The Camera Never Lies?

The skeptics may sneer, but even they often let curiosity get the best of them. Whether or not one believes in the phenomenon of spiritual readings, it’s always good to keep an open mind (especially when there is a scientific component to them). The WEEKENDER invited four individuals to have their auras photographed, and got their reactions to the readings.

Aura photography, like a paranormal vision, takes quite a bit of getting used to. The theory is that every living creature generates a field of energy that centralizes around the human chakras, or life forces, with a total of seven located in the human body. Each of our chakra is a source of biophysical energy, working in tandem with our bodies and minds as we progress through life’s uncharted courses. A person’s aura is usually described by a distinct color, whether it’s red, blue, yellow, green, white or a mixture of all five. Each color represents a level of consciousness or physical health, rooted deep in our governing chakras.

The human aura has been associated with psycho-kinesis as well as different forms of spirituality. Mostly, it is regarded as an esoteric method of looking inside ourselves for balance and enlightenment. Aura readings are not meant to tell the future or to magically create something that isn’t there; they are meant to reveal what we can’t see for ourselves, to reflect our true “colors” and to help us better understand who we are.

We chose four women – all working in the arts or with an interest in them – to be photographed. Would all their results turn out the same? Our intrepid foursome sat down and faced the camera at a small aura photo shop in Mangga Dua Mal, West Jakarta.

Eve, early-30s, communications.

Before

Getting an aura reading strikes me as a bit of harmless fun. The ideas are interesting but I’m skeptical it can translate to a character analysis; I also wonder if the readings are couched in such terms that any one reading could apply to anyone, depending on the interpretation.

Generally I’m logical and intellectual rather than intuitive and emotional; I’m a daydreamer, a bit reclusive, but serious and hardworking too.

The reading

Key words: Creativity; adventurousness; strength; freedom; instinct; independence; courage; action-oriented; energy.

What I desire most is “self-expression, autonomy, freedom and excitement”.

I live my life in “strength, courage and self-confidence”.

I need to appreciate my own life outside tangible success, beware my tendency to get angry when I feel I have lost control of the situation, and slow down so I don’t get sick.

My throat – communication – reading was much higher than the rest, showing a strong need to express myself.

Reaction

The intensity of the red was surprising; I pictured myself more a cool, intellectual blue.

But it definitely resonated, especially the recurring themes of independence, autonomy and adventurousness.

My tendency to anger is uncomfortably true, and communication, well, that’s what I do for a living.

Overall, it paints a portrait of someone dynamic, intense and living life to the full. Nearly everything here I recognize in myself and would say is accurate, but not as intensely as this.

The funny thing is that this is how I always wanted to be but never thought I was, because of that dreamy, navel-gazing, reclusive side of mine – which did not appear here anywhere. So do I believe the photo/reading or my own experience?

Other people’s readings did not ring even slightly true for me, so there goes the universal application theory, though it would be interesting to compare notes with someone with a similar reading.

Mary, American, mother of two, environmentalist. Self-described as compassionate and justice oriented.

Before

When the WEEKENDER asked me if I was willing to participate in this adventure, I was thrilled. I had just finished reading Valerie Hunt’s book, Infinite Mind, Science of the Human Vibrations of the Consciousness, and her scientific explanation for a whole body energy field (aura) had my imagination piqued. I walked around with a silly grin on my face, repeating – to myself fortunately – “I’m going to have my aura read, I’m going to have my aura read”. Our entire body surface emits low voltage electricity and I looked forward to my personalized and detailed computer print-out of a whole-body spectrogram of color frequencies measured in hertz.

The reading

So, I was pretty disappointed when I found myself sitting in a chair, my personality to be captured in a photograph, revealed by the electricity measured from my fingers which were resting lightly on electrical sensors in the armrest – a 30-second process. My subsequent color photo with its swirling mists and accompanying written description seven minutes later of those colors based on my chakras only added to my feelings of dissatisfaction. Where was my full-body scientific spectrum???

My results were an aquamarine center, indicating peace and compassion, as well as turquoise, showing the contradiction of energies and characteristics between yin and yang.

Reaction:

But I later realized that this is an example of what you see in my aura photo – the conflict within me between my “yin” (emotion – thrilled at an aura reading) and “yang” (rationale – I need to see the scientific explanation behind these colors you have determined come from my seven chakras but only read through my fingertips!). The colors indicate the intensity and strength of the opposing attributes – and the degree of stress I carry within me.

Alright, so maybe this is another puzzle piece in the picture of who I am – but the bit about me being judgmental and impatient – well, I know THAT’S not true.

Karen, late-20s, an active social worker, feature writer.

Before

I have always wanted to have my aura read (or photographed) out of curiosity. I was not in a good mood this morning and so I imagine my aura will be ‘brown’ or whatever color matches the description of ‘bad mood’. To a certain extent, I think of myself as spiritual; but I’m also logical in that I don’t buy into the whole mumbo-jumbo of looking at fate in the face on a crystal ball. That’s just ridiculous. I don’t know what to expect, really, out of this experience. I just want to be amused.

The Reading

I’m a healer! Or so it says right here. My aura comes out in aquamarine, which means I’m peaceful and compassionate. But there’s a streak of dark blue across my aura, which apparently is not supposed to be there, and it’s telling me that I’m holding something back. And my left side, whatever that means, is the color white, also not good, because it tells me I easily feel depressed and confused, lacking confidence and in need of a quality time with myself. Oh, health-wise, it says here I often feel cold in my hands and feet. The chakra on my chest, though, is glowing bright green, emphasizing my ability to teach others. Great.

Reaction:

What am I holding back? Too bad these things don’t provide answers to my questions after the readings. Maybe it’s time I look at the crystal ball. Most of the reading is accurate, I guess. I do feel like I need to have more self-esteem, and that sometimes I care too much about what other people say. My hands and feet also feel cold every now and again, which is something I never try to figure out why. As for the healing ability, I don’t know about that. Peaceful and compassionate, it’s a very general reading. Anyway, it’s been amusing. I already know most of the things it tells me but it’s nice to have it wrapped in color.

Dina, mid-30s, creative artist, mother of one.

Before

I’ve done some readings before, but that was a long way back. So I’m curious what my readings will tell me now. I’m a creative person, resourceful and loyal. Boy, I can talk ‘til you drop, though. I’m a people-person, and I have never had a problem making friends. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I think it’s good. I don’t hold grudges and I believe in talking things through—go figure! My expectation from this reading is … nothing. I have this ridiculous fear whenever I get myself read, like I’m being tested or something, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. Whatever will be, will be.

The Reading

I glow like gold! I can hardly see my face [on the photo]. Wow, it’s so bright! My past readings have always come back either red or yellow, but this is a whole new level. It says here that I am a cheerful and intellectual person. I am creative and dynamic and can never work in an office because I get bored very easily. My left and right sides are the color of gold, which means I’m optimistic, humorous and confident. Oh, look, the bar that indicates my throat chakra goes way beyond the average bar; I guess that’s to be expected. My crown chakra is the color of yellow and green, which means I’m full of compassion and hope.

Reaction:

Ninety-percent correct. Save for the part saying I get bored easily, most of the things I see here are true. That part where the energy in my throat chakra soars beyond average is hilarious—because if I’m known for anything it’s my conversational skills. I’m pretty happy with the reading, though I won’t come back for seconds any time soon. Once every couple of years should be enough. I don’t know much about the human chakras, but now I’m curious about them. But the thing with energy is it changes all the time, right? So my readings may turn a turquoise blue by tomorrow—who knows?

+ Maggie Tiojakin

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