THE ASTRAL WORLD/PART 2

 

CHAPTER II.

ASTRAL REGIONS.

 

IN the occult teachings we find frequent references to what are called “the astral regions,” and the inhabitants and phenomena of said regions. Like the term “plane,” this term “region” has caused much misunderstanding. The old occultists used it in a loose sense, knowing that their pupils clearly understood the real significance. They did not care whether or not other persons understood. But the modern investigator, without the benefit of a teacher, often finds himself confused by this mention of “regions” of the Astral Plane, and frequently finds himself thinking of them in the sense of the “heavens and hells” of the old theology—as definite places in space. But these astral regions are nothing more than vibrational manifestations on the Astral Plane, which have no special reference to any set-aside portion of space, and which manifestations may, and do, occur at almost any point of space. The astral regions occupy the same space as the material regions, neither interfering with the other.

The term “astral” is derived from the Greek word meaning “related to a star,” and was originally used in describing the heavens of the Greeks—the abodes of their gods. From this sense and usage the term widened in application, until it was employed to indicate what might be called the “ghost-land” of the ancient people. This ghost-land was believed to be inhabited by beings of an etheral nature, not only disembodied spirits, but also angelic beings of a higher order.

The ancient occultists of Greece, and other Western lands, thus naturally fell into the custom of using the familiar term to indicate that which we know as the Astral Plane in modern occultism. Of course the Oriental occultists had their own terms for this plane of manifestation, which terms were derived from old Sanscrit roots, and which were much older than the Greek terms. But, as the use of Sanscrit terms has a tendency to confuse Western students, the best Oriental teachers, today, in teaching Western students, almost always use the old Greek occult terms.

At this point, I must answer a question which usually presents itself to the mind of the intelligent student at about this particular stage of the teaching. It is probably in the mind of the student who is reading these words at this particular moment. The question may be stated as follows: “How is it possible for anyone to speak intelligently of the phenomena of the Astral Plane, if that plane is on a higher vibratory scale than the physical senses. How can one visit, and perceive things on the Astral Plane, without his body being dematerialized? 

This question is a natural and perfectly fair one, and evidences the inquiring mind which the true occultist always possesses. And no true occult teacher will hesitate for a moment in frankly answering it. For, remember this always my students, the occult teaching is not based merely on the principles laid down as “gospel” by the old occultists. Respect, yes! great respect is paid to these old teachings, of course, but every advanced occultist knows that he must actually experience the manifestation of occult phenomena before he can positively pronounce the same to be an occult truth. Such experience comes to every advanced occultist, when he reaches the necessary stage of development which alone renders such experience safe for him. Like the scientist, the true occultist learns by his own experience built upon the recorded previous experience of others. To the advanced occultist the phenomena of the Astral Plane is just as real—just as readily sensed—as is the phenomena of the material plane to those functioning upon it.

But, to answer the question: One does not have to disintegrate or dematerialize his physical body in order to visit or sense the Astral Plane and its phenomena. There are two avenues of approach to the Astral Plane, as follows: (i) by the employment of the astral senses; and (2) by visiting in the so-called “astral body.” Let us consider each of these avenues in turn.

By the term “the astral senses,” occultists indicate that wonderful secondary set of senses, corresponding in office to the five physical senses, by means of which man is able to receive impressions on the Astral Plane.

Each of the physical senses of man has its astral counterpart, which functions on the astral plane just as the physical senses do upon the material plane. Thus everyman has, in latency, the power of seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and tasting, on the astral plane, by means of these five astral senses. Nay more, as all advanced occultists know, man really has seven physical senses instead of five, though these additional two senses are not sufficiently developed for use in the average person (though the occultist of fair attainment generally unfolds them into use). And even these two extra physical senses also have their astral counterparts.

In the cases of persons who, accidentally or through careful training, have developed the power of astral vision—perception through astral sight—the scenes of the Astral Plane are perceived just as clearly as are those of the material plane perceived by the physical sense of sight. The ordinary clairvoyant has flashes of this astral vision, as a rule, and is not able to sense astrally by an act of will. The trained occultist, on the other hand, is able to shift from one set of senses to another, by an act of will, whenever he wishes to do so. In fact, such occultists may function on both planes at the same time, in this way, if they so desire.

In cases of clairvoyance, or astral visioning, the occultist remains in his physical body, and senses the phenomena of the Astral Plane quite naturally or easily. It is not necessary for him even to enter into a trance condition, or any abnormal mental state or condition. And still less is it necessary for him to leave his physical body in such cases. In the instance of the higher form of clairvoyance, he may

even sense events both on the physical plane, as well as the astral planes, at a distance— though, strictly speaking, this belongs to a somewhat different order of occult phenomena. To vision astrally, the occultist has merely to shift his sensory mechanism, just as the operator on the typewriter shifts from the small letter type to the capitals by a shift-key. This, then, is the simplest and most common way of occult sensing on the Astral Plane. It is possible to many to whom the second, method is impossible.

The second avenue of approach to the Astral Plane is that in which the individual leaves his physical body, and actually travels on the Astral Plane in his astral body. The astral body is composed of an etheral substance of a very high degree of vibration. It is not mere matter, and yet it is not mere force—it is composed of astral substance which resembles very fine matter, but which is far more tenuous than anything that is known as matter. Ordinarily the astral body can be sensed only by means of the astral vision, but under certain other conditions it takes on the semblance of a vapory form of matter, and is perceptible to the ordinary physical senses as a “ghost” or “apparition,” even when the person is in physical life.

The astral body is an exact counterpart of the physical body, but survives the latter by a number of years. It is not immortal, however, and finally disintegrates and is resolved into its original elements just as is the physical body.

The advanced occultist, in his astral body, is able to leave his physical body (which remains in a state of sleep or trance) and to visit at Will on the Astral Plane, even at points in space far removed from his physical body.

He, however, is always connected with the physical body by a thin, cobweb-like filament of ethereal substance, which extends or contracts as he travels away from, or toward the sleeping physical body. If this filament is broken by an accident on the Astral Plane, his physical body “dies” and he is never able to return to it. Such accidents are rare, but occult history has records showing their occasional occurrence.

Many persons are able to travel in the astral body, during ordinary sleep, but usually have no recollection of the same upon reawakening. The occultist, on the other hand, travels consciously and with a purpose, and always is wide-awake on such journeys. He is as much at home on the Astral Plane as on the physical one.

And so, student, you see how the occult teaching regarding the Astral Plane has been obtained; and how such teaching has as firm a basis in actual experience as have those based upon physical observation, experiment and experience. Moreover, every occultist may verify the teaching for himself—in fact actually does so.

 

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Reality of the Astral.