Auras, our own personal rainbows. They are also described as Emotion in Motion. Anyone can see Auras, there's no mystery about seeing them. Follow these instructions to see an Aura. Find someone who is a willing subject and ask them to sit on a stool in front of a plain white wall. A stool is recommended because you want to be able to see the back of their head without the back of a chair interfering. Have the subject sit sideways on the stool so that you are looking at their profile. Look at the back of their head, then look at the wall behind their head, now let your eyes relax and do not look directly at their head anymore, look next to their head where it ends with the wall. Within a minute, you will see their aura. Once you see their aura, ask them to close their eyes and to think of something that makes them really happy, when they do this, you will see their aura level extend outward significantly. You will also see when they stop thinking of the happy thought, as the aura will shrink back down in size. At first, you may only see a light color or muted color, do not worry. The more your practice, the more you will grow and then begin to see the colors around the person's body. There is a life force, an energy field surrounding every living thing on earth. Researchers have announced the existence of this field, the Kirlian camera captures its color and motion. Yale researchers have determined that disease can be detected in the aura before it manifests in the physical body. The colors seen in one's aura can be associated with the colors of the chakras and energy levels can be detected through careful study of the aura with the chakra color. You can also read the auric levels of plants, trees, animals, any living object on the earth can be read. Remember, we are all energy beings surrounded and enveloped in various degrees of energy and motion. Edgar Cayce on Auras... Q - Give scale of auras, and what development of the soul each one means. A - These vibrations, that are emanations from the activity of an entity and its individuality, run in the same ratio as do the colors, that are known as primary colors, and their shades; running from the low red or orange through all of the colors to the higher reds, these being at the extremes. Each indicates a step of development, whether as the first, toward the purely carnal, material or earth forces, or to the mental proclivities, or to the higher forces, in the greens and reds that indicate the spiritual developments.(275-30) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- The Science of Auras To speak on Auras, we first should venture into the scientific realms, understanding that science and spirituality are completely linked in truly understanding the cosmos. One day, both sides will understand this and they will come together to work and gain deeper understanding of the Universe. There is a universal force of nature which is called Chi, or Qi or Universal Energy. If one could view Chi with the naked eye, you would see that it goes in spirals, similar to how the DNA molecule is viewed. It spirals down from the sun, the moon, the planets, the stars and on and on... As an astrologist, I try to explain this concept as each celestial body has an effect on us. To those who doubt, I ask them to at least examine what types of effects these bodies have on us in the physical realm.. for example, if the moon has the power to affect the massive oceans on Earth, does it not also affect your body, which is made of so much water? Does not the force of the Sun, give photosynthesis to plants to grow? What happens to your body physically if you stay out in the Sun all day, do you not experience sunburn, dehydration, heatstroke? If these bodies can affect our physical body, it is easier to prove scientifically rather than to disprove that they also have an effect on our mental and astral bodies as well. When we bring these theories down into a more personal level, albeit, I am glossing over a huge amount of information to get to here... we come to the study of our personal Chi. As noted psychoanalyst Carl Jung said, We are born at a given moment, in a given place, and like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season in which we were born. We all have our own Chi, which begins at birth, when we take our first breath. The most profound statement that I could ever teach anyone, and I could spend decades teaching this one statement in greater detail is, THE BREATH IS THE LIFE! Our Chi is singular and unique and eminates within and throughout us as energy. With each breath we draw inward, we are bringing in Chi that is around us, with each exhale that we make, we are releasing Chi back to the universe. Let's think about this for a moment..... The Chi we breathe in, is taken from the air that is closest around us. Now given the fact, that Chi is energy and energy is neither positive or negative, it just is, but it can be charged with positive or negative sources, which we can create around us. For example, have you ever been around someone and just felt a strange vibe, or felt that this person was unhappy, spiteful, angry and you didn't even know them? Their emotions are spilling forth from inside their body, outward around them. So in this state, as they are angry and breathing in, they are breathing in the negatively charged air