[5]

T H E   A U R A

by
E. C. Krieger
(Part Two)

Kilner observed that a permanent magnet brought near the body affected the inner aura: there was a "streaming to" and brightening in the vicinity of either pole. Polarity as such was absent; that is, use of the N pole or S pole produced identical results. "The mutual attraction of the auras of two people is more intense than that between the human aura and the magnet," (Kilner). An aura was observed about the magnet, and about any charged plate or current carrying Wire. This aura appeared to be identical to that of the body.

Various chemicals such as the vapors of iodine, bromine, chlorine, and ammonia produced a kind of stain on the inner aura, even when the skin was protected during the exposure. The staining effects were limited to the side of the body being treated - the other side, was either unaffected or to a different degree. The line of demarcation indicated a median plane front to back. When the vapor was applied along the spine the aura was colored equally on both sides. Bagnall checked Kilner's work in this but did not have like results. A comment from the study of both books is, that Bagnall did not employ the same methods or care that Kilner did.

Insulating a subject and charging him with static electricity had the effect of contracting the aura to the vanishing point. Upon dissipation of the charge the aura returned, but in an expanded form - having greater depth but less intensity. The appearance is that as the volume increased the same amount of substance was distributed through it, thereby decreasing the unit-volume density.

The normal static electric body charge was found to be symmetrically distributed, with localized regions of greater intensity. Of these the most dominant were the areas over the reproductive organs, and, most intense of all, over the sacrum. In certain diseases - epilepsia, hemiplegia - the distribution was asymmetrical. Recollecting the datum of the dorsal bulge and complementing it with this last; there seems to be a suggestive correlation with the concept of the Yogic Kundalini force said to be latent in the region of the lower end of the spine, and the maintenance of health as a result of the constant intensity and duration of an energy in each side of the body.

Both Kilner and Bagnall consider the aura as an ultra-violet effect - recall Gurwitsch, Rahn, and others. By the use of the filter the eye is adapted to light at the blue end of the spectrum, the looking-to-one-side method being the optimum way of using the highly sensitive retinal rods, which are, however, largely color-blind, so that anything seen is rendered in terms of blue or gray. Surgical operations upon the eye have shown that with the lens removed vision is [6] extended down into the black-light region. By the use of complementary after-images, resulting from the eye fatigue of staring at colored cards, colors in the aura were detected and related to varying pathological conditions.

If the aura is considered as an emanation or radiation in the ultra-violet range it would seem that it could be seen or detected in total darkness, or cause the fluorescence of materials whose excitation point lies in the auric range. But the aura is not visible in total darkness, and it does not cause (within the range of available literature) fluorescence. And radiation would not correlate with the structural effect of the inner aura. Or the response to the magnetic aura. Should it be thought of as quasi-material ...?

As an analogy, consider the use of infra-red light in long-distance photography. If this had been used exclusively and were the normal means of seeing, then haze in the air might never have been suspected to cloud the view of those who saw with light of shorter wave length. But when such light is employed, then because of the light-scattering effect of the tiny particles the haze becomes visible. Whatever the aura is, it would seem to be, in part at least, material. It is responsive to physiological changes. It is responsive to the will.

It is capable of exhibiting a great variety of effects - so much so that it would seem that it has few if any inherent properties of its own except that of producing a response to suit the method used in demonstrating that response.

From the mutual interaction of aura and body Bagnall thinks it likely that, considering the well-known order of foetal development, the outer aura may be associated with the ectoderm which gives rise to the normal skin, the nervous system - and the mesoderm from which evolves the urinary and reproductive organs. The inner aura he links to the endoderm since this produces the alimentary canal and allied glands.

With auric data at hand Mesmerism may be reviewed in a new light. It seems definite that the Mesmer technique elicited responses from subjects that are obtained only with difficulty by means of the standard verbal suggestions of the hypnotist. In mesmerism telepathy and clairvoyance is the rule - in hypnosis the exception. The two systems are widely different both in method and result.

Mesmer used passes to effect the desired state. He made rhythmical sweeping motions with his hands and arms close to the body of the body of the subject, often over certain definite regions. There was a high degree of mental attention on his part as he worked. It is conceivable that his conscious or unconscious desires were more easily made known to the subject by conjunction of the two auras, and that the rhythmical passes acted upon the subject's aura and so upon his nervous system in a manner analogous to the verbal repetitions of the hypnotist. Mesmerism, to a much greater degree, exhibits the rapport often noted to exist between a hypnotist and his subject. In many experiments with hypnotized subjects the obtaining of a specific result is related to the extent the operator thinks it possible.

Most of the literature on Mesmer is definitely slanted against him. A large part of this may be traced to his use of the phrase animal magnetism - an unfortunate choice of terms. For his own views [7] it would seem that it could be seen or detected in have been distorted - his 27 points are among the least dogmatic of statements. Number 20: " . . . the magnet whether natural or artificial is, like other bodies, susceptible of animal magnetism, and ever of the opposing virtue, without in either case its actions on iron, or needle, undergoing any alteration; which proves that the principle of animal magnetism differs essentially from magnetism of the mineral kind."

Mesmer, through Father Maximilian Hell, and others, learned that magnets had a physiological effect. Kilner virtually demonstrated that, and once while he was examining a female patient during a thunderstorm he found that she experienced an effect akin to great pain when a magnet was brought near. This was a spur-of-the-moment experiment that produced an unlooked-for result.

Instrumentally, magnets have been observed to have a physiological effect also - as in the case of "Vitic", where the use of a magnet in the left hand is said to materially increase the galvanometric response. Magnetism as such does not seem to be involved. It may be that conditions optimum for the production of electric and magnetic fields, have as a by-product or secondary effect, an auric field. Investigations and experiments designed around the use of Kilner screens to check various patterns and intensities of electromagnetic fields may yield invaluable data about the, psychic functioning of the human organism. If the will can affect the human aura, which is apparently identical with that enveloping magnets and charged wires, then the willful direct control of mechanisms without the mediumistic trance and the knowledge given by the higher understanding may be possible.

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NOTE: The Round Robin Editor considers the foregoing article by Mr. Krieger to be a very valuable contribution, not only because it gives a clear and adequate summary of existing data on the aura, but also because of its suggestive and forward-looking aspect, and the ability of the writer to see the important and numerous relationships of his subject. The specialist who lacks the larger vision may make good brick, but other men must build with them; nor is there any reason why such vision should interfere with the most meticulous procedures of science. While Mr Krieger only hints at these larger aspects, with all due conservatism and restraint, it is clear that he is aware of them. The first installment of his article appeared in the April issue, along with the bibliography, and the whole constitutes an extremely useful condensation and analysis of a highly important subject. (Editor)