THE SECRET DOCTRINE OF THE ROSICRUCIANS/PART 12

 

PART XII.

THE AURA AND AURIC COLORS

One of the most  interesting  points  of  the Rosicrucian  teachings  to the average  student  is  that which is  concerned  with  the Aura,  or  Psychic Atmosphere of  the  Human  Individual,  and  the  Astral Colors  which manifest  in  that  Aura,  and  otherwise.

By "Aura" is meant  "A  subtle  invisible  emanation  or  exhalation  creating an  atmosphere around  the person  or  thing emanating  it"—at least  this  is the popular  definition of the term. In occult writings and  teachings, however,  the term  has  a  more special  meaning, and is employed to indicate the "psychic atmosphere"  surrounding  each human  individual, invisible  to the ordinary sense of sight,  but  perceptible by  clairvoyant vision.

The human  aura  is  an  emanation  from  the soul,  or  souls,  or  the  person whom it  surrounds.  It  is  akin  to the  rays  of  the sun,  or  the  fragrance of the flower.  It  is  a  form  of  energy rather than  of  matter,  yet it  possesses  a certain  substantiality which justifies  some writers  in  treating  it  as  being composed  of  a  very subtle form  of  matter.  The human aura is egg-shaped,  and  extends  to an  average distance of  two or  three feet  from  the body  of  the person  emanating it.

The human  aura  is  composed  of  numerous  elements,  some of a low and some of a high order, corresponding to the elements  manifesting in the soul of the person.  Just  as  the manifestations  of  the souls  of  different persons  vary  greatly one from  the other,  so do their  auras  vary  in  the same degree. An advanced occultist, with trained clairvoyant  vision,  is able  to read  the  mental  and  emotional  character of  a  person  like an  open book,  by  means  of  the appearance  and  coloring of  his  or  her aura.

The lowest  element  in  the human  aura  is  that  which occultists  call  the "physical  emanation,"  which  is almost  colorless,  and which  is marked by minute  and  thin  "streaks"  or bristle-like  marks  standing  out  from  the body  like  bristles on a  brush.  When  the person  is  in  good  health these "bristles"  stand  out  stiffly,  while when  the person  is  in  poor  health  or  is suffering from  impaired  vitality  they droop  like  the soft  hair  on  the  coat of  an  animal.  This  element  of  the aura appears  to detach  minute  particles of  itself  from  the  aura as  the person  moves  about,  and  it  is  believed  that it  is  by  these  particles  that dogs  and  other  animals  are  able  to  track persons—it  is  this  which is  the essence of  the so-called "scent"  followed by the  animals  mentioned.

Another  low  element  in  the  human  aura is  that  which may be called the auric element of "vital energy."  This  element  is  perceived  by clairvoyants as having  a  very faint  pinkish  glow,  sometimes filled with tiny sparks of vital magnetism if the  person  be  very  magnetic.  It  is occasionally visible to persons  lacking  clairvoyant  vision,  and  appears  to them  in  the form  of vibrating  air,  similar  to  the heated  air  arising from  a  field  on  a  very warm day,  or  from  a  heated  stove.

Passing  over several  unimportant  auric  elements  of  a  lower  degree,  the student  is  asked  to  consider  the most  interesting phenomena of the "auric colors" which represent  the  mental  and  emotional  elements  in  the soul  of the man or woman. These elements  are  the characteristic  features of  the aura  when perceived by clairvoyant  vision.  The  aura,  seen in this way,  presents  the appearance of  a  luminous  cloud composed of varied and shifting colors,  extending in  egg-shape  to  a  distance  of  about  two  or three feet  from  the  body,  and  gradually growing  fainter toward  its outward limits until it  finally  disappears.

Each one  of  the colors  in  the aura represents  some particular  thought, mental  state,  emotion  of  feeling in  the  soul  of  the person.  It  will  be  seen at  once  that  there  is  an  almost  infinite  variation  and  shading of  these auric  colors,  owing  to the complexity  in  the emotional states  of  the average  person.

The following table of  the Auric  Colors  will  give you  the  key  to the blending and  shading in  the  luminous  cloud  composing  the human  aura.

 

Table of  the Auric  Colors

Black indicates hatred, malice, revenge, and similar  low feelings.

