In the 1980s, I learned about the astral plane from the reading I was doing about out-of-body and near-death experiences. I was fascinated by the stories others shared about these experiences. It seemed that both of these types of events involve the astral plane, where our beliefs and intentions create around us exactly what we are expecting. Most poignantly, I learned that if we focus on a person with love and caring while in that plane, we are present with that person.
What I learned about out-of-body and near-death experiences taught me that the astral body is present within every one of us all the time. It is who we are — even more than our physical body and personal history. I wondered: is it possible to use these astral capabilities while in the physical body?
At that time, I was married to a flight attendant who traveled on lengthy international flights. She always returned to our airport exhausted, having gone without sleep for 24 hours or more. When I picked her up at the airport, I expected her to be moody, and I wondered how I could help her — and save myself.
So I began a personal practice whenever I went to the airport to pick her up. I focused my thoughts and feelings of love toward her. During the drive, I held onto these feelings and beamed them to her. I usually was able to maintain my focus. And I noticed that she received me warmly despite her exhaustion. When I had difficulty maintaining this focus, I expected her mood to be more negative, so I allowed her to speak without arguing or being defensive.
That insight and practice was very helpful in our relationship.
Years later, when I began to dialogue with angels, and speak with family members who had died, I found that the same principle applied. When I thought of a deceased family member with love and caring, sometimes they would become present for me. If I felt their presence, cleared my mind and emotions of clutter, and held my focus on love and caring, I was able to express words and feelings to them. I received responses in words or symbols or synchronicities. Sometimes the response was immediate; sometimes it came a few days later.
When these interactions started to take place more often, each step ultimately built into a new friendship previously unthinkable. Such friendships have added enormous enrichment to my life.
