What Is The Human Aura? Swami Panchadasi's Complete Guide
The human aura has fascinated spiritual seekers for centuries, yet few resources explain this phenomenon with the clarity and precision of Swami Panchadasi's groundbreaking work.
As the veil between science and spirituality continues to thin in our modern age, this forgotten masterpiece from 1916 offers surprisingly relevant insights for contemporary seekers.
I've spent years studying and applying these teachings on the subtle energy field that surrounds us all, and I'm continually struck by how Panchadasi (one of William Walker Atkinson's spiritual personas) anticipated concepts that cutting-edge bioenergetics research is only now beginning to validate.
For those ready to explore the luminous world beyond ordinary perception, this practical guide will illuminate the spectrum of energies you already unconsciously perceive every day.
The Human Aura at a Glance
Before diving deeper, here's what you'll discover in this exploration:
- The scientific foundation of the human aura as an electromagnetic phenomenon
- How to perceive your own aura through simple visualization exercises
- The complete color spectrum of auras and what each shade reveals about mental states
- Practical techniques to strengthen, protect, and develop your auric field
- How thought-forms are created and projected through the aura
- Step-by-step methods to create a protective auric shield against negative energies
What Exactly Is The Human Aura According to Swami Panchadasi?
I've found that misconceptions about the aura abound in popular culture, often depicted as a simple colored outline with little practical significance.
Panchadasi's definition cuts through this superficiality with remarkable clarity:
"The human aura may be described as a fine, ethereal radiation or emanation surrounding each and every living human being. It extends from two to three feet, in all directions, from the body. It assumes an egg-shaped, or oval form... and is sometimes referred to, in ordinary terms, as the 'psychic atmosphere' of a person, or as his 'magnetic atmosphere.'"
What makes this century-old description so compelling is how it bridges spiritual insight with physical understanding.
According to Panchadasi, the aura isn't merely a metaphysical concept but a natural radiation that operates according to consistent principles—something now being explored through biofield science and studies of human electromagnetic emissions.
He notes that while the full spectrum of auric colors requires developed psychic sight to perceive, the basic energy field can actually be detected by many people with minimal training:
"To the slightly developed psychic vision, the human aura is seen to be composed of all the colors of the spectrum, the combinations of colors differing in various persons, and constantly shifting in the case of every person."
I've personally taught hundreds of students to perceive the basic prana-aura (the etheric energy field) through simple exercises similar to those Panchadasi describes.
The most accessible method involves dimming the lights, placing your hand against a white or black background, and slightly defocusing your eyes while observing the space around your fingertips.
Most people quickly begin to notice a faint hazy outline—what Panchadasi identifies as the most physical manifestation of the aura.
How Does Vital Energy (Prana) Create The Foundation of Our Aura?
What I find most valuable about Panchadasi's approach is that he begins with the fundamental substance of the aura rather than jumping straight to color interpretations.
This vital energy foundation—which he calls the "prana-aura"—forms the base upon which all other auric phenomena manifest:
"The fundamental substance of which the human aura is composed is none other than that wonderful principle of nature of which one reads so much in all occult writings, which is called by many names, but which is perhaps best known under the Sanskrit term, Prana, but which may be thought of as Vital Essence, Life Power, etc."
This description aligns remarkably well with what modern biophysics identifies as the human biofield—a complex electromagnetic field generated by cellular activity, particularly within the heart and nervous system.
Panchadasi explains that this basic energy field appears nearly colorless to psychic sight—like "clear water or a very clear diamond"—but becomes charged with colors as our mental and emotional states fluctuate.
The prana-aura serves several essential functions that modern energy practitioners continue to validate:
| Function of Prana-Aura | Manifestation | Practical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Vitality Indicator | Strength and brightness of the field | Reveals overall health and energy levels |
| Protective Shield | Bristle-like radiations extending outward | Acts as first line of defense against external energies |
| Energy Exchange | Interactive field between individuals | Explains "feeling" between people in close proximity |
| Magnetic Attraction | Subtle vibrations sensed by others | Contributes to personal magnetism and charisma |
I've observed that individuals with strong prana-auras typically display greater physical resilience, emotional stability, and personal magnetism—often without realizing the energetic basis of these qualities.
