Always Wondering said:
My question is what the heck is the Etheric Body/Plane and what would be the point/result of projecting onto it? The only thing I got from Shoemaker was that it was good practice for projecting onto the astral plane. Any insights? Or does Crowley write about this anywhere?
Before I answer, here's a brief quote (caveat) from Liber O.
2. In this book it is spoken of the Sephiroth and the Paths; of Spirits and Conjurations; of Gods, Spheres, Planes, and many other things which may or may not exist.
It is immaterial whether these exist or not. By doing certain things certain results will follow; students are most earnestly warned against attributing objective reality or philosophic validity to any of them.
One way to think of the etheric plane is like an energy matrix that over-lays physical objects. In this respect it closely resembles the physical plane, but it is more like an energy template of the physical. I guess you could describe as one very small step away from complete physical existence. Most OBE experiences are of this "near physical" variety.
What would be the point of projecting onto the etheric. I suppose the simplest answer is that it is good practice at "getting out". It's just not very far.
But a even a small step is still a step.
Does Crowley write about it anywhere? Yes, very briefly in Liber O.
2. Let him imagine his own figure (preferably robed in the proper magical garments and armed with the proper magical weapons) as enveloping his physical body, or standing near to and in front of him.
3. Let him then transfer the seat of his consciousness to that imagined figure; so that it may seem to him that he is seeing with its eyes, and hearing with its ears.
This will usually be the great difficulty of the operation.
4. Let him then cause that imagined figure to rise in the air to a great height above the earth.
Up to point 3 it is an etheric projection practice. Step 4 becomes an astral practice proper.
You can find an example of Crowley's experiments with etheric projection somewhere in the Confessions. While he was in Mexico in 1900 he conducted a series of experiments where he "travelled" to Hong Kong to visit Soror Fidelis (Elaine Simpson) once a week.
I'm not even going to attempt to comment on Professor X's rather strange post.
But I will say that the astral body
is not the real you. It is merely another shell that is cast off after death. You sound like you trying to cling to notions of post mortem surviving personality. Ashes to ashes..... dust to dust....
According to certain occult "theories" the recently deceased continue to exist
for a while on the etheric plane. They linger near people or places they knew during life. But just as the physical body decayed, so does the etheric body. At this point the self experiences life on the astral. But the astral, just like the other layers of self, is eventually cast off. The husk of astral personality is what spirit mediums contact and think they talking to dead people. Well the lights are on, but nobody is home.
This disolution process continues until the impersonal core at the centre of being (Hadit) is once more re-absorbed back into the undiferentiated No-Thing (Nuit).
You may find it useful to reflect on the path of initiation where the Exempt Adept attempts to cross the Abyss. The successful Master is one who has poured their personal self into the Cup of Babalon (universal life). Those who cling to
I remain in the Abyss as Black Brothers (or sisters
).
II:44.Aye! feast! rejoice! there is no dread hereafter. There is the dissolution, and eternal ecstasy in the kisses of Nu.
45. There is death for the dogs.
