SEVEN PLANES OF EXISTENCE,theta healing

There are Seven Planes (or Realms) of Existence in which All-That-IS, in Its limitless expression as Creation, just IS. It is important to understand these Planes in order to clarify why and where our beliefs, programs, contracts, commitments, initiations and healings originate. We operate physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually as part of and connected to all the Planes. Every Plane is working in our body in complete harmony to create life at all times. Every Plane operates within this Third Plane, where we, as humans, reside.
Since we utilize and work with these Planes both consciously and unconsciously, it is essential that we learn to respect the awareness that these Planes bring forth. Every plane brings forth their ability to heal. Every healing modality and healing practitioner taps into the Planes. But not all are aware of the most direct connection first--the 7th Plane-- the energy of All-That-IS.  Our personal programming, along with the planetary and spiritual programs, are embedded in the collective group consciousness. This consciousness is often run by fear, so more-often than not, we feel separate from this always existing energy. In truth, we are always connected no matter what we do, think or feel. We have just forgotten our connection. ThetaHealing® brings us the opportunity to reawaken and remember this connection and to use it to help mankind evolve in the highest and best way.

Why do ThetaHealers® go to the 7th Plane to view and witness first?  Each Plane has an increasing movement of atomic structure. Our human body vibrates at a certain rate; and if we travel to or do healings from a particular realm, it makes it difficult for the body to keep up.  Going to the 7th plane first:

              * eliminates ego and sickness

              * allows us to witness healings w/o distress or hardship on our body

              * allows us to know the Highest Truth

              * aligns us to travel to any Plane so that we can move between the Planes with consciousness and communicate with       

                  physical elements. 

              * stops us from being committed or obligated to the laws or rules of other Planes of Existence  

As a ThetaHealing® intuitive, I use my abilities of deep focus to tap into the Seventh Plane, and in doing so, I can view and visit any of the Planes.  It's like having a non-stop flight eliminating regulated layovers that aren't part of my direct landing. And then if I want to travel more, after arriving at my original destination point, I know that I've made a conscious connection first and am free to travel unencumbered with the freedom and compassion of the 7th Plane of Creation. Having these constant interactions with the Planes, in moving from the 7th Plane, it becomes clear which Plane each healing modality sources from. We are so blessed to be aware and receive the gifts of creativity from each of these Planes.

The Planes of Existence have veils between them and are divided into degrees, systems and numerous sub-categories. In many "New Age/Thought" writings, the Planes of Existence are often referred to as dimensions. This is misguided. In the vastness and understanding of Creation, dimensions actually exist within the 6th Plane--the Laws of Creation, and there are millions of dimensions. When you hear, "we are rising our frequency to the 5th dimension", what this is really saying is that we are becoming aware of our deep connection to the 5th Plane--the Masters, Angels, & Guides--releasing the beliefs of duality so that we really remember and claim our magnificence (without being egoic/egotistical).

In working with the Planes, we are actually sourcing from more than one Plane at a time--a marriage of the Planes. Each Plane has an interchangeable consciousness which works with other Planes. The example below, is a very linear awareness of the Planes. The energy of Creation is really spiraling.

The First Plane of Existence: is where molecules come together to form non-carbon based matter. This is the Mother Earth power. Examples of the 1st Plane elements are rocks, minerals, crystals, and Earth (soil). Taking mineral supplements such as calcium and magnesium, are provided from this Plane and give support to our physical structure/bodies.
     The interchanging of consciousness between the Planes is exemplified  through the connection of rock being composed of slow moving atoms. Atoms come from the Sixth Plane awareness--the Laws of Creation.

     Water, which exists and works on the first three planes, is charged from electrons created at the 6th Plane.

The Second Plane of Existence: is the first time the molecules coalesce with carbon.  This Plane includes Organic matter-- plants (live off Light and air and are highly evolved), herbs, trees, vitamins, viruses, bacteria, mold, yeast, and fungus. A sacred dance is created between the Plant Beings along with the Earth/Air Spirits to interconnect between the First and Third Plane of Existence. As mentioned from the First Plane, water resonates at this level as well.

The Third Plane of Existence: is an illusion, the reality being what we, as humans, create in it. It is playground to work with emotions, passion and creative thought forms. It is a place to learn to control our thoughts and master our fears as fear is the only thing that keeps us thinking that we are bound to this illusion and separate from All-That-Is. The more beliefs we change through All-That-IS, the faster we can shift through all the Planes freely, no longer bond by Karma (the Law of Cause and Effect from the 6th Plane). Animals also exist in this Plane.

Between Third and Fourth: is where waywards (discarnate spirits) get "stuck" between the Earth and the electromagnetic grid/energy (again, part of the Laws of Universe--6th plane).

The Fourth Plane of Existence: is where totems (animal spirits), shapeshifters, and many ancestors' spirits reside. People who work constantly on this Plane are called Shamans. It is the plane where the soul waits to take form again (reincarnate) and genetic beliefs get passed on. Language originates from the Fourth Plane and is used by Third Plane inhabitants. There was a time when we once could hear and see all--we would just "know" without the use of language.
     Many limiting belief systems come from this Plane.
"I have to give up my senses--eyes, ears, voice etc--to heal."
"I have to suffer to learn/grow."
"The more power I get, the weaker my body becomes."

