The Seven Subtle Bodies & Energy Planes
The seven subtle bodies are an important concept in various spiritual and esoteric traditions. These bodies are said to exist alongside our physical body and are composed of energy or consciousness. Each subtle body is believed to correspond to a specific level of existence, representing different aspects of our being. These bodies are believed to play a crucial role in our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, and understanding and working with them can lead to deeper self-awareness and personal growth.
As you extend and go inward, the layers merge together being present at the beginning and ending of each new layer. For example, the outer body is known as the causal or Ketheric body. The following layer is the celestial body, which contains itself as well as the causal body. As you go deeper inward toward the first layer, the denser the body becomes - as each body houses the previous shell.
The seven subtle bodies can be broken down as follows:
There are three physical plane bodies, three spiritual plane bodies, and the astral body - which is the bridge between the lower and higher bodies. Some spiritual teachings claim that the astral is the fourth plane in the levels of spiritual bodies - many gurus also believe that the energies from the higher planes must pass through the 'fire of the heart' or the heart chakra to reach and be of use in the physical plane. The lower three bodies process energies that deal with the physical reality, whereas the upper three process energies from the spiritual reality.
Each level of the aura has its own set of chakras, perfectly nested within the auric chakras. As each layer extends outwards, the chakras vibrate at higher frequencies. The chakras within the first layer (the etheric body) will vibrate at a different frequency than the chakras within the causal body. So in all actuality, the base chakra will have multiple chakras vibrating on different frequencies on overlapping planes. This is how energy is transmuted between all the subtle bodies.
The First Layer (The Etheric Body)
The first layer is the closest energy body to the physical. It is what is made evident through Kirlian photography. The etheric body extends one-quarter to two inches beyond the physical body and pulsates at about fifteen to twenty cycles per minute. The entire body, including organs, can be perceived but it is made of a bluish (emotional) or gray light (highly active).
The Second Layer (The Emotional Body)
Since this is the emotional body, the second layer is associated with feelings and emotion (energy in motion). This body is about one to three inches from the physical body. Unlike the etheric body, which is blue or grayish in nature, this is more like colored clouds that change in hue depending on what type of emotion the person is currently experiencing. Love, joy, excitement, and even anger will result in very brilliant hues, whereas feelings of confusion will result in muddy heavier tones. This body contains all of the colors of the rainbow.
The Third Layer (The Mental Body)
With an even more subtle composition, the mental body holds our thoughts and mental processes. It extends three to eight inches from the body and generally has a yellow light, which radiates around the head and shoulders and extends to the body below. This yellow will brighten if a person is in deep thought or concentrating on mental activities. Although the color associated with this body is yellow, other colors are evident if there is an emotion associated with the thought (sourcing from the emotional body.
The Fourth Layer (The Astral Body)
This is the first bridge from the physical to the spiritual plane. When we start to work with this plane, and above, our perception and abilities leap from the physical to the subtle. Here we will begin to perceive energies that are not of this realm or vibrational frequency. The body of the astral is composed of gorgeous clouds of color. which extends six inches to one foot from the body. Not only does it have the same colors of the rainbow as the emotional body, but a pink or rose-like hue is often present along with these colors, especially if the person is very loving or happily pregnant.
The astral plane is also deeply tied to the "emotional" plane and body because of its entanglement with the heart chakra and second subtle body. This is why when someone is experiencing deep emotions, a lot of times it will spill out into their dreams until the issue or challenge is solved. This is also why when soulmates are apart, oftentimes they will dream of each other. When we are in the astral realm, our emotions are greatly enhanced either positively or negatively depending on the mind state of the individual.
The Fifth Layer (The Etheric 'Template' Body)
This is what you would call a template for the lower template body (the first body referenced). This is the template that exists before the physical body is formed. Although this co-exists in a different dimension, it also extends one and one-half to two feet from the body and can only be seen by clairvoyants and very advanced healers. This is an important layer in healing if the lower etheric body becomes disfigured as this is the true building block of the lower etheric. This body template has a darker blue hue to it.
The Sixth Layer (The Celestial Body)
This is the spiritual-emotional plane where a person will feel things such as bliss and spiritual ecstasy. When we reach the place of divine love, and interconnectedness (generally through deep meditation) we are touched on this plane, which is felt through our celestial body. When we raise our level of consciousness to the sixth level within the aurra, we have allowed a connection to happen from the heart chakra and celestial chakra. Through this, we can love not only our fellow man (the heart chakra) but do so with divine love (celestial chakra). The colors of this body are very soft in nature (pastel) and glow gently from the body.
The Seventh Layer (The Ketheric Template or Causal Body)
This is the mental level of the spiritual plane (whereas the celestial body is the emotional level of the spiritual plane). This body contains all the other bodies within it and extends up to three and a half feet from the body, often in the shape of an oval or egg. Its structure is made of gold or silvery gold and appears as a grid-type structure, which is very durable. It pulsates and vibrates at a very high speed and within this level; we "know" we are one with God. This body also contains the main Kundalini force that runs up and down the body.
Now while the Ketheric body is the last auric level in the spiritual plane, there are other planes (such as the Cosmic plane) but they don't relate to the personal aura for they are beyond and would require a different post entirely.
The concept of the seven subtle bodies is a fascinating and profound understanding of the human experience. These subtle bodies, from the physical to the spiritual, each play a crucial role in our overall well-being and understanding of self. By acknowledging and nurturing these various layers, we can achieve a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. The exploration of the seven subtle bodies invites us to delve into the depths of our being, unlocking hidden potentials and embracing the full spectrum of our existence. Through this holistic approach to self-discovery, we can cultivate balance, harmony, and a profound sense of purpose in our lives.
