From spiritual healers to New Age enthusiasts, many people claim to see colorful, glowing energy fields — or “auras” — surrounding individuals. Some describe these hues as reflecting a person’s emotional state, personality, or even their health. But are these radiant fields real, or is there a scientific explanation behind the phenomenon?

Let’s take a fascinating journey through the mystical and the medical, exploring what both spiritual traditions and vision science have to say about seeing auras.

What Are Auras, According to Belief?

• In spiritual and metaphysical beliefs, an aura is considered a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object.

• Different colors are thought to represent different traits or emotions:

  • Red: Passion or anger

  • Blue: Calm or wisdom

  • Green: Healing or growth

  • Yellow: Creativity or intellect

• Some energy practitioners say they can “read” these fields to detect emotional imbalance or illness.

“Your aura is your spiritual signature.” — Gabrielle Bernstein, spiritual teacher

But before we dismiss or embrace the idea, let’s ask the question: Is there a biological basis for seeing auras?

The Neuroscience Behind “Aura Sight”

There’s actually a neurological condition that might explain why some people see glowing outlines or halos: synesthesia and visual migraines.

1. Synesthesia

• Synesthesia is a condition where stimulation of one sense leads to an automatic, involuntary experience in another.

• Some people with emotional synesthesia say they “see” feelings or personalities as colors.

• This might explain why some individuals genuinely feel they perceive “energy” in visual color form.

2. Visual Migraines (Aura Phase)

• In neurology, the term “aura” also refers to the visual distortions that precede a migraine.

• People may see:

  • Zigzag lines

  • Bright flashes

  • Floating spots

  • Shimmering shapes

• These effects are caused by cortical spreading depression — a wave of neural activity followed by inhibition in the brain’s visual cortex.

“Visual aura isn’t mystical — it’s electrical.” — Dr. Peter Goadsby, neurologist and migraine researcher

Eye Conditions That Can Mimic Auras

Several ophthalmic or neurological conditions can lead to visual effects that people interpret as auras:

• Retinal migraines

• Ocular migraines

• Photosensitive epilepsy

• Scintillating scotomas (flashing blind spots)

• Charles Bonnet syndrome (visual hallucinations in people with vision loss)

In most cases, these aren’t dangerous — but if you experience persistent or distressing visual phenomena, consult an eye care professional or neurologist.

Kirlian Photography: Fact or Fiction?

A popular claim in the aura-seeing world is that auras can be captured through Kirlian photography — a technique that shows colorful halos around objects using high-voltage photographic methods.

But here’s the catch:

• These glows are not human energy fields — they are artifacts of moisture, pressure, and electrical discharge.

• Scientists widely agree that Kirlian photos don’t prove the existence of a metaphysical aura.

So… Do Auras Exist?

Science doesn’t currently support the existence of a visible human energy field. But it does recognize that the brain and eyes can produce vivid, real-seeming visual experiences through:

• Neurological cross-wiring (synesthesia)

• Migraines and cortical activity

• Perceptual illusions or afterimages

• Emotional associations with color

For those who see auras, the experience can feel incredibly real — and in some cases, may even enhance their perception of people and emotions, much like a heightened intuition.

Final Thoughts: Between Belief and Biology

Whether you believe in spiritual energy fields or prefer a neuroscientific explanation, the fascination with auras reveals something deeper: we’re drawn to the idea that more is going on beneath the surface.

Perhaps the truth lies somewhere between intuition and interpretation, sensation and science.

So, the next time someone tells you they see a golden glow around you — don’t just brush it off. Whether it’s spiritual insight or synaptic fireworks, it’s all part of the fascinating world of how we perceive others.

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Sources & Further Reading:

• Goadsby, P. J., et al. (2002). Migraine aura: Pathophysiology and clinical implications.

• Cytowic, R. E. (2002). Synesthesia: A Union of the Senses.

• Brugger, P., & Mohr, C. (2008). Out-of-body experience, heautoscopy, and neurological mechanisms of corporeal awareness.

• Kirlian Photography: Myth Debunked – Skeptical Inquirer

• American Migraine Foundation – www.americanmigrainefoundation.org