posted October 03, 2010 11:53 AM         

The Human Aura
a jewel in a glowing ambience

Every living thing is set like a jewel in a glowing ambience. This luminous atmosphere may be seen by the clear-sighted...

The cycles of astrology are reflected in our daily lives, as well as informing the patterns of our human creativity, whether artistic or musical, social, political or financial. Like it or not, the planets rule our moods and our environment.

Our bodies are more complex than we can perceive with our five senses, for science joins occult metaphysics in declaring that the physical body is not a continuous solid, but is basically composed of particles and waves of energies. Matter in general (and our bodies in particular) is therefore essentially a construction of our senses: it is really the interaction of patterns of energy, vibrating at interwoven frequencies and intensities.

From this vibratory matrix emerges an energy field that surrounds and interpenetrates our physical forms. This field has long been perceived by sensitive people, though generally scoffed at by skeptics. However, the human energy field is now being photographed (in part at least) by new techniques such as Kirlian photography.

In traditional Christian art, pictures of Jesus and of the various saints are often painted with a halo of light around the head, or even the whole body. In eastern religions, too, revered beings such as Buddha, Krishna, Shiva, Durga and others are usually depicted as possessing, or emanating, a splendour of glorious light. Light is presented in these illustrations as the prime characteristic of advanced or highly developed souls. This halo is not just a convention, but a stylised, pictorial representation of powerful personal energy fields – the spiritual light of the aura.

Research has shown that our bodies are more complex than we have come to believe. Our physical body is permeated by and is composed of particles and waves of energies that are invisible to the unaided eye. Scientists and mathematicians note that the appearance of our bodies and of material things in general is essentially a construction of our senses: it is really the interaction of patterns of energy, vibrating at interwoven frequencies and intensities.

A Luminous Atmosphere
Tantric Masters from the East and mystics from the West also note that a luminous atmosphere surrounds human beings and indeed all living things. This atmosphere is the visible expansion of the aura, the energy fields that interpenetrate, express and permeate both our gross and subtle realities.

These essential energy fields are divided by various schools into categories; for example, Rosicrucians speak of the vital body, the desire body and so on. Occultists and theosophists refer to the seven mystical sheaths – the physical, flesh and blood body; the etheric, or energy body; the astral, or emotional body; the lower mental body; the higher mental body; the spiritual body and even the cosmic body! The terminologies differ, but the phenomenon, the thing which is observed, is the same.

The varying terminologies, unfortunately, can be confusing, even misleading, for our everyday language fails to describe many things that lie outside the daily experience. It is the nature of language to define and categorise experience, so that it may be communicated in some accessible, symbolic form. Perhaps we need to expand the language to cover these little-known areas of life.

To call the energy fields "bodies" tends to give the impression that they are discrete and separate, like layers on a cake. Actually, they are mutually interpenetrating and each level of being may be distinguished from the other levels by its frequency, or rate of vibration. The slower the rate of its vibration, the more readily it may be distinguished by our senses.

As will be outlined in later sections of this article, there are several auras or bodies that surround the dear old bod, not just one. The School calls these auras Levels of Consciousness.

As this article unfolds, we will examine the various Levels of Consciousness and their functions, significance and modes of action. We will also look at ways of awakening our awareness of these levels and the subtle organs, such as chakras, meridiens and life centres that can be perceived within them.

The Human Aura
Levels of Consciousness [part 2]

This second part of "The Human Aura" describes the seven main Levels of Consciousness for us humans. Part of the growth of consciousness is the process of becoming aware of these and higher Levels – and of learning to understand their function and meaning.

Level One

Level One, the physical body, is the sheath or Level of Consciousness that vibrates at the lowest frequency, so it is easily distinguishable by our senses. Our consciousness is stabilised, or grounded on the planet by the physical body. Our sense organs, naturally enough, being constructed from the same material as the Level One body, are able to perceive it with relative ease. Level One is called Stability.

Level Two

Level Two, the sheath of Energy, is the next Level in terms of vibratory frequency. It contains and interpenetrates the whole of our physical system - and is the most easily visible of the subtle bodies, or higher Levels. Also known as our bioelectrical system, it does not extend very far beyond the boundaries of the flesh and blood organism; about five to eight centimetres (a few inches) in most cases. This Level appears as a silvery electrical glow surrounding the body. It is especially pronounced around the head and hands.

