The Human Energy Field: A Guide to Your Aura and Subtle Bodies

Have you ever felt a gentle sense of ease wash over you when you enter a peaceful space? Or noticed a sudden tension move through your body in someone’s presence? These subtle reactions, which often arise without explanation, hint at an invisible world that exists beyond our five senses. They reveal that we are not just physical bodies, but dynamic beings composed of energy.

The human energy field extends well beyond your skin and plays a vital role in shaping how you think, feel, and interact with others. This field is also sometimes called the human aura, and it’s composed of distinct energetic structures you can interact with in daily life.

Unlocking the secrets of your human energy field lies at the heart of transformative practices like Tantra Yoga. Becoming more aware of your own energy field offers a gateway to deeper self-awareness and spiritual growth.

In this article, you’ll discover how your energy field works, why it matters for your health and happiness, and practical steps to sense and balance your subtle energies for a more vibrant, fulfilling life.

In this article you will find:

• What Is the Human Aura?
• The Subtle Bodies of the Human Aura
• Chakras – The Energy Centers
• The Human Energy Field in Daily Life
• How to Perceive and Balance the Human Aura
• Scientific Proof of the Human Energy Field
• Practical Tips for Balancing Your Energy Field

What Is the Human Aura?

The human aura is the energetic structure of a human being.  It is not just a metaphysical concept — the human energy field has been studied and measured scientifically.

Your aura is made up of five main layers (called subtle bodies), seven chakras (energy centers), and tens of thousands of tiny energy channels called nadis. All these parts will be described in detail later in this article. But for now, just know that all of these parts work together, a bit like an orchestra, to keep your energy flowing and help you connect with the energy that makes up the world around you.

Altogether, your subtle bodies, chakras, and nadis act like antennas or broadcasting stations that can both receive and emit energy. It is an extremely sophisticated system and a divinely intelligent design, all contained inside of you.

You might hear the term “human subtle body” used to describe this entire field, which can be confusing since the five individual sheaths or layers of the aura are also called subtle bodies. To keep things clear, we will refer to the whole energetic system as the human aura.

The primary function of the human aura is to act as a bridge between your personal energy and universal or cosmic energies that make up the world around us. Keep in mind that your whole being includes all five of your subtle bodies, you are not just the physical body. So your entire aura, including all its structures, is meant to interact with universal energies.

The aura’s condition also directly affects your physical health, emotional state, mental clarity, and spiritual connection. A strong, clear aura supports well-being, while blockages anywhere in your aura can cause any number of physical, emotional, and mental health issues.

The human aura is the energetic structure of a human being. This complex energetic system and framework is what allows you to interact with universal energies.

The Subtle Bodies of the Human Aura

Ancient yogic traditions describe the human aura as being composed of several interconnected layers, or sheaths, known as koshas. These are often compared to the layers of an onion, although this is not fully accurate because those bodies overlap and coexist, with the densest layer at the center and the most refined or subtle layers extending outward. These sheaths are interdependent — a disturbance in one layer will inevitably ripple through the others.

There are five main subtle bodies of the human being. There are also two additional, more refined bodies to make a total of seven bodies. However, these last two bodies become self-obvious once a person has become aware of the first five bodies, so there is no need to describe them here. The first five bodies are described below.

1. The Physical Body

While it may seem odd to call the physical body a “subtle” body, it is considered the densest and most visible manifestation of our energy.

In tantric and yogic philosophy, your physical form is not just flesh and bone but a crystallization of energy vibrating at a very slow frequency. It is the anchor for all the other, more refined, energy bodies.

Modern medicine and science have studied the physical body extensively, so there is no need to explore it in detail here. You can refer to any current resources on human anatomy to gain a good understanding of how the physical body functions.

2. The Etheric or Pranic Body

The etheric body is integrated with the physical body, then extends 2 to 4 centimeters outside the physical body.  It is the  energetic blueprint of the physical body. This layer is made of prana, or life-force energy, and it directly governs your physical vitality and sensations.

