an architect's blueprint, only this
blueprint exists in another dimension. It is as if a form is made by
completely filling in the background space, and the empty space left
creates the form.

An example would be to compare how a sphere is created in Euclidian
geometry to the way one is created in etheric space. In Euclidian
geometry, to create a sphere one first defines a point. A radius drawn
out from that point in all three dimensions will create the surface of a
sphere. HoweverJ in etheric space, which one might call negative space,
to form a sphere the opposite process takes place. An infinite number of
planes comes from all directions and fill in all space, except for a
spherical area of space left empty. This defines the sphere. It is the
area not filled in by all the pIanes that meet each other that then
defines an empty spherical space.

Thus, the etheric template level of the aura creates an empty or
negative space in which the first or etheric Ievel of the aura can
exist. The etheric template is the template for the etheric body, which
then forms the grid structure (structured energy field) upon which the
physical body grows. Thus, the etheric template level of the universal
energy field contains all the shapes and forms that exist on the
physical plane, except on the template level. These forms exist in
negative space, creating an empty space in which the etheric grid
structure grows and upon which all physical manifestation exists. By
focusing on only the vibratory frequency of the fifth level when
observing someone's field, one can isolate only the fifth layer of the
aura. When I do this, I see the form of the person's auric field, which
extends out to about two and a half feet from the individual. It looks
like a narrow oval shape. It contains the entire structure of the field,
including chakras, body organs and body form (limbs, etc.), all in
negative form. All these structures appear to be formed from transparent
lines on a dark blue background, which is solid space. When tuning into
this level I also can perceive all other forms in my environment in this
perspective. That seems to happen automatically when I switch my
perceptual mechanism to this range. That is, my attention is first
brought to the general fifth level; then I focus in on the particular
person I am observfocus in on the particular person I am observing.

The Celestial Body (Sixth Layer)

The sixth level is the emotional level of the spiritual plane, called
the celestial body (Figure 7-12). It extends about two to two and three-
quarter feet from the body. It is the level through which we experience
spiritual ecstasy. We can reach it through meditation and many of the
other forms of transformation work I have mentioned in this book. When
we reach the point of "being" where we know our connection with all the
universe, when we see the light and love in everything that exists, when
we are immersed in the light and feel we are of it and it is of us and
feel that we are one with God, then we have raised our consciousness to
the sixth level of the aura.

Unconditional love flows when there is a connection between the open
heart chakra and the open celestial chakra. In this connection, we
combine the love of humanity, our basic human love for our fellow humans
in the flesh, with the spiritual ecstasy found in the spiritual love
that goes beyond the physical reality to all the realms of existence.
Combining these two creates the experience of unconditional love.

The celestial body appears to me in beautiful shimmering light, composed
mostly of pastel colors. This light has a gold-silver shine and
opalescent quality like mother of pearl sequins. Its form is less
defined than the etheric template level in that it simply appears to be
composed of light that radiates out from the body like the glow around a
candle. Within this glow are also brighter, stronger beams of light.

The Ketheric Template or Causal Body (Seventh Level)

The seventh level is the mental level of the spiritual plane called the
ketheric template (Figure 7-13). It extends from about two and one half
to three and one half feet from the body. When we bring our
consciousness to the seventh level of the aura, we know that we are one
with the Creator. The outer form is the egg shape of the aura body and
contains all the auric bodies associated with the present incarnation an
individual is undergoing. This body, too, is a highly structured
template. It appears to my vision as composed of tiny threads of gold-
silver light of very strong durability that hold the whole form of the
aura together. It contains a golden grid structure of the physical body
and all the chakras. When "tuning" into the frequency level of the
seventh layer, I perceive beautiful golden shimmering light that is
pulsating so fast that I use the term "shirnmering." It looks like
thousands of golden threads. The golden egg form extends out beyond the
body some three to three and a half feet depending on the person with
the smaller tip beneath the feet and the larger end about three feet
above the head. It can expand even more, if the person is very
energetic. The outer edge actually looks like an eggshell to me; it
appears to have a thickness of about a quarter to a half inch. This
outer part of the seventh layer is very strong and resilient, resistant
to penetration and protects the field just as an eggshell protects the
chick. All the chakras and body forms appear to be made of golden light
on this level. This is the strongest, most resilient level of the auric
field.

It could be likened to a standing lightwave of intricate shape and form
vibrating at an extremely high rate. One can almost hear a sound when
looking at it. IJm sure a sound could be heard if one meditated on such
a picture. The golden template level also contains the main power
current that runs up and down the spine and is the main power current
that nourishes the whole body. As this golden power current pulsates up
and down the spine, it carries energies through the roots of each chakra
and connects the energies that are taken in through each chakra.

