Some people can see the human aura. Some of us never have and some
have  on occasion but do not usually. First off it is not a really big deal if you do or don't see the aura . It really does not seem to have any bearing on a  persons actual spiritual state  in any case. Many people never see auras, feel energy,  hear mystical information or have
visions and many of these people can be just as good or better as healing practitioners  and have as deep or deeper spiritual realization than people who do get the bells and whistles . Don't let this minor matter discourage you and if you do get the effects  don't get all impressed with yourself either.

Most  people try too hard. Relax and kind of unfocus your eyes and allow yourself to observe, if you don't see anything different than usual that's fine. When out doors you might look along the tree line quite often the life force or aura of the trees and other plants is often visible as a kind of mist or faint glowing outline. Most exercises  to see  auras call for an area with indirect light kind of like that of a cloudy overcast day or early twilight. You also need a neutral or white plain  background so it won't interfere with your observations.  When you become familiar with seeing auras this won't be essential but at first it helps greatly.

 These are all open eye methods and while many people use closed eye meditations it is best to get an idea of what you sense with your eyes open. With your eyes closed it may be more of a challenge to separate your own information and imagination from  the received input.

     Many people have commented that when seeing auras they only see the "heat waves" or misty whitish outlines and are disappointed with themselves because they are not seeing lots of color etc. I used to feel that way  too I would occasionally see colors and or get symbolic imagery but most of the time with most people all I could see was  the mist and waves. Many people find it easier to feel the energy of the aura In the first place there are permission issues many people are shielded by choice. Generally most of us will be able to see these things only with permission or compelling reason .
    My personal experience is that and this is not true for everyone. Most of the time with most of the people what is there to see is the waves and misty outlines.

What you may be interpreting What you may perceive as you observe the aura and the information and colors in the aura. First of all the layers are not really layers like  an onion  has but areas of different frequency or wave pattern that interpenetrate  each other. There are many  more than the seven to 12 most people  describe though for practical purposes that is enough to provide a general  understanding of aura functions .
  Generally what most  people see when they observe an aura is some of  the   information from the first or etheric body  visible next to the skin.   This is mostly a bluish or grayish or whitish field. Weak spots and trauma   may show as thinning or swelling in the aura or breaks leaks spurts of  energy around the etheric outline of the body . They may also see information from the second or emotional body which is   often seen as clouds or patterns of multi colored light. traumas and injuries    in this layer may show up as muddy or loud colors  gray fogs  black spots  and sometimes shapes and symbols are seen in this energy field . Information and damage can be compressed and layered. Even when you do see or sense the aura you will not get all the information.

  Barbara Brennon in her book  ("Hands Of Light") describes the different energy bodies as alternating between structured form like the blue grid   some see on the etheric (with physical related  information) and the colored  clouds of the emotional body .
    The following part was taken down by me  as though    it were dictated to me  and could  probably be considered as channeled . )

   Your feelings thoughts and actions, your mission, pathway and dreams are all imprinted upon your aura from moment to moment and through the  eternity. While a reader may see  your own pattern, the perceiver and  reader may also have their own code.

a =  How you are feeling reacting at that moment?

  b= How you have formed patterns of feeling and reacting from the moments before?

  c= What the plan or pattern intention was that you have brought into the life with you?

  d= Or how it harmonized or will unfold not unfold as "planned "?

   e = Your past and or future life possibilities.

   f=  What abilities you have brought into this life?

   G=  Your personal colors of personality, of nature, of innate wisdom.

   h= Your soul tones or essence these may be both permanent and transient as to life and eternity.

  I= Your community or collective colors which indicate the commune of spirit and time and which all of similar mission and "cosmic heart" might share.

  J = How God manifests through you?

 These are but a few of the kind of thing that may be seen by that observer   of your aura .   and  to mention that  also manifestly visible may be elements of the  influences and
connections with the many other entities  with whom you   interact and flow with .  The observer may see information and experience solely intended for that    perceiver with you being only a messenger of it for them.  Each plane and each separate but intertwined energy body has its own  colors.

