‘Astral’ as a Mode of Perception

The notion of the “astral” became common in the esoteric milieu roughly two hundred years ago, due to modern occultists and, later, the Theosophists.

As so often happens, the word is used to denote any “alternative” perceptions of hidden reality, without attempting to organize or systematize their understanding.

At the same time, with even a moderately attentive study of this mode of perception, we can discover that what is usually treated as a “vision of the astral” actually comprises three entirely different perceptual experiences:

• Perception of “etheric” events and processes — that is, perception of the “primarily-material” processes that underlie usually perceived “secondary” manifested phenomena.
• Perception of the “passive environment” in terms of Telesmi.
• Perception of the Interworld and its inhabitants.

In the first case, this refers only to advanced, “developed” physical sight, which learns to see the causal streams of material processes — the so-called “subtle material” basis of physical processes.

In the second case, the perception of the body of senses is involved; its perceptions are then translated into familiar sensations and treated as sensory images — forms, tactile perceptions, and so on.

The third case is either a consequence of a projection of consciousness or its exteriorization; accordingly, perception occurs either in the form of “visions” or as perception of vedogoni.

It is clear that all three levels are successive stages in the development of sensitivity: “etheric” perception is achieved by developing the “body of life“, perception of the Environment is the result of an active body of senses, and perception of the Interworld, in its “complete” form, requires the activity of the “dream-body.”

For the Magus who maps his experience and perceptions, of course, these three modes of perception do not merge into a single experience; however, for the novice wayfarer any “alternative” reality may seem terrifying, and so it is not surprising that fundamentally different experiences are lumped together as the “unusual” — the “astral.”

But the modes of action and the dangers one can encounter in each type of perception are entirely different.

Since, as we have said more than once, the only Threshold between interactions is the barrier of perception, the mind can interact only with what it perceives, and by expanding the sphere of its perception, it increases its interactions and thus its dangers. Accordingly, as one moves from perceiving the “gross-physical” reality to perceiving the “subtle-physical,” a being not only begins to “see more,” but also faces more dangers — the “etheric” processes begin to exert a pronounced influence, and “ghosts,” “psychic parasites,” and the like, whose effect on “ordinary” people is far more limited, become dangerous. Deeper into the sphere of Telesmi, the mind is subjected to additional risk — the influence of volitional vortices of that order. And, of course, entering the area of perception of the Interworld, the number of dangers multiplies — Elementers, Elementaries, and various “grey Spirits” fall into its sphere of interaction.

Even the influence of the same predator can vary depending on the level of perception. For instance, if a person is attacked by an Elementary, then at the level of “physical” perception, he will feel only some more or less serious physical malaise; however, moving to “etheric” perception, the threat spreads to the very life streams, and therefore becomes more fundamental, though clearer to discern; if perception extends into the vortex regions of Telesmi, the predator itself becomes more tangible (in terms of its activity), and its influence can reach even greater depths. Finally, by entering “direct” interaction with an Elementary in Interworld space, the mind comes face to face with this predator, and the encounter that for “ordinary” perception might end only in a headache can be potentially fatal for the vedogoni.

Why, then, do the Magi strive to expand their perceptual field if by doing so they become more vulnerable? As mentioned, the motive is simple — greater freedom: Indeed, for a person attacked by an Elementary, or even a “goetic demon,” the impact may not be especially traumatic, at least not greatly affecting his habitual actions, but the possibilities of liberation from that attack are also severely limited — usually, the person remains prey either until the predator finds the next victim or until the predator subjugates the mind, turning it into its permanent energy source. When a psychic perceives such an influence as an energetic phenomenon, he can significantly weaken it, although he himself becomes much more vulnerable; if the Magus perceives the vortex of that influence, then the possibilities for ridding oneself of the unwanted influence (and the practitioner’s vulnerability) expand further, and upon meeting “face to face” — complete liberation is possible from the predator’s enslaving influence. So each person can choose — whether to remain in the protected, comfortable but enslaving “ordinary” perception, or to step out into the far more dangerous, but offering greater chances of freedom, space of the “reverse” reality.