Lucid Dreams, Astral Projection, and OoBEs. What's the difference?

[LikesToTrip]

So I did a little googling and was unable to find any real differences between the three. From what I can understand Lucid Dreams and OoBEs simply "feel different" and the environment closely resembles the real world. APs and LDs once again "feel different" and you have less control than a LD. But from the LDs I've had many of them feel different than others, a lot of them resemble the real world, and others I don't have very much control. Why should I classify these as something other than LDs just because they don't always behave the same? Also, how does performing an OoBE or AP differ from a WILD?

[Polarity]

From what I know and read around, Lucid Dreams occur on the Dream Plane, while the Astral Projection IS an OoBE and occurs on the Astral Plane.

[LikesToTrip]

And how does this 'Astral Plane' differ from the 'Dream Plane'? How does one tell the difference between the two.

[Polarity]

Uh, the Astral Plane is basically the transition plane between the Physic Plane and the Dream Plane. I think you can feel both the two planes, that's how you make the difference. I'm not sure though, I never found myself in the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane or Emotional Plane, is the second plane from the 7 Planes of Existence. The Astral Plane is located between the Physical and the Casual or Dream plane. Under deep meditation, this Plane can be visited altering one's own state of conscious. Through Astral Projection we transfer our conscious from our Physical Body to our Astral Body. With our Astral Body or Astral Vehicle, we are able to visit the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane is populated by Astra beings such as Angels, Demons, Deceased People, Spirit Guides and other Astral Entities. Encounter with any of this entities is possible but not random. The Astral or Emotional plane's main source of energy is the energy of feelings. The traveler can increase or decrease his own Astral Body vibrations to be able to encounter different Astral Beings. One of the major goals for people who practice Astral Projection, is to visit their own Akashic Records for enrichment of their own Physical Life. Other possible goals are to visit deceased people, learn about future or past lifes and visit other worlds and realms.

[astralpixels]

As Polarity explained, yes AP and OBE's are simply different words for the same thing, however OBE's are a more recent term coined due to "astral projection" having a more occult related background, while the term OBE is more neutral. OBE or OoBE simply means out of body experience which is more widely accepted in modern day and even amongst select scientists that are more open to such phenomenon, while astral projection has the connection with more esoteric meanings such as astral planes and such. A lucid dream to the majority of people is simply a consciously experienced dream (in your own mind) and OoBE's are an unexplained phenomenon that science tends to avoid discussing. In more esoteric senses, dreams (lucid or not) take place in dream planes (which is simply a different plane among the many astral planes, which to some explains how dream sharing occurs), OoBE's/astral projections on the other hand are said to take place in either a dual dimension shared with the physical plane or can expand to higher or lower astral planes where heaven or hell-like realms exist. I believe the only difference of AP differing from a WILD, is simply your soul/spirit/consciousness travels out to the various "planes", AP opening up to broader selection, while WILD's take you to "personal" dream planes. Really though, who knows, it's all too speculative and based on personal experiences to explain completely, and many people agree or disagree with the many facets of how it all works.

[LikesToTrip]

Yeah, I read that definition. The problem with it is it doesn't offer a valid distinction between Dreams and the Astral Plane. Could someone with experience please explain the difference? The Astral Plane is populated by Astra beings such as Angels, Demons, Deceased People, Spirit Guides and other Astral Entities. Would this mean that anytime I dream of these types of entities I am on the Astral Plane? Also, what does the environment in the Astral Plane look like; is it a completely foreign landscape?

[Polarity]

Yeah, I read that definition. The problem with it is it doesn't offer a valid distinction between Dreams and the Astral Plane. Could someone with experience please explain the difference? Would this mean that anytime I dream of these types of entities I am on the Astral Plane? Also, what does the environment in the Astral Plane look like; is it a completely foreign landscape? That doesn't mean everytime you dream about those entities, you are in the Astral Plane. They might be dream characters, created by your own mind. And I don't know about the second question, never Astral Projected.

[Singularity125]

I see this question asked a lot, and really, the only way to see a difference between dreams and OoBEs is through careful experimentation. If you're able to get access to real-world information that you wouldn't normally know, like say, what's written on the blackboard in a locked, windowless room... then you have pretty good proof that your out of body experience was in the "real world". Otherwise, who knows. I tend to think the lines are pretty blurry between them anyway, and that people who prematurely distinguish them can overlook just how much those states of consciousness could overlap. But that's just me, I have no personal experience.

[LikesToTrip]

I was hoping to get a response from someone who has actually experienced LDing and OBEs. Is there anyone who has experienced both willing to give me a qualitative difference between the two?

[dreamcatcher81]

I have experienced both astral projection and lucid dreaming the only distinction I can draw between the two is that before i project I always start off in my room then I move to another place. What I do in projecting and lucid dreaming are the same flying 3rd person perception telepathy communication through thought bubbles higher self etc.they Are all things I have done in both. I think they are different modes of transportation to the astral that's it. Actually there is one other difference consciousness is immediate when u obe and astral project atleast for me in lucid dreaming it takes time to gain consciousness. I do feel dreaming is deeper with in the astral as in you are not as close to your body like when u obe and astral project which is probably why in one you know what's happening immediately and the other your too far away to remember where u are on command. Just a thought I hope this helps. Namaste.