It contains a network of more than 72,000 energy channels, known as nadis, which distribute prana throughout your system. Nadis are similar to the meridians of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. These channels are there to transfer, circulate, and conduct energy throughout your entire body.

The etheric body is the most important indicator of your vital force, and therefore your health. A person with a smaller, weaker etheric body would lack vital force and tend to be in poorer health overall. However, when the etheric body is bigger, stronger, and vibrating with more prana, the person will tend to be healthier and more vibrant.

3. The Astral or Emotional Body

The astral body is bigger than the previous two bodies. But like all the subtle bodies, it overlaps and interrelates with the other bodies. The astral body is made up of your emotions, feelings, and desires, which are all types of energy.

It extends approximately 15 centimeters outside the physical body. However, it can be bigger or smaller than that depending on the intensity and strength of a person’s emotions. The strength and size also depend on a person’s control over their emotions, or lack thereof.

An advanced meditator can have an astral body that’s very large, even multiple kilometers wide, and very stable. For less experienced people, the size is typically much smaller and variable because it changes with their emotional fluctuations. A weaker astral body will be less supportive of a person’s psychological state.

The astral body also has the capacity for every human being to separate from the physical body, which is called astral projection. This topic is covered in more depth in our Tantra Yoga Level 1 course.

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4. The Mental Body

Your thoughts, beliefs, cognitive processes, and intellect reside in the mental body. This layer holds your core programming — the patterns of thinking that shape your perception of reality.

The mental body encompasses the full scope of human thoughts and mentality. Its size is determined by the strength and depth of a person’s thoughts, as well as how well they control and focus their thoughts.

A weak, small, or chaotic mental body leads to poor concentration and a scattered mind. A person with a weak mental body is often controlled by their runaway thoughts and mind.

Whereas, having a strong mental body allows a person to control their thoughts and harness the potential power of the mind for their own benefit, rather than being at its whim.

When your mental body is clear, you experience mental clarity, sharp focus, and effective problem-solving skills. Purifying your mental body is an essential step toward greater self-control and self-awareness.

5. The Causal Body

The causal body is the most refined and outermost layer of your aura, connecting you to higher consciousness, intuition, and your soul’s purpose.

This spiritual body holds the key to your ultimate potential and spiritual path. Accessing the causal body through deep meditation and spiritual practice can lead to profound insights and a sense of unity with all of existence.

The most important thing is that this body is connected to our higher self and our ability to reach enlightenment in this life. Without full awareness and recognition of the causal body, a person will not be able to reach a state of self-realization.

Chakras – The Energy Centers

Chakras are powerful energy points and structures within your human aura. The word “chakra” is Sanskrit for “wheel.” These energy centers are responsible for regulating the flow of prana between your physical body and your more subtle layers. They allow the interaction between the human being and the universe.

There are seven main human chakras aligned down the center of your body, from the base of your trunk to the crown of your head. They are positioned just outside the physical body in key points or areas, each of which corresponds with an energetic plane in the universe.

Tantric tradition has established that there are seven levels or frequencies of the universe, and each chakra corresponds to one level of the universe. A human being also has seven levels of frequency or vibration because we are identical to the universe. So our chakras allow us to receive and emit energy on each of these universal levels.

They act like transformers, stepping down universal energy so it can be used by your physical and energetic systems. As energy enters and exits each chakra, it moves in a spiral motion through the chakra itself. However, each chakra is a fixed structure that does not spin or move.

The chakras include:

• Root Chakra (Muladhara) — center of strength and vitality, linked to survival and physical stamina. Relates to the earth element.
• Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) — emotional center of the human being, governs sexuality and sensual desires. Relates to the water element.
• Navel Chakra (Manipura) — seat of the personality and ego, linked to leadership qualities, inner strength, and self-confidence. Relates to the fire element.
• Heart Chakra (Anahata) — associated with higher forms of emotions, such as unconditional love and compassion. Relates to the air element.
• Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) — relates to higher levels of purity and intuition, as well as the ether element.
• Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) — relates to the mind and mental powers.
• Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) — relates to understanding and connecting with the divine, as well as self-realization.

