Astral Plane of Existence

Many have heard and even experienced the mystery of astral projection. It is the state in which a soul leaves its physical body and begins roaming the astral plane of existence, a place that is finer than the etheric realm but is denser and feels more realistic than the mental plane. The Astral Plane is also called the astral world. It is a plane of existence that has been postulated by medieval, oriental, esoteric, and classical, mostly neo-classical, philosophies to define a world that is beyond the surface world. It is a world made up of planetary spheres where beings of heavenly features, such as angels, immaterial beings and spirits, dwell and is crossed by a soul during birth or after death.

The Astral Plane has first been postulated by two Greek philosophers namely Plato and Aristotle. They taught that the heavenly stars are made up of matter largely different from the four earthly elements, which they called a fifth, ethereal element or quintessence. In astral mysticism that originated in the classical world, the human psyche was made up of the same material which explains the influence of the stars in a human's health, birth, and other affairs. Even during the Greek Era, one Greek philosopher named Proclus commented on Plato's Timaeus, explaining that man is made of a mortal body and he is divided according to the universe. Further more, he stated that this belief explains why some are accustomed to relating the position of the fixed stars, or the planets, with their different features and attitudes. Today, according to many occult teachings and astral mysticism groups, the astral plane can be consciously reached through astral projection, meditation and the use of mantras, a near death experience or even something as simple as lucid dreaming.

There are also individuals that claim that they can separate their soul through the use of an astral vehicle and project his soul into the astral plane of existence. In early theosophical literature, astral may also refer to the aether. To reach the astral plane one must use an astral vehicle and project an astral body. The term astral body can also be used to refer to a body of emotion, desire or illusion. Desire stuff, according to Max Heindel is described as a force-matter in an incessant motion and is responsive to the slightest feeling. The desire world is also referred to be the abode of the dead where souls reside and is the home of the archangels, thus also part of the astral plane. There are also variations of the astral plane as stated by Paramhansa Yoganda's book titled Autobiography of a Yogi.

Here he mentions the astral plane as a place where karma or the result of past actions will take place. Either he will be punished or tormented or sent to rebirth will be decided by his karma. The Astral Plane of Existence basically defines a world that is very different from the one you stand on. It is a world of many mysteries and is often divided into "planes" where different beings reside. It is a portal to another world, and it is an important aspect in understanding the powers of the human soul.

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Yamaya Cruz is the author of "When The Shadows Began To Dance."
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