"To embrace punishment shows my strength."
"I must die and return to spiritually grow."

"It's  impossible to heal others for money, only trade."
     These programs show why certain Shamans feel they must take on the ailments of their sick ones. With the changing of our thought constructs, these deep commitments no longer have to be created or accepted as the Highest Truth.

The Fifth Plane of Existence: is the astral plane based in dualism--of both love and fear, where the battle of good and evil (or extreme adversity) is fought and replicated on the Third Plane. It is a very divided realm with a clear separation between the "Upper" and "Lower" aspects of this realm. There are the High vibratory energies who live at the "Upper spectrum" like the Higher Self, Gods, Goddesses, Guardian Angels, Legions of Celestial Angels, Master Angles, Guides, Christ, Buddha, Jehovah, Yahweh, Heavenly Mother and Father, and the Councils of 12 (heads of soul family gatherings). Then there are the "lower" 5th Plane realms of the Fallen Angels, demons, nephilums, Satan, Belzabub etc. These divisions do not intermingle among each other though they are very aware of their existences. More about these Realms are in the Advanced ThetaHealing Book.
     Ancient history commitments such as Oaths and Vows of poverty, chastity, celibacy are found on this Plane.
     Examples of beliefs from this Plane are: trading one's power for another, having to prove oneself right or battle against an opposing force with sacrifice.
"Transitions have to be dramatic/ hard/ difficult."
"I have to be alone to be close to God"
"I have to suffer to prove myself to God."
"I have to punish myself to grow and progress."

" I have to sacrifice my life to save the world."

"I have to sacrifice myself to know I'm loved by others."

"I need pain to gain."

"I go through hell and high water to live each day."

"I have to battle evil." 

"I'm a warrior/warrioress that has to fight for God."

The Sixth Plane of Existence: involves the Laws of Creation which regulate and balance the very fabric of Creation-pure Truth and accountability without any polarity or adversarial position. There are billions of Laws some of which are Light (color), Sound (tone), Karma (cause and effect), Attraction, Justice, Wisdom, Balance, Gravity, Magnetics, and Electricity. This Plane also includes the formation and awareness of numbers, which can be expressed as patterns and symbols (astrology and numerology).  Under the Law of Time is actually Dimensions, sacred geometry, and the Akashic Records. There is no Law of Love as Love just IS.

The Seventh Plane of Existence: IS Pure Love, Always Conscious and the Highest Truth. It just IS. IT was. IT will always be. The realm of The Creator, All-That-Is, ALL of Creation creates all the other Planes as IT exists throughout everything. In ThetaHealing, we have been given a meditation that allows us to 'remember' our connection to this All-That-Is-Creation, as there is no possible way we were or have ever been disconnected from IT. Yet, it's one of our greatest fears that show up in the belief work.     

     In being aware of working from this connection, we can witness the gathering of energy and how it is utilized to co-create with the Creator-of-All--to manifest spontaneously, to witness instant healings, to change any thought form (illusion) with the absolute energy of love and joy immediately. It is "The Awakened State."
     The more people who tap into the Group Collective Consciousness to witness change at this Seventh Plane, the easier it will be to shift human consciousness. We can evolve together and have instantaneous healings all the time.

     For a visually beautiful video explaining the Planes, my friend and fellow ThetaHealing® Instructor from Israel, Illanit Yaffe, has done a wonderful job. https://www.youtube.com/user/iLaNiTyAfFe#p/a/u/1/FARL_OZmvk8

          

The Advanced Theta Workshop goes into expanded details about the Seven Planes of Existence, how they operate, how we have used them and can now work with them differently. The workshop will assist each student in strongly connecting to the Seventh Plane to clear the beliefs and programs that keep us bound to the other Planes due to contracts, vows, oaths or promises. Freedom becomes encoded as staying present in Creator-of-ALL's perspective with love and compassion.


http://www.thetadnaactivation.com/medical2.html

The Thirty-one Planes of Existence

Scattered throughout the suttas are references to as many as thirty-one distinct "planes" or "realms" of existence into which beings can be reborn during their long wandering through samsara. These range from the extraordinarily grim and painful hell realms all the way up to the most exquisitely refined and blissful heaven realms. Existence in every realm is temporary; in Buddhist cosmology there is no eternal heaven or hell. Beings are born into a particular realm according to their past kamma. When they pass away, they take rebirth once again elsewhere according to the quality of their kamma: wholesome actions bring about a favorable rebirth, while unwholesome actions lead to an unfavorable one. And so the wearisome cycle continues.
The realms of existence are customarily divided into three distinct "worlds" (loka), listed here in descending order of refinement:

• The Immaterial World (arupa-loka). Consists of four realms that are accessible to those who pass away while meditating in the formless jhanas.
• The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka). Consists of sixteen realms whose inhabitants (the devas) experience extremely refined degrees of mental pleasure. These realms are accessible to those who have attained at least some level of jhana and who have thereby managed to (temporarily) suppress hatred and ill-will. They are said to possess extremely refined bodies of pure light. The highest of these realms, the Pure Abodes, are accessible only to those who have attained to "non-returning," the third stage of Awakening. The Fine-Material World and the Immaterial World together constitute the "heavens" (sagga).
• The Sensuous World (kama-loka). Consists of eleven realms in which experience — both pleasurable and not — is dominated by the five senses. Seven of these realms are favorable destinations, and include our own human realm as well as several realms occupied by devas. The lowest realms are the four "bad" destinations, which include the animal and hell realms.

