In a few weeks, we have our presentation on modern representation and presence of witchcraft on the internet and social media. Before then, I wanted to talk about a current tiktok trend that I have noticed. 

The trend is an effect on tiktok that can read and show your "aura" based on what you look like. The filter shows your face and then it fades and morphs into the colors that represent your personality. There can be one color or multiple. This interpretation of an aura is that it shows the atmosphere of the energy you give off. I have seen many different reactions to peoples' results: pride, disappointment, and denial in the filter's capability. Although few people may think this filter actually has magical powers, if it fits their self proclaimed ideal of an aura people will believe and celebrate it. The comments often demand trying the filter again with different backgrounds to see how that influences the results. Regardless, it is interesting to see the response and the attention that this filter and its assigned meaning have gained in a matter of few days. The filter has been used approximately 304,400 times, the most popular video with 4.9 million views. (The filter is called World Map on tiktok if you want to look up any examples).
I have seen witches and magical creators using this filter as well as non-magic identifying people. However, everyone seems to be using the same definition and interpretation of an aura. Auras historically have been studied by psychics and even known to be centers of chakras. Auras were interpreted to show the health and being of a person as part of their inner anatomy, rather than personality or identity. At one point, healers used the aura for spiritual energy and energy medicine. More recently, aura photography became more popular with the invention of the camera, usually using infrared light showing heat emitting from people. Now, aura photography has developed to become a filter on your phone and used by hundreds of thousands of people.