The main vertical power current induces other currents at right angles
to it to form golden streamers that extend directly outward from the
body. These in turn induce other currents that circle around the field,
so that the entire auric field and all the levels below it are
surrounded and held within this basket-like network. This network shows
the power of the golden light, the divine mind that holds the whole
field together in its entirety and its integrity.

In addition, in the ketheric template level are also the past life bands
within the eggshell. These are colored bands of light which completely
encircle the aura and can be found anywhere on the eggshell surface. The
band found near the head-neck area is usually the band containing the
past life that you are working to clear in your present life
circumstance. Jack Schwarz speaks of these bands and how to tell their
meaning by their color. Later, in the past life healing section, I will
describe how to work with these bands. The ketheric level is the last
auric level in the spiritual plane. It contains the life plan and is the
last level directly related to this incamation. Beyond this level is the
cosmic plane the plane that cannot be experienced from the limiting
viewpoint of only one incarnation.

The Cosmic Plane

The two levels above the seventh that I am able to see at this point are
the eighth and ninth levels. They are each associated with the eighth
and ninth chakras located above the head. Each level appears to be
crystalline and composed of very fine high vibrations. The eighth and
ninth levels seem to follow the general pattern of alternating between
substance (eighth level) and form (ninth level) in that the eighth
appears mostly a fluid substance and the ninth appears to be a
crystalline template of everything below it. I have not found references
to these levels in the literature, although they may be there. I know
very little about these levels, except for certain very powerful healing
practices that have been taught by my guides. I will discuss these
methods in Chapter 22.

Perceiving the Field

It is important to remember that as you open your clairvoyant vision,
you will probably perceive only the first layers of the aura. You will
also probably not be able to distinguish between layers. You will
probably just see colors and forms. As you progress, you will sensitize
yourself to higher and higher frequencies so that you can perceive the
higher bodies. You will also be able to distinguish layers and be able
to focus on the layer of your choice.

Most of the illustrations in the next few chapters show only the lower
three or four auric bodies. No distinction is made between the layers.
They appear to be mixed within each other and act together in most of
the interactions described. Most of the time we have our lower emotions)
basic thinking processes and interpersonal feelings mixed together and
confused. We are not vetg good at distinguishing them in ourselves. Some
of that mixing even shows in the aura. Many times the mental and
emotional bodies appear to act as one confused form. In the following
descriptions of the therapeutic processes not much distinction is made
in the bodies. However, through the therapeutic process or any other
growth process, the layers of one's being become more distinct. The
client is much more able to distinguish between base emotions, thought
processes and the higher emotions of unconditional love associated with
the higher auric levels. This distinction occurs through the process of
understanding the cause-and-effect relationships described in Chapter
15. That is, the client begins to understand how his belief system
affects the ideas in the mental body, how that, in turn, affects the
emotions, then the etheric, and finally the physical body. With this
understanding, one can then distinguish between layers of the auric
field. The layers of the field actually become clearer and more distinct
as the client becomes clearer with more self-understanding between
physical feelings, emotional feelings and thoughts and acts acordingly.

Later, in the healing sections that follow, it will be very important to
distinguish between the layers of the aura.

Answers to the Questions in Exercises To See the Human Aura

The energy almost always moves from left to right around the circle. It
feels very unpleasant to stop, and usually it is impossible to stop the
entire flow. The feeling of building something up between your hands is
that of a tickling sensation with pressure, somewhat like static
electricity. When the energy body edges touch each other, there is a
feeling of tingling and of pressure. When the energy body edge touches
the skin, there is a feeling of tickling and pressure on the skin
surface. When you draw circles on the palm, you can feel the tickling
outline of the circle.

Most people see a haze around the fingers and hands when trying to sense
the aura. It looks somewhat like the heat wave over a radiator. It is
sometimes seen in various colors, such as a blue tint. Usually, most
people see it as colorless in the beginning. The energy bodies pull like
taffy between the fingers as the haze from each fingertip connects to
the haze at the fingertip of the opposite hand. When you move the
fingers so that a different fingertip is facing it, the haze will at
first follow the old finger and then jump to the closer fingertip. (See
Figure 7-14.)

Figure 7-14

You may check also Treatise On Auras.

[End of Chapter 7]

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About The Author

[IMAGE]

Barbara Brennen is a healer, therapist, author, and scientist. For the
past eighteen years, she has been studying, researching, and working
with the human energy field. Currently, she focuses on teaching and
training healers. You may reach her at:

   Barbara Brennan School of Healing
   P.O.Box 2005,
   East Hampton, NY 11937
   phone: (516) 329-0951, fax: (516) 324-9745