Gray (bright shade) indicates selfishness; (ghastly shade) indicates fear and terror; (dark  shade) indicates  melancholy.

Green (bright live shade) indicates diplomacy,  worldly  wisdom,  suavity, tact,  politeness,  and "polite  deceit"  in  general;  (dirty,  muddy  shade) indicates  low deceit,  low cunning  falsehood,  trickery of a low order; (dark, dull shade) indicates jealousy,  envy,  covetousness.

Red is the color  of  the passions  in  general,  but  there is  a great  variety in its manifestations, for instance: Red (dull and  appearing  as if  mixed with smoke)  indicates sensuality  and the  lower animal passions; Red (appearing as bright flashes, sometimes light  lightning in  form)  indicates anger.  In  this case  the red usually is shown on a  black  background  when the anger arises  from  hatred  or  malice  and  on  a  greenish background when the anger arise, from  jealousy,  envy,  etc.,  and  without  any back ground when the anger arises from "righteous  indignation" and the defense of what is  believed  to be righteous  cause. Red (crimson  shade) represent Love,  and  varies  in  shade according  to the character  of  the passion named.  For  instance,  a  dull  and heavy crimson shade  indicates  a gross,  sensual love,  while the brighter,  clearer and more pleasing shades indicate love blended  with higher  feelings  and  accompanied  by higher ideals; and  the highest  form  of  human  love between  the sexes  manifests in  a  beautiful rose color.

Brown (reddish  shade)  indicates  avarice  and  greed.

Orange (bright  shade) represents  pride and  ambition.

Yellow,  in its various shades, represents intellectual power in  its various forms. A beautiful, clear golden yellow indicates high  intellectual attainment logical reasoning, unprejudiced judgment and discrimination. A dark dull yellow shade  indicates intellectual  power contenting itself  with thoughts  and  subjects  of a low, selfish order. The shade between the two just  indicated  denote the presence of  higher  or lower  thought,  respectively,  the  dark  representing the lower,  and  the light  the  higher.

Blue  (dark  shade)  represents  religious  emotion, feeling,  and  tendencies in  general. The dull shades however, indicate religious  emotion  of  a  low order,  while the clearer  brighter  shades indicate religious emotions of  a high order.  These shades  vary and  range from  a  dull indigo to a beautiful bright  violet.  Light  Blue (of  a peculiar  hue and  shade)  indicates spirituality.  This spiritual blue is of a peculiarly clear, transparent, and luminous  appearance,  which  is difficult  to  describe  in words.  In the auras of some persons of a  very high  degree of  spirituality there appear tiny luminous spark-like points, often twinkling and  sparkling like the stars  in  the heavens  on  a  clear  night.

In addition to the ordinary colors named above, there are several  shades which cannot  be named,  for they correspond  to colors  outside of  the field of  human  vision,  such as  "infra-red"  and  "ultra-violet."  Without  going deeply  into  this phase  of the  subject,  it  may  be  said that  the  "ultra violet" auric  colors  denote  high spiritual  powers  manifested  in  the direction  of the highest  and  most  worthy  aims  and  ends;  while the "infra  red" auric colors denote psychic  powers  employed  in  unworthy ways and for base ends—as for instance, that which the  occultists  know as "black  magic."

There are  two other auric colors  which are  impossible to  describe  in words,  for  there are no terms  adequate for  such expression.  These  colors are  as follows: (1) the true primary yellow, which  indicates the  highest spiritual illumination  of  the intellect;  and  (2)  true pure white, or  a peculiar  brilliancy  and  transparency,  which indicates  the presence of  the awakened spirit.

