AN INTRODUCTION TO ANGELS

Who are they?

 

The word 'angel' is derived from the Greek word 'angelos' meaning 'messenger'.  Angels can therefore be thought of as divine messengers or messengers from God.  They are members of a divine hierarchy who guide, protect and inspire us.  Their role is to help us and encourage us to grow, find our life purpose and expand our consciousness.  The number of angels is incalculable: early writings refer to a numberless host of angels, as abundant as the stars.

 

Angels are not part of the human stream of consciousness and do not incarnate in human form on earth (although they have been known to assume human form temporarily to provide assistance).  However there are two exceptions to this rule in relation to the Archangels Sandalphon and Metatron, who were originally mortal men.  Sandalphon was the prophet Elijah and Metatron was the wise man Enoch.  It is said that God granted both men their immortal assignments as Archangels in reward for their good work on earth.

 

Angels have been with us since the beginning of time.  They span all religions and are referred to in the Bible and other religious texts.  Our ancestors looked upon angels as remote beings, as unknowable as God, and believed that only saints, mystics and prophets could perceive angels.  Over time humans developed a more personal relationship with angels and there are many stories of angelic contact.

 

Our perception of angels is often clouded by the many religious paintings depicting them as beautiful human-like beings with wings and halos.  Angels are in fact pure beings of light:  they are androgynous with their masculine and feminine aspects in perfect balance.  One person may perceive a particular angel or archangel as female, while another person perceives its male aspect.  Angels are beings of pure energy who vibrate at too high a frequency for us to be able to perceive through our physical senses.  It is possible for us to perceive them in a deep meditation/trance state but normally they step down their vibration and appear as we imagine an angel to look so that we are able to recognise them.

 

As you evolve and dedicate your life to a spiritual path, the angels find ways of helping you with your mission, constantly drawing you towards your destiny.  Your personal guardian angel is with you at all times but as you grow spiritually you will find that higher level guides, Ascended Masters and even Archangels are drawn to work with you to fulfil your particular life purpose.

 

Your Guardian Angel

 

We all have our own special guardian angel who accompanies us throughout all our incarnations.  This angel loves us unconditionally and knows us inside out, both our faults and our greatest potential.  The main purpose of the guardian angel is to help us achieve our life purpose.  However they cannot intervene in our lives unless we ask them to.  Our guardian angel is always sending us love, compassion and encouragement.  We can choose to listen or not, as we have free will, but occasionally they can intervene in a sudden, urgent need for help.

 

Guardian angels want us to communicate with them and are delighted when we make contact.  They can guide us to our true path in life and help us achieve our highest purpose if we foster a strong relationship with them.  You can ask your guardian angel to resolve problems and difficult situations in your life for the greatest good of all concerned.  Your guardian angel helps you to manifest peace and good in all areas of your life.

 

Connecting with your Guardian Angel

 

The best way to connect with your angel is through meditation. Alternatively just sit in a quiet space and ask your angel to be with you.  Some people like to make it a daily ritual to sit in a specially dedicated place.  It is best if you can purify and raise the vibration of the space you are sitting in, perhaps by playing some angelic music, lighting a candle and placing a few crystals around you. Still your mind and surround yourself with white or gold light. Now communicate your wishes and requests for help to your angel and be open to any kind of response such as a feeling, a knowing or even a message. Sometimes answers come to you later, perhaps through a conversation with someone or a coincidental event.  Usually when you call upon your angel the communication will come through feelings such as peace, clarity, feeling inspired, a feeling of love or of being cared for and protected.

Your angels truly are a source of immense love and support who will bring you comfort and strength through all your trials and earthly challenges.  Once you discover your connection with your angel, it will bring you increased faith in yourself and the knowing that you are never really alone.

 

If you are interested in learning more about angels and connecting with your guardian angel, look out for my introductory workshop ‘An Afternoon with the Angels’ in early summer 2014.

