How to cleanse your aura: 8 soft, smoke-free ways

What aura cleansing is

In a lot of spiritual traditions, your aura is the energy field around your body, and it's said to pick things up through the day: other people's moods, a tense meeting, a doomscroll before bed. Aura cleansing is the ritual of clearing that off, so you feel like yourself again.

Think of it as a reset button you press on purpose. Whether or not an energy field is literally there, the ritual gives you a moment to notice how you feel, let the day go, and choose how you want to feel next.

Signs your aura could use a cleanse

People describe it as:

• feeling heavy, foggy or "sticky" after being around people
• picking up other people's moods and not shaking them off
• being snappy or flat for no clear reason
• a room or a space feeling stale
• wanting to hide under a blanket after a long day (valid)

If you're not sure what colour your energy is today, our aura colours guide is a cute way to check in.

8 ways to cleanse your aura

1. Breathe it out

Three big sighs. Breathe in through your nose, top it up with a little extra sniff, and let it all go through your mouth, slowly. Picture each out-breath carrying the day away.

2. An aura shower

In the shower, picture the water as soft white light rinsing you from the top of your head down to your feet, and down the drain. Two minutes is plenty.

3. A salt bath

A warm (not hot) bath with a handful of Epsom or sea salt, no phone, for about fifteen minutes. Salt shows up in cleansing rituals in lots of cultures. Breathe slowly and let it all dissolve.

4. Sound

Ring a bell, play a singing bowl, chant OM, or hum with your mouth closed like a bee. Walk the sound around yourself and around the room.

5. Get outside

A slow walk, phone in your pocket. Barefoot on grass or sand if you can. Fresh air and sunshine are honestly the original cleanse.

6. Shake it off

Stand up and shake your hands, then your arms, then your legs, then your whole body, for 30 seconds. It sounds silly and feels amazing. Then stand still and breathe.

7. Clear your space

Open a window, tidy one small corner, and wipe down one surface. Your space is part of your energy, and clutter feels loud.

8. A light visualisation

Close your eyes and picture a ball of soft white or golden light above your head. Let it pour down through you and out around you, filling your aura like a bubble. Anything heavy drips out through your feet into the ground.

A note on smoke

Burning white sage is sacred to many Indigenous nations, and wild white sage is often over-harvested to meet demand. If you love a smoke ritual, use a herb you grew yourself, like rosemary or lavender, keep a window open and the flame safe. Honestly, every method above works without any smoke at all. Skip smoke entirely if you have asthma or you're around kids or pets.

A 5-minute aura cleanse

For the end of a long day:

1. Shake it off for 30 seconds.
2. Three big sighs.
3. Light from above: picture white light pouring down through you for 1 minute.
4. Sweep: brush your hands down your arms, legs and the space around your body, like you're brushing off dust.
5. Seal it: picture your bubble of light glowing all around you, and say silently, "Only what's mine stays with me."
6. Ground: press your feet into the floor and take one slow breath.

How to protect your aura

Cleansing clears it, and protection is about keeping it clear before a big day:

• The bubble. Picture the light bubble around you before you walk into a busy place.
• Boundaries. Saying no is literally aura protection. So is leaving early.
• Rest. Tired energy is leaky energy.
• Your people. Spend time with the ones who leave you lighter.

What science says about auras

Auras can't be measured, and that's okay. Kirlian photos, the glowing outlines of hands and leaves, were studied in 1976 and the glow turned out to mostly reflect moisture on the skin, not an energy field. The colourful portrait "aura photos" at fairs usually come from sensors you rest your hands on, with software choosing the colours. And a 2004 case study described a woman who saw coloured "auras" around people, which researchers explained as a type of synaesthesia, where the brain links colours to people and feelings.

None of that makes the ritual less lovely. It just means the cleansing happens in how you feel, which is the part that matters 🫧

Go deeper

Our Aura Cleanse & Protect course has six short lessons on this: reading your aura colour, cleansing with breath, light, sound and salt, and a protection meditation, plus a weekly ritual to keep. Or pair a cleanse with a full moon ritual or some chakra healing.

FAQ

How do you cleanse your aura?

Popular ways are slow breathing, a shower or salt bath with a light visualisation, sound (a bell, a bowl or chanting), time outside, shaking your body, and clearing your space.

How do I know if my aura needs cleansing?

People describe feeling heavy, foggy, irritable or drained after being around others, or picking up moods that aren't theirs. A quick cleanse before bed is a nice habit anyway.

Can you cleanse your aura without sage?

Yes. Breath, water, salt, sound, nature and visualisation all work without smoke. White sage is sacred to many Indigenous nations and often over-harvested, so skipping it is a kind choice.

How often should you cleanse your aura?

Whenever you feel you need it. A short cleanse after a busy day, or a weekly ritual, is a lovely rhythm.

Sources

• Pehek JO, Kyler HJ, Faust DL (1976). Image modulation in corona discharge photography. Science 194:263-270. PubMed
• Ward J (2004). Emotionally mediated synaesthesia. Cognitive Neuropsychology 21(7):761-772. UCL news
• United Plant Savers. White sage (Salvia apiana)