A writer on  the subject  has  said  of  the  manifestations  of  the auric  colors: "Even  when  the mind  is  calm  there hover in the aura  the shades indicative  of  the predominant  tendencies  in  the man,  so  that  his  stage of advancement  and development,  as  well  as  his  tastes  and  other features of his personality, may be  readily  discerned.  When the  mind is swept  by  a strong passion,  feeling or  emotion,  the  entire  aura  seems  to be colored  by the particular  shade or  shades  representing it.  For  instance,  a  violent  fit of  anger  causes  the  whole aura  to show  bright  red  flashes  upon  a  black background,  almost  eclipsing  the  other  colors.  This state  lasts for  a longer  or  shorter  time,  according to the strength of  the passion.  If  people could  but  have a  glimpse of  the human  aura when so colored, they  would become so horrified  at  the dreadful  sight  that  they would  never again permit  themselves  to  fly  into  a  rage—it  resembles  the flame and  smoke of the 'pit'  which is  referred  to in  the orthodox  churches,  and,  in  fact,  the human mind in  such a  condition becomes  a  veritable hell for  the  time being.  A  strong wave of  love sweeping over  the  mind  will  cause the  aura to show  crimson,  the shade depending upon the character of  the  passion. Likewise a  burst  of  religious  feeling will bestow  upon  the  entire  aura  a blue tinge.  In  short,  a  strong  emotion,  feeling,  or  passion  causes  the entire  aura  to  take  on  its  color  while the feeling  lasts.  You  will  see from what  we  have said  that  there  are  two  aspects  to  the color  feature of  the aura,  the  first  depending upon  the predominant  thoughts  habitually manifesting in  the  mind  of  the person;  the second  depending upon  the particular feeling,  emotion  or passion  (if  any)  being manifested at that particular time.  The passing  color  disappears  when the feeling dies  away, although  a  feeling,  passion,  or  emotion  repeatedly  manifested  shows itself in  time upon  the auric  color.  The habitual  color  shown  in the aura, of  course,  changes  gradually from  time to time  as  the character  of  the person improves or changes. The habitual colors  shown  indicate  the 'general character'  of  the person;  the passing colors show what  feeling, emotion,  or  passion  (if  any)  is  dominating him  at  that  particular  time."

Another  writer,  describing the appearance of  the aura  of  a  person,  has said:  "The shades  and  colors  of  the aura present an ever-changing kaleidoscopic spectacle. The  trained  occultist  is  able  to  read  the  character of  any person,  as  well as  the nature of  his  passing thoughts  and  feelings, by  simply  studying  the  shifting  colors of his aura… To  the  developed occultist  the mind  and  character  becomes  as  an  open  book,  to be studied carefully and intelligently. Even the student  of  occultism who has  not been  able to develop  the clairvoyant  vision  to such a  high degree, is soon able to develop the sense of psychic  perception  whereby  he is  able to at least  'feel'  the vibrations  of  the aura,  though he may  not  see the colors, and  thus be able to  interpret  the mental  states  which have caused  them. The principle of  course is  the same,  as  the colors  are  but  the outward appearance of  the vibrations  themselves,  just  as  the ordinary colors  on the physical plane are merely the outward  manifestations of vibrations of matter. But it must not be  supposed that the human  aura  is  always perceived  in  the  appearance  of  a  luminous  cloud  of  ever-changing color. When we say that such is its  characteristic  appearance,  we mean  it  in  the same sense that  we describe the ocean  as  a calm,  deep  body of  greenish waters.  We know,  however,  that  at  times  the ocean  presents  no such appearance,  but,  instead,  is  seen  as rising in great mountainous waves, white-capped, and  threatening the tiny vessels  of  men  with its  power.  Or again,  we may define the word  'flame'  in  the sense of  a  steady,  bright stream  of  burning  gas,  whereas,  we know  only  too well  that  the word  also indicates  the great  hot  tongues  of  fiery  force that  stream  out  from  the windows  of  a  burning building and  lick  to destruction  all with which it comes  in  contact.  So it  is  with the human  aura.  At  times  it  may  be  seen  as a  beautiful,  calm,  luminous  atmosphere,  presenting the  appearance of  a great  opal under  the rays  of  the sun.  Again,  it  blazes  like  the flames  of  a great  furnace,  shooting forth great  tongues  of  fire in  this  direction  and that,  rising and  falling in  great  waves  of  emotional excitement,  or passion, or perhaps whirling like a great fiery maelstrom toward its centre, or swirling in an  outward  movement  away from  its  centre.  Again, it  may  be  seen  as  projecting  from  its  depths  smaller  bodies  or  centres  of mental  vibration,  which like sparks  from  a  furnace detach themselves from  the  parent flame  and  travel far away in  other  directions—these are the projected  thought  forms  of  which all occultists  are fond  of  speaking and  which make  plain  many  strange psychic  occurrences."