The information on this page was assembled from a variety of sources. In the interests of economizing space I have not attributed each fact to its respective source.

I. The Immaterial World (arupa-loka)

Realm	Comments	Cause of rebirth here
(31) Neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññanasaññayatanupaga deva)	The inhabitants of these realms are possessed entirely of mind. Having no physical body, they are unable to hear Dhamma teachings.	Fourth formless jhana
(30) Nothingness (akiñcaññayatanupaga deva)		Third formless jhana
(29) Infinite Consciousness (viññanañcayatanupaga deva)		Second formless jhana
(28) Infinite Space (akasanañcayatanupaga deva)		First formless jhana

II. The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka)

Realm	Comments	Cause of rebirth here
(27) Peerless devas (akanittha deva)	These are the five Pure Abodes (suddhavasa), which are accessible only to non-returners (anagami) and arahants. Beings who become non-returners in other planes are reborn here, where they attain arahantship. Among its inhabitants is Brahma Sahampati, who begs the Buddha to teach Dhamma to the world (SN 6.1).	Fourth jhana. (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
(26) Clear-sighted devas (sudassi deva)
(25) Beautiful devas (sudassa deva)
(24) Untroubled devas (atappa deva)
(23) Devas not Falling Away (aviha deva)
(22) Unconscious beings (asaññasatta)	Only body is present; no mind.
(21) Very Fruitful devas (vehapphala deva)	Beings in these planes enjoy varying degrees of jhanic bliss.
(20) Devas of Refulgent Glory (subhakinna deva)		Third jhana (highest degree). (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
(19) Devas of Unbounded Glory (appamanasubha deva)		Third jhana (medium degree)
(18) Devas of Limited Glory (parittasubha deva)		Third jhana (minor degree)
(17) Devas of Streaming Radiance (abhassara deva)		Second jhana (highest degree). (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
(16) Devas of Unbounded Radiance (appamanabha deva)		Second jhana (medium degree)
(15) Devas of Limited Radiance (parittabha deva)		Second jhana (minor degree)
(14) Great Brahmas (Maha brahma)	One of this realm's most famous inhabitants is the Great Brahma, a deity whose delusion leads him to regard himself as the all-powerful, all-seeing creator of the universe (DN 11).	First jhana (highest degree)
(13) Ministers of Brahma (brahma-purohita deva)	Beings in these planes enjoy varying degrees of jhanic bliss.	First jhana (medium degree)
(12) Retinue of Brahma (brahma-parisajja deva)		First jhana (minor degree). (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)

III. The Sensuous World (kama-loka)

Happy Destinations (sugati)

Realm	Comments	Cause of rebirth here
(11) Devas Wielding Power over the Creation of Others (paranimmita-vasavatti deva)	These devas enjoy sense pleasures created by others for them. Mara, the personification of delusion and desire, lives here.	· Ten wholesome actions (MN 41) · Generosity · The development of virtue and wisdom (AN 10.177)
(10) Devas Delighting in Creation (nimmanarati deva)	These devas delight in the sense objects of their own creation.
(9) Contented devas (tusita deva)	A realm of pure delight and gaiety. Bodhisattas abide here prior to their final human birth. This is where the bodhisatta Maitreya (Metteya), the next Buddha, is said to dwell.
(8) Yama devas (yama deva)	These devas live in the air, free of all difficulties.
(7) The Thirty-three Gods (tavatimsa deva)	Sakka, a devotee of the Buddha, presides over this realm. Many devas dwelling here live in mansions in the air.
(6) Devas of the Four Great Kings (catumaharajika deva)	Home of the gandhabbas, the celestial musicians, and the yakkhas, tree spirits of varying degrees of ethical purity. The latter are analogous to the goblins, trolls, and fairies of Western fairy tales.
(5) Human beings (manussa loka)	You are here (for now). Rebirth as a human being is extraordinarily rare (SN 56.48). It is also extraordinarily precious, as its unique balance of pleasure and pain (SN 35.135) facilitates the development of virtue and wisdom to the degree necessary to set one free from the entire cycle of rebirths.	· The development of virtue and wisdom (AN 10.177) · The attainment of stream-entry (sotapatti) guarantees that all future rebirths will be in the human or higher realms.

States of Deprivation (apaya)

Realm	Comments	Cause of rebirth here
(4) Asuras (asura)	The demons — "titans" — that dwell here are engaged in relentless conflict with each other.	· Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
(3) Hungry Shades/Ghosts (peta loka)	Ghosts and unhappy spirits wander hopelessly about this realm, searching in vain for sensual fulfillment. Read Ajaan Lee's colorful description of this realm.	· Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41) · Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views (AN 10.177)
(2) Animals (tiracchana yoni)	This realm includes all the non-human forms of life that are visible to us under ordinary circumstances: animals, insects, fish, birds, worms, etc.	· Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41) · Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views. If one is generous to monks and nuns, however, one may be reborn as an "ornamented" animal (i.e., a bird with bright plumage; a horse with attractive markings, etc.; AN 10.177). · Behaving like an animal (MN 57)
(1) Hell (niraya)	These are realms of unimaginable suffering and anguish (described in graphic detail in MN 129 and MN 130). Should not be confused with the eternal hell found in other religious traditions, since one's time here is — as it is in every realm — temporary.	· Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41) · Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views (AN 10.177) · Murdering your parents, murdering an arahant, injuring the Buddha, or creating a schism in the Sangha (AN 5.129) · Being quarrelsome and annoying to others (Snp II.6)

