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The Physical And Etheric Planes

The Physical Plane is the lowest plane of the seven, and is where we all consciously exist. It encompasses the world we see with our physical eyes and interact with. It also includes the other planets, the stars, and the galaxies. It is the physical universe as we know it.

Included within the Physical Plane and lying just above it, is the Etheric Plane which is like an overlay on top of the Physical Plane. Though it is so closely connected to the physical, it is not visible using physical senses. It is what connects everything in the Physical Plane and also everything which is beyond our normal physical senses. The Etheric Plane can actually be explained and understood through modern science, even though we can not see it with the physical senses.

The Theory Of The Ether

We know that physical matter which appears to be solid is actually the opposite. If you look at any physical object up close you will see that it is made up of an immense number of electrons which are in vibration and revolve round a central point which is known as a neutron. Matter consists of atoms and these atoms are composed of electrons and protons which are held together by electromagnetic forces. Matter is built up of tiny electric charges, both positive and negative which are not moving at random, but are connected together in an orderly fashion by the invisible universal elements called the Ether.

There are many varied vibrations of the Ether. One form of this ethereal wave motion can be seen in the physical world as light. There are other forms which give us heat, color, electricity, ectoplasm, etc. This unseen Ether gives us the ability to live and to think and to interact. The Ether is never at rest. It is a cosmic link which is always in motion. It cannot be sensed using physical senses, yet if it did not exist we would all be blind, deaf and cold as there would be no medium to carry the sound and light and heat waves.

Matter itself is essentially etheric. Electrons in the atoms are particles of negative electricity and the protons are considered by scientists as being electric in nature. Both are etheric which means that physical matter is simply Ether in a state of constant and varying vibration.

This Ether is our connection between the physical senses and the higher cosmic forces, or the nonphysical world. Our physical senses only respond to a very limited range of these vibrations however. Beyond this, the universe is teaming full of life and energies which respond to higher ranges of vibrations, beyond what we can normally hear or see or feel. Our ordinary senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing) are greatly limited. We only experience a small amount of what exists in the universe out there. For example, we see only a limited range of light but we know through the advances of science and an instrument known as a spectroscope that beyond that limited range also exists ultraviolet light and infrared light. The ethereal forces influence and control the Physical Plane in many ways. They create form and hold together. They have the ability to give matter life, vitality, and power.  

The Ether is the conduit of essential life forces in the universe. This is why the etheric realm is also refered to as the vital.

The Etheric Body

Living organisms (both animal and plant) are surrounded by and influenced by the Ether just as inanimate objects like rocks and metals are. The ethereal forces are gathered and concentrated in living organisms and form what is called the Etheric Body, which exists within and beyond the Physical Body and is an exact duplicate of it, even down to the tiniest cell.

The Etheric Body which is also known as the vital body, extends beyond the dense Physical Body just as the ethereal region of earth extends beyond the dense physical part of the planet. The distance of this extension is about an inch and a half past the Physical Body and is visible to some people as an energy emanation which is called the Aura.

The Physical and Etheric bodies are both made up of physical energy, and are both left behind when physical death occurs. The essentially function together as one, but the Etheric Body can also function independently of the physical.

Etheric Projection

The Etheric Body plays a very important role in physical life as well as developing nonphysical and psychic abilities. Nearly all those who find themselves in a spontaneous out-of-body experience will be in Etheric Projection (projection to the Etheric Plane and consciously working through the Etheric Body) which is why they can identify physical objects, people and places. Most of my own excursions out-of-body were ethereal in nature. Most descriptions of Out-Of- Body Experiences are actually describing Etheric Projections.

During an Etheric Projection, you may encounter others who are also out-of-body and communicate with them. I have also read that earth-bound entities reside on the Etheric Plane unable to ascend to the Astral, and you may also encounter them. (I must add though that in all of my own experiences I have never encountered one.)

People who have experienced Etheric Projection and looked into a mirror have reported that they could see through themselves, as if they were a ghost. This is likely due to the ethereal nature of the Etheric Body which is normally beyond the physical senses. Since these people have become conscious in their Etheric Body, they are able to see beyond the limits of the physical senses and they describe it as looking transparent and ‘not-quite’ physical.

I remember during one of my own Etheric Projections I had raised my arm to look at it. I had thought to myself that if I was in fact outside my physical body, I should be able to see some sort of difference in the appearance of my arm, or have no visible arm at all. My arm which I assure you was still there, looked pale and translucent, and I could see an object on the other side of the room through it. It was the major validating point in that experience, which was also the first one I had ever successfully induced on my own.

Since the Etheric Plane resides so near the physical and basically the Physical Plane is part of it, the Etheric Body tends to retain some of the properties of the physical. It is made up of ethereal substance (the Ether) which is somewhat dense in nature as compared to the energy of the higher planes. During Etheric Projection, at first the Etheric Body may also seem heavy and it may be difficult to move about. Vision may be somewhat hindered and sounds may be distorted.

From my own personal experiences, I found that each time you are out-of-body it becomes easier to move around freely and fully observe your surroundings. I believe this is because the more you project, the more you are willing to let go of your stronghold to the physical as you begin to lose your fears associated with being in this state.