We are about to discuss an idea that is centuries old and drives many to believe with certainty
in the existence of life after death. This idea is currently known as Astral Projection
where a person is able to leave their physical body at will and take a tour of the entire
universe without any physical restrictions! But before you start to project your consciousness
out into the universe, be sure to subscribe to our channel for more great content ahead!
Alright, so what is this Astral Projection business all about?
Let’s take a look at some different points of view, namely,
the Esoteric view and the current Scientific view to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon.
For many, Astral Projection or Astral Travel and the Out-Of-Body experience referred to as OBE
are often considered to be the same. However, Astral Projection is a type of OBE that is
intentional rather than involuntary. It assumes the existence of a soul or consciousness
called an "Astral Body" that is separate from the physical body and is capable of traveling outside
the physical body throughout the universe. Both Astral Projection and Out-Of-Body experiences
can occur with varying levels of awareness since this kind of projection of one’s soul
or consciousness is believed to occur naturally and usually without awareness while sleeping.
The complete aware experience of astral projection though can also be achieved through meditation,
relaxation, and hypnosis. This implies that the terms “Astral Projection” or “Astral Travel” can
be used to refer explicitly to the experience of leaving the confines of bodily consciousness,
allowing one to travel inter-dimensionally. The projector is always connected to their physical
body through something called a “Silver Cord” which can extend indefinitely but always keeps
the person attached and brings them back into their physical body. These ideas all fall into
esotericism that can be described as a Western form of spirituality that stresses the importance
of the effort to gain spiritual knowledge and confront the divine aspect of existence. The idea
of astral travel is ancient and is seen to occur across multiple cultures throughout histories
such as the Egyptian culture, Christianity, Hinduism, Chinese teachings, and more.
According to this view, there are different dimensions that occur at different frequencies
with different energy levels. In occult teachings and as held by psychics and other
esoteric authors there are seven planes of existence. These include the Physical Plane,
the Astral plane, the Mental Plane, the Buddhic Plane, the Spiritual Plane, the Devine Plane,
and the Logoic Plane. However, we will only be looking at the Astral Planes since astral
projection is known to only occur in the astral planes. There are also some sub-levels between
these seven planes which we should understand to get a clear view of Astral projection.
In terms of energy, the Physical Plane, where we live, is described as a dense and limiting place
where one can only rely on their five physical senses in order to interact with
their environment. The next sub-dimension which is closest to the physical Plane is
called the real-time zone. This has some properties of physical reality
as well as those of the dimensions which lie beyond it. So, the real-time zone is kind of
like a mirror to the physical plane while also containing some parts of non-physical realities.
This is why the real-time zone is the dimension in which most projectors find themselves
when first learning to consciously project. Immediately beyond or above this sub-dimension
in terms of the standard progression is the dream plane, which is where dreaming – both lucid and
non-lucid – occurs. This environment is much more malleable and responsive to the influence of the
perceiver than the real-time zone or the physical plane. Though there are some differences, the
dream plane is often considered part of a larger dimensional descriptor which is the astral plane,
usually referred to in plural form, planes, because there seems to be an infinite number
of them. They are often described in the standard dimensional terms of a higher and lower vibration.
These mythicized "astral planes" are considered to be the home of not only souls finding their
way to their next life or final resting place, but also angels and spirits that are more than human.
There are 3 main types of Astral planes, lower planes, middle planes, and higher planes.
In the lower Astral Planes, which vibrate at a very low frequency,
one can expect to find lost souls and demonic creatures
making these low-frequency planes very dark places to avoid when practicing Astral Projection.
The middle planes vibrate at a higher frequency making them beautiful places of exploration. All
objects in these planes have their own energy emanating out from them and it is believed that
one can perceive past, future, and present events since the concept of time is not the same in these
middle planes. The higher astral planes, vibrating at very high frequencies, are beyond comprehension
for most people and are referred to as “Heavens” or “Summer Lands” by different religious groups.
This place is known to be pure and angelic since angels reside in these higher astral planes. The
angels are said to guide those who are able to visit such high-frequency astral planes.
In terms of the scientific understanding of this phenomenon,
currently, we do not have any proof of whether these Astral planes really exist.
The current research on this topic only relies on anecdotal records of people that are known
to practice astral projection because we cannot measure whether a person’s soul or consciousness
really leaves or enters the body. Since no evidence of consciousness is seen to exist
independent of the physical processes in the brain, mainstream science usually rejects the
idea of Astral Projection as proposed by its proponents and practitioners.
In order to test the validity of some of the claims made by Astral Projection proponents,
scientists have run some simple experiments in the past. For example, In 1978, a practitioner
of Astral Projection, Ingo Swann, provided a test of his alleged ability to astral travel to Jupiter
and observe details of the planet. Actual findings and information were
later compared to Swann's claimed observations; according to an evaluation by James Randi,
Swann's accuracy was "unconvincing and unimpressive" with an overall score of 37 percent.
This made Arthur W. Wiggins, a writer on such topics, conclude that astral
travel could be an illusion that looks to neuroanatomy, human belief, imagination,
and prior knowledge to provide prosaic explanations for those claiming to experience it.
Furthermore, According to Bob Bruce of the Queensland Skeptics Association,
Astral Projection is "just imagining", or "a dream state" which agrees with Psychologist
Donovan Rawcliffe’s observations that astral projection can be explained by delusion,
hallucination, and vivid dreams. Moreover, another researcher, Susan Blackmore, explains that people
who experience astral travel "have been found to score higher on measures of hypnotisability
and, in several surveys, on measures of absorption.
This is a measure of a person's ability to pay complete attention to something
and to become immersed in it, even if it is not real, like a film, play, or [an] imagined event."
Despite all these scientific findings on the topic,
practitioners of Astral Projection insist that their experiences are real.
They insist that there must be these different planes of existence alongside the physical plane
where the consciousness or the soul goes after the physical body expires. However,
so far, scientifically speaking, we have no evidence of these out-of-body experiences
existing outside of the physical brain let alone the existence of different Planes of reality.
So, what do you think? Do you believe in the existence of consciousness or the soul
independent of your physical self? Have you ever projected your consciousness and visited any of
the Astral Planes? If so, we would love to hear it in the comments down below! If you like this video
give it a thumbs up and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for more videos like this one.
Also, let us know your ideas for future topics in the comment section,
and we might make a video on your idea. Until then, we'll see you in the next one!