In a nutshell: just what is it?
During astral projection, our energy bodies along with our consciousness go there. But...where is that? Is it some short of energy manifestations on the area you dispatch your astral body from your physical one? Is it some short of energy network that is formed through natural energy currents? Is it just a projection of the unconscious mind or an energy manifestation of it that occurs within itself?
And then we have aetheric/etheric projection, which as some people say, takes place in etheric planes that are located in the sky. This one sounds more reality abiding, since the place that one goes is actually specified and it can somehow be pinpointed in the physical plane, but for the same reason it actually sounds more difficult as well.
What I am trying to ask is this: Does the astral plane exist alongside the physical plane, or do these two exist separately? And, aside how much it is possible for these two to interact, how much do they actually depend on one another? Does the physical plane actually need the astral plane, or is the latter a naturally occurring energy print of the former?
I hope I don't look too much of an ignoramus here. I just would be grateful to hear some opinions, or if possible, hear some verified information.
For a while I had thought the astral plane to be the realm of the dead; but I now believe it to be more like an echo of the physical plane, very connected as it can not exist without the physical plane. Where does the astral plane exist? I can not really say, I wold like to think its something like a sub-dimension connected to ours. Astral Projection itself is just that; a projection of the mind into the astral plane created with the use of energy. I believe that the astral plane and physical plane can not exist without the other.
Unfortubately, like most spiritual ideas the astral is a complex and subjective idea. To start there are a couple of different forms.
Astral projection; this is comparable to remote viewing where the practitioner separates consciously from the body to venture to (and observe) other physical places. In this regard the individual is personally in a higher energetic state but keeping their attention close enough to the physical to still observe it. Some have said that one can use this to tune into old or lingering energies as well, to be able to replay their source kind of like rewinding a tape and then letting the recording play back. Though this is assocated with places with a strong sense of history and usually only happens with highly charged events.
Astral travel; this is where an individual leaves the body and also the physical. As to where you go instead, it can be many different things depending on where you intended to go, and your ability to reach that destination. It is difficult to explain well... But my thought on how you (you as in the general or collective use) teach the fifferent planes doesn't involve movement so much as a shifting of your attention and vibration. I think some people compare it to holograms. Each 'level' of vibration exists in the same place and time, superimposed over and throigh eachother. But each one would be of it's own light wavelength (to continue the analogy). Certain wavelengths we see, and those define normal teality. But by shifting our conscious awareness up the light spectrum would open up new things to see. ... and because we can only see so wide a band other things we normally would see fall away.
The higher up the energet ladder we reach, the further away we also get from physical appearances and references, and the more experiential and representative things might get. IE starting with the physical we experience through our senses and imagery. Going upwards senses and physical contact might loose importance but color and shape and sound get more important. Continuing up thought, emotion, and color alone might be prevalent while shapes lose meaning other than as imprints and fabrications the mind (which is still based on translating physical things) creates in an effort to make sense out of the experience.
The higherup you get the more abstract things become, and the more subjective things get. On the physical you could say you touched a tree. On a dreamscape you might say you saw a tree. In the astral you might say 'there is a tree'. Going higher you might think it felt as if there was the presence of a tree. Still higher and you might only get a sense of green and the sound of leaves. Keep going and it would be 'green energy' and so on until it didn't matter and the concept would be vague like 'it felt safe and sheltering'.
the etheric world is part of the physical world,in occultism we know that the physical plane(world) consist of seven states of matter the densest being solid followed by liquid then gas but there are other 4 finer states of matter due to lack of a better scientific term we call these as ether1,ether2,ether3 and ether4..etheric matter is invisible and interpenetrates physical matter,dark matter is a form of etheric matter.the astral is not part of the physical world,it as a unique type matter that constitute its subplanes.please understand that the astral plane and other higher planes occupy the same space occupied by our physical universe and not one above the other,its due to lack of a better way to express this in physical language.therefore dont fall in error by thinking that the various planes occupy our universe like book shelves or onion layers..astral matter is very fine,its materiality or density we refer to when we say "higher" not space...
