Aura-Soma

Aura-Soma is a method of energy therapy based on colour and several forms of divination, devised by British pharmacist and chiropodist Vicky Wall. It shares similarities with other systems such as tarot, the I Ching and the Kabbalah, and many of the concepts from Jungian psychology and studies of mythology have also been related to the system. There is no scientific basis for any energy therapy, and the promotion of the mechanisms claimed to produce health benefits are considered pseudoscientific. Quackwatch has criticized it and all other forms of energy therapy as quackery.

The central idea of Aura-Soma is that colour is a unifying universal language which relates to all other theologies and schools of psychology. The practice is centered around bottles known as "equilibrium bottles", which are made from equal amounts of two liquids, usually of two different colours — the bottom half a fusion of water and herbs, and the top half essential oils — and both made with crystal energies. There are currently 107 equilibrium bottles, with more being added on an infrequent basis. These bottles are selected by the client undergoing the therapy, and practitioners attach great spiritual significance and psychological connotations to colour combinations chosen by an individual, as each bottle represents a different series of symbolic emotional, mental and spiritual attributes.

Aura-Soma practitioners regard their practice as a "non-intrusive soul therapy", and claim that the Aura-Soma products are intended to facilitate spiritual growth and consciousness, and are not intended to be used to diagnose or cure any physical illness or disease.

The bottle system is governed by a central company called Aura-Soma Products LTD and the term "Aura-Soma" is a registered trademark of that company. It is currently managed by Mike Booth.

History

The first Aura-Soma equilibrium bottle was brought forth by Vicky Wall in 1983. She was 66 years old at the time and had become clinically blind. Wall claimed she could see auras around people, plants and animals and also that she had retained this ability even after the loss of her vision. Wall developed the coloured bottle system and asserted that the selection by the user may reveal their gifts, challenges and opportunities.

Throughout the remaining eight years of her life after birthing the first bottle, Vicky Wall introduced a further 43 equilibrium bottles to the collection. After her death in 1991, she passed on the ownership of Aura-Soma Products LTD to the current manager, Mike Booth, who has continued to bring new bottles into the collection. Aura-Soma is looked upon by its practitioners as a constantly developing system. New bottles and methods are still added, although not as frequently as when the system was first brought together. In addition, these changes are regarded to reflect what is emerging for the collective as well as individuals.

Over time the colour care system has come to include pomanders, oils, essences and air fresheners, all colour-related. Like the equilibrium bottles, these items are not held to have strict medical use, they are symbolic in nature. Practitioners maintain that if they can draw the state of mind of a client out through colour, then the application of appropriate colour in the life of the client, by use of these products, can also have a restorative or healing psychosomatic effect.

After the initial start in 1983, Aura-Soma spread from the UK, becoming established in Denmark, Germany, the United States, Australia, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Korea, China and South America.

Practice

The standard practice for Aura-Soma is based on the equilibrium bottles. The user picks four bottles one after another while faced with the full selection to choose from, and the practitioner then interprets the meaning of their selection. The order in which they are chosen is important:

*The first bottle represents the self, or a description of the user's current state of being
*The second represents the user's hidden gifts as well as their biggest obstacles
*The third represents their present energy, which gives a method which can be used to overcome their obstacles
*The fourth represents the energy that they are drawing toward them; the future that they are trying to create for themselves though overcoming the obstacles.

Afterwards, the user picks one of the four bottles which they use as an ointment, by shaking the bottle and applying the fusion of the oil and water to the parts of their body whose Chakras correspond to the colours of the bottle. This aids them with one area of disease which will help them achieve the outcome of the four bottle spread. Since much emphasis is on the obstacle, the second bottle is usually chosen.

While sounding superficially like the processes of other systems like Tarot, practitioners of Aura-Soma do not regard it as fortune-telling, but instead to be more of a counselling method, similar to the Lüscher color test, Rorschach inkblot test and other similar psychological methods of accessing the unconscious mind as separate to the conscious mind.

Practitioners and teachers
There is an Aura-Soma Code of Practice that is regulated by the Art & Science International Academy of Colour Therapeutics (ASIACT). ASIACT maintains a practitioner register and issues certificates to those who work according to this code. Each certificate is valid for two years. A current certificate shows that the practitioner is continuing to be updated in the Aura-Soma system and works according to the practices set out by the Academy.

Practitioner training currently comprises 4 levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 each involve attendance at an accredited course. Each level involves broader and more detailed instruction in Aura-Soma. Level 4 involves the completion of a piece of original research on colour, together with presentation of a required number of case records and researched responses to colour related questions. A practitioner's level of training is featured on their certificate.

Students may become practitioners at any time after the completion of Level 2, regulated by laid down guidelines. At Level 4 the practitioner has demonstrated experience of working with Aura-Soma and understanding of the principles of Aura-Soma and may develop a full public practice. A list of practitioners and teachers is maintained on the ASIACT website.

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