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. She runs a range of spiritual themed workshops including Developing Intuition and Connecting to your Spirit Guide. Please ‘like’ her Facebook page Helen Shortland Holistics  or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

 

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR DRY WINTER SKIN

Harsh winter winds can leave your skin feeling dry and tight. Here are some natural remedies you can try at home that can help!

 

Protect from the Inside

 

Guard against infections and boost collagen with vitamin C.  Vitamin A helps to feed the skin from the inside out and vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant which fights skin-ravaging free radicals and speeds the healing of scars.  The minerals zinc and selenium aid the regeneration of skin.  It is also important to have a balanced diet including 5 daily portions of fruit and veg so consider taking a supplement if you feeling you aren’t achieving this.

 

Exfoliate

 

Winter skin can all too soon become dull and lifeless.  Exfoliating once or twice a week can restore brightness and radiance.  You can make your own exfoliant by mixing 1 cup of almond oil and 2 cups of Epsom Salts together in a jar and add a little grated lemon zest for fragrance.  The scrub will keep for up to 6 months in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also buy exfoliating scrubs if you don’t fancy making your own.

 

Moisturise

 

Look for an oil-based moisturiser which will provide better protection against cold harsh winds.  Avoid butter based shea moisturisers which can clog pores and opt for almond, jojoba or avocado-based products instead. Alternatively coconut oil can be applied straight onto the face. You can also make your own by adding 5 or 6 drops of almond oil to a couple of drops of water and rub into your face.

 

Chapped Lips

 

If your lips are chapped and flaky, apply a little honey, which has antifungal and antibacterial properties, and they will soon heal.  If you find this too sticky, try a honey lip balm instead.

 

 

Notes:

 

1. A range of facials, including Collagen Facial, Bee Venom Facial and Rebalancing Facials are available with Helen Shortland.  For a longer facial massage try the half hour Vitality Lift Facial Massage with rosa mosqueta essential oil.
2. All vitamin and mineral supplements, plus a range of natural skincare products, are available from Little London Herbal Stores, 9 Kings Walk, Nottingham, NG1 2AE. Tel 0115 9472854 or visit www.all-ages-vitamins.co.uk.

  

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. Please ring her on 07748 591690 to book a treatment or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

Her current special offer for March is a Hydrating Facial for just £23!

 

READING THE HUMAN ENERGY FIELD

All living things (humans, animals, plants) have an aura or energy field.  So too do all physical objects such as pebbles, crystals, furniture, although the aura of a living thing is much more colourful and vibrant than that of an inanimate object.  The aura is the electro-magnetic field that emanates from all matter. It oscillates around the human body as multi-coloured waves of light.

 

The human energy field or aura is comprised of numerous different layers. In this blog I will be looking at the three levels closest to the human body – the etheric body, the emotional body and mental body.  These three layers together provide a guide to a person’s energy, emotional and mental health.

 

Etheric Body

This layer is closest to the physical body, extending up to 1” away from the body. Its colour varies between light blue to white and it can most easily be seen around the fingers.  Clairvoyants can interpret illness in the body through the presence of dark energy. Pain or inflammation can be indicated through the presence of red ‘hot’ spots.

 

Emotional Body

This layer extends 1”-3” from the physical body.  It is concerned with emotions and feelings and varies in colour between bright, clear colours to dark and muddy shades. Because our feelings can change frequently throughout the day, the colours in this auric layer also change.  Bright clear colours relate to healthy emotions. For example light blue would indicate a peace-maker, someone is a calm, caring and sensitive; while orange would indicate someone who is lively, witty and sociable.  Muddy shades relate to more negative character traits, such as muddy green indicating jealousy and envy.

 

Mental Body

This layer extends 3”-8” from the physical body and is concerned with the mind and thought processes.  People with a positive mind and strong intellect have a vibrant mental body. This layer is usually predominantly yellow as this colour is most concerned with the mind but I have also seen blue here (indicating the blues) and a dark indigo blue indicating a serious, introverted character or depression.

