Eliza Swann is a human beam of rainbow light, and we can't wait to see her on September 13th for her hands-on workshop "The Anatomy of The Aura"- details coming soon! In the meantime, she sent us this incredible bit of wisdom for reading auras right from your own home:
"Here is an exercise that you can use to read the aura of a favorite house plant, crystal, or rock. The exercise comes from my book "The Anatomy of the Aura" - the book is filled with exercises that you can use to read, repair, and get intimate with your own aura and the energy fields of all of Earth's creatures.
The aura, simply put, is a cloud of energy that surrounds and interpenetrates a physical body. This energy extends from the cellular level outward to energy fields that extend beyond the physical body. Researchers in the fields of energy healing have created theoretical models that divide the aura into several layers containing different patterns, frequencies, and bio-electrical phenomena that you can explore in my book. For today, we'll start with a simple aura reading exercise that can be practiced by everyone - no experience or training necessary!
Aristotle decided over two thousand years ago that humans only have five senses, and that myth persists today! In his book De Anima, written in 350 BCE, Aristotle devotes a chapter to vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste as they relate to the eyes, ears, skin, nose and tongue. Aristotle knew nothing of the brain or its role in sensory perception, and therefore was unable to quantify senses properly. Currently, there is no concrete definition of what constitutes a sense, but it is agreed that in order for us to have a sense, there needs to be a specific sensor. Scientists currently estimate that we have dozens of senses and more emerge each day. Magnetoception is the ability to detect magnetic fields - it is now thought that humans can detect the Earth’s magnetic field with a protein located in the eye!
Another sense is called “dermo-optical perception” — human beings can “see” minute vibrations through touch, especially through the fingertips. American psychologist Dr. Richard P. Youtz of Barnard College, has rigorously tested multiple subjects who can identify colors by touch alone. One thing “feels” blue, another “feels” red. Even if you can't distinguish colors with your fingertips, these amazing appendages are capable of detecting incredibly minute vibrations. In recent studies, scientists have shown that people can detect nano-scale wrinkles while running their fingers over a seemingly smooth surface – this means that a human fingertip can feel a bump corresponding to the size of a very large molecule.
Try reading a plant or crystal's aura with your fingertips. Find a treasured plant or crystal, and ask them if you can admire the beautiful colors and frequencies in their aura with your fingertips. Wait until you hear, feel, or sense a yes from the plant or crystal. This can feel like warmth, an inviting sensation, or maybe you hear or see a "yes." If you are unclear about how to discern a "yes" or "no" from a plant or crystal, try asking different plants and crystals if you might admire their energy with your fingertips and practice discerning "yes" and "no" from several non-human beings. Some of us get feelings, visions, a clear sense of knowing, a certain smell or a tingle that represent "yes" and "no." Once you have found a plant or a crystal that says "yes" to having their aura read, surround yourself with a protective bubble that sparkles with love.
Set an intention to admire the aura of your plant or crystal friend with your hands. Set a timer for four minutes. Rub your hands together to charge them.
Close your eyes, tune in, and begin to move your fingertips around the plant or crystal's aura - not touching them, but touching the electricity in the air around them. How does their frequency feel? What colors or images arrive for you? What temperatures do you notice? Can you hear anything? Are you receiving any messages? Continue reading the aura through your fingers until the timer goes off. Once you are finished reading the aura of the plant or crystal, pause. Ask them if there is anything that you can do to assist them and listen through your fingertips. "Right relationship" is a harmonious connection between different parties that is achieved through mutual respect and an equal energy exchange. “Right relationship” can exist between a person and the land they live on, a healer and a client, a teacher and a student, between multiple beings working in cooperation – any relationship that you are in can be a “right relationship.” Take time to hear whether the plant or crystal has certain musical requests, light or water requirements, or anything else that they need for you to know.
When you have heard what your plant or crystal's needs are, go ahead and bow to them. After practicing energy reading, it is important to disentangle your energy - rub your hands together and say “I release your energy back to you, whole, complete and intact. I call my energy back to myself whole, complete and intact.” Feel your energy returning to you, and feel the plant or crystal's energy returning to them - let go of any cords or overlapping energies. Give thanks to your friend and your fingertips and take notes.
The Anatomy of the Aura is out now!
I will be at Hauswitch on September 13th discussing all things auras - I can't wait to see you!"
Eliza Swann is an interdisciplinary artist, intuitive, writer, educator, and community organizer based in Los Angeles and New York. Eliza received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and received a Master’s degree in Fine Art from Central St. Martins in London. She has trained in hypnotherapy at the Isis Centre in England, Vedic cosmology and yoga with Dr. Vagish Shastri in Benares, India, and Tarot and Western Magical Practice with the Builders of the Adytum Western Mystery School. Eliza is the founder of The Golden Dome School, a curatorial and educational platform that studies intersections of art, metaphysics and ecology.
