How does life on earth fit in with the ability to astral project?

[Aerotus]

Hi guys! I'm back after a long stint of getting bogged down in the mundane realities of life on earth.
I am getting a bit confused and hope someone can shed some light on my question.

Assuming as many of us know that we can access the astral planes once skilful enough. And that we chose to be born and live a life on earth to learn and experience what life has to offer...

Then why have we been designed by our creator to be given the ability to leave the physical plane and explore the astral planes and essentially our real "home"?

If we chose to come to Earth, then shouldn't we just focus on life here and work on that? If I were to become obsessed with exploring the astral, then I would be wasting my time here on Earth? After we die, we can travel the astral planes for as long as we want, so why do it now when I'm supposed to be living a life on Earth?

So my question is... is experiencing life supposed to be just about life on earth, or for the enlightened bunch of us who can leave this plane, does life also include life on the astral planes?

Does anyone feel the same? Many of my friends live their lives in ignorance of the astral planes, but sometime I feel like an observer here on Earth and I'm not as motivated to achieve material wealth etc.
Being able to project and knowing that there is much more to life than just on Earth makes my life somewhat more complicated.

Any views please?

[RD]

Hi,

I agree with what you're saying at one hand, but on the other I think it's good to know where you're coming from and where you're going.

[Nay]

Focusing on life is a exactly what we should do.   I don't think anyone is "skillfull" enough to be so bothered by the astral that it took over their life.  I know we read of alot of people's experiences that seem to take over their life.. but that isn't the right way to go..imo, nor is it necessarily the truth.

I've experienced spontaneous projections from a very young age...I've only learned and put that knowledge to act in the last few years.  Funny enough....I did better before I started reading about what others thought I should be experiencing..  

I've literally tried to stop projecting because I felt that I needed to focus on this "life"... it keeps coming though...BUT, I think the "stuff" that gets through is what matters.

Basically...I don't go searching, now that I know how to find.  It finds me. 

PS.  If I have a specific question or problem then I consciously meditate on it and usually get an answer.  You wouldn't believe the answer I got about 2012...

[bourkesta]

It is only your mind that allows you to get caught u in the day to day jitters of life, free your mind and learn to float down the river of life then you will see all those silly mundane issues are just the ego blabbering on.

Anyway you ask why should we bother with life when we have the ability to astral project, because life is one of the most spiritual lessons you can take, because its ALL up to you to discover your path and grow spiritually and recognise your TRUE SELF. Its all about wakeing up, When you step out of the mental and observe life by just being totally present in the moment you will realise there is only love and thats all there will ever be, everything is the same trip and its a journey back to the source of creation, we've taken ourselfs on an infinatly awsome trip thats gonnas last for eternity being able to astral project is just the map and a natural cause of our spiritual selfs because we are not the body.

Learn to be here now and you wont get tangled up with life so much.

[AndrewTheSinger]

Your question is what scientists have been trying to figure out and understand completely, all the mechanisms of sleep.

If it was just about energy renewal then we could simply eat candy bars or bananas and we would be fine again. If it was about rest then we could lie in bed for hours, motionless but still awake. Why do we need to turn off and experience those weird stories?

I don't have the answer, but what it suggests is that it is also part of what we are meant to do and be. You see, we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, so when you're 76 you will have spent more than 25 years asleep.

Our astral life is just as important and real as is the physical life, they are not oppose, but complemental.

[leswan]

I think there is a lot of wisdom in some of the responses given above.

I first spontaneously projected, completely without intention, back in May this year. I then read Astral Dynamics to try and find out what was going on and feel that I have had my eyes opened, for want of a better expression.

For me, my limited OBE's have given me a tiny glimpse into the nature of existence. They have proved to me that my physical body is not required for my consciousness to exist. I know there are people here that would argue it proves nothing of the sort, but for me, I know that I will exist beyond physical death.

I would say that the development of an individuals spiritual character (and that encompasses OBE's, Astral Projection, Dream Analysis, Healing et al) is vitally important to their physical life on earth. One complements the other: the spiritual side of us perhaps helps us recognise the opportunities we have in our daily lives to learn, develop and grow: opportunities that may have gone unnoticed had we not spent time developing this spiritual side.

[CFTraveler]

Forgive me if I repeat what someone else has said- maybe our being here is just one facet of our being- the fact that some people can project spontaneously and others don't seem to can be an indicator that it's part of what they're supposed to do, (if there is such a thing, lol).  Maybe I'm not here to become a concert pianist, (since I suck at it), but part of what I can do is ap, and like any other ability, practice can give me benefits that may be just what I'm here for this time. (provided that we are multidimensional beings inhabiting different facets of being).  Someone else may be here to discover the cure of a deadly disease, while someone else is just here to be a good mother or father.  I guess what I'm trying to say that ap is just like any other ability- but it doesn't mean that it's excluded from the things that we're here to learn.
For example, if I came from an absolutely abstract mode of existence, ap to me would be a completely different experience than of a human who happens to live on earth in a three (or 4, or 10) dimensional universe.
Perspective...