Level Two is the sheath, or vehicle for our energy systems, in terms of the acupuncture meridiens of traditional Chinese medicine. Diseases may be perceived at Level Two before they make themselves felt in the organism at Level One. In ancient times, sickness was deemed foreseeable and thus preventable by the manipulation of the body's energy system. It is said that chinese doctors who specialised in acupuncture were prone to be dismissed or even executed by powerful clients in the event of their falling sick. Russian scientists in recent times have succeeded in photographing this energy system and their method, known as Kirlian photography, is becoming widely known in the West.

Level Three

Level Three, the sheath of the Emotions, contains the whole of both Level Two and Level One. Perhaps it is misleading to categorise this Level as the sheath of the emotions, for the emotions have an effect at all Levels, as does energy, thought, etc. Nevertheless, from a clinical point of view, chronic infections at this Level have a particular effect upon the emotions; thought-forms of feelings, rather than concepts, affect this Level strongly. Bach flower remedies take effect here.

Level Four

Level Four, the sheath of Thought, contains and affects Levels One, Two and Three. It holds the concepts on which we build our ability to recognise reality. These concepts take objective shape at this Level and are known as Thought Forms. Logical activity is experienced at Level Four.

Level Five

Level Five, the sheath of the higher mind, is the field or focal point of Intent. This is the Level from which a positive affirmation begins to take effect. As the affirmation takes shape as a thought form (Level Four) and is repeatedly driven into the subconscious, it gains emotional power (Level Three) and active energy (Level Two) until it begins to stabilise and take effect in the world at Level One. The functions of Insight and Self-Awareness are experienced at Level Five.

Level Six

Level Six, the sheath of Relationship, is the Level that enables us to project our energies beyond ourselves. It is the Level of Love, of our ability to be happy. The more we actualise this Level, the more expanded and fulfilled we become, until our awareness reaches out to encompass and to serve all the living things on this planet.

Level Seven

Our degree of activity at Level Seven determines our ability to Grow in Consciousness. It brings out the awareness in us of our true potential. Level Seven also governs our Perception of the needs and wants of others.

The Human Aura
The Earth's Awareness [part 3]

A further Level of Consciousness interacts with our energy system. This is Level Eight, the Level of the Earth's Awareness. In computer terms, each higher Level includes more "hardware" or equipment than the previous Level. Each Level out to Level Seven appears increasingly lIke an egg or three-dimensional oval around the physical body (Level One). Although Level Eight includes far more information and prana than the lower Levels, It is all in the form of "software" or dynamic energy and appears lIke a sphere or small sun.

Level Eight is called KARMA. Its functIon is to stimulate our experiences. This function may be subdivided into three categorIes:

1. experiences to enable us to increase our consciousness
2. experiences to enable us to lose non-consciousness
3. experiences which increase the energy of the Level Eight frequency in others.

Level Eight determines our ability to fulfil the functions of all our other Levels.

The Levels are a way of describing the aura in terms that avoid Sanskrit and other difficult or confusing references. Some terms, however, have no direct English language equivalents. Karma is one of these. It may be briefly defined as the experiences, precisely targeted to our needs by the planetary awareness, that cause us to grow. Every action, thought, word and deed – performed without awareness – is the consequence of a chain of causes arising from previous unconscious actions. Each and every Karmic event is the initiation of a seemingly inevitable sequence of effects that continues to shape our lives over years, or even lifetimes, to come.

Karma is a natural focus of energy in our lives. It is a process that is profoundly beneficial and entirely necessary for our growth and progress as conscious human beings. Karma is neither determinism, nor fate. Our reactions to the difficult (or pleasant) situations that arise in our lives govern the outcome of events and consequently the rate of development that we enjoy. There is no "Good" or "Bad" Karma. Karma is a mechanism designed to challenge our sense of perspective and develop our ability to conduct the energies that generate harmony, power, freedom, health and love in our lives.

Chakras
Strategically positioned in this magnificently designed powerhouse, the human aura, are the centres or focal vortices called chakras. This is another one of those weird words (!) that do not translate directly into English. It actually means "wheel", so-called because the mouth of the chakra rather resembles a spoked wheel, or perhaps a flower with petals outspread.

Students of Yoga or Theosophy may have heard of the Seven Chakras. However, to speak of seven chakras is again rather misleading, for there are actually many, many chakras, of which the principal seven are the most important from the point of view of health and self-development. Authorities disagree which are the seven most important chakras. Many Eastern sources speak of the seven that coincide with the first seven that are used in development by The School. Theosophical teachings ignore the usual second chakra, substituting the chakra over the spleen – deeming, no doubt, that anything to do with sex is to be avoided at all costs... Some western teachers like to work with the chakras located below the feet.

