Introduction
This article is an attempt to provide the reader with information
that hopefully will be enough to form a clear idea of what the astral plane is.
About the Excerpts
In compiling this article I have borrowed from several
sources, which goes against my intention of always trying to use excerpts from Master
Samael’s works. However, for just this time and perhaps for a few other times
in the future, here are some excerpts that provide an interesting and clear
explanation of what the Astral plane is.
Occult Planes Excerpts
“The occult planes of
nature can be thought of as occult physics. For the idea of the planes posits
that there are whole worlds of energies beyond the ken of our perception,
energies of which modern scientists are completely ignorant.
Again, we are flying
in the face of common knowledge. Sure, scientists grant that there are x-rays,
radioactivity, ultraviolet radiation, and even infinitely minute worlds of
subatomic particles and neutrinos. But to say that there are whole worlds, full
of life and activity and strange creatures, that exist beyond the ken of our
physical senses is a complete absurdity to the modern scientist. However, this
is exactly what the planes are. Each plane is a world, a giant world full of
all kinds of strange and exotic places and creatures with sights and sounds
that dwarf anything we know of here in the physical world.
I should point out too
that there are other names you might hear of that refer to the planes. Such
terms are: “dimensions”, “aethyrs”, “lokas”, “realms”. Each of these terms
essentially means “plane” or “world”.
Now, again, and to
keep your interest at this point, let me remind you that once you learn to
astral project for yourself, then you can determine whether or not this is all
so much fantasy. Keeping this in mind, let's define these planes a little
better.
In the most commonly
accepted schemes of the planes, it’s taught that there are seven planes and
that we humans can access the 4 lowest planes.
The common names of
the seven planes are:
1. Physical Plane
(which includes the Etheric Plane)
2. Astral Plane
3. Mental Plane
4. Buddhic Plane
5. Atmic Plane
6. Anupadaka Plane
7. Adi Plane
Now, let's define each
of these planes.
1. The Physical Plane.
This is the world you are sitting in right now. The physical plane is the
familiar world of our everyday life. In the occult scheme, there are aspects of
the physical world that are invisible to our senses, and these invisible
aspects of the physical plane are called the “etheric plane”. Above I mentioned
x-rays, radioactivity, ultra-violet radiation and subatomic particles. In the
occult world-view, these energies are “etheric” energies, and again, this
simply means these are energies of the physical plane that we cannot perceive
with the senses of our physical body. As we will discuss below, and is actually
quite important to the endeavour of astral projecting, occultists claim we have
a body made of etheric energies and they call this our “etheric body”. It’s
very likely that many of you will actually have experiences in your etheric
body once you start attempting to project. Again, this will all be explained in
due course.
2. The Astral Plane.
The astral plane is described of as a world of emotion and desire. On this
plane our emotions and desires are actually ‘living creatures’. Also, according
to occultists, the astral plane is where people go immediately after they die.
“Dead people” (actually, “discarnate” people) do not stay forever on the astral
plane, it’s only a temporary stop after death. In this regard, the idea of
“purgatory” is related to the idea of the astral plane.
Also on the astral
plane are a whole host of creatures and inhabitants that are native to that
plane, such as fairies, devas, and other such things.”
Excerpt from: “What
is Astral Projection”, by Donald
Degracia
About the Dimensions or Planes of Nature
There are a few different versions regarding the planes of
nature. They all however, coincide in there being seven dimensions. They only
differ in the names and qualities given to each dimension or plane. The above
excerpt has given one version and I believe that this is the Theosophical
version, or at least very close to it.
The Gnostic version of the dimensions or planes of nature agrees
with the Theosophical version, however it is presented a little differently. The
Gnostic version makes use of the Kabbalistic tree of life and the seven bodies of
the human being.
More reference will be made to this in the next article which
is concerned with the astral body.
Excerpts – Astral Plane the Fifth Dimension
“The astral is one of
two planes of the fifth dimension; it is the place where dreams occur, where
mystical teachings are given and where the deceased go. It is more than that
though because it is a complete dimension of life, waiting to be explored.”
Excerpt from: “A
Course in Astral Travel”, by Mark
Pritchard
“The Astral is the first
of two planes of the fifth dimension. There are seven dimensions in total, most
people know what the first three dimensions are and the fourth is known to
science, which is time. Science in quantum physics postulates the likelihood of
parallel universes existing and includes the fifth dimension in this, due to
the discovery that minute particles behave unpredictably according to laws
different to ours. They are correct in this since the laws of the fifth
dimension are different and it is at this molecular level that the physical and
fifth dimensions meet.”
Excerpt from: “A
Course in Astral Travel”, by Mark
Pritchard
Summary
The Astral plane is a dimension of nature that is a material
dimension just as this physical one is, only that the material of the astral
plane, that is astral matter, is a lot lighter in density than physical matter
is. There are though dimensions that are above it and are even less dense then
it is. Of course the general rule applies, the higher the dimension the more spiritual
it is.
The astral has been described as the middle dimension, that
is the dimension which meditates between the higher more spiritual dimensions and
the lower denser dimensions such as the physical dimension. It has been called
the dimension of desire because it corresponds to the world of emotions of
nature. Within the astral plane we may find the expression of our own emotions
and the emotions of others. The positive and negative emotions, also within the
astral plane there are doorways into the very lower infra-dimensions of nature which
are a whole different topic.
It is a whole complete realm or dimension of life, that is, it
has life just like the physical dimension does, it contains life, astral life
made of astral matter and it is possible for the human being to visit using the
astral body if a person has one or using one’s consciousness. The next article
addresses the topic of the astral body.
End (747).
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