These definitions are hardly complete, and may not reflect my useage of a given word precisely. Some of these words describe spiritual concepts. And my particular beliefs are based on my own experience and what seems to make sense to me. I sometimes will use words like Astral Plane or Astral Proejction as I understand them to be, and not as defined here or on other pages. Links are provided for you to formulate your own opnions.
Astral Plane : The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical (particularly neo-Platonic), medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions. 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. In the late 19th and early 20th century the term was popularised by Theosophy and neo-Rosicrucianism. Further information about the Astral Plane can be found here.
Astral Projection : Astral projection (or astral travel) is an interpretation of any form of out-of-body experience (OBE) that assumes the existence of an “astral body” separate from the physical body and capable of travelling outside it. Astral projection or travel denotes the astral body leaving the physical body to travel in the astral plane. More information about Astral Projection can be found here.
Dream Check : This is a test or check that you can perform to tell if you are dreaming or not. Levitation comes easily to me in my dreams, so my first dream check is always to try and levitate myself. Another common dream check is to look at a clock or your watch and note the time. Then, a few seconds later check the time again. If the time has drastically changed, you know you are dreaming.
Dream Sign : Have you ever noticed that you often dream about a certain situation, or a place, person or object? To a lucid dreamer, these things are known as dream signs, and they can be used to induce lucid dreams. Normally to be able to recognize your own personal dream signs, you need to keep a dream journal. Further information about Dream Signs can be found here.
Lucid Dream : A dream in which one becomes aware that they are dreaming. A more in depth definition of Lucid Dreaming can be found here.
Out of Body Experience (OBE) : An out-of-body experience (OBE or sometimes OOBE), is an experience that typically involves a sensation of floating outside of one’s body and, in some cases, perceiving one’s physical body from a place outside one’s body. A more in depth definition of out-of-body experience can be found here.