The New Astral World

This article was written by Carl Llewellyn Weschcke

 

Of course, the Astral World is not at all new. In reality, it is older than the Physical Universe, and far larger. The astral “world” (also called the astral plane, astral level, or astral dimension) is the term mainly used in occult and magical circles, whereas it is also more familiarly known as the “World of Spirit,” as well as the Emotional Level, the Dream World and the Plane of Desire, the Domain of the Gods & Inner World of Natural Forces, the AfterWorld, the AfterDeath Plane, the World of the Fantasy and Imagination, the Creative Dimension, and the many other names descriptive of the focus we have towards its denizens and our purpose towards it.

The Astral World is older and larger than the entire physical universe because it is the birthplace of physical manifestation; it is also the world not only of pre-manifestation but of the co-existence of physical forms with their astral matrixes and replicas. For example, every building on the material plane has a replica in the astral world, but that astral replica often contains additional images of desire, fantasy, fears, plans for change and expansion; the various lusts and concerns of its occupants and visitors; of maintenance and security workers; and everything related to emotion and imagination.

Most of these are of little or no consequence and quickly fade away; others are more enduring and may lead to changes in the building’s use and structure. If located in a big city, it can take on an astral character reflecting its reputation, its image as seen by passers by, and even more as it may be seen through the eyes of television viewers and readers of newspapers when it becomes identified with such events as crime, plans for renewal, as the scene for novels and movies, and every time it is reproduced in Imagination.

Imagination is New.
Of course, the imagination is a part of the human psyche and is just as old as is humanity. But the active imagination was long the province of the few—:the story teller and creator of myths, the priest and shaman. These individuals employed imagined images to contact forces and spirits and sometimes to bring them into visible appearance before a crowd or other witnesses; in more modern times, the active imagination became the engine of novels and the entertainment of large audiences.

Today, the active imagination is the everyday tool of “creative people”—advertising artists and copywriters, entertainment actors and writers, business visionaries and entrepreneurs, military planners and political strategists, scientists and creators of technology creators—as well as of the audiences for all of these who likewise see it all in their imagination.

What is “new” is that the “barriers” between the material plane and the astral world are becoming thinner, and our mind increasingly comprehends both worlds. We see more, hear more, feel more, perceive more richly, and function at greater depth and breadth.

But, just seeing and believing so much more is Not the same as acting with the creative power that is now potential in your expanding consciousness.

It is not—normally—that we are consciously aware and focused on the astral level, but rather that our conscious mind is expanding to be more inclusive of the astral without loss of physical awareness. Nevertheless, we can utilize our knowledge of this mind expansion to purposefully focus on techniques to enhance creativity in particular ways.

Because of this, it is incumbent to understand more of the nature of the Astral World, which is many layered like the geological strata in the walls of the Grand Canyon. Particular activities and particular denizens occupy different levels, or “sub-planes,” of the astral from the lower (near the physical/etheric plane) to the higher (nearer the mental and causal levels) according to their vibratory state.

Movement within the astral world and its sub-planes is possible both by its natural denizens and visitors and observers still embodied in the physical world. You don’t have to die to visit, communicate, or see and function at these different levels, and your focus on each level opens you up to particular astral resources and “powers.”

You Are “Here” Now!
You always have access to the astral level. It’s as intrinsic as breathing, thinking, feeling, working, playing, and loving. You are a multi-dimensional being, always functioning with some degree of astral and mental consciousness as normally you do with your physical body’s strength and etheric double’s energies.

It’s simple, really, though not just as simple as just pushing a button or flipping a switch. But, simply enough, it involves just three things: Knowledge, Practice, and Success. That’s why Dr. Joe Slate and I wrote Astral Projection for Psychic Empowerment to start you with knowledge and know-how about the astral body and plane needed to understand its nature and structure, and to know where you want to go and what you want to do; to provide you with the techniques and particular developmental exercises you need to practice to turn your innate psychic power into the skills you need; and to show you the actual benefits of your success in gaining and applying these skills.

You can say it takes work, but it’s joyful work because you are growing through it and becoming more than you are. It’s the true joy of learning and the ultimate joy of an empowered life. The astral is accessed through the psychic awareness that you gain with simple practice. It is the source of all magick and creativity; it’s the home of spirits and natural forces, of gods and goddesses, and of great teachers—learn how to communicate with them and your own higher self. You are fulfilling your destiny by becoming more of the Whole Person that is your potential, but still unrealized, fate.

Psychic Empowerment is simply, but wonderfully, the empowering of your greater self, the expanding consciousness that has opened in this New Age. Astral Projection is simply the focus of consciousness in the astral level that is always there for you. It is simply a means of getting “there” without ever leaving “here,” for the Greater World is opened to you with Knowledge and Practice.

Astral Projection for Psychic Empowerment is more than just a book; it is the adventure of a fuller life, a life of expanded sensation and perception, a life of greater purpose and Self-Realization.

