Damian Lair’s aura photo by Liz Aron.
Aura-scope

When I learned that my friend Liz Aron was tiptoeing back into aura photography, my curiosity was piqued. This ultimately led to an evening at her Crossroads studio—talking, learning, and sitting for photos.

What is aura photography, you may ask? Now that I’ve been so fully briefed, I can offer a bit of foundation. The practice draws from Eastern spiritual beliefs about auras—an electromagnetic field that surrounds a person—and chakras—a person’s spinning, internal energy center that influences physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. A person’s aura is the external reflection of their chakra; so if the chakra is the body’s engine, the aura is a collection of dashboard lights, flashing information regarding the body and engine’s overall health.

The photographic capture of auras has been refined over the decades. In 1939, Semyon Kirlian used high voltage, a metal plate, and film to capture the electrical discharge around a subject’s finger, effectively showing an invisible energy field. In the late 1970s, Guy Coggins advanced the Kirlian method by developing a camera that connects to hand sensors that measure electro-dermal activity. He created a proprietary algorithm for converting the biofeedback data into a range of colors, which are layered atop the subject’s portrait. The results can then be interpreted by a trained aura reader, matching the captured colors with corresponding character traits. This is the process Liz uses today.

I should note that Liz’s camera is Coggins’s original camera. Only 20 to 30 of Coggins’s original cameras—called Biofeedback Imaging Color Spectrometer 3000s—exist today, and Liz has the unique distinction of saying she has the first one. So cool. The name alone has almost a flux capacitor ring to it. And the vintage, boxy camera, with its delayed, hollow clicking sound and what felt like an unusual amount of whirring noises, gave major Marty McFly vibes. Hands on the sensors, I felt like one click by Liz might inadvertently transport me back in time.

I entered this process skeptically, but a few things melted my doubts. Liz, my friend Mark, and I each sat for multiple photos across the session while she adjusted the room’s lighting and various other conditions. During the process, each of our individual auras remained consistent—and they differed from each other’s wildly. This tracked, as I’d describe us as having pretty different personalities. Final point—unlike, say, a sun sign horoscope that could generically apply to just about anyone, each of our readings seemed to be a perfect match.

Liz learned to read auras in probably the most unique way possible—by spending a week with Coggins himself. In her interpretation, the color closest to you (red here) is your core, or what grounds you. The outer layer (blue for me) is the crown chakra—your spirit guides or filtering system.

It feels raw and exposing to have my photo here, like I may as well be posing nude. My aura and the invisible aspects of my being—in print for anyone to see.

Red signifies desire, strength, and passion. It signifies the urge to succeed, a sense of adventure, an intensity of experience, and survival instinct. It can also indicate challenges with action, like a packed schedule with little time to breathe or sleep. Red auras are associated with leaders with large personalities, those who find themselves in the limelight due to their attention-grabbing energy levels. “Your enthusiasm may exhaust people around you,” was Liz’s intrepretation. No comment.

Adolescent boys often project red auras—energetic and curious, with a sense of adventure and discovery. It strikes me as appropriate. For seven years, I’ve been chronicling my local curiosities here.

The middle layer of purple and magenta represents an ability to charm, delight, and connect. And finally, the blue. Blue is loyalty. According to Liz, “It’s a prerequisite for you. It’s your filter. It’s your shield for protection. Even though you’re surrounded by red/action, you don’t want complications. You value peace.”

Wow. Hearing this holistically was so incredibly insightful and unified the various parts of my being that I’ll occasionally consider piecemeal. It did so in a way that was astoundingly clean, clear, and succinct. To say the least, it’s interesting to “see” your invisible aspects all in a photo. The camera is a magical box. And for people who really know themselves, they’ll often say this makes perfect sense.

The experience is an exercise in self-assessment. Knowing what you’re working with and how you operate may provide clues for how to harness or fine tune those traits to one’s advantage or to have deeper connections with others. It’s also useful to know what sort of energy you’re putting out into the world—how a room full of strangers might viscerally perceive you. A 10/10 experience. See her work @aurasbyliz on Instagram.

At a Crossroads

Elsewhere in the Crossroads Arts District, I recently took the occasion to check out a couple of new outposts. It was the perfect day for a little adventure in my backyard.

