by Robert Bruce (from The Astral Pulse Website)

1. Opening:

This article takes a fresh look at auras - what they are, where they come from - and shows how anyone can learn to see them. Seeing auras is not as hard as you may think - if you go about it the right way. This is an easy step-by-step guide to doing just that. It starts right at the beginning, with the easiest to see of all auras - the aura of color - and working up, in easy stages, to the more illusive and difficult human aura.

An aura is the most visible part of the subtle energy processes going on within all physical objects. All matter has an aura of some kind - even a humble rock - but it is pretty dull when compared with the complex interplay of rainbow colors that make up a living human aura. Auras emanate from all physical objects, life forces and colors, as well as from many other energy sources.

The first step in this tutorial makes use of a little known fact - that colors have auras. Every color has it's own unique aura. This is of a completely different color from the original. Auras, given off by bright, primary colors, are much denser and far easier to see than any other type of aura. Using the auras of colors, as a training aid, has most people seeing an aura the very first time they try.

I have been able to see auras for many years. I was not born with this ability, but taught myself - the hard way. It took me several years before I could see enough of an aura to make it a worthwhile practice! I know the problems inherent in developing auric sight, and this new training method is designed to help overcome them.  

2. How Auric Sight Works:

Auric sight - as with all forms of clairvoyant sight - depends upon the eyes and the normal optical sight process to work. Physical and non-physical sight are very closely related. They are both forms of perception that allow our brains to perceive energy, of one type or another, as a sight picture.

Here is why:

A. Normal Sight:

Eyes receive light - light being a type of energy. Eyes focus light energy onto light sensitive nerve tissue at the back of the eye, connected to the optic nerve. Basically, this light sensitive tissue changes focussed light energy into a stream of complex electrical signals. These signals are passed, via the optic nerve, to the sight centre of the brain. The brain then interprets these signals into a rich visual picture - what we call normal sight.

B. Auric Sight:

The brow centre receives a more subtle type of energy than light. This type of energy can only be received by the brow centre (often called the third eye or brow chakra) when it is active and tuned in to receive that type of energy. The brow centre is situated directly between the eyes and is intimately connected with normal optical sight.

Energy received by the brow centre is passed along to the sight centre of the brain - the same as with normal sight. The brain interprets anything it receives in it's sight centre as a visual picture. It interprets auric energy as a sight picture - as colored bands of light surrounding the subject.

* The eyes are the organs for normal optical sight (a physical organ).

* The brow centre is the organ for non-physical sight (a non-physical organ).

Both these organs, above, are situated in the same general area, i.e., the brow centre is situated in the brow, directly between the eyes. The common location and similar function of both organs (sight) suggests there is a close relationship between them, i.e., the eyes, the brow centre and the sight centre of the brain are linked. My research confirms this: that all forms of non-physical sight are closely linked with the process of normal optical sight.

Although there is a relationship between optical sight and the brow centre - an aura is definitely _not_ any type of light. Some people believe auras are still light, but light at a much higher frequency than normal light - that is only visible to a clairvoyant. If this were true, though, it would be possible to detect and measure this light with the sophisticated electronic instruments available today. There are scientific instruments, electronic cameras etc, that can be tuned to detect _any_ part of the light spectrum - no matter how refined. For example: infra red, ultra violet, x rays, gamma rays, etc, all these can be detected - but auras cannot. Therefore, it is logical to suppose that auras are _not_ composed of any type of light.

3. Aura Cameras:

But there are aura cameras - you might say - that can take pictures of the human aura? You might even have a picture of your own aura, taken at a psychic fair. How can this be? An aura camera does NOT take an actual picture of an aura. It cannot actually see an aura. It merely creates the illusion of an aura on film.

How an Aura Camera Works:

A. Sensors are placed on the skin - or fitted into a chair so they contact the subject's skin. These sensors measure the electrical resistance in the skin (galvanic skin response). Electrical resistance in the skin varies, according to salt and moisture level. These levels are affected by many things: diet, fluids, health, temperature, sweating, emotion, mood, activity, etc.

B. These readings are fed directly into a small electronic processor, attached to the camera (usually a small black box) and interpreted by it. This processor then generates a pattern of electrical signals, from these readings, according to how it is programmed.

C. This pattern of signals is then fed into a specially modified camera. Inside the camera, an optical coloring device creates a variable pattern of colored lights, and beams this directly onto the film, as the picture is taken. This gives the illusion of a colorful aura surrounding the subject - according to the pattern generated by the initial readings.

