According to spiritual beliefs, an aura or energy field is a colored emanation said to enclose a human body or any animal or object. In some esoteric positions, the aura is described as a subtle body. Psychics and holistic medicine practitioners often claim to have the ability to see the size, color and type of vibration of an aura.
Charles Webster Leadbeater is credited with developing and popularizing the concept of auras.
A Kirlian photo showing an artistic representation of a man in the Lotus position, surrounded by a blue glow
An aura reader tested in a controlled experiment at the Observatoire Zététique, May 2004
A subtle body is a "quasi material" aspect of the human body, being neither solely physical nor solely spiritual, according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings. This contrasts with the mind–body dualism that has dominated Western thought. The subtle body is important in the Taoism of China and Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, mainly in the branches which focus on tantra and yoga, where it is known as the Sūkṣma-śarīra. However, while mostly associated with Asian cultures, non-dualistic approaches to the mind and body are found in many parts of the world.
The subtle body in Indian mysticism, from a yoga manuscript in Braj Bhasa language, 1899. A row of chakras is depicted from the base of the spine up to the crown of the head.
A Tibetan illustration of the subtle body showing the central channel and two side channels connecting five chakras
The subtle body and the cosmic man, Nepal 1600s