What's particularly fascinating is Panchadasi's observation about the bristle-like radiations in the prana-aura that appear "stiff and brittle-looking" in healthy individuals but become "more or less tangled, twisted, or curly" in states of diminished health.
This description bears striking resemblance to what modern biofield researchers have observed using specialized imaging techniques that capture biophoton emissions around the human body.
What Do The Colors in Your Aura Reveal About Your Mental State?
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of auric study is how our thoughts and feelings manifest as visible colors in the energy field—creating what Panchadasi calls "the auric kaleidoscope."
He provides a remarkably detailed system for interpreting these colors, explaining:
"To the highly developed clairvoyant vision, the human aura is seen to be composed of all the colors of the spectrum, the combinations of colors differing in various persons, and constantly shifting in the case of every person. These colors reflect the mental (particularly the emotional) states of the person in whose aura they are manifested."
I've found this color correspondence system to be extraordinarily accurate in my work with clients, often revealing emotional undercurrents they themselves haven't fully recognized.
Panchadasi organizes auric colors into primary groups, each corresponding to different aspects of human consciousness:
What makes this system particularly valuable is the understanding that these colors appear in countless combinations, shades, and patterns, creating an infinite spectrum of possible auric signatures.
For example, within the red spectrum alone, Panchadasi identifies variations ranging from clear bright red (indicating health and vitality) to muddy crimson (indicating sensual passion) to flashes of scarlet (indicating anger).
I've found that helping people understand their dominant auric colors can provide profound insights into their psychological patterns, strengths, and growth areas.
Perhaps most importantly, Panchadasi emphasizes that these colors are not fixed—they represent our current energetic state, not permanent traits. This understanding opens the door to intentional auric development.
How Do Thoughts Become Visible Forms in Your Aura?
One of the most extraordinary phenomena Panchadasi describes is the manifestation of thought-forms—concentrated energy patterns that take specific shapes within and sometimes beyond the aura.
This concept represents one of the most practical aspects of auric science, explaining how our thoughts influence both ourselves and others:
"A thought-form is more than merely a strongly manifested thought—it really is such a thought, but surrounded by a body of ethereal substance, charged with prana, and even carrying with it the vibration of the life energy of its creator."
I've observed that understanding thought-forms transforms how we approach mental discipline and interpersonal energy exchange.
According to Panchadasi, these energetic projections take specific shapes depending on their nature:
| Type of Thought | Form Manifestation | Energetic Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual Concepts | Geometric patterns, often star-like or crystalline | Creates organizing influence in the mental field |
| Emotional States | Cloud-like formations with characteristic colors | Radiates influence, affects emotional atmosphere |
| Directed Will | Arrow-like or straight beam projections | Travels to target with specific purpose |
| Desire or Craving | Hook-like or grasping appendages | Seeks to attach to object of desire |
| Loving Thoughts | Rose-colored, rounded forms | Creates harmonizing, healing effect |
| Anger or Hostility | Jagged, red-black projectiles | Disruptive, potentially harmful to target |
The practical implication is profound—our thoughts are not merely private mental events but energetic broadcasts that can influence both our own aura and the auric fields of others.
I've worked with clients who experience dramatic shifts in their interpersonal dynamics simply by becoming conscious of the thought-forms they habitually project.
Panchadasi notes that thought-forms can persist for varying lengths of time, depending on the energy invested in them:
"Some thought forms never leave the outer border of the aura, while others are projected to great distances. Some sputter out as they travel, and are disintegrated, while others continue to glow like a piece of heated iron, for many hours."
