Astral Plane & Projection

i. What is the astral plane? Common definition describe it as a non material realm or a region of existence directly beyond material, physical reality. I like to call it not physical reality similar to dream reality. It is also the realm of spirits or non material beings. It is the place you go when you leave your physical body; the place between lives or life after life.

Some consider it as separate from the physical, a place you go to outside of physical reality. I see it as part of a total reality that is essential for physical reality. It intersects but in a direction that makes it difficult for us to perceive when we are active and awake. When we relax, when we sleep and dream, when we meditate, when we daydream our focus on the physical plane softens and the vibrational fields of non physical reality can be received. My own observations suggest that the physical is just another region of a total reality. Regions nest within regions. Physical plane is simply what it is because it has properties that separate it from the non physical, such as crushing gravity, body destroying radiation, and bodies that stay at rest until they crash into another body.

My growing understanding is that what we call Astral is a collective consciousness stream. As receivers we filter and give meaning to the information is contains. We also bring to in our own personal stream. Day dream, dream, lucid dream, astral travel are all degrees of reception and subsequent interaction. 

Many people define astral projection as leaving the physical body and interacting with the astral plane. This requires a vehicle, the astral body. The term was introduced in the late 1920s by Sylvan Muldoon (b.1903, d. 1969) to describe the out of body experience. I suggest that out of body is only one way to have the experience of the Astral Plane or Non Physical and the term may be misleading as projection has more than one definition. For example, think of a film projector shining images on a screen. If the images were astral matter and the screen was the mind, you would not need to be out of body. A projection does not need to be an OBE or a full astral body separation from physical. My experience suggests that we project the non physical (astral) on to the physical all the time. We do this when we use our imaginationl. We project thought on to matter and make a form - thought form manifest in the physical plane. However many meditators describe seeing images during deep relaxation. Dreaming also is a non physical condition that renders detailed realities to the participating dreamer.

ii. Physical reality: In the familiar everyday present moment, you go about your habitual patterns in a body that receives sensations that translate through the nervous system intothe experience of physical plane reality. Combined with your perceptions of sensation along your memory your brain creates waking reality.

Materialist dogma  suggests that you, your perception of self,  are a manifestation of physical reality You are the product of the interaction of chemical elements that occur through random chance. Intelligence and mind are products of energy and matter. Simply, creation is the result of random collisions of atoms.

The old question of, “if a tree dropped in a forest would it make a sound?,” has an answer,  “no it would not make a sound.” Why? Because a sound is a human mind's interpretation of air vibration. Sound is a creation of the human nervous system and it daughter the mind that recognizes the sensations and turns them into meaning. Sound is a mental construct. Without mind there is no sound. Extending this idea then, all human sensation, that has been recognized by the awareness of the human, is a construct of the mind.

Humans have the ability, through language, to share the experiences created by mind. They are, when the mind is not troubled by distortions of drugs or brain illness, remarkably similar. The look, the taste and the feel of a piece of fruit are the same in most people. For it is mechanical processes in the brain, which has a very similar anatomical structure, that creates these sensations. Language transmits the messages into symbolic meaning that is generally recognized by those speaking the same language.

What you recognize as reality is attributed to mental process. Parts of the nervous system automatically receive sensation, and the grey matter gives it meaning and reality.

A collective of meaning that produces some sort of mental image, is called a thought form. A thought form, to be of physical reality, must have physical properties, or some interaction of matter and vibration. So the brain “lights up” when thoughts happen. However  does it “light up” because it creates a thought or because a thought came to it and it became excited brought it into meaning? Most likely, using the dominant paradigm (scientific materialism,) there was some stimulation that triggered the thought process. Fair enough. There is no mental substructure - spirit - that influences human reality. Without the brain there is no reality. We are just subjects of stimulation - vibrations causing vibrations.

My personal experience  suggests that the standard materialist paradigm is inadequate. It explains what can be measured in the physical plane but it cannot go inside the dream of a dreamer. It cannot send a camera into the dreamers world and photograph in intricate details. It cannot go into any mind, be it human or animal, and experience what it experience from its point of view. It cannot hear the thoughts of another human. Science is good at what it does, measure the physical plane.

II. Out of Body


Accounts of out of body travels describe  the subject transported to another reality with different internal laws. I have also found much consistency in the various accounts I have read. For example, sleep paralysis prior to entering the astral dimension.

