Hi Ladyehawk,
I too think that Reiki is the assisting factor. The ability to "see" auras is something of a personal trait. All our five senses (sight, hearing, touch etc.) have their subtle counterparts.
I saw the aura (a blob of bright colour over my son's nose and mouth) immediately after I was attuned to Reiki 3. Shortly afterwards we learned that his asthma was an allergic reaction starting in the nose when he breathed in an irritant.
My first Reiki Master, on the other hand, had a psychic ability that was uncanny - she smelled the issue you were processing. I was lying quietly with her and some others doing a Reiki session over me, when all of a sudden I had a flashback of my caesarean section (the surgery part). I didn't say anything but she turned to me just then and said "I smell anesthesia".
So unless you have already started "seeing", allow yourself the opportunity to experience the aura through all your senses. It may surprise you.
Live long and prosper,
Esin
n.b. Rose Rosetree's book on aura perception was quite good - you may want to read it - it helped me understand the process better.
