What color is your soul? Aura reading in fiction

In many cultures, the idea persists that living beings—humans, animals, plants—emit subtle energies beyond their physical presence. In Hinduism and Buddhism, there are descriptions of chakras (energy centers within the body) that connect with surrounding energetic layers. Ancient Chinese medicine and philosophy talk about “ki” or “life force” flowing through the body and radiating outward. Ancient Greek writers spoke of “pneuma,” or breath of life, sometimes visualized as shimmering energy surrounding individuals. Christian mysticism also describes luminous auras seen around saints and holy figures. Others called them “energy bodies” or “vibrational fields.”

Think of an aura as an invisible bubble, luminous glow, or halo that extends outward from the body. Its multi-layered fields are composed of different colors, intensities, and patterns that reflect our current health, emotional state, and even spiritual well-being. For instance, someone feeling joyful might produce a bright yellow or golden glow; anxiety could manifest as darker shades like muddy brown or grayish tones; anger might show up as fiery reds or intense oranges.

In The Empath Series, Nathaniel Colt can see people's auras. However, I differentiate between relatively stable auras and vibes, which reflect a being's present emotional state.

His mother had asked him to explain what auras and vibes looked like. Auras had been easy. They looked like a halo of light and color surrounding a person. Everyone had a predominant aura, a unique signature that could shift depending on their emotions or physical state. Vibes, though, were harder to put into words. In the end, he had compared them to those trippy LSD sequences in movies: an endless flow of shifting, pulsing colors, constantly changing with every thought, every emotion, every fleeting mood.

- Excerpt from Wicked Hunt

Psychic power or natural ability?

In recent decades, aura reading has gained recognition not only as a spiritual or mystical practice but also as a tool for personal growth and holistic health. Many believe that through practice and proper technique, they can perceive this energy. Although some think heightened sensitivity is innate, others believe that, with patience and practice, anyone can learn to sense and interpret auras.

Yet, scientifically speaking, auras remain controversial. Skeptics point to a lack of empirical data supporting the existence of visible energy halos around humans or any measurable phenomenon aligning with traditional aura descriptions. Some scientists attribute aura phenomena to visual illusions, such as afterimages, and cognitive biases, instead of actual energy fields.

Interpreting aura colors, patterns & shapes

Understanding the colors that appear in an aura is akin to learning a new language that reveals hidden truths about a person’s emotional state, physical health, and spiritual well-being. Every color in an aura carries specific meanings rooted in centuries-old traditions and modern energy psychology.

While color provides valuable insight into emotional and physical states, it is only part of the story. The shapes, patterns, and structures within an aura often reveal deeper layers of meaning. They offer clues about internal conflicts, spiritual development, or even imminent change. For instance:

• A mix of red (passion) with green (healing) may show someone driven by love but needs emotional balance.
• Yellow coupled with indigo could signify intellectual curiosity paired with intuitive insights.
• Darker hues mixed into vibrant colors warn us about internal conflicts manifesting physically or emotionally. For example, brownish-gray streaks amidst bright greens hint at stagnation.
• Dullness across all colors may suggest fatigue or exhaustion, and possibly energetic blockages from stress.
• Excessively dark patches within otherwise colorful auras point toward suppressed emotions such as anger buried beneath happiness.
• Bright flashes bordering on white might denote spiritual awakening or overload that needs grounding through meditation or grounding exercises.

Cleansing and shielding the aura

Nathaniel Colt’s empathy subjects him to a constant influx of foreign emotions and feelings. Just as his physical body, his energetic self requires care to stay healthy. To avoid being overwhelmed by the surge of energy, he developed several self-preservation and well-being techniques. Thus, he regularly cleanses himself of these foreign energies. He also spends a lot of time outdoors with his Rottweiler, Jackson. It’s a natural way to cleanse and recharge both the mind and energy field.

Beyond cleansing or grounding, Colt has learned to his aura as an energy barrier or mental shield against external influences. Here’s another excerpt from Wicked Hunt:

The real challenge was keeping his mental shield up at all times, but at least that was a skill he had mastered. He had read about telepaths who protected their minds from other telepaths, and the concept fascinated him. Based on those concepts, he developed his own technique to block out unwanted, foreign vibes. At the same time, he learned how to use his own as a kind of empathic radar and lidar. To do this, he shaped his aura into an energy shield, something like a force field straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Fictional representations of auras

In literature and film, auras often serve as symbols of a character’s inner world. For instance, Stephen King’s Insomnia (no relation to the film of the same name) follows Ralph Roberts, an elderly widower, who has insomnia. Soon he sees auras that represent people's life forces and bald men who are present at the homes of the dying.

In shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, characters develop psychic powers, including the ability to sense emotions through colored auras surrounding people. In the season four episode, “Who Are You?,” Tara sensed that something was amiss with Buffy following the body swap with Faith. Tara saw a fractured aura around Buffy, as if a foreign presence had imposed itself on her.

In the Riverdale episode “Unbelievable,” Betty realizes she can see the auras of criminals and serial killers. She sees a red glow around her enemies.

In anime such as Dragon Ball Z, characters sense or see an opponent’s “ki” to assess their strengths. Similarly, many superhero comics and films portray characters' auras as radiant shields or glowing halos. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange’s mystical energy manifests as swirling lights around his hands.

Aura reading key takeaways

People believe an invisible, electromagnetic-like field emanates from every living thing. While scientific validation remains elusive, countless individuals across cultures have relied on their perceptions or technological aids to read these energetic signatures for centuries.

Fiction depicts auras for their artistic value. Though dramatic visuals powerfully convey emotion and character relationships, they contrast with the subtle observation methods real practitioners use.

Buy The Empath Series

The Empath Series is a paranormal suspense series about a reclusive empath rejoining the world and the people he left behind. All three books are available on Amazon:

If you enjoy stories with a psychic investigator, serial killers, and an insolent dog, then you will love The Empath Series.