Astral World Overview

All of these are on different vibratory levels. While some are consciously controlled, others are not. To project consciously is to project at "will." In this section I will be primarily discussing the act of "astral" or "etheric" projection.

Etheric or Astral Projection is the act of your astral body leaving your physical body. When your astral body leaves your physical body, it (you) take all of your physical sensory equipment (sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell) as well as your consciousness with you. Meanwhile, your body lies as if in a coma or deep sleep, completely unaware of anything until you return to it.

When you first succeed in "willful" astral projection, you will no doubt be startled, shocked, surprised and/or frightened to realize yourself separated into two parts and that you still possess of all your faculties. Your initial reaction to this experience will most likely be one that (unless you are prepared for it) causes your "instant" return (a snap back) to your physical body.

The experience of finding yourself separated from your physical body will probably be unlike anything you may have anticipated. You will be able to see and hear, but until you adjust yourself to this new environment/condition, you will not be able to touch anything; Your hand will go right through everything. Walls and doors will be no obstacle to your passage, nor will distance.

When your astral body first leaves your physical body/shell/container, you will have entered one of the lowest levels or planes of the astral world. With knowledge, training and experience, you will come to realize that there are different vibratory levels or planes in the astral world and that you can move (travel) from one to the other by raising or lowering the vibratory rate of your etheric vehicle.

With practice, it is possible to lower the vibratory rate of the etheric vehicle to the point where it is nearly that of the physical plane, yet high enough to prevent returning to the physical body. In this case, solid objects do present a barrier and the etheric form is faintly visible to ordinary physical sight. Sightings such as these can be seen or referred to as "ghosts," but they are not ghost in the true sense of the word because they are not physically dead.

Note: The photo on the left is for illustration purposes only. I've examined this photo in Photoshop and I have some problems with it. However, it does serve as a good visual of how the etheric form duplicates the physical form, even if the photo may be a photographic time exposure and/or superimposed image.
SOURCE: Ghoststudy.com

While in this lower vibratory state, it is also possible to move small and light physical objects, and with the help of the presence of some people (in their physical bodies) who are willing to lend their energies (consciously or not) it is possible to move heavier objects. This is one method of how the "poltergeists phenomena" is performed: Using (tapping) the energies from others to move physical objects about and demonstrate seemingly miraculous manifestations. Since these performances are largely mischievous and childish, they may be the result of activity by discarnate childish spirits, who usually use (tap) the energies of living children who are present at the time.

It should be noted however, that lowering the vibratory rate to this lowly level is extremely difficult to control. When the astral body lowers to a certain point, it automatically snaps back to the physical vehicle.

The opposite of lowering the vibratory rate is the raising of the vibratory rate up to almost sublime heights. As your vibratory rate increases, the atmosphere (so to speak) becomes finer and finer. The higher the vibratory rate, the more we rid ourselves of sensual interests and satisfactions. The feeling of well-being increases and the discomfort of the physical state no longer exists.

When you first free yourself from your physical body and you're moving about in your bedroom or other rooms in your house or apartment, you will notice very little difference. You will walk about as before. But what do you do if you want to travel to a distant location? The well-trained and experienced can accomplish this by using the technique of "mentally" placing themselves where they wish to be. For the rest however, the simplest and fastest way to travel is to literally fly in the air, like a bird, or like a plane, or like Superman, seriously, because to walk would take too long.

Read on and we will explore the Astral World,
its inhabitants and
the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all.

SOURCE:
The Astral World by Llewellyn
Wisdom of the Mystic Masters by Joseph Weed
The Astral World by Swami Panchadasi

Top image:
Hermes, Eros, Aphrodite — Theoi Project, Guide to Greek Mythology

A note about my reference sources. I have read many books, reference materials and articles about this subject and many related to it, including personal conversations with many people, a few of whom I realize only now how lucky I was to be in their company, let alone discuss esoteric subject matter with them. Unfortunately, nearly all of the source information is now lost and long forgotten. I searched many of my notebooks but I seem to have neglected to write down their sources. These sources are forever lost; only snippets of the knowledge I learned/studied over the years have been preserved. And, strangely enough, a lot of my quest/thirst for this esoteric knowledge came when I was in my 20s.

I can remember however, of all the source information, there is/was one interesting observation I have noticed: although all this learned information/knowledge came from a wide variety of sources, essentially, they all had the same basic understanding; they just used different words. There were a few sources however, very few mind you, and very old, with esoteric knowledge/secrets? that were soooooooo deep, it was impossible for me to comprehend at the time. Now, 25 years later! I think I might be able to understand. Maybe. (If only I could remember the names of a few of those seemingly ancient texts.)

So although you don't see a lot of SOURCES listed on my website, believe me when I say the knowledge I reveal to you on my website is from a mixture of many sources. Also, I want you to know that I do not profess to be an expert on this or any subject on my website. I am only a Student; a student on the Path of Knowledge and Enlightenment, just like the rest of us on this Material Plane whether we realize it or not.