Sources:

• Buddhist Dictionary, by Nyanatiloka Mahathera (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1980).
• The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction (fourth edition), by R.H. Robinson & W.L. Johnson (Belmont, California: Wadsworth, 1997).
• The Long Discourses of the Buddha (Introduction), translated by Maurice Walshe (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1987).
• A Manual of Abhidhamma, by Ven. Narada Thera (Kuala Lumpur: Buddhist Missionary Society, 1979).
• The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Introduction), translated by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1995).
• Teacher of the Devas (Wheel Publication 414/416), by Susan Elbaum Jootla (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1997).
• The Three Worlds (wall chart), compiled by Ven. Acaro Suvanno (printed for free distribution by devotees and Mr & Mrs Lim Say Hoe and family).

 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html

The 7 Planes of Existence

excerpt from The Journey of Your Soul)

BY SHEPHERD HOODWIN  
Just as there are seven colors in the rainbow and seven tones in a musical scale, each with a different vibratory rate, there are seven levels of being on the spectrum of creation. The slowest speed of vibration occurs on the physical plane; the highest, on the buddhaic plane. From the buddhaic plane, energy returns to its source, the Tao.
Physical plane: The densest of the seven planes; where we presently reside.
Astral plane: The second plane of creation. Its medium is concrete emotional energy. It is where our consciousness is focused between lifetimes and when we're finished with the physical plane.
Causal plane: The third plane of creation. Its medium is concrete intellectual energy. It is Michael's plane of existence.
Akashic plane: The central, neutral plane of creation that interconnects the other six. The distilled knowledge of the universe is recorded there. This is the records generated of everything that happens in the universe as it occurs. The appearance is that all matter and energy have a sort of built-in digital recording device, storing its entire history in a photographic code, but the records are actually windows into the past. The records show events exactly as they were experienced, so the information in them begins raw-it is not clarified, understood, and assimilated until a consciousness takes responsibility for doing so. Once it is fully assimilated, it is stored on the akashic plane.
Mental plane: The fifth plane of creation. Its medium is abstract intellectual energy, emphasizing truth. The infinite soul who incarnated as Lao-tzu taught from this plane.
Messianic plane: The sixth plane of creation. Its medium is abstract emotional energy, emphasizing love. The infinite soul who incarnated as Jesus taught from this plane.
Buddhaic plane: The highest plane of creation. Its medium is pure or abstract kinetic energy. We experience the buddhaic plane just before fully refocusing our awareness in the Tao. The infinite soul who incarnated as Buddha taught from this plane.
 

PLANES OF CREATION

The Tao has created many universes, or overall experiments. (I am not speaking here of parallel universes.) Our universe is based in part on the law of seven. It permeates the Michael teachings and many other teachings, as well as being applicable to musical scales, colors of the rainbow, and so forth. Seven consists of two sets of three connected by one.

Twelve is another significant number in this universe, and it relates to seven. For example, the seven-note musical scale is a series of whole and half steps. It is drawn from the twelve-note chromatic scale, which is all half steps.

Apparently, other universes are based on different mathematical ideas. Some of our previous grand cycles may have been in other universes, especially if we have had a high number of them, since this universe is relatively young.

Michael brought up the topic of other universal schemes in relationship to the seven roles:

In this universe, the Tao fragments into the seven roles, like white light bent into the seven rainbow colors through the particular prism that this universe offers. A different universe might have a different prism that results in something that cannot be understood in this universe. Our system of seven is only one way a perfect whole can be differentiated.

This universe has seven planes, or dimensions. (A diagram later in this chapter illustrates them.) Three are ordinal (concrete), three are cardinal (abstract), and one is neutral, providing connection. The most ordinal plane is the physical, which is concrete energy. Its position is mirrored by the most cardinal plane, the buddhaic, which is abstract energy. The astral plane (concrete emotion) is the middle ordinal plane. It is mirrored in position by the middle cardinal plane, the messianic (abstract emotion). The causal plane (concrete thought) is the highest ordinal plane. It is mirrored in position by the lowest cardinal plane, the mental. This mirroring balances the universe. The higher planes are about pure energy, love, and truth; the lower planes are about manifesting them. The fulcrum of the balance is the neutral akashic plane. It connects all the others through the akashic or record-keeping aspect of each plane, which feed into it.

There are etheric, nonsolid levels of the physical plane both lower and higher in frequency than our physical bodies. Some people with psychic skills can see them. The fact that they can be physically seen indicates that they are part of the physical plane. We cannot physically see what is nonphysical, although we may translate our nonphysical perceptions into physical images. The etheric substance lower in vibration than the solid physical connects it with the Tao. This is the realm of devas, or nature spirits; it could be called the “lower physical plane.” The etheric substance higher in vibration than the solid physical connects it with the astral; it is in the realm of what could be called the “upper physical plane.” It is the domain of “ghosts,” and some extraterrestrials. The ethereal life form of the “higher sentients” who lived on earth before the “fall of man” was also of the upper physical plane. What we consider solid substance, as well as other vibrations that we can directly perceive such as light and sound, exist in the “middle physical plane.”

