Supernatural lore: The use of astral projection

During Supernatural Season 4, Episode 15, the Winchesters use astral projection to help reapers. Here’s a look at the Supernatural lore and the real theories behind the ability.

Reapers live on the astral plane, so when the Winchesters needed to save them, they had to head there through astral projection. In terms of Supernatural lore, that meant the Winchesters became like ghosts, but it’s not just as simple as dreaming or dying. Pamela was needed to use a spell to get them there.

This certainly isn’t the only time astral projection has been used in the series. Just how does astral projection in the series connect to the real lore around the ability? It’s time to take a look.

Supernatural‘s astral projection

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During “Death Takes a Holiday,” Pamela was able to help the Winchesters astral project. Like ghosts, they were able to do everything that ghosts could do, but they were also at risk of all the side effects of being a ghost.

Meanwhile, their bodies rested as if they slept. Pamela was needed to bring the Winchesters back.

We’ve seen other characters astral project, mostly Rowena, who uses a spell to do so. She can make sure she’s safe to go inside rooms. Angels also have the ability, including nephilim Jack.

The basis in real lore

There’s plenty of lore surrounding astral projection. For the most part, people’s spirits go to the astral plane. They can’t interact with the real world, but they can view it and see things happening in other locations.

Astral projection is often linked to lucid dreaming. For some, it’s awake lucid dreaming but others view it as something separate. One consensus is that people realize they are astral projecting through different senses and feelings. When half-asleep, the mind can enter the dream body and the physical body doesn’t feel physically present anymore.

There are dangers to astral projection and one of those is death. The physical body remains at harm to everything that could affect it when your spirit is there. This is something the Supernatural lore remains consistent on but this silver cord is used in much of the Western lore now.

There’s plenty of lore connected to astral projection. Considering Supernatural focused on Biblical mythology by the fourth season, it’s possible that the Biblical lore was the one mostly used. This includes a silver cord that connects between spirit and body, although wasn’t used in the series.

Ancient Egypt, the Chinese, Buddhists, the Japanese, and so many other Eastern cultures have some sort of astral projection lore. It’s also often used in Wicca lore, which would then connect to Rowena’s ability to astral project.

In some lore, people will astral project to perform curses on people they hate. Others will check on loved ones while in the astral form because they can pass through buildings and travel easier in spirit form. Either way, the Eastern cultures tend to view astral projection as something people consciously do and they are more like ghosts than anything else.

Did you know the real lore behind astral projection? Are you intrigued in more? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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