Auras and Leviticus 19:31: A Biblical Warning
Short answer: Auras are popularly described as energy fields or colored halos around a person, sometimes interpreted for spiritual or emotional insight. Leviticus 19:31 says, “ ‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. The verse forbids seeking hidden knowledge or spiritual power from sources other than God. Aura reading, whether treated as a psychic art or a spiritual gift, falls into that forbidden category when it is used to gain guidance, healing, or supernatural information. Scripture directs us to seek God, not hidden energies or spirits, for wisdom and protection. Christians should therefore avoid practicing or relying on aura reading, while still loving those who are curious about it.
What Are Auras and Where Does the Idea Come From?
The word aura commonly refers to a supposed field of energy or colored light surrounding a person, animal, or object. In New Age and occult traditions, people claim to see or sense auras and then interpret their colors or shapes to diagnose emotions, health, or spiritual condition. The idea is not from the Bible. It grew from a mix of Eastern religious concepts, nineteenth-century spiritualism, and later New Age thought. Some practitioners describe auras as the human energy body; others link them to chakras or to psychic perception. None of this language appears in Scripture, and the Bible never treats human beings as surrounded by a measurable spiritual energy field that can be read for hidden information.
The Bible does describe human beings as made of body and spirit, and it speaks of the Holy Spirit living in believers. But it never presents the spirit as an impersonal energy that can be seen or measured. Instead, the biblical worldview is personal: God is a personal Creator, angels and demons are personal beings, and humans are accountable to God. When aura teaching borrows the language of energy, it quietly replaces this personal world with an impersonal one. That shift matters because it changes how a person seeks help. Instead of praying to a personal God, a person learns to read energies or forces. Leviticus 19:31 addresses exactly that kind of turning away.
Historically, interest in auras spread through theosophy and the New Age movement, then entered popular culture through books, workshops, and social media. Many people today encounter aura photography or aura readings at fairs, retreats, or online. Often the practice is presented as harmless self-care or personality typing. But even when stripped of explicit occult language, aura reading still claims to reveal hidden truths about a person apart from God's Word and prayer. That claim is what makes it spiritually dangerous. The issue is not whether a color looks pretty or whether a reading feels encouraging; the issue is whether we are seeking knowledge and guidance from a source God has not provided.
It is important to be fair here. Not everyone who talks about auras means to practice divination. Some use the word loosely for a mood or impression. Others are simply curious. But the practice as commonly taught involves interpreting hidden information about a person's life, and that is the point at which Scripture raises a warning. Christians should be gentle with the curious while being clear about the danger. The question to ask is not whether aura reading feels spiritual, but whether it is a legitimate way to seek truth. God has given us His Word, prayer, and the counsel of His people. He has not given us auras to read.
Leviticus 19:31 and the Meaning of Turning
Leviticus 19:31 is direct: “ ‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. The command is not merely about avoiding a practice; it is about turning. The Hebrew idea behind turning includes the direction of one's trust and attention. To turn to a medium is to look away from God for the guidance that belongs to Him. The verse then adds the motive clause, I am Yahweh your God. That is the heart of the matter. The one who speaks is the covenant God of Israel, and He will not share His people's allegiance with spirits or with the occult.
The phrase to be defiled by them shows that this is not a neutral hobby. Defilement in Leviticus means becoming unfit for fellowship with a holy God. Contact with mediums and wizards was not treated as a minor curiosity but as a real contamination. The same principle is seen throughout the Old Testament. When Israel sought other gods or occult guidance, the prophets called it spiritual adultery. The issue was not only the act itself but the relationship it damaged. Aura reading, however modern its packaging, invites a person to receive guidance from a source that God has not authorized. That is the same turning that Leviticus forbids.
Some might object that aura reading is not the same as consulting a medium. That is partly true: a medium claims to contact the dead, while aura readers claim to read energy. But the biblical category is broader than necromancy. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists a range of practices: divination, fortune-telling, enchantment, and sorcery. The common thread is seeking hidden knowledge or power through forbidden means. Aura reading fits that pattern when it claims to reveal hidden truths about a person's life, health, or future. The label may be new, but the impulse is ancient. We want to know what is hidden, and we want a technique that gives us access without submitting to God.