Each chakra also corresponds to specific glands, nerve bundles, and major organs in the physical body, as well as distinct psychological, emotional, and spiritual functions. In addition, every chakra is connected to the physical body via a nadi, the energy channels located in the etheric body.

Fully enlightened or self-realized beings would have all chakras completely open and flowing as they’re meant to be. However, for most people, this is not the case. Each chakra is affected by stressors that we experience every day — from physical or emotional trauma, to relationship issues, to career pressures.

These stressors create energetic blockages in the chakras, which means that it’s very challenging to have any chakra completely unblocked and open. Most of us have blockages in some form, especially in the higher chakras, as these resonate with a more refined vibration that is easily disrupted.

In addition, a significant amount of the blockages most of us carry are, in fact, from karma that has been accumulated in both our current and past lives. For the majority of us, we aren’t even aware of these karmic influences because they exist in our astral body, beyond our conscious perception.

So, while it is unrealistic to expect your chakras to be completely open and unblocked, there is still great benefit in purifying and clearing the chakras as much as possible. They will be able to function more effectively and bring greater clarity, vitality, and balance to all areas of your life.

Tantric tradition has established that there are seven levels or frequencies of the universe, and each chakra corresponds to one level of the universe.

The Human Energy Field in Daily Life

Your human energy field isn’t a passive, static shield — it’s an active, dynamic part of your daily experience, constantly influencing and being influenced by your inner and outer worlds.

1. The Effect of Energy Blockages in Your Aura

From a tantric perspective, all physical, emotional, and mental issues fundamentally arise from energetic disturbances.

In the tantric system different types of blockages are recognized that show up differently depending on the chakra that is involved. For instance, a blockage in the throat chakra (related to communication) could manifest as a sore throat or difficulty expressing yourself.

Similarly, unresolved emotional trauma can get stuck in the astral body and eventually lead to physical illness or emotional disorders like anxiety and depression.

Blockages can also show up in more subtle ways, especially blockages in the higher chakras. For instance, blockages in your heart chakra may prevent you from experiencing true, unconditional love.

Although, you may be unaware of an issue like this because most people have never actually felt true love. What society often tells us is “love” is actually some form of lust, attachment, or possessiveness. So it can be easy to think your heart chakra is open, when, in fact, it has many blockages you’re simply unaware of.

2. How The State of Your Aura Affects You

When you experience prolonged stress, go through a traumatic event, or harbor negative emotions like resentment or fear, your energy field can be significantly affected.

These low-vibration energies can cause the aura to shrink, become dim, or even develop holes or tears, leaving you energetically vulnerable. Conversely, when you cultivate love, joy, and peace, your aura expands, brightens, and becomes more resilient.

Also, different subtle bodies will be vulnerable to different things at their individual level. For instance, the physical body will naturally be vulnerable to physical traumas. The etheric or pranic body will be sensitive to energy disruption, like being exposed to extreme heat or x-rays.

The astral body would be more vulnerable to emotional traumas or disruptions. The mental body would be affected by very harmful, disharmonious, uncontrolled, and dark thoughts.

And the fifth body, the causal body, is actually not susceptible to anything because it operates at a high enough frequency that it’s beyond harm. However, the vast majority of people are simply not aware of their causal bodies because the frequency is so refined that it’s very difficult to perceive.

3. Benefits of a Balanced Aura

When your human energy field, the aura, is balanced, life simply flows better. Some of the most common benefits include:

• Sharper focus and productivity: You may find it easier to concentrate at work and approach projects with greater creativity.
• Healthier relationships: Clearer communication and authentic connections come more naturally.
• Greater vitality and energy: You’ll likely feel more energized and resilient in body and mind.
• Reduced stress: Challenges feel more manageable and you recover faster from setbacks.
• Improved intuition: You develop a stronger sense of inner guidance, helping you navigate decisions and changes.
• Emotional balance: Purifying your energy bodies — especially the astral body — can lead to calmer moods and a better psychological state.