 

The Three Primary  Auric  Colors

Like their physical  counterparts,  the  Auric  Colors  are derived  from three Primary Colors, from which all the various combinations and colors are formed. These three primary  colors,  together  with White  and  Black,  give us  the  key  to  the  entire  auric  spectrum.

The Three Primary  Colors  are  as follows:  (1) Red;  (2)  Blue;  and  (3) Yellow.  From  these three primary colors  all others  are  formed  by combinations  and  blendings,  or  by  the addition  of  Black or White. Thus, the Secondary Colors are formed as follows: (1) Green, derived from a combination  of  Yellow  and  Blue;  (2)  Orange,  derived  from  a combination of Yellow and Red; (3)  Purple,  derived from  a  combination of Red and Blue. Further combinations produce other colors,  for  instance:  Green and  Purple form  Olive;  Orange and  Purple form  Russet;  Green  and Orange  form Citrine.

Black  is  really  an  absence  of color,  while  White  is really  a  harmonious blending of  all  colors.  The blending of  the Primary Colors  in  varied proportions  produce what  are known  as  the "hues" of color; and adding White we obtain "tints," while  mixing  Black  produces "shades."

 

Key  to the Auric  Colors

An understanding  of  the basic  character  of  the  Three Primary  Auric Colors,  and  of  Auric  Black  and  Auric  White,  gives  the student  the  key  to the whole range of  auric  coloring.  For  this  purpose the following  table  is presented:

The Red Group. Red represents the physical nature, and its presence always indicates the existence and  activity of  that  part  of  the nature of man.

The Blue Group. Blue represents the religious, or spiritual nature, and its presence always indicates the existence and  activity  of  that  part  of  the nature  of  man.

The Yellow Group. Yellow represents the intellectual nature, and its presence always  indicates  the existence and  activity of  that  part  of  the nature  of  man.

White.  White  represents Pure  Spirit,  and its presence  always indicates the presence and  activity  of  that  Reality in  the  nature of  man.

Black. Black represents the negation of  Pure Spirit,  and  opposes  it  in every  way,  and its presence  always indicates  the  existence  and activity  of this  negative principle in  the  nature of  man.

The various combinations of the three Primary Colors are formed in connection  with  White  and  Black,  as  well as  by the  blending of  the three themselves.  These combinations  of  course result  from  the  shades of  mental  and  emotional  activity  manifested  by  the individual.  But  not only is  the blending caused  by  the  mixing of  the colors  themselves,  in connection  with  Black  and  White,  but  in  certain  cases  the body of  one color  is found to  be  streaked,  striped,  dotted,  or  clouded by  other  colors. At  times  there is  perceived  the mixture  of  two antagonistic  color  streams fighting against  each other  before blending.  Again  we see the effect  of one color  neutralizing another.  In  some cases  great  black  clouds obscure the bright  colors  beneath,  and  then  darken  the fierce glow of color,  just as is often witnessed in the  case  of a  physical conflagration.  Again,  we find  great  flashes  of  bright  yellow,  or  red,  flaring across  the field  of  the aura,  showing agitation  or  the  conflict  of intellect  and  passion.

It  should  be noted  by  the student,  in  passing,  that  the Green  group of auric  colors  seems,  at  first  glance,  to  be an  exception  to the general rule regarding the blending of  the primary  auric  colors; and to manifest contradictions in character. For  instance,  it  is  difficult  for the average student  to comprehend why a  blending of  the spiritual  blue and  the intellectual yellow should yield a  green indicating deceit, etc.  A  subtle analysis of deceit,  however,  gives the secret  of  this  combination, particularly when  it  is  noted  that  in certain of the less desirable of the green  combinations  there is  combined  a slight mixture of  black and red.  It  is  not  necessary  to go into details  concerning this particular point—it is enough to indicate the nature of the solution of the mystery. Again, there is a certain  shade of  Green,  that  which manifests  in  the prevailing colors  of  trees,  plants,  etc., which when shown in  the  auric coloring indicates  a  love of  nature,  etc.  The following words  from  a celebrated occultist gives a valuable hint to those whose minds  tend  to keen analysis concerning  these  matters;  this occultist  says:  "To  those who are  fond of analysis of this kind,  I will drop  the  following  hint,  which may help  them  in  the matter,  viz.:  The  key is  found  in  the fact  that  Green lies  in  the  centre of  the spectrum,  and  is a balance between  the two extremes,  and  is  also influenced  by  these two extremes  in  a  startling manner."