that they are creating and it serves to add fuel to the fire. It is easy to understand then how one can create and then be trapped in a cycle of thinking and then feel unable to snap out of that feeling. Take Depression for example.. the person becomes depressed over a period of time, as they become depressed, their thoughts are directed in this mood, and their energy is low. They feel fatigued, lethargic and they also tend to breathe very shallow. As their depressed thoughts extend outward from them, they continue to breathe in the same negatively charged chi and the cycle continues until something is altered to charge the air differently. Depending upon the severity of the depression, defines how easily or difficult the air and mood is lifted. A person who is feeling depressed because of a loss of a job or a love interest, may snap out of their feelings after a few weeks because of an incredible job offer they receive or meeting a new person. A person with a deeper depression, may require help from other sources such as a therapist to help them review and alter their thoughts and perceptions and in some cases, medication to help alter the chemical balance that has been created long term within the body from the depression that was created. This assistance helps the person to search within themselves and find within their soul, hope and purpose which gives strength to move forward and subconsciously renew their Chi and recharge their energy. If you think about this for moment, you will recall old sayings that we still use today... After a fight, someone might say.. We need to clear the air or someone who has been down and working too hard might say, I need a breath of fresh air, a vacation away.. or when something just doesn't feel right, but you can't place your finger on what it is.. someone may say, There's something in the air.... Our Chi eminates outside of our body and can be described as a type of force field that encompasses our body. This is what many describe as one's Aura. With modern advances, a type of photography has been created that can actually photograph the aura. A person who has studied auras can read much information from a person's aura, including their mood, emotions, and many aspects of the personality. While we're talking colors, how does color affect our life? Whether or not we realize it, we are all affected emotionally by the colors that surround us. In our home, the colors that we choose reflect our personality and our feelings at that time. Colors also influence our guests and the other family members in our home. Color researchers have found that when people are placed in red rooms, that their pulses and body temperatures increase, when the same people are placed in a blue room, the opposite effect occurs. The following are examples of emotional and psychological influences that color can cause and how choosng a color can change the feel and attitude of your home. RED... Red stimulates our nervous system and increases assertiveness. Reds make us feel empowered and energetic. they are great for areas where physical activity is happening, like a workout room. Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Paint your bedroom red and you'll jump out bed. Red seen in the aura indicates passion, courage, enthusiam, and excitement. ORANGE...Orange is also stimulating. Red and orange also increase the appetite. This is why these colors are so popular in restaurants and especially fast food restaurants. When these colors are present, not only are you hungry and want to eat a lot, but your nervous system is also stimulated so that you want to get out of there quickly. Orange is a great color for a dining room as it helps people loosen up and laugh more. Around orange, people are usually more gregarious, this perhaps is why designers for the Oprah Winfrey talk show picked orange and color as the dominating theme for the set on Oprah's show. In an orange dining room, dinner parties will last longer and seem more interesting. Orange seen in the aura indicates energy, optimism, and positive thoughts PINK...Pinks offer a sense of well being and make people feel affectionate and positive toward others. Pink was once the staple of little girls bedrooms, but new shades of rose, mauve and blush have become popular choices in carpets, furniture and social areas like living rooms. A light shade of pink can be used as a neutral background much like a gray. Pink seen in the aura indicates friendship, affection, devotion, and tenderness. YELLOW... Yellows remind us of the sun. They make a dark room appear to be bright and cheery. Yellow can visually expand the space in a small room, but pale yellow should be used in a small room or it can be overpowering. Yellow is terrific to brighten up a bedroom or a living room, especially when combined with royal blue. Yellow seen in the aura indicates luck, intelligence, and acadenic acheivement. GREEN... Greens are symbolic of gardens, meadows and forests. When we are surrounded by green, we feel calm, refreshed and at peace. Green is great for bedrooms, bathrooms and other areas where tranquility is desired. Green brings nature indoors, no matter where you live. It is also very helpful in cooling down a room that receives a lot of hot sunny weather. Green seen in the aura indicates money, prosperity, abundance, and a love of