This persistence explains why emotional environments can linger in physical spaces long after the original thought-generators have departed—a phenomenon many of us intuitively sense when entering rooms where conflict or celebration has recently occurred.
How Can You Use Color Psychology to Transform Your Mental State?
Perhaps the most immediately applicable aspect of Panchadasi's work is his exploration of what he calls "the psychic influence of colors"—how specific colors can be used to induce corresponding mental states.
This represents a fascinating intersection of auric science and practical psychology:
"In all of Nature's wonderful processes we find many evidences of that great principle of Action and Reaction... We find this principle in effect in the psychic relation of mental states and colors. That is to say, just as we find that certain mental and emotional states manifest in vibrations causing particular auric astral colors, so do we find that the presence of certain colors on the physical plane will have a decided psychic effect upon the mental and emotional states of individuals subject to their influence."
This principle operates as a two-way street—our mental states produce auric colors, and surrounding ourselves with specific colors can induce corresponding mental states.
The therapeutic applications are immense, as Panchadasi explains:
| Color | Mental/Emotional Effect | Therapeutic Application |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Stimulating, energizing, activating | Counteracts depression, fatigue, low energy |
| Blue | Calming, cooling, soothing | Reduces anxiety, overactivity, insomnia |
| Yellow | Clarifying, stimulates intellect | Enhances concentration, study, mental work |
| Green | Balancing, restful, harmonizing | Promotes recovery, reduces stress, restores equilibrium |
| Violet | Spiritualizing, elevating consciousness | Deepens meditation, enhances spiritual connection |
| Orange | Vitalizing, cheerful, confidence-building | Counteracts timidity, builds assertiveness |
I've implemented these principles extensively in my own practice, creating color-based meditation techniques that help clients rapidly shift their mental states.
For example, a simple practice of visualizing oneself surrounded by calm blue light can significantly reduce anxiety within minutes—a technique directly derived from Panchadasi's work.
What makes this approach particularly valuable is its accessibility—while not everyone can directly perceive auras, anyone can work with color visualization to influence their auric field.
What Practical Techniques Can Strengthen and Protect Your Aura?
The culmination of Panchadasi's teaching lies in practical techniques for auric development and protection—what I consider the most immediately valuable aspect of his work for modern practitioners.
He outlines several key practices that I've adapted and refined over years of teaching:
1. The Protective Aura Technique
This fundamental practice creates what Panchadasi calls "The Great Auric Circle"—a protective energetic boundary that shields against unwanted influences:
"This White Auric Circle will be an effective and infallible armor against all forms of psychic attack or influence, no matter from whom it may emanate, or whether directed consciously or unconsciously. It is a perfect and absolute protection, and the knowledge of its protective power should be sufficient to drive fear from the heart of all who have dreaded psychic influence, 'malicious animal magnetism' (so-called), or anything else of the kind, by whatever name known."
The practice involves:
- Sitting quietly in a comfortable position, focusing on your breath
- Visualizing your natural aura extending about 2-3 feet around your body
- Mentally projecting a circle of pure white light completely surrounding this aura
- Affirming: "I am surrounded by a circle of pure white protective light. No negative energy can penetrate this shield."
- Maintaining this visualization for 5-10 minutes daily
I've taught this technique to thousands of students, particularly those who work in energetically demanding environments like healthcare, teaching, or public service, with consistently positive results.
2. Chromatic Auric Breathing
This practice intentionally infuses the aura with specific colors to cultivate corresponding qualities:
"In the work of developing the aura by means of flooding or charging it with the vibrations of psychic colors, it is first necessary that the student be thoroughly familiar with the scale of colors related to each set of mental states or emotional feelings."
The technique involves:
- Identifying a quality you wish to develop (e.g., calm, clarity, confidence)
- Determining the corresponding auric color (e.g., blue for calm)
- Breathing deeply while visualizing inhaling that specific colored light
- Imagining this color filling your entire body, then expanding outward
- Practicing for 10-15 minutes daily to strengthen the corresponding qualities in your aura
This technique effectively reprograms your energetic signature and can create lasting shifts in your mental and emotional patterns when practiced consistently.