 

COPYRIGHT (2013) Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. All rights reserved

Direct link to the article: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2338

 

 

 

 

Astral Projection: Why You Want to Leave Your Body

This article was written by Carl Weschcke

 

Most of us already understand that we are multi-dimensional beings: both a spiritual self/soul inhabiting a physical body and an ethereal body (or astral body, a mental body, a causal body, and maybe a few others). Different esoteric systems give them different names; some list more and some fewer, and those names different languages (such as Sanskrit, Hebrew, Egyptian, Chinese, etc.) do not always easily translate one to the other or to English. Essentially, all agree that between the Big Self (or true spiritual individuality) and the little self (or personality), there is what is most commonly called “the astral body.”
YOU are not the physical body, nor the astral body, nor any of the others mentioned. You are NOT the personality you most commonly identify as your “self.”

That gets pretty confusing. If not this, and not that—who, or what, are you?

The answers can get very complex, depending on the source of reference. To keep it simple, the basic concept is that there is a something we most commonly think of as “soul.” The first difficultly is to realize that you do not have a soul: a soul has you! However, just as important is to realize that “you” are not (yet) the soul! It is this soul that we will say is the big YOU, but that still leaves a little self that is where you are right now.
You are a little you that is the person or personality that we most commonly identify with. At some far distant time, you will be able to identify with and fully express the big YOU, the soul. In the mean time, it is your job to grow and evolve to become worthy and eventually able to become one with your soul. And, even that scenario fails, because it is not the personality that is permanent—only the soul is. But the soul grows and evolves through the experience of the personalities. By seeking out opportunities to expand your awareness and to gain experiences, you are fulfilling the responsibility assigned to you.

Imagine, for the moment, a deep-sea diver all suited up in an insulated rubber pressure suit with a steel helmet connected to a surface boat with an air hose and a communications cable. You are the person in the diving suit and your vision is limited to what you can see out of a small window in your helmet. You are dependent on that air hose connecting you with an air pump on the surface boat operated by a crew of various professionals who occasionally communicate with you, asking questions and giving instructions.

Somewhere on the boat there is a captain in charge of the operation. In addition, rarely seen by even the captain, there is an admiral who is the real YOU, the big Self. The admiral has a lot to think about, and only occasionally does that include you down in the diving suit—and yet, you are extremely important to him. You are as the Son is to the Father, and someday you will learn everything there is to learn so that you can replace him as admiral while he moves on to an even more important position.

Your job is to learn everything you can, and once in a while you may communicate with your father—and sometimes he will hear you. As you learn more, he hears you more often and sometimes he will give you guidance in your work and research. But, basically you have to ask, and only sometimes will you get an answer.

Now, once in a while, you can come to the surface and get out of your heavy diving suit and wander around the boat in a comfortable shirt and jeans. You are free of that heavy suit that is your physical body and now you are using your astral body. It is not the real you either, but the world of the surface ship that gives you more freedom and a different perspective than you had at the bottom of the sea. Trouble is, you will wake up and find yourself back in the diving suit at the bottom of the ocean and hardly remember your trip to the surface.

Let’s give you a control mechanism that will allow you to come to the surface more often, perhaps every night if you wish. Now, unless you remember how nice it is on the surface, you may rarely use the control. But, when you do start remembering, you want to travel to the surface more often and as you remember more from both locations you will expand your horizons and knowledge now of two worlds. As you experience more, the admiral may find more reasons to communicate with you and to answer questions you have.

Think of it: At one time, you knew only the world seen through a little window in your steel helmet, and you were confined by a heavy rubber pressure suit and limited in your movements by the tether of your air hose and communications cable. Later, on the surface, you are more and more free to roam the entire boat, to see the stars overhead, and sometimes even encounter other ships.

Why wouldn’t you want to spend more time on the boat?

That’s one reason you want to astral project. In doing so, you expand your awareness, learn so much more, and are able to communicate more often with the admiral. And now you also know that you are more than a heavy rubber body. And you are no longer limited to the tether of an air hose. With the understanding given to you by this experience you begin to perceive that there are still other dimensions and other bodies. You may move on to a luxury cruise ship where there is a large library and various seminars given. And you may soon be given an opportunity to fly, moving from a ship to an airplane.

If this is astral projection, why wouldn’t you want to experience it?

In doing so, you now have a glimmer that you are more than that heavy body, and the more often you communicate with the admiral the more you realize that one day you will move on to greater opportunities and responsibilities. And, when you see that old rubber suit discarded as no longer usable, you will welcome the freedom of the higher world.

One final note: Now that you understand this greater universe and the role that you can fulfill, you feel the responsibility calling for you to explore these new worlds and to grow to fill your father’s shoes.

That’s why you want to experience astral projection.