It might be more accurate to view the planes as being in a circle rather than a line. This is illustrated in the following diagram. Each spiral loop is a plane of creation. The six spiral loops that make one big loop, like a “Slinky” toy with the beginning and end connected, are the planes we experience in a progression. The loop in the middle is the akashic plane; it is not directly part of the progression because we do not actually have a cycle of experience there—it is a resource for the universe as a whole, and provides the Tao with a distillation of all that has been accomplished in this universe. The point of beginning (“Entrance”) and end (“Exit”) is in the Tao, the undimensional ground of all being—this is where we start and finish the game. The pattern filling each loop representing a plane matches that of the plane on the same axis; for example, both the astral and messianic planes are on the inspiration axis, and both are filled with a checkerboard design. The fill of the loop representing the akashic plane is a darker version of the neutral gray pattern that fills the circle representing the universe as a whole, signifying the akashic records that extend from the akashic plane and interpenetrate all the planes of existence. The akashic plane is directly accessible from the causal and mental planes, illustrated on the diagram with straight lines.

Although this model demonstrates the progression of sentient consciousness, it should not be construed as meaning that only the physical and buddhaic planes have direct contact with the Tao. The diagram illustrates this by showing the universe (the inner circle) as being contained within the Tao (the outer circle).

Since the Tao is the ground of all being, every plane has a direct connection with it. The Tao is inherent in any vibrational frequency; those on any plane can “arrive” at it “coming or going” through either increasing their frequency to “all frequency” or decreasing it to “no frequency.”

On the physical plane, by transcending the material illusions round about and entering into a space of no space and a time of no time, you experience the Tao. You can get there by descending through the earth vibration or ascending through the heaven vibration. The solid roles generally find the former to be easier. The fluid roles find the latter to be easier. However, any role can do both. This is available only when balance and nonattachment are achieved.

Incidentally, Michael normally uses the word Tao in place of God (depending on the beliefs of those listening) because God is usually personified as a judgmental and hierarchical male figure. They may also use the word God to signify the overall consciousness of the manifest universe, as opposed to its source in the dimensionless Tao. In that case, we are each part of both the Tao and God. As microcosmic individuals, we are sparks or units of the Tao experiencing this universe as separate essences. God could be seen as the macrocosmic individual, the larger “chunk” of the Tao who, as a whole, inhabits this universe and experiences the overall expansion and lessons the Tao seeks.

 http://www.michaelteachings.com/7planes.html

Plane (esotericism)

In esoteric cosmology, a plane, other than the physical plane is conceived as a subtle state of consciousness that transcends the known physical universe.
The concept may be found in religious, and esoteric teachings - e.g. Vedanta (Advaita Vedanta), Ayyavazhi, shamanism, Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, Kashmir Shaivism, Sant Mat/Surat Shabd Yoga, Sufism, Druze, Kabbalah, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, Rosicrucianism (Esoteric Christian), Eckankar, Ascended Master Teachings, etc. - which propound the idea of a whole series of subtle planes or worlds or dimensions which, from a center, interpenetrate themselves and the physical planet in which we live, the solar systems, and all the physical structures of the universe. This interpenetration of planes culminates in the universe itself as a physical structured, dynamic and evolutive expression emanated through a series of steadily denser stages, becoming progressively more material and embodied.
The emanation is conceived, according to esoteric teachings, to have been originated, at the dawn of the universe's manifestation, in The Supreme Being Who sent out - from the unmanifested Absolute beyond comprehension - the dynamic force of creative energy, as sound-vibration ("the Word"), into the abyss of space. On the other hand, it states that this dynamic force is being sent forth, through the ages, framing all things that constitute and inhabit the universe.

Origins of the concept

The concept of planes of existence might be seen as deriving from shamanic and traditional mythological ideas of a vertical world-axis — for example a cosmic mountain, tree, or pole (such as Yggdrasil or Mount Meru) — or a philosophical conception of a Great Chain of Being, arranged metaphorically from God down to inanimate matter.
However the original source of the word "plane" in this context is the late Neoplatonist Proclus, who refers to to platos, "breadth", which was the equivalent of the 19th century theosophical use. An example is the phrase en to psuchiko platei.^[1]

Conceptions in ancient traditions

Directly equivalent concepts in Indian thought are lokas and bhuvanas. In Hindu cosmology, there are many lokas or worlds, that are identified with both traditional cosmology and states of meditation.
Planes of existence may have been referred to by the use of the term corresponding to the word "egg" in English. For example, the Sanskrit term Brahmanda translates to "The Egg of Creation". Certain Puranic accounts posit that the Brahmanda is the superset of a set of fractal smaller Eggs, as is seen in the assertion of the equivalence of the Brahmanda and the Pinda.^[2]
The ancient Norsemen and the Teutonic mythology called "Ginnungagap" to the primordial "Chaos," which was bounded upon the northern side by the cold and foggy "Niflheim"--the land of mist and fog—and upon the south side by the fire "Muspelheim." When heat and cold entered into space which was occupied by Chaos or Ginnungagap, they caused the crystallization of the visible universe.
In the medieval West and Middle East, one finds reference to four worlds (olam) in Kabbalah, or five in Sufism (where they are also called tanazzulat; "descents"), and also in Lurianic Kabbalah. In Kabbalah, each of the four or five worlds are themselves divided into ten sefirot, or else divided in other ways.