The command also includes the phrase Don’t seek them out. This rules out the idea that we can dabble safely. Curiosity is not a good enough reason to approach a forbidden source. The verse assumes that seeking is an act of the will, and it calls God's people to direct their seeking toward Him. The Psalms echo this: the Lord is a refuge and a shield for those who take refuge in Him. When we seek mediums or auras, we are seeking a shortcut around trust. The remedy is not merely to stop one practice but to turn back to God. Leviticus 19:31 ends by reminding us who He is, and that reminder is meant to reorient our whole lives.
Why Aura Reading Conflicts With Trust in God
At its core, aura reading promises insight into a person's inner life. It claims to show what is hidden: emotional blockages, spiritual imbalances, or future tendencies. That promise competes with the biblical call to trust God for what we cannot see. Proverbs tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. When we rely on aura readings, we are leaning on a technique rather than on God. The issue is not that we want to understand ourselves; the desire for self-knowledge is good. The issue is the source. God offers wisdom through His Word, prayer, and the counsel of mature believers. Aura reading offers a different path.
Trust is personal. When you trust someone, you go to that person for help. Leviticus 19:31 says, I am Yahweh your God. That statement is a claim on Israel's trust. God had rescued them from Egypt and made a covenant with them. To turn to mediums was to insult that relationship. In the same way, Christians have been rescued by Christ and united to Him. Turning to aura reading for guidance treats Christ as insufficient. It says, in effect, that we need something more than what God has provided. That is why the practice is not merely unwise but spiritually harmful. It trains the heart to look away from the Shepherd.
Aura reading also tends to foster a subtle form of self-focus. Many readings center on the self: your energy, your colors, your needs. While self-examination is valuable, the gospel turns us outward to Christ and to others. Colossians 2:8 warns, Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. Aura teaching often fits that description. It is a philosophy of the elements, a system built on impersonal forces rather than on the person of Christ. Even when it uses spiritual language, it can rob believers of the simplicity and sufficiency of the gospel.
There is also a pastoral danger. People who become deeply involved in aura reading may begin to interpret every mood or conflict through the lens of energy. They may blame invisible forces for ordinary problems or seek readings instead of repentance and prayer. That pattern can lead to fear and confusion. The Bible offers a better way: confess sin, seek God's face, and walk in the light. First John promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. That is a far more reliable path than reading colors. Aura reading may feel empowering, but it ultimately replaces dependence on God with dependence on a technique.
Deuteronomy 18 and the Wider Ban on Divination
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 expands the prohibition: There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer. The list covers a wide range of occult practices. Divination is the attempt to discover hidden knowledge by interpreting omens or using objects. Fortune-telling predicts the future. Enchantment and sorcery involve attempts to manipulate spiritual power. The passage goes on to say that such practices are an abomination to the Lord. This is strong language, and it shows how seriously God regards the pursuit of hidden knowledge outside of Him.
Some might argue that aura reading is not on the list because it is not mentioned by name. But the list is representative, not exhaustive. The underlying sin is the same: seeking knowledge or power from a source other than God. When aura readers claim to see a person's past or diagnose a spiritual condition, they are doing the work of a diviner, even if they use different vocabulary. The Bible does not evaluate practices by their labels but by their source and their claim. If a practice claims to reveal hidden things apart from God's revelation, it falls under the same condemnation. The fact that it is wrapped in modern language does not change its nature.
Deuteronomy 18 also contrasts these practices with God's provision. Verses 15 and following promise a prophet like Moses whom God would raise up. The point is that God's people do not need to consult the dead or read energies; God speaks through His chosen messenger. For Christians, that prophet is fulfilled in Christ, who is the final and complete revelation of God. Hebrews opens by saying that God has spoken in His Son. That means we have no need for aura readings or any other occult technique. God has spoken, and His Word is enough. The ban on divination is not a restriction on human curiosity; it is a protection of our relationship with the God who speaks.
The context of Deuteronomy 18 is also instructive. Israel was about to enter a land filled with nations who practiced these abominations. God warned His people not to learn their ways. The temptation was assimilation, not outright rebellion. Similarly, Christians today live in a culture saturated with spiritual practices that claim to offer insight and healing. The temptation is to adopt them uncritically because they seem helpful or because they are popular. Deuteronomy calls us to be distinct. We are not to imitate the nations in their occult practices. Instead, we are to be a people who listen to God and obey Him.
