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'''Astral''' is a word that derives from the Latin ''astrum'' and from the Greek ''astron'', meaning "star", and refers to a [[plane]] consisting of a subtler kind of matter held to be next above the physical world in refinement. | |||
[[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote: | |||
<blockquote>The designation ''astral'' is ancient, and was used by some of the Neoplatonists. Porphyry describes the celestial body which is always joined with the soul as “immortal, luminous, and star-like.” The root of this word may be found, perhaps, in the Scythic ''aist-aer'' — which means star, or the Assyrian ''Istar'', which, according to Burnouf has the same sense.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Isis Unveiled'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), xxv.</ref></blockquote> | |||
In her Comments on the book [[Light on the Path (book)|''Light on the Path'']] [[Mabel Collins]] writes: | |||
<blockquote>This inner world is called Astral by some people, and it is as good a word as any other, though it merely means starry; but the stars, as Locke pointed out, are luminous bodies which give light of themselves. This quality is characteristic of the life which lies within matter; for those who see it, need no lamp to see it by. The word star, moreover, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "stir-an," to steer, to stir, to move, and undeniably it is the inner life which is master of the outer, just as a man's brain guides the movements of his lips. So that although Astral is no very excellent word in itself, I am content to use it for my present purpose.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 16.</ref></blockquote> | |||
See related terms are [[Astral Light]], [[Astral Body]] and [[Astral Plane]] | |||
== Notes == | |||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:Theosophical concepts]] | |||
Revision as of 20:25, 24 April 2012
Astral is a word that derives from the Latin astrum and from the Greek astron, meaning "star", and refers to a plane consisting of a subtler kind of matter held to be next above the physical world in refinement.
H. P. Blavatsky wrote:
The designation astral is ancient, and was used by some of the Neoplatonists. Porphyry describes the celestial body which is always joined with the soul as “immortal, luminous, and star-like.” The root of this word may be found, perhaps, in the Scythic aist-aer — which means star, or the Assyrian Istar, which, according to Burnouf has the same sense.[1]
In her Comments on the book Light on the Path Mabel Collins writes:
This inner world is called Astral by some people, and it is as good a word as any other, though it merely means starry; but the stars, as Locke pointed out, are luminous bodies which give light of themselves. This quality is characteristic of the life which lies within matter; for those who see it, need no lamp to see it by. The word star, moreover, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "stir-an," to steer, to stir, to move, and undeniably it is the inner life which is master of the outer, just as a man's brain guides the movements of his lips. So that although Astral is no very excellent word in itself, I am content to use it for my present purpose.[2]
See related terms are Astral Light, Astral Body and Astral Plane