Eighth Chakra: The Aura
“The aura is not only an energy field; it is the canvas on which your spiritual and physical health is painted.”
Caroline Myss
Location
Surrounds the entire body as an electromagnetic field
Color
Often seen as white or golden light (but in practice, it contains all colors of the chakras when balanced—like a luminous rainbow)
Element
N/A
Organ
Not a physical organ, but intimately connected to the entire energetic and physical system. It is the sum total of the health and vibration of all chakras and organs.
Bij Mantra
ONG SOHUNG or WAHE GURU
The Eighth Chakra, often called the Aura, is an electromagnetic field that surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body. It’s like your energetic fingerprint, unique to you, and constantly shifting to reflect your thoughts, emotions, health, and spiritual state. While the Seventh Chakra connects us to universal awareness, the Eighth displays the unique frequency of our energy in each and every moment for others to feel and see.
The Eighth Chakra is the combined energy of all the other chakra centers and is the most expansive. It is a radiant field of energy that surrounds and suffuses all other bodies, encompassing our state of health, the type and intensity of emotion we are experiencing, and our capacity and abilities. The Aura is the state of our inner energy projected out into the world. As such, the healthy flowing energy of the other chakras and bodies produces a large, strong Aura, which gives us a strong projection.
This chakra is not associated with any element, but with broadcasting your presence to the world, “This is who I am. Witness my identity and caliber.” When your electromagnetic field is strong, because the other chakras are aligned and functioning well, your presence alone seems to do the work for you and direct the force of the universe to fulfill your desires and needs with little effort on your part. Strong presence can also help others to know who you are, and trust or even admire you, before you speak one word to them.
The Aura also serves as a protective energetic barrier for our entire system; this is sometimes described as the Circumvent Field in Modern Kundalini Yoga. Every other magnetic field we encounter crosses and may penetrate our Aura. A bit like a fence or a blockade, its strength determines what gets in and what does not. A strong Aura can prevent negativity, attacks, and even germs from entering our systems; a weak Aura allows our energy to be affected by that of others, making it more difficult for us to maintain our health, individuality, and elevation.
We also relate to emotions differently, depending on the strength of our Aura or electromagnetic field. When the Aura is strong, we can choose whether to express or redirect an emotion. When it is weak, emotions may seem overwhelming and in control of our behavior; we cannot separate them from our identity or direct them consciously.
The flow of energy in the Aura can become blocked or irregular due to our cemented habits of thinking and behavior. When our established patterns become firmly cemented, it can cause a split or division between our rigid actions and the naturally fluid response of our mind. This is described by those who can see Auras as a hole or a cut in the Aura, which reduces our radiance and defenses.
Ideally, your Aura is oval or egg-shaped and can extend up to 9 feet in every direction, including under the ground beneath your feet. When healthy and strong, it is said to be white, which is the combination of the colors of all the other chakras. One of the other energetic bodies, the Arcline, is said to be part of the overall Aura. The Arcline is in charge of discrimination and deciding what should be allowed to penetrate the Aura, and what cannot get in or affect us. When our mental vibration is strong, our Arcline protects all vulnerable areas of life automatically. What the Arcline determines is to our benefit enters and merges with our own energy.
A strong Aura signifies well-balanced inner energy, granting a magnetic presence, protection from negativity, and emotional clarity. It is our mechanism of energetic defense and the broadcaster of who we are in the world.
Dimensions of the Eighth Chakra:
Meaning
In Kundalini Yoga, the Eighth Chakra—our electromagnetic field— both projects and protects our energy. Its expansive, enveloping presence reaches far beyond the boundaries of the body. A strong aura allows us to radiate light, remain centered in our truth, and deflect negativity. This is not just a chakra, it is the energetic manifestation of our soul’s luminous field.
Agency
The Eighth Chakra, as the center of energetic radiance, expands our capacity to show who we truly are and manage our own energy. Through the Aura, we project our intention with a sense of purpose while protecting ourselves against losing ourselves when others push back. Agency at the level of the Eighth Chakra is not about control, but about resonance, listening deeply to the guidance of our spirit and letting our actions consistently reflect our highest calling.
Identity
The Eighth Chakra reflects and projects our spiritual identity, the eternal, luminous essence of who we truly are beyond the body, personality, or life story. It helps us remember that we are not defined by roles, names, or experiences, but are eternal souls in a cosmic play. This chakra reflects the imprint of our higher destiny, our soul’s unique frequency, and the wisdom accumulated across lifetimes. When we attune to the Eighth Chakra, we begin to release the limited self-image shaped by the world and instead align with the vast, interconnected truth of our being.