Isaiah 8:19-20 and the Folly of Seeking the Dead
Isaiah 8:19-20 addresses a similar situation: When they tell you, Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter, shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? The prophet's questions are rhetorical and devastating. The people of Israel were tempted to seek guidance from spiritists, just as people today seek guidance from auras, tarot, or psychics. Isaiah points out the absurdity: Why would the living seek the dead? And why would the people of God seek anyone other than Him? The verse is a rebuke of misplaced trust.
The phrase chirp and who mutter suggests the hollow, unintelligible nature of the messages. These practices may sound mysterious, but they offer nothing substantial. In contrast, God's Word is clear and reliable. Isaiah goes on to say that if they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no dawn in them. The standard is God's revelation. Any guidance that contradicts or bypasses Scripture is darkness, no matter how spiritual it sounds. Aura reading, with its colorful descriptions and intuitive insights, can feel enlightening. But if it is not according to God's Word, it has no light in it. The test is not whether it feels true but whether it is true.
Isaiah's logic also exposes the danger of seeking power from spirits. The people who chirp and mutter may claim to have hidden knowledge, but they are not God. The Bible consistently portrays such spirits as deceptive. Even Satan masquerades as an angel of light, as 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 says. That verse is a sober warning. The fact that a practice seems good or brings comfort does not prove it is from God. Aura readers may speak kindly and offer reassurance, but that does not validate the source. Deception is often attractive. The only safe course is to test everything by Scripture and to seek God alone.
Finally, Isaiah's question, shouldn’t a people consult with their God? is a call to return to covenant faithfulness. God had given Israel His law, His prophets, and His presence. They had no need to consult the dead. Christians today have even more: we have the completed Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. When we are tempted to seek guidance from auras or other occult practices, we should hear Isaiah's question and turn back to God. He is not silent. He has spoken in His Word, and He invites us to come to Him in prayer. Consulting auras is a tragic exchange of the living God for empty whispers.
The Deceptive Appearance of Light
Second Corinthians 11:14-15 says, And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. This verse answers a common objection: If aura reading were wrong, would it feel so peaceful or produce such positive results? The Bible warns that deception often comes dressed in light. Satan does not usually appear as a monster; he appears as an angel of light. False teachers look like servants of righteousness. Occult practices can feel calming, insightful, and even morally uplifting. That is precisely why they are dangerous. The standard cannot be our subjective experience. It must be God's Word.
This does not mean that everything pleasant is demonic. It means that pleasant feelings are not a reliable test of truth. Aura reading may produce a sense of peace or clarity, but that does not mean it comes from God. Many practices, religious and secular, produce good feelings. The question is whether they align with Scripture and honor Christ. Colossians 2:8 warns against being taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit. Aura teaching is a philosophy, a way of interpreting the world. It may be presented as spiritual wisdom, but if it is not after Christ, it is empty. Christians must learn to distinguish between what feels spiritual and what is actually true.
Paul's warning in 2 Corinthians comes in the context of false apostles who were undermining his ministry. They looked impressive and spoke confidently, but they were leading people away from the pure gospel. Similarly, aura practitioners may be sincere, articulate, and kind. But sincerity is not the same as truth. The danger is not always obvious. It is often subtle, appealing to our desire for hidden knowledge and spiritual experience. That is why we need discernment. We must be like the Bereans, who examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they heard was true. Aura reading does not pass that test.
The good news is that God has not left us to guess. He has given us His Word, His Spirit, and the church. When we are confronted with a practice that claims to reveal hidden things, we can ask: Does it point to Christ? Does it lead to repentance and faith? Does it encourage dependence on God or on a technique? These questions expose the emptiness of aura reading. It may masquerade as light, but it cannot compare to the true light of the gospel. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness. That is the light we should seek.
How Christians Should Respond to Aura Curiosity
Many people today are genuinely curious about auras. They may have heard about them from friends, seen them online, or read about them in popular books. The church should respond with truth and love, not with mockery or fear. We can acknowledge the desire for spiritual insight and then point to the true source of wisdom. James says that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously. That is a far better invitation than any aura reading. We can also share our own experience of God's guidance through Scripture and prayer. The goal is not to win an argument but to help people find the real thing.