For example a given space or room may be occupied by various forms of energy,a room may have light energy,say from a lamp in it may have heat energy from a stove it may also have sound energy from music playing on radio and may be odour or scent from some flowers or perfume all these may occupy the same room without affecting each other in any greater way but interpenetrating each other..this is a better way (but not an accurate way) to express how all planes starting with the physical,etheric,astral,mental,buddhic planes etc occupy the same space with only minimal effect on each other...etheric matter is part of the physical world the physical world has 7 states of matter the most dense are solid,liquid and gas respectively however the occult science recognises 4 other finer states of matter of which material science only know little due to lack of better terms we call these 4 fine states of matter as ether1,ether2,ether3 and ether4...dark matter is a new discovery in science its a form of etheric matter.
To start.. Lets see the 3 basic composition of man. First the spirit. The peri-spirit(silver chord that connects the body from our spirit), and the body. In doing astral projection you must have a proper meditation to absorb cosmic energy which is essential on doing this study. Astral projection is a way to know what are the things out there. Because our perispirit has an endless ability on extending it depends on our willingness on where do we want to go or what do we want to know. Well, personally I've travelled on different level of planes. In the universe there are millions of galaxies, billions of solar systems and trillions of stars and planets. Each planes has its own status of living. There are other places which are worse or better than our planet. There are living things out there which have a better or worse status than our. Creature on other places or planets are suitable on what kind of places or habitats they have.. They have different ways of living there and they have different languages. There are a lots of elements which can't be found in earth because there planet are belong to different plane.. I've visited a place which is quite similar to earth but that place has no night. Because that planet is in between among 4 stars its not really really hot like the sun because of thick ozone layer of that place its very bright and the light is pleasing to the eyes. The people there are like us. We have similarities but they have a very kind heart. They are humble.. And friendly. There place is convinient. Atmosphere is very different.. They have different language but it was a surprise that I can easily learned what they are talking about. What of them told it is just because I was out of my body and my spirit can easily learn which my mind cant easily conceive in physical form. Their place is a lot elevated than our when it comes to technologies and knowledge within it. But people their are very resposible. Money doesnt exist there they are just getting merits by doing services. Everything is free.. But according to them there are higher planes where holy people are living those places are difficult to achieve unless you have a pure heart to love unconditionally. "Our planet is belongs to mediocrity" one of them told it to me. I realize that there are better learnings out there. I hope I can explore to another plane again.. Life is beautiful. Gaining knowledge is a gift. :)
From reading your post I can only assume you have a more analytical perspective. I would suggest looking up "The eighth dimension" by quantum scientist to help broaden your understanding of how our physical bodies are limited to perceive only three dimensions of being when in fact there much more going on.
All planes of conciousness occupy the same space...the astral and etheric planes interpenetrate our physical plane its only that the matter of the astral world is very subtle that it is invisible to ordinary human sight..this can be compared with a given room of space,in a single room you may have light from the sun,heat from a stove,sound from a t.v set or radio,odour from flowers etc all these energies may occupy the same room space without affecting each other greatly,the astral plane as a higher vibration of energy than our material world in other words astral matter is very subtle that it interpenetrates our physical world but yet invisible,ghosts,spirits,familiars are astral entities and people sometimes report seing a ghost such as of a deceased friend or spirit it is because they are all around us but they are separated from us by a "veil" but under certain conditions they can become visible or atleast be heard by us as is the case in haunted houses.its a mistake to suppose that the planes of conciousness are arranged like book shelves or layers of a onion.they all exist in the same space but made up of diffreant densities of matter..in astral projection there is no movement in space involved its just a change of awareness and conciousness that can cause one to peceive the other worlds and many of us have had astral encounters many times though we are unware of this...