 

Viewing the Aura

 

Here are two methods you can try:-

 

1. Look at the side of a person’s head, about 6” away, and let your eyes go into soft focus.
    
2. Look directly at a person, let your vision go into soft focus, and allow colours to form in your peripheral vision in the other person’s energy field.

 

In both cases, relax the body and mind first with some deep breathing and basic meditation. You can also try the eye exercise below to improve eye sight, particularly your peripheral vision, and strengthen the eye muscles.

 

Exercise to improve your peripheral vision

 

1. Close your eyes and take some deep breaths. With your eyes still closed and keeping your head still, look up to your forehead as high as you can, then look straight down as far as you can. Repeat this up and down movement 8 times.
2. Return your eyes to the centre. Without moving your head, look to the left then look to the right. Repeat this left-right movement 8 times.  You should be able to feel the eye muscles working!
3. Return your eyes to the centre. Again, without moving your head, look up diagonally to the top left corner, then down diagonally to the lower right corner. Repeat this movement 8 times.
4. Return your eyes to the centre. Again, without moving your head, look up diagonally to the top right corner, then down diagonally to the lower left corner. Repeat this movement 8 times.
5. Return your eyes to the centre. Without moving your head, look upwards as high as you can, then move the eyes round in a clockwise direction to form a circle. Repeat 9 times.
6. Then from the point at the top of your vision, move the eyes round in an anti-clockwise direction forming a circle. Repeat 9 times.
7. When you have done, rest a few moments with your eyes closed.

 

An Exercise to Strengthen the Aura

 

When a person is tired, run down or very ill, the energy field as a whole shrinks down in size. This can also happen when a person has been emotionally and mentally drained, such as through bullying or abuse. In this case the aura becomes dim and difficult to read.  This exercise will help to strengthen, clear and balance your aura. Ideally it can be practiced once a day.

 

1. Close your eyes and imagine the colour red.
2. As you inhale, try to feel your breath drawing the red up the back of your body, from your feet to the top of your head, then pause, holding the colour at the top of your head. As you exhale, feel the red flow down the front of your body before sweeping under your feet.
3. Still imagining the colour red, breathe in and draw the red up the right hand side of your body to the top of your head, then pause. As you exhale, send the red down the left hand side of your body, again taking the colour under your feet.
4. Move the circle of colour further out from your physical body and continue for 4 breaths, this time focusing on the colour orange.
5. Each time, move the circle of colour further out and continue the 4 breaths with yellow, green, sky blue, indigo then violet/lavender.
6. Finish off the exercise with a white or golden light.

  

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. She runs a range of spiritual themed workshops including Developing Intuition and Connecting to your Spirit Guide. Please ring her on 07748 591690 to book a treatment or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

 

Upcoming workshops:

Developing Intuition workshop  Sat 26^th April 2014, 2.30-5pm, £15.

Please email me at helenshortland@live.co.uk for further information/booking.

 

FIGHTING FATIGUE THE NATURAL WAY

Characterised by tiredness, lack of enthusiasm and difficulty concentrating, fatigue can have many causes but is a complaint with no single, simple treatment.  We all have days when it is difficult to get out of bed but chronic fatigue can be frustrating, leaving sufferers unable to cope.  There are however several herbal remedies which can help fight fatigue, as well as various complementary therapies to help bring the body and mind back into balance.

 

Identifying Causes of Fatigue

 

Identifying the cause of your fatigue can help you choose the correct remedy.  Common causes include:-

 

Stress - Physical, mental, money or work related worries can keep you awake at night.

Emotional upset - Marital issues, divorce or bereavement can leave you feeling emotionally drained.

Insomnia - This is a medical condition that can be debilitating if left untreated.

Illness or infection - An underactive thyroid or the effort of fighting off illness can leave you feeling drained.

Food intolerance - Often difficult to identify but fatigue can be a major symptom of some food intolerances.

Blood sugar - Imbalance in blood sugar levels can lead to a serious lack of energy.

Depression - This condition can alter sleep patterns or prevent sleep altogether.