Because of the way these cameras are set up, you will rarely get two pictures exactly the same. This is because of the large number of colored patterns possible, that can be generated by slightly different sensor readings . It would be rare to get two identical sets of sensor readings from one person and, therefore, have two identical aura photographs taken in the same day.

An aura photograph is the camera designer's idea of what your aura _should_ look like - according to their research. This research is based upon linking clairvoyant observations with the galvanic skin response on test subjects. The designers have attempted to give a specific color value to different patterns of galvanic skin responses.

An aura photograph, therefore, is an electronically created illusion - not an actual photograph of an aura.

4. Auric Theory:

My theory is: that light is necessary for the brow centre to tune into and focus on auric energy. An aura being a visual representation of this energy, created by the sight centre of the brain. This appears to be the only logical explanation for auric sight.

5. The Complexity Of Normal Vision:

The process of auric sight may sound very complicated, but is really _very_ simple, when you compare it with the process of normal, optical sight - that simple, visual thing we all take for granted. Look around the room you are in now, look out of a window - what do you see? Think about all the millions of objects and colors and tones you are seeing - all at once - in incredible three dimensional detail. Think about how, no matter how fast you turn around, your brain keeps up with the fantastically complex image you are seeing. Your eyes pass on an _incredible_ amount of information to your brain - but your brain interprets it all instantly. Normal optical sight is an incredibly complex and powerful ability. Compare this, with the few colors and swirls of light you see in a human aura - no matter how beautiful and complex it might seem - it is still a very simple picture. There is really no comparison between these two abilities - normal optical sight is vastly more complex, and requires much more of the brain's power, than auric sight does.

To recap the above: Auric sight is linked to and depends upon normal optical sight, in order to function. What you see, when you see an aura, is your brain's interpretation of reflected energy, emanating from your subject. Your eyes are used to tune and focus your brow centre into this energy. An electrical representation of this energy is passed to your brain's sight centre, where it is interpreted as a sight picture by your brain. In the case of an aura, your brain shows you colored bands of light surrounding your subject.

6. Light And The Aura:

Light is necessary in order to see the main aura of anything. Living auras react in the presence of light - expanding and brightening. This reaction is most noticeable when a living aura is exposed to sunlight. You could say that auras are photo-sensitive.

I have made extensive observations of this light reaction. I have observed the auras of people inside a house, then immediately taking them outside, into the sunlight. The living auras of people expand in sunlight, and are much brighter. They fairly sparkle with life in strong, direct sunlight. I have seen auras expand to several times their normal size in sunlight.

Another interesting observation, that adds weight to this argument, that auras are not light - but that light is necessary, in order for auric sight to work: the main aura cannot be seen in complete darkness. If auras were indeed light, why is it necessary for there to be light, in order to see them? This shows that light and normal optical sight are an important part of auric sight.

Note: In total darkness, it is possible to see some slight activity around the energy body, close to the skin. This is almost invisible, but looks like tiny, very faint strands and sparks of bluish light. This is very faint and most noticeable around your own fingertips, when they are brought together in front of you.

It is also possible to see small but intense points of light, coming from fully active primary energy centres (chakras). These must be _extremely_ active for this to be seen, and you must also be very focussed on your subject. This takes a lot of skill to do, and the subject must be very developed - energy wise - in order for this to be observed. This is far easier to see if there is a little available light, even if you can only make out vague shadows - it gives you something to focus upon.

To observe any part of the energy body, in darkness, memory based visualisation is used to focus the brow centre into a subject. You have to know exactly where the subject is (in total darkness) and be able to accurately gauge their distance, shape and position, and see them clearly in your mind's eye.

I think, for the above, that both astral sight and clairvoyance play a part, for those that can see energy activity in total darkness. This appears to be the only logical explanation for this phenomena.

Note: Light is _not_ necessary for clairvoyant or astral sight to work, but the eyes and their normal focussing ability are still used, but with memory based focussing and visualisation, instead of normal light based focussing. You can see with astral and clairvoyant sight, just as well in total darkness, as you can in full light.

7. Viewing Method:

The same basic technique, used to see the aura of color, is used to see all other types of aura, including the human aura. This same technique is also a part of full clairvoyance. This is why looking at the auras of colors is such good training for seeing the human aura. The aura of color is far denser and easier to see than the human aura. This allows the auric viewing technique to be learned much easier and faster, than does practising on the more difficult human aura.

