The web of life is very mysterious indeed. Every intention, thought, prayer, and act of magick travels at will along this web. It connects every astral plane, physical location, thought, emotion, and, well, everything—period. All things are linked, and intention creates our reality through this perceivable web. It is nonphysical, of course, existing outside the boundaries of normal human perception. The appearance of separateness between people, objects, items, and thoughtforms is the veil of illusion, known in Buddhism as maya. The great web exists beyond this illusion. This astral web, both infinite and etheric, is the true shadow of the dimension in which we find ourselves incarnate.
In ritual, we enter a sacred space between the physical plane and the Otherworld. This Otherworld is very much connected with the ordinary waking realm, yet it remains separate in everyday life because of the separation of ego and the Higher Self. Though interconnectedness is so often veiled, spiritual paths rooted in shamanic practices—such as Neopagan paths—understand that no portion of life is isolated from the next. Think of a place and your energy is immediately transported there.
Visualize someone and you’ve aligned with their energy pattern. The web interconnects “this” to
“that,” and it’s through this web that astral travel is possible.
Among Pagans, it’s often accepted that the astral plane and physical plane were much closer together at one time, but grew farther apart as ignorance and intolerance began infecting the masses.
Many of the realities seen in times past became buried and avoided as the vibration of fear overtook the common minds of subsequent generations.
Quantum physics recognizes the fact that all atoms making up physical reality are in a constant state of vibration. They are constantly moving—slow or fast—showing that nothing is truly solid; all matter is made of atoms condensed at different vibratory rates. It has been discovered that the entire atom, from the electrons to the nucleus, is constantly jumping in and out of reality. The particles exist, disappear, and return to the physical plane constantly. Where do they go?
Though I’m not an expert in quantum mechanics, my supposition is that the particles enter the astral plane—parallel with our reality, yet invisible to our physical eyes. If this is to be believed, an exact imprint of our physical reality exists on the astral, alongside exclusively astral matter. Many astral travelers note the visibility of the physical plane when seeing with “astral sight.” The objects exist as real (or unreal) figures on the astral, just as they do on the physical. Because the astral is formed through thought and intention, these physical imprints are also mutable. The mind shapes the astral and determines the astral experience. The plane itself is a collection of thoughts and is constantly changing form. Physical laws don’t necessarily apply to the subtle realms, and the traveler is unrestricted as with mortal existence. Both physics and metaphysics confirm the existence of additional dimensions, which adds to the validity of the astral plane.
The astral is the plane on which emotion, imagination, and thought exist. The astral is the realm of pure unconsciousness. Dreaming exists on the astral as co-created by the mind. Visionary experiences and the effects of many drugs tap into the astral realm as well.
The occult philosopher Eliphas Lévi theorized that all magickal energy is composed of “astral light,” and this ethereal matter is the essence of the subtle realms. Writer and magician John Michael Greer describes the astral realm as existing between the time-space restricted physical/etheric planes and the timeless and spaceless mental/spiritual planes. This is one of the most concise descriptions I
have found. It must still be kept in mind that many branches of occultism characterize the etheric, physical, mental, and spiritual planes as all interwoven, so the divisions between them may go only so far as one’s own perception of them.
The astral plane has various levels and layers; some say the levels are infinite, which makes perfect sense considering the infinite nature of the mind and cosmos. With proper focus, planes that have been previously created may be accessed, or new ones can be formed. Many magicians and Witches actually create personal lodges—temple spaces—in the astral plane, which they access to perform astral magick. Many have found it just as effective as performing magick on the physical plane, if not more so. At the same time, however, when magick is performed on the physical plane it is identically performed on the astral. When energy is worked within ritual, its essence is drawn from the astral. This idea holds true for anyone who casts spells with actual intention, not simply going through the motions of blending herbs, stones, candles, and the like.
The astral plane contains a variety of beings, including departed spirits, thoughtforms, larvæ, spirit guides, animal guides, astral “floaters,” scavengers, faeries, elementals, dragons, shapeshifters, and a wide array of other ethereal residents, including creatures mythologized in many cultures. These beings may be contacted on the astral journey. Some are vibrationally restricted to a single form, though most can shapeshift at will. The form in which they choose to appear to the astral voyager is up to the being itself, which usually knows the best guise under which to approach the seeker.
Friends and magickal partners can meet in the astral plane if the appropriate time and place are secured. The two people must energetically link beforehand. They can talk on the phone or in person just before the projection to exchange vibrations, then reconnect moments later on the astral. If the two are very close, it will be easier to connect. If either is new to astral projection, the experience will take time and practice to become more real. When they project simultaneously, the two can shapeshift together, travel side by side, and journey to distant astral territories. If the two are also next to each other physically, short sentences can be spoken if telepathy isn’t a viable option, so long as brief speaking doesn’t break the trance or bring one back to the body.
Various teas, spells, sigils, and focal exercises can help achieve astral projection if the ability doesn’t come naturally. Experiment with various methods and find what works best for you. The first plane you perceive is sure to be the mental plane, where thoughts run rampant. Though it’s tough at first to distinguish between the thought plane and the astral, know that one builds on the next and that they’re closer together than they may seem.
Before attempting astral projection, ensure that proper protection is in place. Evils exist just as much on the astral plane as they do on this one. The only difference is, instead of hurting you physically, they can sap your energy—and this can be just as devastating!
Many people fear leaving the body. This unconscious fear is rooted in losing control of the physical body and possibly opening it up to harm if left behind. If astral projection is approached as similar to sleeping, it will be understood that the body is in no greater danger than it is every night.
For detailed information on achieving astral projection, I highly recommend the following books (also listed in the bibliography):
Initiation into Hermetics by Franz Bardon
Soul Flight: Astral Projection & the Magical Universe by Donald Tyson
Mastering Astral Projection: 90-Day Guide to Out-of-Body Experience by Robert Bruce &
Brian Mercer