What is the Astral Plane and how to avoid getting stuck

Desire, Glamour, and Liberation

If we have taken up the quest to be Meditators, to say that we want to Self- Realise, that we want awareness and enlightenment not just for ourselves but all sentient beings, it is very much necessary to know about the astral plane: Kama.

The astral plane is like a subtle emotional and imaginative field that lies between our physical body and the higher spiritual planes of existence. Take into account that there are seven planes and 49 sub planes of the cosmic-phyical-planes.

Kama or the Astral Plane is the realm that magnetises and stores energies like desires, fears, fantasies, dreams, projections, false thought forms and so much more — forms that feel very real because they are charged with energy, but yet are part of the realm of illusion, delusion and confusion.

When we meditate often we can see things arise in our consciousness, sometimes horrible, sometimes fantastic, sometimes just a whole lot of 'whateverness' or images. We participate in expanding these arising forms or we invest in them. All or most of these are transitory and part of the creations of Kama. But, there are planes beyond the astral where we want to rest in the vastness and stillness that prepares us for our liberation.

The astral is a vast plane filled with not only personal but collective illusions. It is also shaped by humanity’s shared emotions and thought-forms. It is even influenced by otherworldly beings described in traditions: devas (heavenly beings), pretas (hungry ghosts), and Māra — the archetype of illusion and temptation in Buddhism. These beings, along with our own projections and collective projections, can generate astral forms that appear vivid and convincing, but which ultimately mislead or enslave us unless we see them clearly.

The Astral in Buddhism

Buddhism offers one of the most refined maps of the astral through the three realms of existence:

1. Kāmadhātu — The Realm of DesireThis is the plane most aligned with the astral. Here, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and many gods dwell in an atmosphere of craving and aversion. Sensual desire (kāmacchanda) is described by the Buddha as one of the five hindrances, pulling us away from clarity and meditation.

   
   

2. Rūpadhātu — The Realm of FormThrough meditation, practitioners can rise beyond the turbulence of desire into luminous states of subtle form.

   
   

3. Arūpadhātu — The Formless RealmBeyond even form, meditation opens into vastness and stillness, preparing the ground for liberation.

The astral corresponds most directly to the kāmadhātu. It is the atmosphere of desire-driven experience. To remain caught in it is to remain bound to saṃsāra (suffering); to see through it is to begin walking the path of freedom.

Kāma and the Lokas in the Vedic View

In the Ṛg Veda’s hymn of creation (Nasadiya Sukta, 10.129), Kāma is described as the very first stirring of existence — “the seed of mind” that gave rise to manifestation. This shows that desire is not only human passion, but the primordial impulse of life itself. In the Atharva Veda, Kāma is even personified as a cosmic force, praised as the one who moves the worlds and inspires creation.

Yet, while Kāma is a creative principle, the Vedic sages also warned that when desire is unrestrained it binds the soul to the lower lokas (worlds of experience). The Guru Gītā echoes this by teaching that desire flowing outward into the senses entangles the jīva in attachment, but when turned inward and refined through devotion to the Guru, Kāma becomes spiritual fuel, lifting consciousness toward higher realms.

Krishna in the Bhagavad Gītā (3.37–43) is even more direct: “Desire is born of rajas, it is insatiable and greatly destructive — know it as the enemy.” He instructs Arjuna that mastery of desire is essential for self-knowledge, for only by restraining Kāma does one transcend the pull of the lower realms and rise into higher lokas, and ultimately beyond all planes into union with the Self.

The Seven Rays and the Problem of Glamour

When we become aware of the astral plane it is very important to take the Glamours and the Seven Rays into account (Please refer to my previous articles on the Glamours and The Seven Rays). In short each Ray carries its own unique quality: healing, strength, vision, beauty, devotion, wisdom, or power. When our Rays are in alignment with the correct Chakras and radiate their pure energy we live in balance and harmony. We are able to radiate kindness and harmlessness and to be a blessing to all those around us as well as nature.