 

Herbal Remedies

 

Some herbs, called tonic or adaptogenic, can increase vitality and promote wellbeing.  They balance the body’s hormonal, digestive, cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems.  Alfalfa, ginseng and cordyceps improve strength and stamina.  Liquorice, which balances the adrenal glands, can help fatigue caused by weakened immunity.  Other herbs you can try include:-

 

Oats:  Rich in minerals and B vitamins, a daily bowl of porridge or a tincture of oat seeds raises energy levels and promotes sleep.  Oats combat exhaustion caused by stress, alcohol or drugs and are effective for mental or physical fatigue.

 

Sage:  Stimulates the nervous and digestive systems and is also a good all-round restorative. Try sage tea or a simple infusion of fresh sage leaves, or try a massage with clary sage essential oil. Avoid sage if you are epileptic or pregnant.

 

Astragalus:  Excellent for treating chronic fatigue, it stimulates the immune system and endurance.

 

Schisandra:  Improves digestion of fatty food, regulates sugar levels and the functioning of the liver and kidneys.

 

Complementary Therapies

 

Therapies can help with both the physical and mental/emotional causes of fatigue.  A course of treatment is usually recommended.

 

Reiki healing is an excellent all-round therapy for stress. It restores balance in the physical body (helping to balance the adrenals and nervous system) as well as strengthening mental/emotional energy.  Reflexology, which stimulates the reflex points on the soles of the feet, aims to bring the whole body back into a state of balance.  An excellent remedy for mental/emotional stress and fatigue is Meditation: this wonderful practice boosts mental alertness and focus and eases depression.

 

Lifestyle Changes

 

Changing your lifestyle can often relieve fatigue, especially if your lifestyle is contributing towards it! Regular exercise actually increases energy levels, while a new mind-stretching interest can stimulate the mind, leaving less time for lethargy. Being out in nature or taking a walk in the countryside can also boost your energy and wellbeing.

 

Recipe – Oaty Fruit Muffins

Delicious, low fat, and ideal for maintaining blood sugar levels.

 

225g plain flour

60g rolled oats

5ml baking powder

5ml bicarbonate of soda

4 medium bananas, mashed

120g caster sugar

90ml skimmed milk

90ml vegetable oil

1 egg

 

1. Preheat oven to 190C/Gas mark 5.
2. Mix dry ingredients together (flour, raising agents, sugar and oats) in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and add milk and vegetable oil. Then add mashed bananas.
4. Add wet ingredients. Blend mixture with a metal spoon.
5. Spoon mixture into muffin cases, sprinkle with handful of oats and bake for 20 minutes until golden on top.

  

Notes:

 

1. Reiki, Reflexology and meditation workshops are available with Helen Shortland.
2. All herbal remedies are available from Little London Herbal Stores, 9 Kings Walk, Nottingham, NG1 2AE. Tel 0115 9472854 or visit www.all-ages-vitamins.co.uk.

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. Please ring her on 07748 591690 to book a treatment or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

 

HEALING WITH THE ANGELS

During my 12 years as a Reiki healer, and subsequent attunements in other healing modalities, I have noticed higher and higher vibration energies coming through and adding to the Reiki energy.  I have been guided by Archangel Raphael right from the beginning of my healing journey since he came to me in deep meditation after I called in the highest guide possible for me and my work.  Nowadays this angelic energy comes through whether I am giving a Reiki or an Angelic Reiki treatment and adds to both the Reiki and Angelic Reiki healing vibrations.  The clairvoyant readings I give often indicate which angelic energies a person needs but a healing treatment actually channels those energies into their energy field.

 

The Angelic Healing Energies

 

Each of these angelic colours relates to a particular archangel.  Archangels are the overseers of guardian angels and are extremely large, powerful and loving beings. Each archangel radiates a particular aura colour relating to their specific purpose.  Here is a list of the colours, their meanings and a note of which particular archangel they relate to:-

 

Creamy white (Azrael) – heals grief.