[zareste]

If we chose to come to Earth, then shouldn't we just focus on life here and work on that?

The angels often say the same thing to keep us trapped.  Whenever you ask "should we focus on..." the answer is 'no' because if it were worth focussing on, you wouldn't need to force yourself to focus on it.

[Aerotus]

Thank you for your very good responses of which I have learnt a lot from.

I guess its a bit weird knowing about the astral because you then have to decide whether to live your life according to the rules of Earth (ego, materiality) or the higher rules of the "astral" (egoless, non-material). 

That is very difficult for me when you live in London in the financial sector. I feel as though I am living 2 separate lives. My day job I only do to keep me alive and help my family financially. I do not view my work as being beneficial to mankind or something I am truly passionate about. My other life is after work, where I become more spiritually focused.

Will I always be living a double life? Should we play the rules of the game we are presented with or should be stay above the rules at the cost of being alienated by people with earthly views?

[Nay]

What is wrong with having a job and taking care of your family??  Why should things be wrong just because you've found something "spiritual"?  Do you not think getting up everyday and working to keep your family fed and shelter is spiritual?  IMO..it is.. that is love, selfless love for your family.  I say you can't get more spiritual than that.  Especially if it's a job that you don't find so much fun.

I deserve to live the life I want and if that means I want money, then so be it.  Isn't it funny how a lot churches ask for you to hand over your well earned money because you should not be living in extravagance..yet have you seen the churches these days??  Holy crap!  They don't think twice about having almost gaudy architecture.  And the leader of the band always is wearing a very expensive suit that could take some people two paychecks to buy. 

It's a guilt trip.. don't buy into it.   

[Mydral]

Hmm good question.

Ha I just have this weird explanation for it and I just have to share it:

Ok so everyone here either works or goes to school (this is true for the sake of the argument). Now working our going to school is not the most pleasurable experience we can have. Now everyone gets to come home every day and most of the time gets the weekends off + holidays. We are not working 24/7 because that would stress us out completly etc.
Now think of your life on earth as going to school or going to work. Our trips to the Astral Real are when we "get to go home" just like we come home from work/school every day, to relax etc.

Since most people can't do this naturally or can't remember it when they wake up, there relaxing time is sleep. Because what does your body do when you go to the Astral? It sleeps........

Hmm this makes perfect sense to me and I just came up with it while writing it. Does this make sense to anyone else?

[leswan]

Yes Mydral, I get your analogy, and I agree with it.

Let's take it a step further... the harder (or smarter) you work, either at school or at your place of employment, the more you acheive and the better your life will become at home - be it for financial reasons, or family reasons etc. The better your life at home, the more you are able to deal with things that come up during your day at work / school, because you feel better supported in life and more secure.

There is a positive feedback effect from both parts of an individuals life and they act upon and enhance each other.

[zareste]

School and work are both slave-labor going toward the benefit of someone you'll never meet, so yeah I guess they're the same as Earthly life.

[leswan]

'School and work are both slave-labor going toward the benefit of someone you'll never meet'

If that's how you perceive it, then so shall it be.

To be honest, I don't disagree with you entirely, but what I would say, is that in EVERYTHING you do, there is opportunity to gain in one respect or another.

[zareste]

Slavery supporters always get what they have coming.  Be sure to watch your back

[Mydral]

Slavery supporters always get what they have coming.  Be sure to watch your back

Common man school and work have nothing to do with slavery......

[Doringo]

School and work are both slave-labor going toward the benefit of someone you'll never meet, so yeah I guess they're the same as Earthly life.

Saying that school and work are slavery is a good way to trivialise real slavery, which does still happen today. While I personally do not like the school system and the whole 9-to-5 job thing, I wouldn't compare it to slavery by a long shot.

[jub jub]

Your question is what scientists have been trying to figure out and understand completely, all the mechanisms of sleep.

If it was just about energy renewal then we could simply eat candy bars or bananas and we would be fine again. If it was about rest then we could lie in bed for hours, motionless but still awake. Why do we need to turn off and experience those weird stories?

I don't have the answer, but what it suggests is that it is also part of what we are meant to do and be. You see, we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, so when you're 76 you will have spent more than 25 years asleep.

Our astral life is just as important and real as is the physical life, they are not oppose, but complemental.

I think AndrewTheSinger said it best. Basically, there is no "ying" without "yang". It's a universal, spiritual law.