Aura — Definition

The aura is described in many esoteric traditions as a layered field of energy extending outward from the physical body. Different systems map it differently — etheric, emotional, mental, and spiritual layers are common — but most agree on the core idea: the aura carries information about a person's state and shifts as they shift. Some practitioners report seeing it as colour; others sense it as quality or pressure. Whether one takes it literally or as metaphor, the language of "aura" still gives useful shorthand for the felt presence of another person.

Origin

From the Greek aura, meaning "breeze" or "breath." Used in spiritual contexts since at least the early 20th century via Theosophical writing.

Example

Walking into a tense room, most people sense it before anyone says a word — that felt sense is sometimes described as reading the room's aura.