Pale green (Chamuel) – heals anxiety and brings peace.

Copper/orange (Gabriel) – heals issues around childbirth and fertility as well as creative projects.

Bluish white (Haniel) – heals female cycles.

Violet (Jeremiel) – heals emotions.

Dark pink (Jophiel) – heals negativity, trauma and chaos.

Green and pink stripes (Metatron) – heals childhood issues and learning disorders.

Purple (Michael) – heals fear and nervousness.

Royal blue (Michael) – brings courage and confidence.

Pale blue (Raguel) – heals personal and professional relationships.

Emerald green (Raphael) – heals physical problems.

Rainbow stripes (Raziel) – releases spiritual and psychic blocks, often connected to past lives.

Turquoise (Sandalphon) – heals aggressive tendencies.

Pale yellow (Uriel) – heals unforgiveness and resentment.

Dark blue (Zadkiel) – heals memory and mental functioning.

White (guardian angels) – raises vibration and lifts you above negativity.

Gold (Christ energy) – releases guilt and develops faith in self.

Pearlescent (Divine Feminine) – motherhood issues and issues with children/offspring.

 

Client Experiences

 

Many of my clients report seeing coloured light during their healing treatments. Many report seeing purple which helps them to release any fears they have been holding onto. Blue is another colour that is frequently seen during treatments: I often see it around a person’s shoulders bringing them courage to shoulder their responsibilities. A client with high cholesterol, who had suffered a minor stroke about a year previously, saw a bight emerald/lime green ball of light during his treatment.  He had suffered an on-going weakness in his right side following the stroke but during the treatment felt an incredible power and energy in his right arm as the healing energy focussed itself in that area.

 

Calling on the Archangels Yourself

 

Everyone is able to call upon the archangels and you can invoke them by your own intent. The easiest way is to just visualise the Archangel (with its coloured aura) with you or your loved one, saying or thinking their name silently or aloud and asking them to help you. You can also ask God to send the archangel to you or a loved one or pray to the archangel for their help. Archangels have unlimited energy, with no restrictions of space or time, so can be with many different people at once.  You can also visualise the archangel’s aura colour around a situation or person in need of healing. For example, for someone suffering with grief you would visualise creamy white light around that person, especially in the heart area. This calls forth the healing power of Archangel Azrael.

 

Once you start asking for help, the angels and archangels will be able to help you.  Practice this often and you will soon start to develop a stronger and closer relationship with these wonderful beings of love, light and healing.

 

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. She runs a range of spiritual themed workshops including Developing Intuition and Connecting to your Spirit Guide. Please ring her on 07748 591690 to book a treatment or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

 

Upcoming workshops:

Developing Intuition workshop  Sat 26^th April 2014, 2.30-5pm, £15.

Connecting to your Spirit Guide workshop  Sat 22^nd February 2014, 2.30pm-5pm, £15 (now fully booked).

Please email me at helenshortland@live.co.uk for further information/booking.

 

DETOX: HOW YOUR BODY DEALS WITH TOXINS

After over-indulgence at Christmas and New Year, January is often the month when we think about detoxing.  During the digestive process everything you consume is broken down to release products that are useful to the body, while the unwanted by-products and toxins are converted into waste and expelled in the form of urine, faeces, sweat and carbon dioxide. The vital organs, comprising kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system and skin, work together to rid your body of potentially harmful toxins.

 

Normally the body is very efficient at processing waste. However, if it becomes over-burdened with toxins, ie. when we over-indulge over several days, the elimination process is compromised and the body begins to store toxins instead. As the level of harmful toxins builds up, the efficiency of the organs is reduced and the immune system is suppressed, impairing your overall state of health and wellbeing. By adjusting your diet and lifestyle, you can reduce your exposure to toxins and aid more efficient excretion.

