Astral Realm
The Astral Realm, also known as the Astral Plane, is a polycosmic realm which lies next to and penetrates the physical realm. It is possible to exit the material plane and enter into the Astral for some magical creatures, and gifted magic-practitioners. Parts of the Astral plane are very close to our physical plane—considered 'next door.' Other parts of the Astral extend into inconceivable distances and times. It is thought that the Astral at its heart lies outside of space and time. It is possible to voyage through the Astral and reach other realms (or planes) of existence. If it is meaningful or even possible to measure an infinite realm, then the Astral Realm is surely the most vast of all polycosmic realms.
Divisions of the Astral Realm
The Astral is sometimes compared to a vast, metaphysical sea. It is multi-dimensional, extending beyond time and space. Polycosmologers divide the Astral Realm into several parts:
- 1 Periastral
- 2 shallow astral (beach)
- 3 shelf astral
- 4 open or deep astral
- 5 lower astral
Periastral
This is the closest portion. Most living creatures and some magical items have a parallel existence in the astral realm. Even a human who does not consciously perceive her existence in the astral nonetheless exists there simultaneously with the physical.
Shallow Astral
This portion of the astral is compared to a beach. Waves of astral energy wash up in the shallow astral. There are some creatures that live exclusively or predominantly in the shallow astral. There are many 'shallows' throughout the astral plane and they typically do not communicate with each other. For example, the shallow astral of the World of Asdar does not directly communicate with the shallow astral of another world. It is necessary to move into the deep astral.
Shelf Astral
This portion of the astral is compared to a continental shelf in the ocean. It is deeper than the shallow, but not the full open astral realm. There are many, many creatures which live here, sometimes moving back and forth between the shallow and the shelf. Like the shallow astral, the shelf astral does not necessarily communicate with other shelf astral regions. A Shelf Astral region typically encompasses an entire world.
Deep Astral
This portion is called the deep astral or sometimes the open astral. It can itself be divided into more layers, similar to depths with the sea. By use of the deep astral, an astral voyager can travel to any other part of the deep astral. The Deep Astral is the largest, most vast portion of the Astral Realm.
Lower Astral
By analogy of the sea, the lower astral rests 'below' the deep astral in the 'deepest' part of the astral. It is sometimes considered an extension of the deep astral. Strange creatures with unimaginable consciousnesses—truly alien abominations—exist in the lower astral. However, not every creature or phenomenon in the lower astral is malevolent. Some are simply alien and others quite harmless. There are different portions of the lower astral that do not communicate with each other. However, all lower astral regions communicate with the deep astral.
Astrodynamics
In the Asdaran sciences, astrodynamics refers to the understanding of physics, such as it is, within the Astral Realm. It doesn't pertain to outer space.
See Also
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