TWH – The human aura is often described as a luminous energy field that surrounds the body, reflecting an individual’s emotional, spiritual, mental, and even physical condition. Traditionally envisioned as multicolored and dynamic, the aura is said to consist of multiple layers—etheric, emotional, mental, and spiritual—which interact with both inner and outer environments.
In metaphysical many traditions, particularly among energy-based spiritualities such as Reiki or intuitive healing, practitioners claim to perceive or sense these energy fields. They often interpret variations in the aura’s color, clarity, or intensity as indicators of a person’s well-being. While historically viewed as part of esoteric belief systems, recent scientific research is beginning to investigate phenomena that may correlate with these longstanding ideas.
A 2025 study published in iScience by Hayley Casey and colleagues presents the first proof-of-concept that ultraweak photon emissions (UPEs) from the human brain may reflect underlying functional brain states. UPEs are faint, spontaneous emissions of light generated by metabolic processes within living tissue. Unlike bioluminescence or thermal radiation, UPEs are much weaker and fall within the visible to near-visible spectrum of light.
MJT Image
The research team used highly sensitive photomultiplier tubes to record light emissions from the occipital and temporal regions of participants’ brains in a darkened chamber, alongside quantitative EEG recordings. The results showed that UPEs from the brain could be distinguished from background light by their variability, entropy (a measure of complexity), and frequency patterns. Although these emissions are far too weak for the human eye to perceive, the researchers suggest that they may provide insight into brain activity in a noninvasive way, potentially paving the way for a new technique called “photoencephalography.”
Some of the claims aren’t new. As far back as 1923, biophoton emissions were observed in cellular communication, and early religious art across cultures often depicted divine or enlightened beings with radiant halos. Readers may recall Kirlian photography, a technique that captures the apparent “aura” or energy field surrounding an object, usually a living organism, by photographing coronal discharges using high-voltage, high-frequency electricity. The technique was developed in 1939 by Semyon and Valentina Kirlian and involves placing an object on a photographic plate connected to an electrical source. When the current is applied, it produces a glowing image, often interpreted as an energy field. Scientists generally attribute the effect to moisture, pressure, and conductivity.
While the study doesn’t claim to confirm the spiritual concept of the aura, it does provide scientific evidence that the human body—and in particular the brain—emits a measurable glow, one shaped by internal processes. This aligns intriguingly with ancient ideas.
Belief in a human energy field is deeply rooted in ancient spiritual systems. In early civilizations like Egypt and India, concepts such as ka and prana described subtle forces that animated the body. Chinese medicine similarly recognizes qi, a life force that circulates through the body and sustains health. The idea of a radiating spiritual field also appeared in religious art; for example, early Christian and Byzantine iconography depicted saints with halos, possibly reflecting earlier Pagan ideas of divine light.
Within numerous modern Paganisms, the aura is frequently incorporated into rituals, meditations, and healing practices. The concept of the aura is often woven into practices involving energy work, ritual, and spiritual embodiment. Indeed, many practitioners view the aura as part of an interconnected web of life energy, not only a personal reflection but a sacred interface with deities, nature spirits, and the cosmos.
The Casey study also explored how UPE patterns shift with different brain states—such as having eyes open versus closed, or while listening to rhythmic auditory stimulation—mirroring shifts in brainwave activity.
The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs. Fiesole San Domenico Altarpiece. Fra Angelico c.1420 [Public Domain
Interestingly, UPE signals from the brain reached a steady state over time during tasks, and their variation appeared task-dependent, though not always in predictable ways across individuals. Additionally, some correlations were found between UPEs and EEG-measured brain rhythms, particularly in the alpha range. While more research is needed, especially with larger sensor arrays and better wavelength resolution, the researchers suggest that UPEs could reflect oxidative metabolism and even tissue-specific activity, implying a biological basis for energy changes perceived in the aura.
What makes this particularly exciting for Pagan and nature-centered spiritualities is not just the validation of ancient intuition, but the possibility that our interconnectedness with the world may be detectable in subtle ways. If we do emit a faint glow tied to our mental and metabolic states, then our presence—energetically speaking—is never neutral. Whether in ritual, prayer, or everyday intention, the idea that we shine, quite literally, adds a profound layer to the spiritual understanding of energy, spirit, and sacred space. Science may not be measuring the aura per se, but it is brushing against its edge. So, as always, shine on.
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