 

Symptoms of Toxic Build-Up

 

Toxic overload manifests as a general feeling of being unwell with the following symptoms:-

 

• Regular headaches
• Constant fatigue
• Poor complexion and dull hair and eyes
• High levels of catarrh and congested sinuses
• Cellulite, water retention and a feeling of bloatedness
• Sluggish digestion and susceptibility to constipation and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)
• Mood changes, depression and anxiety
• A weakened immune system.

 

Digestion

 

Your health is more or less governed by what you eat. Helpful bacteria in the gut play an important part in the digestive process. If these become depleted however due to poor diet, antibiotics or toxin overload, food can remain in the intestines in a semi-digested state and a number of digestive problems can arise, including constipation, painful wind and IBS. Supplements such as digestive aids and probiotics can help improve general gut health.

 

The Role of the Excretory Organs in the Digestive Process

 

Kidneys: The kidneys work together to filter your blood, removing toxins and expelling them in the form of urine. They also play a vital role in regulating the amount of fluid in the body and processing the by-products of digestion. Too much alcohol and persistent infections can damage your kidneys.

 

Liver: The liver processes everything that enters the body, including medication as well as food and drink. It has a number of functions including the removal of toxins from the bloodstream. Harmful substances are neutralised by the liver and passed into the intestines in the form of bile where they are eventually expelled as faeces. If the liver becomes overworked, it begins to store toxins rather than neutralise them. This can lead to problems such as diabetes, hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.

 

Lymphatic System: This is a series of vessels carrying lymph fluid that runs alongside the blood vessels. Toxins and waste drain into the lymphatic system and are transported to the lymph nodes where they are filtered out. High levels of toxins slow down the lymphatic system, leading to a poor immune system and the build-up of cellulite.

 

Skin:  Every poor in the skin eliminates waste in the form of sweat and sebum (an oily substance that moisturises the skin). The state of your skin is a reflection of your health since stress, poor health and toxin build-up can all manifest as a poor complexion.

 

Lungs:  These organs filter out airborne pollutants such as carbon monoxide, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and waste products to be removed in the form of carbon dioxide. However when levels of toxins in the body build up, this can lead to recurrent health problems such as excess catarrh.

 

 

Notes:

 

1. The Aqua Detox Foot Spa treatment is on offer for just £19 during January 2014. During this treatment toxins are released through the pores in the soles of the feet while the ionisation unit helps to restore the correct balance of positive and negative ions in the body to boost wellbeing.
    
2. Reflexology, which can promote detoxification; massage treatments to promote lymphatic drainage, and a range of facials to boost the appearance of the skin, are also available from Helen Shortland.

 3.     Digestive aids and probiotics are available from Little London Herbal Stores, 9 Kings Walk, Nottingham, NG1 2AE. Please visit website at www.all-ages-vitamins.co.uk

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. Please ring her on 07748 591690 to book a treatment or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

 

SENSING AND SEEING AURAS

Your aura is the energy field that surrounds your physical body.  It is made up of electromagnetic energy generated by your physical body, including infrared radiation from your body heat, and electrical activity from your nerve and muscle cells.  It also comprises etheric or vibrational energy generated by your spiritual body.  Your aura is the ‘real you’ - the energy field that extends far beyond the physical body which can be called your spirit, soul, essence or etheric body.

Everything has an aura or energy field, including living things such as people, animals, plants and crystals, as well as buildings, places etc which have an energy of their own.  The human aura or energy field is comprised of our thoughts, feeling and emotions, as well as past experiences.  Proficient clairvoyants can also see past lives in the aura and the things we are attracting into our energy field in the near future. The aura is not usually seen with the naked eye but can become visible to those with clairvoyant ability or through practices such as meditation and visualisation. The aura can also be seen through a specific photographic technique called Kirlian photography.

 

A Mirror of your Health, Thoughts and Feelings

Your aura reveals a wealth of information about your mental, emotional and physical health and can also indicate how developed you are spiritually. The more relaxed and happy you are, the bigger your aura will be.  A bright, clear aura is a sign of good health while a blurred, dull, irregularly shaped aura indicates ill health or distress. Unhappiness can cause it to shrink, while a sudden shock can make your aura retract momentarily.