Chakras are Energy Processors. Each chakra takes the shape of a helical vortex, spinning out through the Levels to create a vase-like structure that has real, measurable properties and definable functions in our system. The prime attribute of a chakra is that it can accept Information and Prana from without, in order to process and combine these energies into the patterns of Consciousness. It can also transmit Information, or Prana, or Consciousness back to the world outside.

Each of the first seven chakras (known as chakras 1 to 7) govern specific organs in the body. We shall look at the function of each of these chakras, according to the teaching of The School, in the next section of this article.

The Human Aura
Chakras and Relationships [part 4]

The essential nature of Relationship is Energy Exchange. When we meet a person for the first time, we are either attracted, repelled or indifferent to him or her, according to the way in which an energy connection is established.

The prime attribute of a chakra, as mentioned earlier, is that it can accept Information (which is fundamentally energy with a clockwise spin - the male polarity, or Yang energy) and Prana (energy with a counter-clockwise spin - the female polarity, or Yin energy) from without, in order to process and combine these energies into Consciousness. It can also transmit Information, or Prana, or Consciousness to the world outside.

Relationships may be understood as the exchange and mutual processing of energies. A healthy relationship is one in which the energy exchange is mutually beneficial. A strengthening relationship is one in which both partners are stronger as a result of the relationship than they would be without it. A weakening relationship, on the other hand, is one in which the energy exchange is actually destructive to the health and wellbeing of the partners. In other words, one that both partners would be better off without! How many of us suffer today in destructive relationships?

Why is it that some relationships make us stronger, while others deprive us of enjoyment, health, even sanity? If it is true that a relationship is an exchange of energy, how is this energy exchanged - and how does it affect us, for good or ill?

Swimming in a Field of Energy
We are surrounded by an energy field that can occupy quite a space around our physical form, this form being simply the densest part of our field: of our aura. When our attention is aroused by the presence of another energy field, be it a person, a place, or any type of animal, plant or thing, our chakras attempt to make a contact with this new field by preparing to receive and transmit energies. This is the natural function of the chakras, for their main job is to create new consciousness, forming our life patterns from the energies they receive from outside the immediate field of the organism.

We are swimming in a field of energies. Not only do we surround ourselves with a range of energies vibrating at various frequencies, but we are constantly interacting with an amazing range of other energy fields - from the mundane to the cosmic.

Picture this: at this moment in the city there are at least eight commercial radio stations, plus the national radio, both FM and AM band, six television stations, cable and satellite transmissions and a large number of private systems, such as CB, shortwave and two-way radios broadcasting at various frequencies, or wavelengths, not to mention the range of mobile phones and even the internet. Should I choose to switch on my receiver and tune to one of these frequencies, I could receive a program on that wavelength by courtesy of the originating station and its crew. Should I have a powerful receiver, I could receive programs of information, music and entertainment from all over the world. I could even pick up the broadcasts of stars from sources beyond the known galaxy, if I chose! And all this is beaming into my room, right now, just waiting for me to tune my receiver. It is here all the time. I simply am not aware of it, unless I tune to it.

These wavelengths are not the only frequencies to which we are constantly exposed. There are many, many types of natural energies of which we can become aware. They include Environmental Stresses like nuclear radiation, Frequency Stress from electrical apparatus, Water Stress from underground streams and so on. They also include the natural radiations of other people!

We are able to accept and transmit energy through our aura, via the chakra system. When we form any kind of relationship, our chakras seek to connect with the appropriate chakras of the other person. When all chakras connect at the appropriate frequency, a dyadic (totally fulfilling) relationship develops.

On the other hand, should chakras fail to connect with their opposite numbers and conjoin with chakras of a different frequency, chakra fractures can develop, leading to dysfunction in our energy systems that can lead to mental, emotional and/or physical breakdown. Note that the higher the chakra's number, the higher, more intense is its frequency, or rate of vibration.

An understanding of the chakra system is essential to an understanding of the way our lives are structured. Chakras are critically important to our health, communication and wellbeing.

In the final part of this article, to be published soon on Astrology on the Web, we will examine the various colours and shapes that may be seen in the aura and endeavour to explain these phenomena in language that will hopefully be comprehensible! We will also outline ways you can see and measure the effects of your aura and the auras of your friends. We will publish a chart of the nature and function of each chakra and examine the workings of the life-centres, insofar as they affect our health, wellbeing and relationships.

http://www.astrologycom.com/aura1.html