Jan Esmann - The Subtle Bodies and the Aura: A short and illustrated introduction

Most people can see the vital body. Hold your hand against a dark background in a somewhat subdued light. Shake the hand lightly so as not to focus on it. You should see something resembling the following illustration.

There is a slight band, about 5 mm, surrounding the hand where there is no visible aura. Then a grayish fog-like aura is visible of the size of 5-10 cm depending on the level of vitality. Where there are injuries to the fingers, like after a minor operation, there will be an empty band radiating out from the injured area. Actually, the vital body has the same shape and size as the physical body, what we see is an emanation from it.

The vital body is not a separate body like the other subtle bodies, but is a part of the physical body, being its subtlest element. Hence it is also called the etheric double. It administers the flow of vital force (prna) to the various organs through its numerous energy channels (ndis). Traditional Indian scriptures say there are 72,000 such ndis, but I doubt anyone has actually sat down and counted the exact number. These are probably the same as the meridians known from acupuncture.

All living organisms exchange etherical matter. There is thus an exchange of vitality going on subconsciously. People with pets are often attached to the exchange of etherical matter between themselves and their pet. They believe they love the pet, but largely they love the exchange of vitality with the animal. One can feel this exchange if one is in close proximity to an unpleasant and unhealthy person. Similarly, one can feel it when in the company of someone radiating vitality and joy. You just feel either drained or uplifted. Much of what is love between individuals and the pleasure of being in each others proximity or cuddling is due to an exchange of etheric matter.

Mostly this exchange is unconscious, but it can be used consciously in the healing arts. If someone has a weak organ or some other disease, one with a strong vital body can direct a flow of vitality (prna) from himself to that area in the other person. This kind of healing does of course not heal the organ, but invigorates the vital body of the patient so it can better help heal the diseased organ itself. The problem with healing is that the healer gives away some of his own vitality. He or she may even pick up the malfunctional etherical matter of the patient. Thus, a healer may eventually suffer the very illness he or she is healing.

Plants have vital bodies also. Anyone with some experience with plants will know the invigorating influence they can have. It is well known that if you direct negativity towards a plant, i.e. harm its vital body, it will not thrive, while loving care has the opposite effect.

The vital body is strengthened through wholesome, organically grown food with strong vital bodies. Modern agriculture does not support a good vital body in plant food. Nor do animal farms with no care for the animals wellbeing produce vitality in the animals. Animal products for food should come from free range animals brought up on grass and wholesome food.

There are chakras, or energy centers, in the vital body, just as in all the subtle bodies. They are located in the same places in all the bodies. In the vital body they are like command centers directing the flow of prna to the rest of the vital body. There are numerous chakras, but seven are the most important ones. In the etherical body they are generally colorless.

7. The brain and the top of the head

6. Between the eyebrows

5. At the throat

4. In the middle of the chest

3. Midway between the breast bone and the navel

2. Midway between the navel and the pubic bone

1. The perineum

The theosophists ignore this second chakra and use the spleen chakra instead. That is a gross error since the rising of prna kundalin is inside the spine, not in the spleen.

There are pink chakras in the palms of the hands. They can be used for healing. There is an eighth chakra about 30-40 cm above the head called Brahmara. It is very potent and one should only meditate on it under guidance and at an advanced level of ones sadhana (spiritual practice). You need to open and activate the seven major chakras first.

The etherical body of a living person can influence other people positively or negatively, like all the other bodies can. Certain people can vampirize on other peoples etherical body and so to speak steal their vital force. In such peoples company you feel drained and exhausted. Similarly, one may out of love for someone in distress channel vital force to his or her etherical body invigorating the person. This happens constantly between lovers.