Black Aura Meaning: Personality, Energy, and Symbolism

When someone reads an aura, they’re delving into a metaphysical, abstract version of a person’s very essence. Auras aren’t perceptible to everyone — in fact, only a fair few humans can see this phenomenon — but for those who can see auras, it holds a wealth of information about the person in question. Unlike facial expressions or tone of voice, people can’t (or have a very hard time) faking their aura’s colors. Thanks to this vulnerability, the color of your aura exposes your true self.

Auras come in every shade of color you could imagine… even black! Color theory and psychology for black remain a hotly debated subject. Inherently dark, black can sometimes act as a harbinger of death, evil, or sadness. It’s a commonly-held belief that in the war between good and evil, black signifies the negative side while white is “good.”
Is it true, then, that having a black aura is “bad” or something malignant hangs over that person? AZ Animals interviewed three different aura-reading experts — Mystic Michaela of knowyouraura.com, Justine of Psychicgirl.com, and Niloufar Esmaeilpour, MSc, RCC, SEP from Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre — to find out.

What Are Auras?

Before we jump into the black aura meaning, it’s important to understand what an aura is. Auras may appear a bit differently to those who can see them. The one image that remains consistent across the board is an “outline” of a person’s body. Whether the aura appears as a solid, colored line, a fuzzy essence, a colorful glow, or another manifestation, the term “aura” describes a phenomenon that brings a colored essence from a person’s soul into the physical world and surrounds their body.

Some healers and aura readers describe auras as outward energy bodies. Because nearly everything in the world carries with it at least a trace amount of energy, auras act as an energy net around your body that encapsulates seven different layers of your body’s physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

Can Anyone See an Aura?

Everyone can certainly try! Holistic medicine practitioners, physics, and empaths tend to have a more inherent ability to see auras in others and themselves. If you’re interested in attempting to see someone else’s, or your own, aura, you can attempt to do so in a few ways.

See Someone Else’s Aura

Have the person you want to read stand several feet away from you on a white background. Focus your vision until the edges of your eyeline become shadowed. Relax your eyes, keeping your vision on the center of the person’s face, and wait until a shadow settles around the person. Flick your gaze quickly to their forehead and note any color you see.

See Your Own Aura

To see your own aura, you’ll need to face a mirror. Stare at yourself, slightly squinting your eyes, until a shadow around you appears. Your peripheral vision will pick up the color of your aura.

Please note that these methods may not work for everyone. Seeing auras takes practice, as well, and you should be careful to not strain yourself or your eyes when practicing aura readings.

Aura Colors

Auras exude a multitude of colors — sometimes more than one at once! From seafoam green to deep indigo to mustard yellow and firetruck red, aura colors can be vibrant or dull, and any shade of the rainbow. Even neutral colors like white and black.

According to Esmaeilpour, color interpretation varies widely. “The interpretation of auras, however, is highly subjective and varies greatly depending on cultural, spiritual, and personal beliefs.”

Michaela gave another perspective on aura colors. “Auras can be seen as your personal energy forecasts and can change a bit on the day-to-day. Auras can change throughout life due to trauma, lessons learned, attitudes, and life conditions. The key to navigating these changes is having an understanding of your core authentic energy and how it interacts with life’s inevitable curve balls.”

Black Aura Meaning

Now that we’ve covered what auras are and how to see them, let’s discuss the black aura meaning. Is it really something to fear?

According to the experts consulted, no. Black auras are rare and complex in reading, but they’re not an immediate red flag to worry about.

“Most people think the color black is bad. However… this isn’t so black and white,” shared Justine. “All colors have a vibration and the color black usually vibrates to the energy of creativity and discipline. So, the color black in one’s aura doesn’t automatically mean doom and gloom.”

Esmaeilpour provided a different take on black aura meanings. “In the context of auras and their interpretations, a black aura is often viewed with a sense of mystery and complexity. The energy of a black aura can be quite intense and powerful. It might be seen as protective, acting as a shield against external influences.”
She also pointed out the possibility of external forces changing the color of someone’s aura to black. “This aura could suggest a person who is self-contained and perhaps reluctant to open up to others. It’s also possible that the energy is heavy or burdensome, indicating inner turmoil or unresolved issues.”

How Rare is a Black Aura?

When AZ Animals asked the experts how many times they’ve seen black auras, the answer was unanimous: not many times at all. A black aura is pretty rare to read.

“Black auras are incredibly rare and don’t occur very easily,” confirmed Michaela. “Just because someone is having a bad day, or a tough chapter in life doesn’t mean their aura is black at all! The black aura is something I personally have only seen a handful of times.”

Black Aura Personality

Esmaeilpour has found that auras reflect personalities — and a black aura may indicate some sort of inner issues. “A person with a black aura might be perceived as having a strong-willed or independent personality. They may be seen as secretive or private, preferring to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves. In some interpretations, a black aura can indicate a person who is struggling with negative emotions or going through a period of personal transformation.”

For some readers, black auras can feel like a vortex, consuming everything and anything in their energetic path.

“Black auras occur when an individual’s intensity has reached a toxic and unhealthy level,” said Michaela. “I will see them as dark spots within an existing aura. While it is normal to see darker spots of a person’s existing aura color develop, people with black auras move away from their original energy completely. No one is born with a black aura; rather it evolves from a state of mind and perception of deep toxic pessimism and borrowed darkness from outside and pre-existing evil sources. Many people who are feeling lost or untethered in their own lives can find themselves enveloped within the energy of the individual with a black aura.”

Black Aura Symbolism

The symbolism of auras, like color and personality interpretation, will shift with each different practitioner’s reading. When AZ Animals asked Justine what she thought a black aura’s symbolism was, she gave a few answers.

“It really depends upon the situation. In most cases, it means the [person is creative and self-disciplined], but there can absolutely be a situation where [there is] no life force and [the aura] is seen as black.”

Michaela continued her commentary on the negative feelings associated with black auras. “The black aura symbolism is about taking on a lens of incredible pessimism and darkness. The stepping into a perception pre-existing in the world which is an antithesis to compassion, empathy and humanity itself.”

Aura Colors Can Change

Did you know that the colors of your aura can change? That’s right — if you have a blue aura as a child, you may transform your essence and personality throughout the next 10 years to have a green aura as an adult. When it comes to auras, everything is subjective. Whether you believe in what the colors of an aura tell you about yourself or not, everyone remains entitled to their own opinions about healing, life journeys, and the inherent power we carry within.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © makasana/iStock via Getty Images