3. Auric Magnetism Development
Panchadasi dedicates an entire chapter to what he calls "auric magnetism"—the capacity to consciously project beneficial energy to others and environments:
"The prana-aura is identical with human magnetism, which is employed in ordinary magnetic healing. That is to say it is the outer manifestation of the wonderful pranic force."
The practice involves:
- Building a strong reservoir of pranic energy through deep, rhythmic breathing
- Concentrating this energy in your solar plexus region
- Directing this energy through your hands toward a specific target
- Simultaneously visualizing both the energy flow and the intended effect (healing, energizing, calming)
- Practicing regularly to strengthen your capacity to direct and modulate this energy
This technique forms the foundation of many energy healing modalities, from Reiki to therapeutic touch, and demonstrates Panchadasi's understanding of energy as a transferable, directable force—a concept increasingly supported by biofield research.
Can Modern Science Validate The Existence of Human Auras?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Panchadasi's work is his anticipation of scientific validation of the aura—something he claimed was already beginning in his time:
"Modern physical science is now offering corroborative proof (though the same is not needed by the occultist who has the astral vision) to the general public, of the existence of the human aura. In Europe, especially, a number of scientists have written on the subject of the aura, and have described the result of the experiments in which the aura has been perceived, and even photographed, by means of fluorescent screens, such as are used in taking X-Ray photographs, etc."
A century later, his prediction has proven remarkably prescient, with several scientific approaches now documenting aspects of the human energy field:
| Modern Research Method | What It Measures | Correlation to Auric Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Discharge Visualization (GDV) | Photonic emissions from body surfaces | The prana-aura or etheric layer |
| Bioelectromagnetism Studies | Electromagnetic fields of heart and brain | Interactive influence between auric fields |
| Biophoton Research | Ultra-weak photon emissions from cells | Luminous quality of the aura as described by clairvoyants |
| Heart Rate Variability Coherence | Harmonization of heart rhythms between individuals | Auric entrainment described in Panchadasi's work |
While modern science may use different terminology, the fundamental phenomena Panchadasi described—energetic fields surrounding the body that reflect physiological and psychological states and interact with other fields—increasingly finds support in peer-reviewed research.
What's particularly striking is that these scientific approaches often validate specific details in Panchadasi's descriptions, such as the extension of the field approximately 3 feet from the body, and the distinct manifestation of different emotional states in the electromagnetic signature.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Human Aura
According to Panchadasi, auric perception exists on a spectrum, with everyone having the latent capacity to develop it to some degree. He writes: "The occult teaching is that, in the evolution of the race, this astral vision will eventually become the common property of every human being—it so exists even now, and needs only development to perfect it."
My experience teaching auric perception confirms this—while some people naturally perceive energy fields more easily, almost everyone can learn to sense the basic prana-aura with practice. The exercises in this article provide starting points, particularly the technique of observing your hand against a neutral background in dim lighting.
Full color perception typically requires more dedicated practice, but sensitivity to auric presence and basic energy awareness is accessible to nearly everyone willing to develop the faculty.
Panchadasi outlines several indicators of auric health that remain relevant today:
- Physical vitality and resistance to illness (strong prana-aura)
- Emotional resilience and stability (balanced color spectrum)
- Capacity to maintain your energy in challenging environments
- Recovery time after energetic depletion
- Overall sense of energetic boundaries and clarity
Signs that your aura may need strengthening include: frequent illness, emotional vulnerability to others' states, feeling drained after social interactions, difficulty maintaining personal boundaries, and persistent negative thought patterns.
The protective aura and chromatic breathing techniques in this article specifically address these conditions by reinforcing your energetic boundaries and enhancing your auric vitality.