Perception will also vary from where the observer "stands" and  whether they see more than one area of influence and information at once  someone who sees the rose of your God Lovingness and bliss of the fifth Energy body only through the yellow filter of your or their adherances to the   intellectual rational approach may perceive that as  orange and say "oh what a passionate physical tribal type that is" and have   only seen the drop of water in the ocean of your being which is perfect in its   being and becoming and Isness and beloved, as are we all. Embrace with joy your unfolding and the beauty of your aura which is  manifest. You ARE, that is enough.  Do not be  consumed or concerned with   what others may say of their perceptions of you and your entire entity   through your Aura form but seek your own knowing and it will come to  you.
 

{Sela} (End of channely stuff)

COLOR IN THE AURA

    (remember that these are subtle colors impressions not a light show)    The energy field surrounding the physical body can be seen   by some as radiating and filled with  light   I checked every book  pamphlet and article and old lecture note  I could find  for what colors  mean  in the aura and just am going to put in almost everything any one said,
obviously there are  apparent conflicts. This information is also useful in choosing color and crystals to use in healing and other work.

    RED

Vitality ,life force, assertion, forcible active   urges, stalwart
brave, vengeful, virile ,passion,   drive, endurance. Force of   will,
passion, vitality, desire, physical activity, excitability, anger,
intensity of experience. maroon    stamina strength purpose and
restraint fighting spirit warmth cooperative effort, recuperation,
moodiness, selfishness
     Crimson  optimism go getter, challenging competitive nature  ,eager
for success, ready to champion  cause ,reckless
  scarlet  impassioned likable spiteful, short tempered volatile
vivacious
dark red anger, willpower
  Pink  sensitivity  , unconditional love ,gentleness willingness to
help serves others ,easily hurt   not spiteful or jealous

ORANGE

creativity ,high aspiration , proud self sufficient ,direct, high minded, restrained, ambitious  not warm or sensual ,wants   success rides over others ,self justified ,confident narrow  outlook. sacrifice   Creative, artistic, expressive,   fullness of experience, urge to achieve  results or success.

  Gold  Goddess energy transformation ,openness Golden may mean spiritual knowledge or mental strength.

YELLOW

  analytical, discipline Sun, dispel evil , scientific mind ,overcomes ignorance ,artistry ,wisdom, creativity , confidence Sunny, exhilarated, mental, power, expectancy, tenacity.

  GREEN

growth, change, healing,  abundance, adaptable sympathetic, takes life easy , teaching, endurance, perseverance, persistence, high self-esteem.

Dark green   adaptability, turquoise Love, healing, heart ,generosity.

BLUE

peace, tranquility ,honesty Blue Depth of feeling, love, affection, communication, fulfilling  the highest ideals of unity.

  INDIGO

spirituality ,integrity, psychic skills ancient memories,

  VIOLET

vision, imagination, intuitiveness , healing Mystical, unifying, enchantment,  charm and
deep spiritual understanding. High spiritual energy that can transmute    lower energies.

WHITE

  God ,oneness Spirituality; highly evolved spiritually; motivated; incorporates qualities of  all other colors.

BROWN Earthness, grounded

healers often have green, blue,  or violet in the aura, happily pregnant women run
to pastels, lovers often have a glow of rose throughout the aura, intellectual
activities can show up as yellow tones  clear pure colors are indicative of stronger
harmony than muddy colors

Color in Healing

Spiritual light and color is used for healing the aura and the physical
body   for deepening  meditation and to promote specific effects in the
energy field. As a tool for healing, color can be gazed at, beamed as healing light,
meditated on, bathed in  ,worn, used in art and in ritual such as candle magic and mandala work and painting .
  There are many systems of color healing using the color associated with the chakra that rules a particular  area of concern to strengthen the influence or the complimentary color to reduce an overcharge of energy is probably the most common method. Color is often an important guide when choosing crystals for various purposes some systems ae based mainly on the color of the crystals There are several pages in the crystal workshop about color and healing with color.