My own experience and the accounts of other experiencers reveal a consistent set of stages in the process. It often begins with sleep paralysis, then a feeling of release, then a realization that I can move. I will fall or leap out of bed, sometimes lying on the floor and other times standing erect. If I cannot stand erect I will crawl but after a few seconds pass by I will get on my “feet.” I will gaze around the room, looking at the bed to see if I am still there. Usually all I see is a clump of sheets and covers with only a hint that a body might lie beneath. I have the option of leaving the room through the window, the door, or the mirror. Most often I go through the door, walk down the hall, and enter the living room and kitchen area. Leaving the house I notice how familiar the area looks although details may be quite different. Often I the image will go dark and I phase back into my waking body, or, the the scene will go dark and I have to focus and affirm illumination. After all, it is the middle of the night. If all goes well I will see the projection of a night scene lit with street lights and window lights or day light appears, then I will see my surrounding in full technicolor. Various folk may appear, walking here and there and occasionally inviting an interaction. I speculate they are other dreamers.
The further I advance from my sleeping body the more the environment will change. Houses transform from the regularity of a track subdivision and become more individualized as if the energy of the inhabitants influences their appearance.
Rounding the street corner increases the change and although the street is the same, most of the houses are very different. When I am able to transcend the familiar I am allowed to fly or travel quickly on land to a new area. 




III. The Astral Plane




It is not my intention to describe or define the astral plane in the way familiar to most who have looked into this phenomenon. There are many who claim knowledge of the subject and are willing to describe it as fact. For anybody who has made claim of travel, I cannot know if they are speaking true or inventing to gain attention and notoriety. At the Monroe Institute, a haven for the dimensionally curious, I do not remember any participant revealing with any detail their out of body excursions. It seemed like it would be a hot topic but little was mentioned. But that is only my memory of the groups. However recently, though a Facebook Group, I have read enough posts and comments that assure me that there is a consistency to what is called the out of body experience subsequent astral travel. People describe what are common experiences such as sleep paralysis, 2nd body experience and flying. 

Many writers have described spiritual planes that have levels. For example, 7 levels of the astral, and three levels of the Causal, the further up the ladder to Mental, Messianic and Buddaic.  Of course this is a hierarchal approach that I find some what amusing given the propensity of these same folk to worship the idea of “all is one”, or the mythical unification of the universe. It is well intentioned but a bit impractical. So I hold to the concept of division, which I would go as far as to say, that division is the law. If there is a gift in creation it is our separation and not  unity. Unity will bring only annihilation. When there is only one then there is nothing. The anti creation nihilistic existentialist wins. In my own belief, God is the source of creation, creation requires division, division comes with the contrast of duality, therefore duality is also God.

And since we all enjoy cutting a slice of pie, then we can cut the astral plane, at least the idea of the astral plane, into divisions that we call planes. I would rather call them regions or locations, a plane being a 2D construct. A plane, as a geometric unit, cannot have levels, otherwise it would be a series of planes rather than a plane, much like a building has floors. We do not call a building a floor. Floors are levels and a building is a location in 3D space. Astral regions perhaps would be a better term, as astral space would be a better term for the collective of regions.
Other terminology I have found very useful is the Shamanic, “Lower World,” “Middle World” and “Upper World.”

IV.  Astral Regions

The experience of being awake and aware in a body that is asleep - The regions listed are my own invention based upon my own travels.


Region 1 - Noise & Mischief

I have not been able to achieve any sort of second body otherwise known as out of body experience during a meditative state. Although projections have occurred that I would consider from the astral realm I have only experienced them within the physical body as passing images. A region perhaps but it is simply a region of its own much like the passing images when falling asleep or lying on a massage table under the care of the trained hands of the massage therapist. The sensation of being awake in a sleeping body happens on its own after at least four hours of sleep. Often it is accompanied by sleep paralysis and visits from unwanted sensations that seem to enter the room. This could well be associated with the succubus but I find them to be somewhat benign and only reinforce the out of body experience. Since they do bite, a little sensation can go a long way. Most of the visits I refer to as cats but often they feel humanoid. More disturbing are the ones that provide the sensation of claws digging into my back or legs. I usually shake them off. If I reach out and try to grab them then will retract or push away my advance Sometimes there is noise, like a radio talking, or I will hear conversations, or music. My guess is that this region is very close in vibration to physical reality and that what we call ghosts will pass through trying to make contact with anybody or anything that remotely resembles the life they once had.

Region 2 - Realization

I realize that I am not in a normal waking state. I am awake but my body is asleep. A term used by Robert Monroe is, “mind awake, body asleep.” The sensations and disturbances from Region One are gone. Perhaps my mind is more quiet as I am not troubled by the thoughts of the day and the concerns about future offenses. I am motivated to leave the bed, but not in the heavy, lugubrious motion that affects me in the morning, but a leap or a bounce. I fling myself out of bed and may land on the floor. I am shaky getting up. The sensation of movement lacks the heaviness of the body. I am off balance as the weight of my physical body, and the pain associated with moving it, are absent. This is what Robert Monroe calls the second body.
Region Three - Altered Environment.  Once the second body comes fully into focus and I am balanced I am able to perceive the familiar environment. The bed, the walls, closet doors, dresser are all where they should be, however the longer I examine the environment the more I notice differences. The doorknob may be on the wrong side of the door, or shelf may have different objects, the ceiling is higher, or the paintings are gone. The projection of reality is rebooting: similar but not the same. 