For those who have already been involved in aura reading, the path forward is repentance and faith. Repentance means turning away from the practice and turning to God. It does not mean living in shame. First John 1:9 promises forgiveness and cleansing for those who confess. If aura objects, books, or crystals are part of the practice, it may be wise to remove them, as the Ephesians did with their magic books. But the most important thing is to renounce the practice and rest in Christ. God is gracious, and He welcomes those who return to Him. There is no sin too great to be forgiven, and no past too dark to be redeemed.
Christians should also be careful not to replace one occult practice with another. Sometimes people leave aura reading only to become obsessed with deliverance ministry, spiritual warfare, or conspiracy theories. The focus should remain on Christ. We do not need to search for demons under every rock or read auras to know God's will. We need to know the Scriptures and walk in the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those are the marks of a life led by God, not the colors of an aura. Our attention should be on cultivating that fruit.
Finally, we should pray for those who are deceived. Aura reading is a symptom of a deeper hunger for God. People want to know that they are seen, that their lives have meaning, and that there is more than the material world. The gospel answers that hunger. In Christ, we are fully known and fully loved. We do not need an aura to tell us who we are; God tells us in His Word. We are His children, chosen and beloved. That identity is far more secure than any reading. As we live out that identity, we become a light that points others to the true Light.
Biblical fidelity check
Leviticus 19:31 clearly forbids turning to mediums and wizards and seeking them out. It does not say that every mention of energy, color, or mood is demonic. The verse addresses the practice of seeking hidden knowledge or spiritual power from forbidden sources. It also does not specify the exact mechanics of aura reading, because the practice did not exist in the ancient world. What it establishes is a principle: God's people must not seek guidance from occult sources. What it does not establish is that Christians should be afraid of colors or that every unusual spiritual experience is evil. We must be careful not to go beyond what Scripture says.
A common misreading is to treat Leviticus 19:31 as merely a cultural rule for ancient Israel, no longer relevant today. But the New Testament continues to warn against occult practices and deceptive spirits. Another misreading is to assume that any practice with spiritual overtones is automatically forbidden, which leads to superstition. The correct reading is that God alone is the source of true guidance, and any practice that claims to reveal hidden truth apart from Him is off-limits. Aura reading, when used for guidance or spiritual insight, falls into that category. We should reject it, not because energy is inherently evil, but because it competes with trust in God.
Other passages that speak to Leviticus 19:31
Several other passages reinforce the Bible's teaching on this topic. What Does 1 Corinthians 1:10 Mean? Context, Theology, and Application shows the importance of unified allegiance to Christ rather than division or outside sources. What Does 1 Corinthians 1:9 Mean? Context, Theology, and Application reminds us that God is faithful and has called us into fellowship with His Son. 1 Corinthians 1: Called, United, and Boasting in the Lord explores how our identity and wisdom are found in Christ alone. And 1 Corinthians 10: Warnings and Freedom warns against idolatry and teaches us to flee from practices that dishonor God. Together these passages call us to seek God, not hidden energies.
Frequently asked questions
Are auras mentioned in the Bible?
No, the Bible never mentions auras. It speaks of the human spirit and of God's Spirit, but it does not describe people as surrounded by measurable energy fields. The concept of auras comes from later religious and occult traditions. Since Scripture does not mention auras, we must evaluate the practice by broader biblical principles. Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18 forbid seeking hidden knowledge from mediums, wizards, or diviners. Aura reading, when used for guidance or spiritual insight, falls under that same prohibition. The absence of the word aura does not make it acceptable; the principle still applies.
Is it wrong to be curious about auras?
Curiosity itself is not a sin, but it can lead us into danger if we act on it wrongly. The Bible warns against seeking out mediums and wizards. If curiosity leads you to participate in aura readings or rely on them for guidance, that is wrong. Instead, bring your questions to God and His Word. Ask Him for wisdom, and seek counsel from mature Christians. You can learn about auras in order to understand and reject them, but do not open your heart to a practice that God forbids. Curiosity should drive us to the truth, not to forbidden sources.
What should I do if I have had an aura reading?
If you have had an aura reading, the first step is to acknowledge it to God and ask for forgiveness. First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. Renounce any reliance on the reading and turn back to Christ. You may also want to remove any objects or materials connected to the practice. Then rest in God's grace; He does not hold your past against you. Finally, commit to seeking Him through prayer, Scripture, and the church. He is able to guide you far better than any aura ever could.