 

Learning to Read Auras

The first time you see an aura, you will see it as white or gold. This is not the true aura colour; just the first stage of clairvoyant sight.  When looking into the aura, try to remain emotionally detached, not excited, just remain as relaxed as possible.  When you are more practiced, you may start to see colours in the aura. You may only see white but flashes of a colour may come into your mind.  Ask to be shown a person’s aura colours. Ask your higher self what colour is in their aura. When trying to see the aura, look to the side of a person in soft focus rather than directly at their physical body.  It is always easier to see an aura against a plain dark background.  When working with smaller objects such as plants or crystals with a smaller life force, you need to look directly at the object and slightly unfocus your eyes.  Any time you want to relax more, try a sigh and drop your shoulders. Take a deep breath in, hold it for a moment, then as you sigh, breathe out and let all your muscles go.

 

How to see your own aura

When looking for your own aura, hold your hands either palms up or down on your lap, holding the fingers apart. Do not stare too hard, just soft gaze at your hands. You will soon start to see a white outline around your fingers.  It may be thicker on one side than the other. You may also see what looks like smoke moving between the fingers: this is just your own energy attaching itself to itself.  Practice bouncing energy between your hands.

 

How to see someone else’s aura

Ask a friend to stand in front of a plain coloured background such as a wall.  Let your eyes fall into soft gaze in the space a few inches to the side of their head and above their crown.  You may start to see what looks like a halo of light around the person’s head.  Alternatively choose one spot on which to focus, such as the centre of their forehead.  Focus on this spot for at least 60 seconds then attempt to ‘see’ the energy surrounding their head with your peripheral vision while still concentrating on the centre of their forehead.  Try not to look away or let your mind be distracted. You should start to notice that the energy around your friend is brighter and a different colour from the wall against which they are standing.

When sensing a person’s aura with your hands, you will feel a slight resistance when your two auras touch.  This is what happens when two energies meet, eg. two electrical currents coming together cause a spark. You can feel that resistance as warmth, tingling or even cold.

 

Interpreting the Colours of your Aura

Different colours reflect different characteristics and personality traits, a list of which is below.  Please note however that different colours also have different meanings in different layers of the aura (ie. the emotional, mental and physical body) as well as having a divinatory meaning.

Violet:  A spiritual person with psychic abilities.

Purple:  Sensitive and spiritual.

Pink:  Loving and compassionate.

White:  Keeps things to self, detached.

Dark blue/Indigo:  Intuitive, introverted, serious.

Blue:  Calm, loyal, dependable, fair.

Light blue:  People-person, a peacemaker.

Turquoise:  A multi-tasker, busy and organised.

Light green:  Open, honest person.

Green:  Practical, emotionally balanced person. Dark muddy green can indicate jealousy or possessiveness.

Brown:  Down to earth, well grounded person.

Yellow:  Lively mind, intelligent, independent person with lots of ideas.

Orange:  Warm, sociable, witty, happy, confident, creative.

Red:  Frustration, anger, worry. Ambitious, driven, concerned with material issues.

Gold:  Likes learning, gaining knowledge, wise.

Burgundy:  Full of passion and enthusiasm for life.

Lavender:  Intuitive.

Silver:  Persistence. Silver sparklies round head can indicate psychic potential.

Grey:  Fear.

Black:  Working through a lot of emotional pain. Can also indicate those who are victims of abuse or who are substance abusers.

  

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. She runs a range of spiritual themed workshops including Developing Intuition and Connecting to your Spirit Guide. Please ring her on 07748 591690 to book a treatment or visit her website http://helenshortland.com for further information.

 

Upcoming workshops:

Developing Intuition workshop  Sat 26^th April 2014, 2.30-5pm, £15.

Connecting to your Spirit Guide workshop  Sat 22^nd February 2014, 2.30pm-5pm, £15.

Please email me at helenshortland@live.co.uk for further information/booking.