Other experiments may describe a domain that has no parallel with a known physical environment. Environments can be populated or uninhabited, artificial, natural or abstract, and the experience can be happy, terrible or neutral. A widespread Theosophical belief is that one can access a collection of mystical knowledge called the Akashic Records. In many reports, the experimenter correlates the astral world with the dream world. Some even report that other dreamers play dream scenarios without being aware of their larger environment. [46] Subtle bodies and associated planes of existence are an integral part of some esoteric systems that deal with astral phenomena. Often these bodies and their planes of existence are represented as a series of concentric circles or nested spheres, with a separate body crossing each area. [25] Paul`s second letter to the Corinthians refers more generally to the astral planes:[20] “I know a man in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether in the body or outside the body, I don`t know, God knows. [21] From this statement was born the Visio Pauli, a treatise that offers a vision of heaven and hell, a precursor to the visions attributed to Adomnan and Tnugdalus, and Dante`s Divine Comedy. Robert Bruce[53], William Buhlman[54], Marilynn Hughes[55] and Albert Taylor[56] discussed their theories and discoveries several times on the syndicated program Coast to Coast AM. Michael Crichton gives detailed explanations and experiences with astral projection in his non-fiction book Travels.
The astral environment can also be divided by theorists into planes or subplanes, but there are many different views in different traditions about the overall structure of astral planes: they can include heaven and hell and other spheres after death, transcendent environments or other states less easily characterized. [42] [44] [46] Psychologist Donovan Rawcliffe wrote that astral projection can be explained by delusions, hallucinations and vivid dreams. [67] According to classical medieval Renaissance Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, and later Theosophical and Rosicrucian thought, the “astral body” is an intermediate body of light that connects the rational soul to the physical body, while the astral plane is an intermediate world of light between heaven and earth, composed of the spheres of the planets and stars. These astral spheres were populated by angels, demons and spirits. [22] [23] According to Max Heindel, the etheric “double” serves as a medium between the astral and physical realms. In his system, ether, also called prana, is the “life force” that allows physical forms to change. From his descriptions, we can conclude that for him, if we consider the physical during an out-of-body experience, we are technically not at all “in” the astral realm. [45] Astral Projection Lyrics — Discover a wide range of lyrics performed by astral projection on the Lyrics.com website. There are cases of patients who have experience suggesting astral projection of brain stimulation treatments and hallucinogenic drugs such as ketamine, phencyclidine and DMT. [9] According to Bob Bruce of the Queensland Skeptics Association, astral projection is “just an idea” or “a dream state.” Bruce writes that the existence of an astral plane contradicts the limits of science. “We know how many possibilities there are for dimensions and we know what dimensions do.
None of this correlates with things like astral projection. Bruce attributes astral experiences such as “meetings” claimed by practitioners to confirmation bias and coincidences. [66] There are many twentieth-century publications on astral projection,[48] although few authors are frequently cited. These include Robert Monroe,[49] Oliver Fox,[50] Sylvan Muldoon and Hereward Carrington,[51] and Yram. [52] Arthur W. Wiggins, writing in Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction: Where Real Science Ends. and Pseudoscience Begins, said the presumed evidence for the ability to travel astral distances and give descriptions of places visited is mostly anecdotal. In 1978, Ingo Swann provided a test of his purported ability to undertake out-of-body trips to Jupiter and observe details of the planet.
The actual results and information were then compared with the observations claimed by Swann; According to a review by James Randi, Swann`s accuracy was “unconvincing and not impressive” with an overall score of 37%. Wiggins views out-of-body experiences as an illusion and examines neuroanatomy, human beliefs, imagination, and prior knowledge to provide prosaic explanations for those who claim to experience them. [11] Ideas similar to Liṅga Śarīra are found in ancient Hindu scriptures such as Valmiki`s YogaVashishta-Maharamayana. [15] Among the modern Indians who vouch for astral projection is Paramahansa Yogananda, who saw Swami Pranabananda perform a miracle through a possible astral projection. [26] There is no known scientific evidence that astral projection exists as an objective phenomenon. [7] [8] [9] The Indian spiritual master Meher Baba described the use of astral projection: In the progressive stages leading to the beginning of the path, the aspirant is spiritually prepared to be entrusted with the free use of the forces of the inner world of the astral bodies. He can then undertake out-of-body experiences in his astral body and leave the physical body asleep or awake. Astral travel undertaken unconsciously is much less important than those undertaken with full consciousness and as a result of conscious will. This involves the conscious manipulation of the astral body.
The conscious separation of the astral body from the outer vehicle of the raw body has its own value in order to make the soul feel its distinction from the raw body and to obtain a more complete control over the raw body. One can put on and take off the outer gross body at will, as if it were a cloak, and use the astral body to experience the inner world of the astral and pass through it if necessary. The ability to undertake out-of-body experiences therefore means a considerable expansion of one`s own field of experience. It provides opportunities to promote its spiritual progress, which begins with the involution of consciousness. [27] Robert Todd Carroll writes that the main evidence for claims about out-of-body experiences is anecdotal and “comes in the form of testimonies from those who claim to have experienced being outside their bodies, although they may not have been sane.” [64] The subjects in the parapsychological experiments tried to project their astral body into distant spaces and see what is happening.