But the Rays fall out of alignment when one or more Rays is glamorised. When rays are Glamorised they turn the original virtue and merit of a Ray into vices and disharmony. These glamours draw our attention and identity into forms that appear beautiful or powerful, yet carry distortion and subtle bondage.

• A devotion ray may harden into fanaticism, where devotion becomes rigid loyalty to an image rather than genuine love.

• The ray of beauty may twist into envy or self-comparison instead of aesthetic harmony.

• The ray of power can mutate into domination or the serving of self-interest, instead of lifting potential for the good of all.

  
  

When glamours are strong, they participate and create in the astral field. We also chnnel form the Astral Plane. False ideals look real, illusions feel profound, and entire groups of people can channel patterns that reinforce lack, fear, and separation or even look like truth and knowledge but really is either next to truth or an entire creation of its own.

Understanding the Seven Rays is therefore not only a matter of spiritual study but also of discernment. It is a way of seeing which Glamours we are feeding, whether consciously or unconsciously, and how they might keep us bound to the astral plane, instead of lifting us beyond it.

False Astral Forms

Because the astral is collective, it is shaped not just by our own desires but by shared human energy and otherworldly influences:

• Collective illusions: Mass fear, propaganda, religious zeal, or cultural fantasies can generate powerful astral forms that sweep entire groups into illusion.

• Otherworldly traps: In Buddhist cosmology, Māra and hungry ghosts create dazzling or terrifying astral visions that tempt or bind.

• Personal projections: Our own unresolved desires produce repeating astral patterns — inner “films” that replay until we see them clearly and release them.

The astral often feels more real than the physical, but it is not. The work is to learn discernment and discrimination.

How do we put this into practice:

Working with the astral does not require complex rituals. It is about learning to relate wisely to your own emotions and images. Here are five simple practices:

1. Notice Desire and projections that arise:

   When strong longing, fear, or fantasy arises, pause. Be aware of what is arising and perhaps name it: “desire,” “fear,” “anger,” “longing.” Naming breaks the enchantment and reminds you it just us what it is, energy, illusion etc. and that this passes.

   
   

2. Check the Source

   Ask yourself: Where is this coming from? An old wound? Social influence? A genuine aspiration? Awareness weakens the glamour.

   
   

3. See Its Effect

   Observe: Does this energy open me and connect me, or does it harden and isolate me? Truth and wisdom is calm, loving, kind and nourishing. Glamours are hard, draining, feel very big and overwhelming, drowning or tightening, cold or sterile etc.

   
   

4. Practice Mindfulness and Loving-Kindness

   Keep Meditating on the breath as it steadies the mind. Incorporate goodwill and loving-kindness (mettā) rtoward yourself and others as this dissolves illusion and darkness.

   
   

5. Remember Impermanence: This too shall pass...really it does:)

   No astral form lasts. Every glamour, every vision, every desire arises and falls. Holding this lightly protects you from entrapment.

   
   
   
   

Expand your awareness: No channeling

We can discern and discriminate a lot from our observation of the Astral Plane. We can trace our desire and observe our illusion, delusion and confusion. we can also start to realise how we feed and channel into the Astral Plane.

We need to learn to sit in Meditation to be able to increase our awareness and also be able to see how we participate collectively in the Astral Plane. It is there but this is not our destination. Many of us channel from the Astral Plane, we feed from illusions created by society, culture, family, Hollywood, false healers, false knowledge systems, false prophets and false gurus. Most often these illusions use our vital force to sustain the projection.

The only desire we should cultivate is that of liberation, freedom from the bondage of illusion and projection and channeling.

The path of Meditation teaches us to recognise desire and move beyond it. The Seven Rays help us see ourselves as the beautiful children of God we are. In that knowing we are able to work with our Glamours not just for ourselves but for the liberation of all.

Each time we see clearly, glamour dissolves, and truth shines through.

✨ Approach the astral with awareness, see if you can discern when and how you are channeling and indulging illusion. When we are able to see our avidya (ignorance) it always opens more space for the light to come in.

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