Etheric

Etheric is an adjective relating to ether, a concept used in various traditions to denote a subtler, pervasive medium or field of energy. Historically, 'ether' referred to a supposed luminiferous medium through which light was thought to propagate, and 'etheric' described properties associated with that idea. After physics abandoned the ether concept, the term persists mainly in esoteric, spiritual, and some alternative medicine contexts.

In Theosophy and related traditions, the etheric body (also called the etheric double or vital body) is described as a life-sustaining layer that surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body. It is said to carry life-force or prana/qi and to serve as a conduit for energy transfer, linking physiological processes to a subtler realm. Etheric phenomena are typically placed between physical matter and more subtle levels such as the astral.

In contemporary occult and New Age discourse, etheric can refer to energies, fields, or layers associated with healing modalities, aura work, or energy anatomy. Practitioners may describe the etheric body as a target or vehicle for treatments intended to influence vitality or well-being. Critics note that such descriptions are metaphysical and not supported by mainstream scientific methods, framing them as experiential or symbolic rather than empirical.

See also: aether; etheric body; energy healing; prana; qi; Theosophy; anthroposophy.