Esoteric conceptions

The alchemists of the Middle Ages proposed ideas about the constitution of the universe through a hermetic language full of esoteric words, phrases and signs designed to cloak their meaning from those not initiated into the ways of alchemy. In his "Physica" (1633), the Rosicrucian alchemist Jan Baptist van Helmont, wrote: "Ad huc spiritum incognitum Gas voco," i.e., "This hitherto unknown Spirit I call Gas." Further on in the same work he says, "This vapor which I have called Gas is not far removed from the Chaos the ancients spoke of." Later on, similar ideas would evolve around the idea of aether.
In the late 19th century, the metaphysical term "planes" was popularised by the theosophy of H.P. Blavatsky, who in The Secret Doctrine and other writings propounded a complex cosmology consisting of seven planes and subplanes, based on a synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas. From theosophy the term made its way to later esoteric systems such as that of Alice Bailey, who was very influential in shaping the worldview of the New Age movement. The term is also found in some Eastern teachings that have some Western influence, such as the cosmology of Sri Aurobindo and some of the later Sant Mat, and also in some descriptions of Buddhist cosmology. The teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga also include several planes of the creation within both the macrocosm and microcosm, including the Bramanda egg contained within the Sach Khand egg. Max Theon used the word "States" (French Etat) rather than "Planes", in his cosmic philosophy, but the meaning is the same.
The planes in Theosophy were further systematized in the writings of C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant.
In the early 20th century, Max Heindel presented in The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception a cosmology related to the scheme of evolution in general and the evolution of the solar system and the earth in particular, according to the Rosicrucians. He establishes, through the conceptions presented, a bridge between modern science (currently starting research into the subtler plane of existence behind the physical, the etheric one) and religion, in order that this last one may be able to address man's inner questions raised by scientific advancement.
The spiritual teacher Meher Baba proposed that there are six planes of consciousness that must be experienced before one can attain God-realization on the seventh plane: "Each definite stage of advancement represents a state of consciousness, and advancement from one state of consciousness to another proceeds side by side with crossing the inner planes. Thus six intermediate planes and states of consciousness have to be experienced before reaching the seventh plane which is the end of the journey and where there is final realisation of the God-state."^[3]

Emanation vs. the big bang

Further information: Emanationism

Most cosmologists today believe that the universe exploded into being some 13.7 billion years ago in a 'smeared-out singularity' called the Big Bang, meaning that space itself came into being at the moment of the big bang and has expanded ever since, creating and carrying the galaxies with it.^[4]
However, in esoteric cosmology expansion refers to the emanation or unfolding of steadily denser planes or spheres from the spiritual summit, what Greek philosophy called 'The One', until the lowest and most material world is reached.
According to Rosicrucians, another difference is that there is no such thing as empty or void space.

"The space is Spirit in its attenuated form; while matter is crystallized space or Spirit. Spirit in manifestation is dual, that which we see as Form is the negative manifestation of Spirit--crystallized and inert. The positive pole of Spirit manifests as Life, galvanizing the negative Form into action, but both Life and Form originated in Spirit, Space, Chaos! On the other hand, Chaos is not a state which has existed in the past and has now entirely disappeared. It is all around us at the present moment. Were it not that old forms--having outlived their usefulness--are constantly being resolved back into that Chaos, which is also as constantly giving birth to new forms, there could be no progress; the work of evolution would cease and stagnation would prevent the possibility of advancement."^[5]

The Planes

In occult teachings and as held by psychics and other esoteric authors there are seven planes of existence.^[6]
Most occult and esoteric teachings are in agreement that seven planes of existence exist, however many different occult and metaphysical schools label the planes of existence with different terminology.

Physical plane

The physical plane or physical universe, in emanationist metaphysics taught in Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, Hinduism and Theosophy, refers to the visible reality of space and time, energy and matter: the physical universe in Occultism and esoteric cosmology is the lowest or densest of a series of planes of existence.
According to Theosophists after the physical plane is the etheric plane and both of these planes are connected to make up the first plane.^[7] Theosophy also teaches that when the physical body dies the etheric body is left behind and the soul forms into an astral body on the astral plane.^[8]
The psychical researcher F. W. H. Myers proposed the existence of a “metetherial world,” which he wrote to be a world of images lying beyond the physical world. He wrote that apparitions have a real existence in the metetherial world which he described as a dream-like world.^[9]

Astral plane

The astral spheres were thought to be planes of angelic existence intermediate between earth and heaven

The astral plane, also known as the emotional plane is where consciousness goes after physical death. According to occult philosophy man possesses an astral body. The astral plane (also known as the astral world) was postulated by classical (particularly neo-Platonic), medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions.^[10] It is the world of the planetary spheres, crossed by the soul in its astral body on the way to being born and after death, and generally said to be populated by angels, spirits or other immaterial beings.^[11] In the late 19th and early 20th century the term was popularised by Theosophy and neo-Rosicrucianism.
Throughout the renaissance, philosophers, Paracelsians, Rosicrucians and alchemists continued to discuss the nature of the astral world intermediate between earth and the divine. The Barzakh, olam mithal or intermediate world in Islam and the "World of Yetzirah" in Lurianic Qabala are related concepts.
According to occult teachings the astral plane can be visited consciously through astral projection, meditation and mantra, near death experience, lucid dreaming, or other means. Individuals that are trained in the use of the astral vehicle can separate their consciousness in the astral vehicle from the physical body at will.^[12]
The Theosophist author Curuppumullage Jinarajadasa wrote that "When a person dies, they become fully conscious in the astral body. After a certain time, the astral body disintegrates, and the person then becomes conscious on the mental plane."^[13]
Occultist George Arundale wrote:

