Definition

Adjective 1. Relating to stars or having a star-like quality: Describes something that is connected to, resembles, or originates from stars. 2. Relating to a non-physical or spiritual realm: In mystical or esoteric contexts, describes a subtle, spiritual body or plane of existence believed to be separate from the physical body.

Usage and Examples

• Relating to stars:
  • The telescope revealed the astral beauty of the distant nebula.
  • Ancient navigators used astral charts to guide their voyages across the oceans.
• Relating to a spiritual realm:
  • Some philosophies teach that the astral body can travel independently of the physical form.
  • The mystic claimed to have visions of the astral plane.

Advanced Usage

• "Astral projection": The purported ability for one's consciousness or astral body to travel outside the physical body.
  • The book explores techniques for achieving astral projection.
• "Astral light": A term used in some esoteric traditions to describe a subtle luminous substance or energy permeating the universe.
  • Alchemists wrote of manipulating the astral light.

Variants and Related Words

• Astral body (noun phrase): In mystical thought, a subtle, non-physical duplicate of the physical body.
  • A concept in theosophy is that the astral body survives physical death.
• Astral plane (noun phrase): A spiritual or non-physical dimension of existence.
  • The story's hero journeyed to the astral plane to retrieve a lost soul.

Synonyms

• Stellar: Of or relating to stars.
  • Astral navigation is synonymous with stellar navigation.
• Sidereal: Relating to or measured with respect to the distant stars.
  • Sidereal time is an astral measurement.
• Celestial: Pertaining to the sky or heavens, often inclusive of stars.
  • The astral bodies are part of the celestial sphere.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary, most common meaning is scientific or literal, directly pertaining to stars (e.g., astral light, astral navigation).
• The secondary meaning is esoteric or metaphysical, found in spiritual, occult, or philosophical contexts (e.g., astral body, astral travel). This usage is not scientific.

Adjective

1. being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars
   • an astral body
   • stellar light