Astral Plane

The astral plane, another New Age concept, is also called the “astral world” or “astral universe.” It exists presumably somewhere in the mind, though not quite on the mental plane. It is described as a place, outside the physical realm, a place you cannot see but only experience in thought or maybe in dreams.

The concept of the New Age Astral Plane, (or is it plain?) It may be much like the “noosphere” suggested by Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard Chardin, who spent most of his life, (1881-1955) attempting to integrate his Christian theology with theories of evolution.

This noosphere, according to Chardin, is like a “biosphere” of mental and emotional interactions between living organisms on earth. Chardin believed that the fusion of human consciousness would lead he world to a new state of peace and planetary unity, which he called, “Omega Point.” He believed this Omega Point to be the final pinnacle, the culminating point, a point when and where all human history integrated.

But the concept Chardin espoused was not his own, nor is he the only one to think of it, he actually adapted his own concept from a Russian scientist named Vladimir Verdansky. Chardin’s view was that the Earth had its own autonomous personality, and he believed that the “consciousness” of it, or what he called the noosphere, would be a guiding force for the unification of humanity sometime in the future. This concept of a noosphere is like James’ Lovelock’s Gaia theory, and is nearly synonymous with Peter Russell’s idea of a Global Brain.  It's not even their original concept, we have heard the likes before from  Anne Bessant, CW Leadbeater and Helena Blavatsky, who also wote about the noosphere or "astral planes" in the early 1900's.

CW Leadbeater, who died in 1934, was once an ordained Anglican priest, however he took to an interest in "the occult" when he met the well-known occultist, Helena Blavatsky in England in 1884. Soon after he even followed her to India. Leadbeater also had ties to political activist Annie Besant who, like Leadbeater became interested in Theosophy and went to India to study the occult philosophies with Blavatsky.

Together, Blavatsky, Leadbeater and Bessant  made “occult investigations together into the cosmos,” “requently "visiting the Masters "  in their "astral bodies."  Leadbeater, who published many books on the occult gave descriptions of astral planes he said he visited.  From his works much information of this type has been disseminated.

The astral planes can be thought of as a spiritual world that exists in layers, like the atmosphere of the earth is said to be. Sometimes it is described as layers of various vibrations sometime the layers are inter-perceived to be not so much on top of one another but transcendent of one another.  The planes are often labeled, mental causal, ethereal, ect. We are informed by such clairvoyants that the astral world  parallels the physical world we live in though it is supposedly richer in color, and contains “life in abundance” unlike what we have on earth.

Some people would call it heaven; others would call it the occult, and suggest that as heavenly as it may be, such a realm is a place that belongs only to God.  Occult it is, for it is hidden from plain sight, and it is by entering into this plane, via “spirit,” that “ psychics” and mediums make contact with spirits from what humanity has always known as the underworld.

Spiritists like Rudolf Stiener, Alice Bailey talked about astral planes; Edgar Cayce frequently referred to certain books or information in the astral plains, or "underworld." that he would read from  gathering information for people who consulted him about their medical conditions.

Knowledge of the astral plane is promoted by those who make witchcraft their hobby as well, and (according to Mystic Web) Witches and occultists say that such places can be accessed by those who “want to acquire knowledge through experience about ourselves, about the Earth, the Universe, or anything we want to.” Practicing “witches” say that they believe that “The higher astral planes are where we begin to reach toward self-godhood, becoming fully aware and acknowledging that all life is symbiotic and connected for the "good" of all.” (The Astral Plane and Its Divisions, by Abhishek Agarwal 2006 www.ecauldron.com.)

Perhaps the Christian has read in the Bible somewhere that there are books in heavenly places. In the book of Revelation, (through a revelation from God through his Holy Spirit to the apostle John,) we are told, “Nothing impure will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful; but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

We read in Daniel about names being written in a book. (Daniel 12:1) we read about how there is an accounting of works that are also written in some kind of book. (Revelation 20:11 ) We also read in Revelation that there is only one who is worthy to open the book of life, and that is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile occult practitioners believe and teach others that the astral plane is a link between the divine and the physical, free for the taking and is a place that has access to these "books."  Such experiences are supposed to make you wiser than you already are, or bring you closer to God and being spiritual, maybe even master your own world  or attain godhood for yourself.. the ability in doing so some say is to bring you closer to knowing everything in the universe there is to know.

What they do not tell you is that those who enter these realms of unearthly nature by occultic means, without it being initiated by God, are not only in utter darkness, but they are robbers and thieves. (See John 10:1)  God has made a way for us to know him and and be his friend and he has made a door for us to return to heaven where we belong.

His name is Jesus.

If you remember, God drove sinful man out of a place called Eden for his disobedience when he and his wife Eve hearkened unto a snake-like serpent and were deceived. God then placed at the East of the Garden of Eden, Cherubim, and a flaming sword, which turned every way. There was to be no return, except through the promise of God and eating of the tree of life, in the midst of the paradise of God, which was guarded by Cherubim and a flaming sword and was protected. Such a thing as this,  would only be accessible to those whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev 13:8; 17:8)

God specifically warned the Israelites, his chosen people, "There shall not be found among you anyone" who practices divination, witchcraft, sorcery, or spiritism.   Imagine that!

And yet, these are the very things people do in order to “enter” the astral planes of the occult astral world.