Region 3 - Others

While in Region 3 I have had numerous encounters with other “beings” that are distinctly human. They have personality and we have mutual recognition, that is, we meet and greet. Often I am extremely happy to greet them, as if I am encountering a friend or family member who I was very fond of but had not seen in many, many years. Who are they? I have never really cared to ask while having the experience, but some have period costume so my GUESS is that they are past life friends returning to visit and assure me that what ever happened 200 years ago is long past and we are all on our present track. Or, they are some aspect of myself that is being integrated. Or, both. However, the emotion produced is very strong of the “oh I am so glad to see you!” quality.

Region 3 - Outside the Bedroom

I have three ways to leave the room. If me “astral legs” are in balance, I move out the door into the hallway and inspect the house. The house will hold its basic layout, but the details will have changed as if any thoughts I have had about the arrangement have become manifest. It is usually messier than normal but there is less. Perhaps my mind is simplifying while adding and changing the details. Or the “projector” wants to alter for some reason unknown to me. The physical plane sensory system is asleep in bed and the “I” portion is wide awake depending on other input sources to create reality. Sometimes there are other folk in the room, some I know, others unfamiliar. Other dreamers they may be, wandering about the neighborhood, and into my sphere of awareness.

Region 3 - Leaving the House

I will leave the house through the front door, the back door, or the window. As usual, the environment will change slightly but more so as I am further from the house. Often the entire scene will go black and all I have is the sensation of my feet on rough ground. I never have shoes. I will feel the roughness of gravel impeded in concrete, or the prickles of dry grass. No light to see or illuminate the scene. If however I maintain awareness and do not retreat to the confines of my physical body, I street lamp may offer some illumination, then lights from houses. I will see the outlines of trees, then the familiar neighborhood scene opens to view. 

Region 4 - Exploring Familiar Territory

I consider the beginning of illumination a transition point into the next level of awareness. The projector is turned on so to speak. The neighborhood invites me to explore and visit. I often go to a house and ask for entry, which is always given and interact with the inhabitants, who do not resemble the physical plane occupants in the normal locations. Each house is very different, more so than the 40 years of changes that have occurred since the houses were constructed in one big appropriation of farmland that was once oak forest. (Individual stories are captioned below sketches)

Region 5 - Leaving the Familiar Territory Into New Spheres

A walk might take me around the corner where I am still in familiar territory but I may encounter another transition point where I am in an entirely new environment. Once I am picked up by a flying creature, maybe an eagle, and dropped miles away into a pool of muck in front of a farm house. Unscathed I approach the house, knock, and I am invited in to interact with the inhabitants. Another time I and picked up into a vehicle which flies over a massive city with many different neighborhoods and finally land in an impoverished zone and I am invited to magically provide food. And another I hitch a ride with a friend who provides service for the recently deceased. He drops me off at a neighborhood of small houses that reveal the personalities of the inhabitants.

Region 6 - Other Exits

Twice I have left the body through the top of my head. I feel a pressure sensation, then a push. The first time I entered a realm of golden tinted clouds that opened a tunnel shape. As beautiful as it was, I could not maintain the motion and slipped back into my body. The second time I moved out of body, but stood encountering two dark face shapes with beady eyes. The room was more of a blue fog with a warm gold light in the distance and the sound of pounding metal coming from the same area. The two masks grabbed my hand and my impulse, was to fight them off. With a few shakes they were gone, however the bluish glow was gone and I was in the Region 2 bedroom environment.

Region 6 - Underworld

 Only once have I gone into a hole in the Earth and descended. A very favorite place but difficult to enter.

CATS: Their sharp claws will poke my back but I think they are astral cats who when awake, are in their cat bodies doing their cat things, and when asleep, the becoming out of body cats who enjoy a little mischief. However, they are useful because they alert me to my state of consciousness.

Pulling on a cable but the cable does not give. The harder the pull, the more rigid it becomes.

A common event while in second body is looking back at the sleeping physical body. I have yet to really see it. I will see piles of sheets but not the physical body. This leads me to believe that I have separated from the physical plane in a way that relies on dream reality. 

The Out of Body I speak of is actually within a body. Another or second body contains my awareness. Like a space suit it allows me to explore the dimension that is not accessible to the waking, physical body. 

Often, when I leave the house, my surroundings degrade into darkness, sometimes pitch black. If I affirm illumination then forms begin to appear. The neighborhood comes into light but always with transformation.

The zone of noise. Before attending to out of body I occasionally hear various sounds as if somebody is having a party while I am sleeping.

Vibration stimulates the nervous system while the gray matter, or Neo cortex, creates meaning. The meaning is called reality. Consensus reality is the common perception, that is, red is the same when viewed by everyone, and a chair is a chair.

WORDS ARE VIBRATIONS: Through language we are able to share our thoughts. The words have a very powerful effect on the mind, conjuring images which trigger more thoughts and emotions. We share our experiences and commonality through words.

A journey will stabilize when the lights come on. I will begin to see very bright lights which illuminate the scene.