In the astral world exist temporarily all those physical entities, men and animals, for whom sleep involves a separation of the physical body for a time from the higher bodies. While we "sleep", we live in our astral bodies, either fully conscious and active, or partly conscious and semi-dormant, as the case may be, according to our evolutionary growth; when we "wake", the physical and the higher bodies are interlocked again, and we cease to be inhabitants of the astral world.” ^[14]

Some writers have claimed the astral plane can be reached by dreaming. Sylvan Muldoon and psychical researcher Hereward Carrington in their book The Projection of the Astral Body (1929) wrote:
"When you are dreaming you are not really in the same world as when you are conscious — in the physical — although the two worlds merge into one another. While dreaming, you really are in the astral plane, and usually your astral body is in the zone of quietude."^[15]
Astral projection author Robert Bruce describes the astral as seven planes that take the form of planar surfaces when approached from a distance, separated by immense coloured "buffer zones". These planes are endlessly repeating ruled Cartesian grids, tiled with a single signature pattern that is different for each plane. Higher planes have bright, colourful patterns, whereas lower planes appear far duller. Every detail of these patterns acts as a consistent portal to a different kingdom inside the plane, which itself comprises many separate realms. Bruce notes that the astral may also be entered by means of long tubes that bear visual similarity to these planes, and conjectures that the grids and tubes are in fact the same structures approached from a different perceptual angle.
In his book Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramhansa Yogananda provides details about the astral planes learned from his resurrected guru.^[16] Yogananda reveals that nearly all individuals enter the astral planes after death. There they work out the seeds of past karma through astral incarnations, or (if their karma requires) they return to earthly incarnations for further refinement. Once an individual has attained the meditative state of nirvikalpa samadhi in an earthy or astral incarnation, the soul may progress upward to the "illumined astral planet" of Hiranyaloka.^[16] After this transitionary stage, the soul may then move upward to the more subtle causal spheres where many more incarnations allow them to further refine before final unification.^[17]

Mental plane

The mental plane, also known as the causal plane is the third lowest plane according to Theosophy. The mental plane is divided into seven sub-planes.
Charles Leadbeater wrote:

In the mental world one formulates a thought and it is instantly transmitted to the mind of another without any expression in the form of words. Therefore on that plane language does not matter in the least; but helpers working in the astral world, who have not yet the power to use the mental vehicle.^[18]

Annie Besant wrote that "The mental plane, as its name implies, is that which belongs to consciousness working as thought; not of the mind as it works through the brain, but as it works through its own world, unencumbered with physical spirit-matter.^[19]
A detailed description of the mental plane, along with the mental body, is provided by Arthur E. Powell, who has compiled information in the works of Besant and Leadbeater in a series of books on each of the subtle bodies.
According to Hindu occultism the mental plane consists of two divisions, the lower division is known as heaven (swarglok) and the upper division is known as the causal plane (maharlok).^[20]
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami wrote:

"The causal plane is the world of light and blessedness, the highest of heavenly regions, extolled in the scriptures of all faiths. It is the foundation of existence, the source of visions, the point of conception, the apex of creation. The causal plane is the abode of Lord Siva and His entourage of Mahadevas and other highly evolved souls who exist in their own self-effulgent form--radiant bodies of centillions of quantum light particles."^[21]

Sri Aurobindo developed a very different concept of the mental plane, through his own synthesis of Vedanta (including the Taittiriya Upanishad), Tantra, Theosophy, and Max Théon ideas (which he received via The Mother, who was Theon's student in occultism for two years). In this cosmology, there are seven cosmic planes, three lower, corresponding to relative existence (the Physical, Vital, and Mental), and four higher, representing infinite divine reality (Life Divine bk.1 ch.27) The Aurobindonian Mind or Mental Plane constitutes a large zone of being from the mental vital to the overmental divine region (Letters on Yoga, Jyoti and Prem Sobel 1984), but as with the later Theosophical concept it constitutes an objective reality of pure mind or pure thought.

Buddhic plane

The Buddhic plane is described as a realm of pure consciousness.^[22] According to Theosopy the buddhic plane exists to develop buddhic Consciousness which means to become unselfish and solve any problems with the ego.^[23] Charles Leadbeater wrote that in the buddhic plane man casts off the delusion of the self and enters a realization of unity.^[24]
Annie Besant defined the buddhic plane as:

Persistent, conscious, spiritual awareness. This is the full consciousness of the buddhic or intuitional level. This is the perceptive consciousness which is the outstanding characteristic of the Hierarchy. The life focus of the man shifts to the buddhic plane. This is the fourth or middle state of consciousness.^[25]

Sri Aurobindo calls the level above the mental plane the supermind.^[26]

Spiritual plane

George Winslow Plummer wrote that the spiritual plane is split into many sub-planes and that on these planes live spiritual beings who are more advanced in development and status than ordinary man.^[27] According to metaphysical teachings the goal of the spiritual plane is to gain spiritual knowledge and experience.^[28]

