Astral projection: Encyclopedia II - Astral projection - Schools of Thought

Astral projection - Schools of Thought

There generally exist two schools of thought on the nature of astral projection; these can broadly be defined as the mystical model and the phasing model.

Astral projection - Mystical Model

The mystical model contains a large variety of belief systems and astral maps, but they are tied together by their belief that astral projection takes place outside of the actual physical body. A more subtle energy body is believed to carry the consciousness outside of the physical body, and as one progresses deeper into the astral planes, even more subtle bodies are created and the consciousness transferred to each of them in turn. The subtle body is attached to the physical body by means of an energetic connection which usually takes the appearance of a cord.

Astral projection - Phasing Model

The phasing model which was defined by Robert Monroe contains the belief that it is impossible to actually leave the body in the truest sense of the word, and that the astral planes and the physical world are but points on the long spectrum of consciousness. When a person projects, they actually ‘phase’ into another area of consciousness and the locales it contains. This can be likened to tuning a radio to another station. This viewpoint can be seen as a logical progression of the realisation that external reality is actually an internally created state, that is, we exist in a model created by our brain based on the sensory input it receives.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Schools of Thought", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki