Have you ever walked into a room and felt a shift—either a lightness of being or a heaviness pressing on your spirit? Perhaps you’ve arrived in a city and felt inexplicably recharged, like some unseen current ran through your veins. These are not coincidences. What you are sensing is aura—the subtle energy field that surrounds not just individuals, but also spaces, organizations, and even entire cities.
In last week’s reflection, we explored Ojas, the cause for the effect – Aura. This week, we continue the inquiry into Aura that we emanate and absorb. As shared in Business Yoga aura is not simply a metaphysical concept but a real, experiential phenomenon. It is shaped by thoughts, actions, habits, and character—and it is also deeply influenced by the spaces we inhabit.
I have been to two concentration camps—Dachau near Munich and Auschwitz near Krakow. Though the events of those times are decades past, the energy remains startlingly present. The moment I stepped into those grounds, I felt a weight that was not mine. An invisible force pressed inward, enough to strip away hunger, to still words, to quiet even the most active mind. It wasn’t just the knowledge of what had occurred—it was the imprint of that suffering, soaked into the walls, the soil, the silence.
This is not imagination. Yogic wisdom tells us that every thought, action, and emotion leaves a subtle residue. Repeated suffering, fear, and despair can saturate a place, much like repeated joy, love, and service can sanctify it. These impressions accumulate, creating an atmosphere—what we call aura. Kirlian photography, which captures the energy fields around objects and people, has visually validated what ancient sages intuited: everything carries and communicates energy.
This energy is not static. Workplaces carry the residue of decisions made, intentions set, and emotions felt. A boardroom steeped in ego and fear emits a different energy than one grounded in service and shared purpose. Similarly, homes where love and gratitude are practiced feel lighter, safer, and more nourishing.
Cities, too, have aura. Why is it that some cities inspire joy and possibility while others feel draining? Just as individuals cultivate Ojas through food, rest, and ethical action, places accumulate energy through the consciousness of their inhabitants. When people live, work, and create with intention, the city becomes a sacred space, a modern tirtha—a crossing point between the seen and unseen.
What does this mean for those of us leading organizations or building spaces?
It reminds us that every action is a form of architecture. We are constantly shaping not just the outcomes of our work, but the energy field that surrounds it. A workplace infused with integrity, gratitude, and purpose becomes a sanctuary—a place that heals and inspires all who enter.
Let us choose to be gardeners of vitality, creating spaces where the soul feels welcome.