Over time, as you continue to clear blockages and nurture your subtle energy, these benefits can deepen and expand into all areas of your life.

How to Perceive and Balance the Human Aura

The good news is that you are not a passive victim of your energetic state. You have the power to perceive, cleanse, and balance your subtle energy bodies, nadis and chakras. While it takes practice, developing sensitivity to your own energy field is a skill anyone can learn.

The ability to sense subtle energy begins with turning your awareness inward. Ancient practices like Tantra Yoga and meditation are designed to quiet the conscious mind and heighten your perception of the more subtle aspects of your being. Over time, you can learn to feel the tingling of prana in your hands, sense the warmth of an active chakra, or even see the colors of your own aura.

1. Tantric Meditation

Tantric meditation is a powerful tool for developing energy awareness. Unlike modern mindfulness practices that focus solely on observation, tantric meditation is 100% energetically based.

It uses specific techniques involving visualization, mantras, yantras, and breath control to actively move and direct energy within your system, clearing blockages and raising your overall vibration.

2. Tantra Yoga Practice

Tantra Yoga is a scientific system for harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.

Through a combination of physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and focused mental concentration, Tantra Yoga activates and balances the chakras and subtle bodies.

Unlike a purely physical workout, each pose is held for a longer duration with awareness directed toward a specific chakra, transforming the practice into a profound energy-balancing session.

Asanas are, in essence, magical shapes that can be formed and created with our physical body. They emulate the science of sacred geometry. By putting our body into these esoteric shapes or positions, we can both regulate and modulate the flow of energy within our human structure. In other words, we can divert, dam, alter, and redirect the path that the energy within our body normally takes, and create various intended and predetermined effects.

3. Energy Healing Practices

Methods like Tantra Massage and Remote Energy Healing are designed to clear deep-seated blockages and restore harmony to the human energy field.

A skilled practitioner can channel high-frequency energy to dissolve negative patterns, heal trauma stored in the subtle bodies, and reactivate dormant energy centers. This process helps your system’s innate healing intelligence to function optimally.

4. Tantric Rituals

Tantric rituals are sacred ceremonies designed to purify the energy field and align it with divine or universal frequencies. These structured practices can create a sacred space for transformation and invoke powerful energies to support spiritual progress.

A genuine Tantric ritual is led by an ordained guide and carried out in a sacred, prescribed sequence. When guided by an advanced teacher, its transformative power expands exponentially.

5. Tantric Pressure Points

For those looking to achieve a higher level of mastery, working with tantric and ayurvedic pressure points (marma points) offers an advanced method of energy balancing.

These vital points on the body are junctions of concentrated life-force energy. Stimulating them can release blockages, redirect energy flow in your being, and unlock deeper states of consciousness.

We explain how to work with pressure points in more detail in our Tantra Massage Therapist Training.

You have the power to perceive, cleanse, and balance your subtle energy bodies and chakras. While it takes practice, developing sensitivity to your own energy field is a skill anyone can learn.

Scientific Proof of the Human Energy Field

While these concepts have been part of tantric and other traditions for millennia, modern science is now beginning to develop tools that can validate the existence and effects of the human energy field. This is helping to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary understanding.

Technologies like thermal imaging, electroencephalography (EEG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can now show tangible physiological changes during energy work sessions. For instance, scientific tests conducted with the Somananda Tantra School demonstrated remarkable results under laboratory conditions.

Heat cameras showed noticeable increases in body temperature in both the healer and the recipient, indicating a real transfer or generation of energy.

Brainwave analysis using EEG revealed a staggering 40% or more increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity — the body’s “rest-and-digest” response. This demonstrates that energy healing can induce profound states of relaxation essential for physical and emotional recovery.

Furthermore, MRI scans have shown clear differences in brain activity before and during energy healing sessions, confirming that these practices can measurably alter brain function.