8. The Auras Of Colours:

Table 1: Auric colors given off by some normal, physical colors.

The exact shade and tone of a color's aura varies a great deal, according to the shade and tone of the color you are observing. Auras are also affected by the background color against which they are highlighted, when observed.

9. Afterimages:

Auric colors are similar in appearance to after images. Afterimages are generated by staring - for twenty seconds or so - at a brightly illuminated color, and then quickly closing your eyes, or looking away.

It is commonly thought: that afterimages are generated by color depletion, of the rods and cones in the eyes, caused by staring at one color for too long. This generates the reverse, or negative color, of that color. An afterimage stays in sight until this color depletion is corrected, and the eyes return to normal.

I disagree with this theory - and for very good reasons. Afterimages are generated by staring for a long time at a colored object - for twenty of thirty seconds, or more. This is why I disagree with this theory: When auric sight is more advanced, the aura of a color can be seen clearly, almost the instant a colored object is glanced at with auric sight. No prolonged staring is required to produce an aura.

I have just done a test, while sitting here typing this. Across the room from me, about seven feet away, is a chair. Hanging over it's back is a bright-blue shirt. I have done no exercises to stimulate my auric sight, at all. It is early in the morning now, about 6 am, and I have not long woken up. A clear, dense, yellow aura begins to appear in just under four seconds (I timed it). This is, surely, far too short a time to generate an afterimage? I did this several times and it became faster and easier to do, and the aura brighter, each time.

Now, you could say that my eyes are becoming depleted of the color blue, by continuing to do this, thus more easily generating the yellow aura. So, I turn around and look at a red shirt hanging on a hook behind me, on the other side of the room. This time, a clear, dense, bright-green aura appears in just under five seconds. This is _far_ too short a time to generate an afterimage? Now, when I am on what I call, a clairvoyant high, the auras of colors appear to me, almost the instant I glance at them - within one second. There is no appreciable delay at all, they are just there, ballooning out from colors, as I look at them.

The auras I see, around colors as well as people, do drag slightly at my eyes, creating a kind of afterimage effect if I stare for too long at it. This effect is similar to how a normal afterimage behaves - dragging and following my field of view.

Now, when I observe the aura of a person, I normally ask them to remove some of their clothing. This gives me a much clearer view of their aura, without the interference caused by the colors of their clothing. I see clear, bright colors in these auras, building up from bare skin. My point here is this: bare skin has _no_ color that can generate any kind of colored afterimage.

To be truthful, though, the auric colors I see around colors, as well as people, are often still visible, hanging briefly before my eyes, when I look away or close my eyes. This _is_ a colored afterimage - but created by staring at an aura's color _not_ at a physical color.

Another interesting point: the colors of any afterimages I get, when observing living human auras, are exactly the same colors, as the colors of the aura I am looking at - there is _no_ reverse color effect at all, with a bare skin, living aura.

So, if color depletion, of the rods and cones in the eyes, is solely responsible for afterimages, how can this happen? A better way of explaining the reverse color afterimage effect is: (slow auric colors).

By staring hard at a color, the auric color of that subject is slowly impressed upon the sight centre of the brain. It is _not_ the eyes that are depleted of color, but that the auric color has been impressed upon the brain's sight centre.

The afterimages that appear, when you stare at primary colors, are the same as the auric colors generated by those colors. The similarity in these colors - rather than contradicting the validity of the auric color of color - supports them. Why would they be any different?

You will, in the early stages of training to see auras, cause quite a strong after image effect. This will drag and follow your eyes, and still be seen when you close your eyes or look away. This is the slow auric image effect - caused by staring so intently, and for so long, while trying to master the basic technique for seeing auras.

This after image effect lessens in stages. Once the basic technique is mastered, most of the afterimage effect disappears. Then, as the brow centre develops further, being stimulated through use, the afterimage effect decreases steadily, until they are hardly noticeable.

There will, however, always be a slight afterimage, of sorts, when you really study an aura. This is unavoidable when you gaze intently upon an aura, trying to discover it's secrets. The nature of auric sight, and the involvement of the normal optical sight process, will always cause a slight afterimage drag - or slow auric image, as I call it. This happens, even when auric sight develops into the advanced stages.