Divine plane

According to some occult teachings, all souls are born on the divine plane and then descend down through the lower planes, however souls will work their way back to the divine plane.^[29][30] On the divine plane souls can be opened to conscious communication with the sphere of the divine known as the Absolute and receive knowledge about the nature of reality.^[31]
Rosicrucianism teaches that the divine plane is where Jesus dwelt in Christ consciousness.^[32]

Logoic plane

The logoic plane is the highest plane, it has been described as a plane of total oneness, the "I AM Presence". Joshua David Stone describes the plane as complete unity with God.^[33]

31 Planes

Main article: Buddhist cosmology

In Buddhism, the world is made up of 31 planes of existence that one can be reborn into, separated into 3 realms.

The Summerland

Main article: The Summerland

The Summerland is the name given by Theosophists, Spiritualists, Wiccans and some earth-based contemporary pagan religions to their conceptualization of existence on a plane in an afterlife.^[34]
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) inspired Andrew Jackson Davis (1826–1910), in his major work The Great Harmonia to say that Summerland is the pinnacle of spiritual achievement in the afterlife; that is, it is the highest level, or 'sphere', of the afterlife we can hope to enter. The common portrayal of the Summerland is as a place of rest for souls after or between their earthly incarnations. Some believe spirits will stay in the Summerland for an eternal afterlife, though others believe after an amount of time some spirits will reincarnate. The Summerland is also envisioned as a place for recollection and reunion with deceased loved ones.^[35]
As the name suggests, it is often imagined as a place of beauty and peace, where everything people hold close to their hearts is preserved in its fullest beauty for eternity. It is envisioned as containing wide (possibly eternal) fields of rolling green hills and lush grass. In many ways, this ideology is similar to the Welsh view of Annwn as an afterlife realm. The Summerland is also viewed as the place where one goes in the afterlife in traditions of Spiritualism and Theosophy, which is where Wicca got the term.
In Theosophy, the term "Summerland" is used without the definite article "the". Summerland, also called the Astral plane Heaven, is depicted as where souls who have been good in their previous lives go between incarnations. Those who have been bad go to Hell, which is believed to be located below the surface of the earth and is on the astral plane and is composed of the densest astral matter; the Spiritual Hierarchy functioning within Earth functions on the etheric plane below the surface of the earth.^[36]
It is believed by Theosophists that most people (i.e., those at high levels of initiation go to a specific Summerland that is set up for people of each religion. For example, Christians go to a Christian heaven, Jews go to a Jewish heaven, Muslims go to a Muslim heaven, Hindus goes to a Hindu heaven, Theosophists go to a Theosophical heaven, and so forth, each heaven being like that described in the scriptures of that religion. There is also a generic Summerland for those who were atheists or agnostics in their previous lives. People who belong to religions that don't believe in reincarnation are surprised to find out when they get to heaven that they will have to reincarnate again within a few dozen to a few hundred years. Each heaven is believed to be an extensive structure composed of astral matter located on the astral plane about three or four miles (5-6 km) above the surface of Earth, above that part of the world where the particular religion that the heaven is meant for is most predominant.
Theosophists also believe there is another higher level of heaven called Devachan, also called the Mental plane Heaven, which some but not all souls reach between incarnations — only those souls that are more highly developed spiritually reach this level, i.e., those souls that are at the first, second, and third levels of initiation. Devachan is several miles (around 10 km) higher above the surface of Earth than Summerland.^[37] However, no physical evidence of this has been found.
The final permanent eternal afterlife heaven to which Theosophists believe most people will go millions or billions of years in the future, after our cycle of reincarnations in this Round is over.^[38] In order to go to Nirvana, it is necessary to have attained the fourth level of initiation or higher, meaning one is an arhat and thus no longer needs to reincarnate.
According to parapsychologists some who have had near death experiences have described the Summerland.^[39]

Alleged inhabitants of the various planes

Occult writers such as Geoffrey Hodson, Mellie Uyldert and Dora van Gelder had attempted to classify different spiritual beings into a hierarchy based on their assumed place and function on the planes of existence.
Charles Webster Leadbeater fundamentally described and incorporated his comprehension of intangible beings for Theosophy. Along with him there are various planes intertwined with the quotidian human world and are all inhabited by multitudes of entities. Each plane is purported as composed of discrete density of astral or ethereal matter and frequently the denizens of a plane have no discernment of other ones. Other Theosophical writers such as Alice Bailey, a contemporary of Leadbeater, also gave continuousness to Theosophical concepts of ethereal beings and her works had a great impact over New Age movement.^[40][41] She puts the nature spirits and devas as ethereal beings immersed in macro divisions of an interwoven threefold universe, usually they belong to the etheric, astral or mental planes. The ethereal entities of the four kingdoms, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, are forces of nature.
The Dutch writer Mellie Uyldert, self-proclaimed clairvoyant, characterized the semblance and behavior of ethereal entities on the etheric plane, which, she said, hover above plants and transfer energy for vitalizing the plant, then nourishing themselves on rays of sunlight. She depicted them as asexual gender, and composed of etheric matter. They fly three meters over the ground, some have wings like butterflies while others only have a small face and an aura waving graciously. Some are huge while others may have the size of one inch.<sup>[42]

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