These findings provide compelling scientific backing for what tantric masters have known for centuries — focused intention and practiced technique can directly influence the autonomic nervous system and brain activity of another person, leading to deep states of healing and transformation.

Practical Tips for Balancing Your Energy Field

You don’t need to be a spiritual master to start taking care of your energetic health. Incorporating a few simple practices into your daily life can make a significant difference.

1. Tantra Yoga Asanas

Asanas, or physical postures in Tantra Yoga, are a powerful way to balance your energy field. By practicing specific poses, you can promote the free flow of energy throughout the body and remove blockages that disturb its natural balance.

Regularly integrating a series of asanas can harmonize the subtle bodies and realign the chakras. Tantra Yoga focuses on holding your attention on a specific chakra while in each posture, rather than focusing on your physical form.

Even ten to fifteen minutes of mindful asana practice daily can create a significant impact on your energy bodies, leaving you more revitalized and balanced.

2. Pranayama (Controlling the Prana)

Your breath is the most direct tool you have for influencing your energy. A simple technique for balanced breathing is to inhale through your nose for a count of four, hold for a count of four, exhale for a count of four, and hold for a count of four.

Repeat this for several minutes to calm your nervous system and center your energy.

3. Purification

Your lifestyle choices have a direct impact on your human energy field. A clean diet, rich in fresh, whole foods, provides high-quality fuel for your body. Getting adequate, restful sleep is crucial for your subtle bodies to repair and recharge.

Finally, spending time in nature is one of the best ways to ground your energy and cleanse your aura, as the Earth has a naturally harmonizing frequency.

4. Tantric Concentration of the Mind

The mind is itself a field of energy — constantly shifting, easily distracted, and often restless. To function at its highest potential, the mind requires proper training and focused discipline.

Yogic traditions offer powerful techniques to harness and direct this mental energy to help you achieve a steady, concentrated, and centered state. With a mind that is truly focused, your capacity for insight, productivity, and spiritual progress expands dramatically.

Developing sharp concentration is also a vital first step to establishing an effective meditation practice.

5. Tantric Meditation

In Tantric meditation, once you have some control over your mind, energy becomes a powerful tool for transformation. Tantra takes a unique approach by directly using subtle energy to accelerate and deepen concentration. Instead of slowly building focus through sheer discipline, tantric techniques channel energy in ways that quickly quiet the mind and promote a strong, steady awareness.

What makes Tantric meditation especially powerful is its ability to create both deep concentration and a sense of expansive awareness at the same time. Rather than simply holding the mind on a single idea, you may feel your perception broaden — able to encompass more of your inner and outer experience while staying crystal clear and present.

This combination leads to a meditative state that is both deeply focused and wonderfully expansive. It can unlock profound insights and transformative inner peace.

If you’d like to experience tantric meditation for yourself, we have a collection of free guided tantric meditations you can practice and follow along with. They are a great tool for beginners in working with the mind.

Your Journey to Energy Mastery Begins Now

Understanding the human energy field is like receiving the owner’s manual to your entire being. It shows that you are an intricate, multi-layered system of energy with a profound ability for healing, growth, and transformation. Truly caring for yourself means nurturing your aura, balancing your subtle bodies, and clearing your chakras — practices that touch every area of your life.

Of all the systems available, Tantra stands alone as the most comprehensive and profound approach for working with your energy bodies. Tantra provides the deepest understanding of the human energy system, with a complete set of solutions and time-tested techniques for every chakra, every subtle body, and all the nadis. Whether you’re seeking balance, healing, or spiritual expansion, Tantra offers specific, practical tools for every energetic need.

If you’re ready to explore your energy on a deeper level, Tantra can guide you every step of the way. Begin with the practical tips above and notice the subtle shifts within and around you. When you feel called to go further, our authentic Tantra and Yoga courses are here to provide you with hands-on experience and expert guidance. Your journey to a more vibrant, balanced, and conscious life starts with Tantra — the ultimate key to mastering your human energy field.