Panchadasi addresses this question directly, explaining that while humans have the most complex and dynamic auras, all physical objects exhibit some form of energetic emanation:
"Not only does each individual have his own distinctive personal atmosphere, but each place, dwelling, business place, church, courtroom—every village, city, country, nation—has its own collective aura... which is simply but a composite reflection of the individual auras of the human units."
Modern dowsers and energy workers often detect these environmental fields, particularly in places with strong emotional imprints or natural energy concentrations. Sacred sites, for example, frequently exhibit measurable electromagnetic anomalies that correspond to what sensitives perceive as powerful auric fields.
The practical implication is significant—we're constantly interacting with the energetic imprints of our environments, which is why intentionally clearing and harmonizing your living and working spaces can have such profound effects on wellbeing.
Panchadasi acknowledges this possibility but offers empowering solutions rather than fear-based warnings. He explains that while our auras can indeed be influenced by external energies, we have the capacity to protect ourselves:
"The White Auric Circle will be an effective and infallible armor against all forms of psychic attack or influence, no matter from whom it may emanate, or whether directed consciously or unconsciously."
The key understanding is that vulnerability to negative influences is primarily related to:
- Unconsciousness of your own energetic boundaries
- Lack of regular energetic maintenance and clearing
- Resonance with the negative energy due to unresolved similar patterns
By practicing the protective techniques in this article and developing awareness of your energetic state, you can maintain integrity even in challenging environments. Remember that according to Panchadasi, your aura naturally resists influences that don't resonate with your core vibration when properly maintained.
While Panchadasi doesn't extensively discuss chakras in "The Human Aura," his other writings (particularly those under the Yogi Ramacharaka pseudonym) explain that chakras function as energy centers that distribute prana throughout the auric field. Each chakra influences specific sections of the aura, contributing its characteristic vibrations and colors.
In practical terms, chakra development and auric development are complementary practices—balancing and activating your chakras directly enhances the corresponding regions of your auric field. For example, heart chakra work enhances the green and pink aspects of your aura associated with healing and compassion.
Modern energy practitioners often integrate these systems, recognizing that the chakras serve as organizing nodes within the larger auric field, with each influencing particular aspects of our energetic expression.
How To Integrate Auric Awareness Into Your Daily Life
Beyond the specific techniques outlined by Panchadasi, I've found that developing ongoing auric awareness creates profound shifts in how we navigate daily life.
The human aura isn't merely an esoteric concept for special occasions—it's a continuous aspect of our being that influences every interaction and environment we encounter.
Consider integrating these simple practices into your routine:
- Morning Auric Clearing: Before starting your day, visualize your aura being cleansed with light or pure water, removing any stagnant energies from sleep
- Transition Awareness: Take 30 seconds when moving between environments (home to work, work to social settings) to reset your auric field
- Environmental Sensitivity: Notice how different places affect your energy and develop the habit of maintaining your preferred auric state regardless of surroundings
- Relationship Boundaries: Practice maintaining clear auric boundaries during challenging interactions while still remaining compassionately engaged
- Bedtime Integration: Before sleep, review your day from an energetic perspective, releasing any accumulated tensions from your field
These simple practices transform auric development from an occasional exercise into a way of being—exactly as Panchadasi intended when he wrote about these principles over a century ago.
His work reminds us that the human aura isn't some mystical abstraction but a natural aspect of our multidimensional existence—one that becomes increasingly apparent as we develop the sensitivity to perceive it.
"The occult teaching is that, in the evolution of the race, this astral vision will eventually become the common property of every human being." — Swami Panchadasi
Perhaps we stand at the threshold of that evolutionary development now—as science and spirituality converge on a more complete understanding of our energetic nature, and practices once considered esoteric become recognized as practical tools for wellbeing and personal development.
For those ready to explore further, Panchadasi's original text remains a remarkably accessible guide—one whose clarity and practicality continues to illuminate the path for seekers more than a century after it was first penned.