Exploring Metaphysics, Spirituality & The Mysteries Of The Astral Plane
Hello everyone, welcome to our deeper journey into the most profound and long-standing questions asked by curious minds for thousands of years. These are the questions: What is metaphysics? How does spirituality relate to metaphysics? And for the intellectually adventurous, does the astral plane—a mystical realm—really exist?
You might initially think that metaphysics, spirituality & the astral plane are far too abstruse, or even mystifying. But I assure you, regardless if you are a seasoned spiritual explorer or simply someone who enjoys exploring philosophical puzzles, there is a tremendous deal to learn and discover as to how they interconnect and encourage us to question the very nature of reality itself.
So, What Is Metaphysics?
Metaphysics is the area of philosophy that explores beyond the physical world we are able to perceive and touch. It attempts to answer questions like, “What constitutes existence?” What is the nature of being? Are there realms (beyond the physical?) that constitute the fabric of existence? Think of metaphysics as attempting to look under the hood of reality and peel back layers to reveal the underlying mechanisms, principles, and truths that are not immediately apparent.
And it is not purely abstract thinking either! For many spiritual traditions, metaphysics serves as a foundational framework since it posits that there is more to existence than what we can physically see.
Spirituality: Your Journey Through The Invisible
As metaphysics seeks to understand the nature of reality, spirituality is concerned with your individual relationship to it. It represents the personal search for meaning, connection, and transcendence. As such, many people express their spirituality via practices such as meditation, prayer, rituals, etc., which facilitate an awareness of something greater than oneself.
For some people, the term “spirituality” is related to religious beliefs. However, many people also define it as a distinctly non-religious experience. For example, some people describe a sense of oneness, peace, or insight—directly experienced, rather than based upon faith or dogma. Ultimately, spirituality relates to a lived experience of the metaphysical—how these unseen elements influence your day-to-day life.
The Astral Plane: Fact Or Fiction?
Finally, we will examine the mystical realm of the astral plane. Since ancient times, various philosophers and modern New Age thinkers have referred to the astral plane as a realm parallel to our physical world, wherein consciousness or souls can travel outside of the body during dream states, meditative states, and specific altered states.
There is no empirical evidence supporting the astral plane’s existence. Anecdotal reports from personal accounts of “astral projection,” or “out-of-body experiences,” provide the only available evidence. Some claim the astral plane is a realm for spiritual growth, encounters with spirits, or an intermediate state of consciousness after death. Skeptics would likely categorize the astral plane as either vivid dreaming or brain-based phenomena, whereas believers feel it is as tangible as our reality.
What is intriguing, however, is how the concept of the astral plane challenges our traditional perceptions of reality and consciousness. While the debate continues as to whether the astral plane exists as an objective realm, the idea of the astral plane is an invitation to be open-minded to mystery, expand one’s thinking, and realize that the human experience may be much richer than what science currently allows us to comprehend.
Synthesis
Metaphysics asks the big questions about the nature of existence. Spirituality provides a path to explore these questions individually. And the astral plane, whether actual or symbolic, inspires the imagination to venture beyond our perceived boundaries.
If you wish to explore these realms, start with some simple practices: journaling your dreams, practicing mindfulness or meditation, or studying philosophical texts on consciousness. You do not need to “believe” in anything. Sometimes, the beauty is in the asking.
Is it not the human experience defined by our capacity to ponder the unknown horizons of existence?
Thank you for joining me in this small journey. Next week, we will explore practical means to develop mindfulness in our everyday lives while incorporating some of these metaphysical ideas into grounded and applicable actions. Until then, continue to remain curious and to embrace the mysteries that make life fascinating.