Our lives are no where near as linear as we expect. You look about you and see physical things. You look in the mirror and see a physical person. You can even touch them and say "See? it is physical and nothing more." Even people that believe in a spirit can not explain to you what it is, nor where it is. They excuse their lack of knowledge and lack of faith in any explanation by saying It is simply far beyond our simple human minds to understand.
If this sounds familier, do not be ashaimed, for we are raised to believe and say these things. There are many theories about our existance, and just how much we are in the physical realm. I have read some of these theories and combined a few and altered them to some extent with my own ideas...and this is what i have below. It will be easier for people that believe in a spirit to understand and accept what is written below...
The Planes
The Physical world about us is the lowest level of many. It is where we spend most of our time, and is what is easiest for us to understand. We can apply our scientific methods and prove that this is here. Though, even that is rather hard for us to fully comprehend. We take things apart and look at them, and say they are made up of Molecules...which in turn are made up of Atoms (which for some reason we can not see even with the most powerful microscopes, but we CAN see the atom's shadow in a photograph). We then break the atom down and say its made up of Electrons, Neutrons, and Protons. We then break these down into subatomic particles called Quarks, which get broken down even further...basically an infinite quest for a base, because everything is made up of something smaller which is in turn made up of something smaller. So when you touch a cup, what is touching what? Is your smallest subatomic particle touching its smallest subatomic particle? And are we nothing more than a mass of whirling particles?
There are other planes of existance which while being separate from one another, they are all interconnected. There is also the Astral Plane, which is where we spend our time while asleap. It is the closest plane to the physical and as such the easiest to understand next to the Physical plane. In this area, the subconciouse is king. When we are able to project, this is where we project too. Everything in the Physical plane, is in the Astral plane as well. Everything that ever was on the Physical plane still is in the Atral plane. Every event, every personality. It can all be found there, you simply have to look hard enough. You have to be very controlled and very careful if you want a genuine astral projection and not simply a lucid dream, because your subconciouse can alter ther very fabric of the Astral realm. Your body here is very similar to that on the physical plane, but is moved with thought and desire rather than muscular strength. Vision on this plane can be rather hard to understand. Since you do not have eyes as such, you are not restricted to what is before you and your periferal. Your vision is in a 360 degree form, but you can restrict your attention to only one point of that, just like you can now. You may have a 120 degree vision, but you never see all of it at once, you are currently only focusing at these words and the rest of your vision is simply sitting idle.
The next plane is the Mental Plane. In this plane, thought is master. This is where our mind travels when we are deep in thought. As you sit and think about what you have read here and try to comprehend, this is where you are. Everything in both of the other realms that has ever been looked at and had even a second of thought put into, exhists on this plane as well. You do not have a body as such, but you are somewhat confined by your own mental abilities. If you are able to channel your conciousness fully into this plane knowingly, you can remain for as long as your own mental strengths allow. You can stay here to help understand things as they are happening around you and too you, free of any emotional intervention.
Next, we come to the Emotional Plane. This is where all feelings reside and grow and change. When emotion "takes over" it is here that your channeling your energies. In this plane, you are as strong as your emotions. Some people that appear to be emotionless have this part of themselves locked away and are unable to remain here for long. Others that become overly emotionaly reside in this plane for very long periods of time. In this plane, you would be able to understand your emotions and allow them to run free without any fear or backlash.
Above this is the Spiritual Plane...home of our spirit, our very essence which continues to come back for reasons of its own. When residing here, all of our inner wounds heal. Not the physical ones, but the truly painful ones that no doctor can find or even begin to heal. Here we are forgiven for our sins which are most often the cause of our wounds. Though it may sound massocistic, it is true. If we look through our own past, we will see that most of our truly painful wounds are self inflicted, or could have been avoided had we been strong enough.
Above this are otehr planes that i do not have the slightest idea about. I have heard one of them called the Budha plane...but as to their purpose i have learned nothing.
Between each of these planes are further stages which go deeper into the plane. To reach any one of these planes conciously and be able to bring back clear concious memories requires a great deal of inner streangth and determination. To get to a higher level generally requires more and more energy and work, but sometimes, for some people, it is easier to get one level and will seem near impossible to reach another. Never dispare.
More to come as I read and learn more.
Tell Me Of Your Travels