Joined by a handful of friends, we met at Beckett’s. It’s a relatively new bar and restaurant that’s been on my to-try list. They call it a sports bar, “but not your dad’s.” I’d say that’s a pretty fair description. There were the requisite walls sheathed in giant televisions, yes, but the crowd was unmistakably on the younger side. An especially big game was ongoing—don’t ask me what—and the place was filled to the brim. Oblivious to it all, we were there for lunch. And some drinks.

As I like to do, we ordered one of everything and shared. Our very own tasting menu. Toward the rear of the establishment, there’s Dusty’s, a kitchen window cleverly dressed as a food truck. You order from the wandering staff but pick up your bags here. Everything comes tucked in a stapled, white paper bag. Food-wise, they have your standard fare—wings, tendies, and fries. I wish the cheese curds had been a little warmer and gooier, but the fried pickles made up for it. My friends were eager to try the Stoney Bologna (fried bologna sandwich). I was not. For the bologna fans out there—they gave it five stars. I was crazy for the Chopped Cheezus (chopped ground beef, American cheese, grilled onion, shredded lettuce, tomato, and spicy mayo). I’d heard of a “loose meat” sandwich, but this was my first go at one. And the Smashy B burger more than lived up to my diner-style expectations. For dessert, we split a few Uncrusties—the pancake-battered and fried PB&J, dusted with powdered sugar. They were the sleeper hit we all loved.

Drinks at Beckett’s are available in normal size and via bucket. Take your best guess on what we opted for. In addition to any possible sports event streaming on the TVs, you’ll find a full-size free-throw lane, darts, foosball, bumper pool, and even a claw machine. It’s a really fun, high-energy spot.

Jade Jaguar in the Crossroads Arts District.

Afterwards, we slipped into a place I’d been so pumped to try, but its recent opening events fell around the holidays when I was traveling. Welcome to KC, Jade Jaguar.

In partnership with David Manica’s Exit Strategy, the creator of the Mercury Room, Monarch, and Verdigris bars, Manny Gomez and Seth Goldwasser have created a space honoring the legacy of the jade-inlaid jaguar throne at Chichén Itzá. The bar mixes bold spirits and vivid flavors meant to channel the energy of Mexico City’s cocktail bars (like the renowned Handshake) that dominate the world’s best bars list. Gomez grew up in Mexico City’s dynamic Roma Norte neighborhood, which is, interestingly, where I sit writing this. As a super fan of Mexico City, I can say he’s absolutely nailed the aesthetic and vibe.

Design-wise, this former pop-up offers the chicest menu I’ve seen in recent memory. In the style of a tarot card, it offers a tight selection of inventive, agave-forward cocktails with ingredients sourced from around the world. Each cocktail’s vessel is also very design oriented. I opted for La Pera with tepache (fermented pineapple brew), basil, allspice, citrus, and spiced pear. I loved it, and drinking from the handmade clay pot felt special. I followed with the Oaxacan old fashioned, which subs mezcal for whiskey. A hit for mezcal lovers like me.

And here’s something that blew me away. My friend who needed a cocktail reprieve ordered a Sprite. It was delivered with little fanfare. As we were settling our bill, Gomez, who was attending to us during our stay, asked how the Sprite turned out. Because everything is made in-house, they had no cans of Sprite lying around. So, they made it. Freshly mixed with kaffir lime, it’s probably the most decadent “Sprite” you could imagine.

Jade Jaguar also offers a menu of small bites that’s available well into the evening for when you just need a little something to keep going. We’ll have to return when not stuffed from a previous meal. They also host pop-up events, such as a recent taco omakase by James Beard Competition winner David Ruiz. Check it out!

Hot Gossip: Pray, what knave was being solaced by one on bended knee amidst the revelry?

Overheard: “Your blizzard essentials are milk and bread. Meanwhile, I’m rushing out for heaps of fresh flowers.”

Hot Gossip: Who asked to speak to the manager at the grocery store where her favorite pet food was no longer stocked?

Overheard: “You can’t miss him. He’s dressed like a traffic cone.”

Tags:
aura photography, Beckett’s, David Manica, David Ruiz, Dusty’s, Exit Strategy, Jade Jaguar, Liz Aron, Manny Gomez, Mercury Room, Monarch, Seth Goldwasser, verdigris