nature. Light Green indicates health, new beginnings, youthfulness. BLUE Blue is the most popular color of choice by most people. It symbolizes relaxation, serenity and a deep peace. Blue in the home can be used to psychologically cool a home in a warm climate and combined with contrasts of yellow or gold, blue can brighten a home and its occupants moods almost instantly. Blue seen in the aura indicates peace, calmness, communication, and intuition. Light Blue indicates spiritual and psychic development, and compassion. PURPLE...Purple is a deeply spiritual color and inspires awe and respect. When made lighter into lavender, it become comfortable and assuring. If you suffer from insomina, lavender is great in a bedroom, as it lowers blood pressure and relaxes the mind. Purple however is powerful and regal and makes a statement in any room. Small touches of purple can affect the mood of the entire room, even a few throw pillows in this color will excite the room. Purple seen in the aura indicates intuitiveness, confidence, and spiritual advancement. BROWN... Browns symbolize down to earth features. Brown is stable, secure and supporting. The brown family includes beige and taupe and are great for neutral areas in the home like kitchens. A rust color in a kitchen with copper pots combined with green or blue is breathtaking and offers a calm and supportive feeling. Browns bring rooms together, yet stay in the background. They neither activate nor pacify emotions, they cooperate with the other colors, serving to bring them to light. Brown can be considered the frame of a painting. Brown seen in the aura indicates stability, practicality, and acquiring land. According to the Millenium Interior Color and Design forecast, the following colors and textures will be highlighted. For the past decade, the best of modern design has taken its cue from all things natural. As the millennium approaches, a deeper palette and stronger organic shape emerge while continuing to pay homage to the outdoors. Gray blues remind us of sea and sky; aubergine and bark mimic the mountains. Furniture is contoured, closer to the ground. Shape and form, all important. An economy of means, a keen eye to proportion and subtle details look at once chic, new, and completely natural. According to Mel Cook, Marlite's product design and development manager, design trends are bringing the outdoors indoors. The colors for the near future will be more red/orange, will be cleaner, more pure color with a more natural look. We are still about the environment -- we'll pick colors from our environment and bring them indoors. The environmental emphasis means more woods, maple, curly maple, anigre, steamed beach and light and dark-toned cherry. Metals play an important part in design trends and there will be less grinding of metals as they will be specified in their natural state. As far as colors go, the desert colors are popular -- gold, tan and brown, with few bright colors. And, greens are getting bluer as we look at cleansing our world's water supply. What do others in the industry think about the trends? Read on for more opinions Sylvia Kwan, FAIA, of Kwan Henmi Architects in San Francisco, said, We're seeing a juxtaposition of natural against high industrial materials --sustainable construction. This doesn't always mean a natural look, she explained, saying her firm is using materials that are recyclable and ecycled. The result can be a look that is natural or industrial. Lots of metals combined with wood is a big combination we like to use. We're also heading back to more neutral tones -- whites, grays, pales, neutral," she added. Mike Dobija is the owner of Graphic Insights, an industrial design firm in Laguna Beach, Calif. According to Dobija, he is noticing a great interest in industrial materials. Metals, like titanium that were used before stainless steel, are experiencing a resurgence as they offer a "richer, artistic look. We're going back to construction grade instead of finished materials, he added. Katherine Day Sutton is the product editor for Interiors magazine in New York. Lately, she's noticed manufacturers trying to respond to what designers want. According to her, the trend is for things that look very natural, back to basics -- natural woods, basic metals and textures. In fact, the metallic look is even appearing in carpet while the look of glass is another popular texture. She explained that a clean architectural look is classic and timeless. It is simply experiencing a resurgence. In addition, Sutton has noticed strong Japanese influence in fabrics, colors and laminates. "People are going to beachy colors -- natural, tans, soft greens, purples. It looks simple, but there's a lot going on. It's a nice clean look, but up close, it's intricate," she said, adding the look is natural and classic, but not retro. In retail design, Steve Kaufman, editor of Display & Design Ideas in Atlanta, said today's retailers are mixing materials like wood, metal, glass, canvas and fabric. Whatever the trends are, Kaufman added, retailers are always experimenting with how to light the environment. There must be something better -- bigger windows, more skylights -- using light either natural or manufactured. The bottom line is choose colors that speak to you, that make you feel good, and your house will always feel like a home.