Community
This chakra expands our sense of community beyond shared interests or proximity, awakening a felt experience of unity with all beings, seen and unseen. It fosters compassion that arises not from obligation, but from the deep recognition that what affects one affects all. Through the Eighth Chakra, we begin to act not just for ourselves or our immediate circles, but use who we are and our energy to affect the whole for the better.
Balancing and Healing the Aura:
Because the Aura is the sum of the energy generated by all the other chakra centers and both the subtle and gross bodies, its health is inherently tied to the balance of our entire energetic system. Each chakra contributes unique frequencies and qualities to the Aura, meaning that any imbalance or blockage within a single chakra can distort or weaken the Aura’s integrity. Similarly, the emotional, mental, physical, and soul bodies all feed into the Aura, influencing its clarity and strength. Therefore, true healing and harmonization of the Aura cannot occur in isolation—it requires a holistic approach that nurtures and aligns each and every aspect of the human system.
The Heart Chakra is of unique importance in working on healing and harmonizing the Aura, because the kernel or anchor point of the Aura in the physical body is said to be the center of the Heart Chakra. For this reason all practices and work to open and balance the heart also contribute to the strength and expansion of the Aura. When we experience a full, open heart, we can also experience walking through life with no need for armor other than our own energy.
By addressing the root causes of energetic disharmony within the chakras and other bodies, the Aura naturally begins to reflect a state of equilibrium, vitality, and coherence. In this state, the Aura becomes not only a shield of light but a living expression of our wholeness and authenticity, capable of holding complexity, transmitting love, and anchoring higher truth into the physical world.
Recommended Practices for the Aura:
Life Practices
- Wear white, natural fiber clothing. White is a combination of all the colors, which enhances and enlarges your magnetic field and auric strength. Clothes made of natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, do not restrict or diminish the Aura like synthetic fibers can.
- Practice energetic hygiene regularly to clear your Aura. You can do this with the tools and practices available to you, such as smudging, salt baths, diffusing essential oils such as rose, using specific sound frequencies or instruments, crystals like selenite, etc.
- Cut energetic cords to release any energy from others that may have gotten into your electromagnetic field. Use intention, a visualization of scissors or a sword, or even say out loud, “I release what is not mine.”
- Connect with nature. Time spent outside, even if it’s just on your balcony or sidewalk, helps your Aura reset and recharge as it exchanges energy with the Earth.
- Be intentional about what you consume. Protect your energy by limiting the amount and being selective about the media that you take in. Because all content carries an energetic signature, it affects your energy field. Be consciously aware of how what you watch and listen to affects your Aura; you may find that you want to limit violent content, news that stimulates fear, or anything that disrupts your equilibrium.
- Strengthen your defenses with visualization; picture a bright white or golden light around you, expanding and protecting your Aura. Imagine putting on an impermeable energetic cloak or bubble before entering negative situations. Before you enter difficult environments or interactions, you may even go so far as to program your Aura and Arcline to allow only what you want to enter your system.
Affirmations for the Fifth Chakra:
- I am a radiant soul on a divine journey.
- I honor the unique frequency of my soul and its purpose.
- I am aligned with the wisdom of my soul across all lifetimes.
- My aura protects me and expands with love.
- I trust the divine guidance that flows through me.
- I live in alignment with my purpose and divinity within me.
Questions for Reflection:
- When do I feel most connected to something greater than myself?
- What does my soul long to express in this lifetime?
- In what ways do I sense or experience my aura or energetic field?
- How do I protect, nourish, or neglect my energy field in daily life?
- How does my state of mind affect my aura?
- What mind and body practices support a strong aura?
- When have I felt the most radiant, expansive, or magnetic? What was different in my energy?
Kundalini Yoga Practices
General Kundalini Yoga Practices:
- Breath of Fire: This pranayama adjusts the subtle psycho-electromagnetic field of the Aura so that the blood becomes energized.
Kundalini Yoga Kriya and Meditations:
Strengthening the Aura
This invigorating sequence promotes overall well-being by boosting energy, strengthening the aura, and aiding digestion.
Meditation for Tuning into Your Aura
This meditation, also referred to as Tuning In, enhances sensitivity to the aura and expands its radiance. With focused practice, the practitioner can begin to sense the subtle dance of their aura, even without physical movement.
Kriya for Balancing the Aura
This kriya builds physical energy and stamina while strengthening the navel center. It moves meridian energy between the Third Chakra (Manipura) and the Eighth Chakra (Aura), balancing and expanding the Aura. With consistent practice, the kriya becomes more enjoyable as the Aura strengthens and expands.
Breath of Fire with Lion’s Paws – Reset the Brain’s Electromagnetic Field
This powerful kriya is a two-exercise practice that has a powerful and immediate effect on the brain and its energy field.