 

Important  Suggestions

The Rosicrucian  teachers  do  not  content  themselves  with instructing their students concerning the particular colors which, when seen in the aura, indicate  the presence and  activity  of  certain  mental  or  emotional states  in  the person.  They also instruct  the  student according  to  the celebrated  principle of  Action and Reaction, which forms an important feature of  certain  branches of the Rosicrucian  teachings.  That  is  to  say they instruct  the student  that  if  he will  hold  in  his  mind  the mental image of  a  certain  color,  there will result  a  reaction  in  the direction of the production in the student's mind or  emotional nature of  the feeling  or emotion  corresponding to that  particular  color.  For  instance,  if  the student  will hold  his  thought  and  attention  firmly  concentrated  on  the Red  group  of  colors,  there will  be awakened  in  him a strong passional emotion, and  the  manifestation  of  animal  vitality  and  vigor,  virility, courage,  etc.  Again,  if  he will  hold  in  his  mind  in  the same way  the  Blue group  of  colors,  he  will  experience an  uplift of spiritual or  religious emotional  feelings,  and  his  nature will be quickened along those lines. Again,  if  he would stimulate his intellectual faculties, or  reinvigorate a tired  mind,  he has  but  to concentrate on  the Yellow  group  of  colors to obtain  the desired result. So, it is  seen,  not  only do mental and  emotional states  manifest  appropriate colors,  but  the colors  themselves  tend to produce their corresponding mental and emotional states.  The action  of Red  upon  the bull and  other  animals is explained in this  way;  also  we have here a  suggestion  as  to  why  a  man  "sees red" under moments  of great  excitement  leading to  physical action  of  punishment,  etc.

It  is  also a  part  of  the teachings  that  the Three Primary  Colors  have a decided  therapeutic  effect,  and  that  one may  apply the principle  in healing work.  The colors may be applied either  by means  of  physical colors  placed  in  the  environment  of  the person,  or  else held  in  the  mind of  the mental  healer  giving  the treatment.  Here  is  the Therapeutic  Scale of  Colors:

 

Therapeutic  Scale of  Colors

Blues, Violet, Lavender, etc.,  have a  cooling and  soothing effect upon  the  nervous  system,  and  upon  the blood  and  bodily  organs.

Grass  Greens,  have a  resting and  invigorating effect  upon  the  same.

Yellows and Orange have an inspiring and  illuminating effect  upon the mental  faculties.

Reds have an  exciting and  stimulating  effect  upon  mind  and  body  (this is  particularly  true  of  scarlets  and  other  bright  reds).

 

The Protective Aura

The Rosicrucian teachers also instruct  their pupils  in  the  matter  of  the creation  and  maintenance of  The Protective Aura,  which  is  a  shelter  of soul,  mind,  and  body against  evil influences directed against them consciously or unconsciously. This Protective  Aura  is an effective armor against all forms of  psychic attack and invasion,  no matter from  whom they  emanate.  It  affords a  simple  but  very  powerful  and  efficient  means of protection against adverse psychic influences, "malicious mental magnetism," black  magic,  etc.,  and is  also  a  protection  against psychic vampirism or the draining  of  magnetic  strength. The method  of  forming the  Protective Aura  is  very  simple.  It consists merely of the formation of a mental image (accompanied  by  a  demand  of the will)  of  yourself  as  being surrounded  by an  aura  of  Pure Clear White Light—the symbol  and indication of Spirit. A little practice will enable you to actually  feel the presence and  power  of  this  Protective Aura.  The White Light  is  the radiation  of  Spirit,  and  Spirit  is  master of  All Things. As  a teacher  has  said:  "The  highest  and  deepest  occult  teaching is  that the White  Light  must  never  be used  for purpose of attack or  personal gain,  but  that  it  may  properly be employed  by anyone,  at  any time,  to protect  himself  or  herself against  adverse outside  psychic influences no matter  by whom  exerted.  It  is  the armor  of  the soul,  and  may well be employed  in such way whenever or  wherever  the need  arises."

In the explanation  given  here concerning the aura  will be  found  a key to a very interesting phenomena along the lines of Personal Magnetism, Magnetic Influence, Personal  Atmosphere,  etc.