Here are some important resources:

• Practical Guide to Astral Projection: The Out-of-Body Experience, by Denning & Phillips. This was our first book to actually make astral projection a practical and useful experience, rather than either bizarre paranormal phenomena or an esoteric magical practice for adepts only. Practical astral projection is a whole new approach to self-understanding and self-help.

 

• Deep Mind Tape for Astral Projection, by Denning & Phillips. Voice guidance to leaving the body.
  Astral Projection Kit Includes copy of Practical Astral Projection book and Deep Mind Tape for Astral Projection.

 

• Mastering Astral Projection: 90-Day Guide to Out-of-Body Experience, by Robert Bruce & Brian Mercer. Includes a CD-ROM with vibratory sound patterns to effectively aid the OBE practice.

 

• Mastering Astral Projection CD Companion, A 6-CD set of guidance and vibratory sound patterns in a step-by-step process.

 

• Soul Flight: Astral Projection & the Magical Universe, by Donald Tyson. The first book to propose the astral plane as a dimension of consciousness, with astral doorways into this incredible experience.

 

• Astral Projection for Beginners, by Edain McCoy. Six different methods to project through the chakras, step out of your dreams, and more.

 

• Astral Projection Plain & Simple: The Out-of-Body Experience, by Osborne Phillips. Advanced techniques, including astral healing, time travel, animal spirit guides, and more.

 

• Astral Travel for Beginners: Transcend Time and Space, by Richard Webster.

 

• Astral Voyages: Mastering the Art of Interdimensional Travel, by Dr. Bruce Goldberg. Sixty-five exercises train you to safely leave your physical body to explore the higher dimensions.

 

• Lucid Dreaming for Beginners: Simple Techniques for Creating Interactive Dreams, by Mark McElroy

 

 

Copyright © 2013, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Direct link to article: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1374

 

 

 

 

Astral Travel: How Does It Work?

Reader Question:
For quite some time now I have been trying to separate my astral body by using the following method: I lie flat on my back, breath deeply and slowly, and enter a state of deep relaxation, as I learned to do through autogenic training. Then I try to separate my astral body from my physical body until it floats roughly a foot and a half above me. But I still have not had any luck, although I have been practicing several times a day for months. I read that one should shift his or her awareness to the astral body to be able to function in it. But how exactly can that work if I am not even sure whether I am out of my body or not? What should I do? Can you help?

Author’s Answer:
Lots of magicians struggle with the same problem, beginners in particular. That may not offer much consolation, but maybe I have some tips that will help. The technique you described for astral travel is surely the most common. For some people it works in just a short time, but not for everyone. That may be due to insufficient imagination training, but of course that does not help the affected person very much.

Maybe you could try the following exercise instead: Determine a location that you want to visit astrally. Instead of lying down, sit in a comfortable position. (As with any type of astral work, it is important here that you make sure that you will not be disturbed. Because if a dear family member bursts into the room or the dachshund insists on being let outside, this can have a subtle yet long-lasting negative effect on your practice.) Now expand your body roughly half an inch with each breath. This is done only in the imagination, is fairly easy to do, and often produces fast results.

When you have expanded to roughly twice your normal size, continue the process with even greater dimensions. Inches become feet, and feet become miles, and so on. Don’t worry too much about the actual act of leaving your body, since that’s not what it is really about. After all, a person usually wants to travel astrally in order to perform a sort of remote divination—e.g., to determine what a good friend is currently doing for the purpose of remote healing. Therefore, remember that it is not necessarily all about the astral body. Personally, I tend to speculate that this ominous astral body is nothing more than a myth at best, one that makes it easier for us to tap into specific information from often faraway, remote sources.

One variation of this technique consists of proceeding little by little. For example, the first few times you would only move your astral arms out of your physical body, a bit later your whole upper body and head, and so on. But if you really only want to find out how your friend in the Canary Islands is doing, then always keep in mind that obtaining this remote information is your actual goal, regardless of how you get there, and not necessarily the act of buzzing around in an astral body. That should at least prevent any type of tension or grim determination.

Experienced magicians often do without astral travel altogether, since it is comparatively complicated whereas the desired information can often be obtained much faster and easier. However, this does not mean that a person should renounce astral travel altogether. On the contrary, this practice often leads to a greater exposure to what we like to call “intuition,” for lack of a better word and without truly understanding its origin.

This concept of having various human bodies, which was borrowed from theosophy, is surely a useful tool that everyone can relate to fairly well. But that’s still no reason to cling to it for eternity. Therefore, formulate your goals specifically. Determine for yourself what it is that you actually want to achieve, and if your practice gets dull, then just try something different for a while, as described here.

 

Author Information

Frater U.:D.: Frater U∴D∴ (Belgium), founder of Pragmatic and Ice Magic, is Europe’s best known practical magician and contemporary occult author. He has written more than twenty-five books. Among his translations are the books of Peter Carroll and Ramsey Dukes, and Aleister Crowley’s Book of Lies. Direct link to article:  http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2183