Final note on afterimages:

The way the aura builds up is also, totally unlike the way an after image appears. It builds up, mushrooming bright colors from bare skin - it does not just fade slowly into sight - it grows before your eyes. The colors of a living aura do not begin as a pale shadow, fading into view and then slowly deepening and growing brighter. They are one consistent color, from their first appearance as a thin outline, highlighting the etheric aura, close to the skin, to their full size - often more than two or three feet wide. Auras are also, not just a slight outline of color around the skin, but large, vivid bands of color, with thickness and depth to them. And, finally, while an aura is building up, if you shift focus slightly, or blink, it disappears instantly - only to reappear a few seconds later - an after image does not.

10. Peripheral vision:

Auras are seen with peripheral vision (side vision) and cannot be seen by directly focussing on them. To see an aura, you have to look to the side and past your subject. Peripheral vision is extremely sensitive to movement, much more so than direct focussed vision. It can detect minute movements that your central, focussed vision will not see. Peripheral vision is also sensitive to many other types of subtle energy that surround us.

Most people have had the experience of catching sight of some movement - out of the corner of their eye - only to see nothing when they turn and focus on it.

What happens is:

1. They have seen an aura building up from a colored object.

2. They have seen a spirit entity (ghost) manifesting near them, and have detected it's energy with their more sensitive, peripheral vision.

11. Dr. Kilner:

An English doctor, Dr. Walter J. Kilner, in 1911, used color as an aid to stimulating auric sight.

Dr. Kilner, researched the use of auric sight, as an aid to diagnosing the health of his patients. He used dicyanin screens for this. Dicyanin is a dye product of coal tar. These screens consisted of two pieces of glass with dicyanin dye sandwiched and sealed between them. He found that by using these - aura goggles, as he called them - he could stimulate the ability to see the human aura.

He would stare, for a few minutes, through these screens, at a bright light. When he looked away, he could see an aura surrounding his patient. He would then note any changes and abnormalities in their aura, and compare them with other observations, taken of healthy people. This allowed him to detect disease, in the very early stages, before the actual symptoms of that disease appeared.

Dr. Kilner used several different colored screens, and combinations of them. Different colored screens showed him different aspects, or layers, of an aura.

He also used strips of brightly illuminated, colored cloth. He would stare at one of these strips, after preparing his eyes, by looking through one of his screens. These strips caused a phantom strip, of a different color, to appear in his gaze. These were like small windows, that could be moved around by shifting his gaze, highlighting different parts of his subject's aura. This gave him a different view of their aura, in that part.

How this works: By looking through these screens, at bright light, Kilner flooded his eyes with the slow auric color of that screen (it's reverse color). This made his eyes hypersensitive to that particular auric color, enabling him to see that color in his subject's aura. Different colored screens would allow him to see different colors in an aura. The use of the strips of color, then enabled him to see the slow auric color (reverse color) of the colored strip, minus the original color of the screen he was using - showing a small band of an entirely different color, in the aura. This small band of color could be moved around the patient's aura, by shifting his gaze, like a small window, highlighting the area it covered.

One interesting thing about Dr. Kilner's work is this: After using these screens for several months or more, he found he needed to use them less and less. By continually straining to see auras, with his aura goggles, he stimulated his brow centre, and mastered the visual technique needed to see the aura. He eventually gained _full_ auric sight, i.e., he no longer needed the aura goggles to see auras.

If you would like to get a copy of Dr. Kilner's book, you will find it contains many fine color plates (paintings) showing the aura, as seen by himself and his associates. These show the different effects that can be had using combinations of different colored screens and colored strips.

Kilner's book is listed, in the book I read, as: Kilner, Walter John. (1965). "The Human Aura." (New Ed.). New York: University Books. I was quoted $300.00 US, for the purchase of this book.

Note: I cannot comment on the effectiveness of using genuine aura goggles, as I have never actually seen a pair. I did, however, experiment with a pair I made myself, many years ago. I used two pieces of glass, covered them with a deep blue dye, and sealed the edges with windscreen sealant. I followed Kilner's instructions, staring at a bright light through this screen, etc.

I found this made my eyes _extremely_ sore, and so, after awhile, discontinued using them. They did work, however, and showed me some interesting auric effects. I considered it was not a healthy practise, though, due to the painful burning it caused in my eyes, and the possibility that it could damage them. In his book, Kilner gives a warning about this nasty side effect - burning, sore eyes.

Go to Auric Sight Part 2