Review: Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce - Part 2

Review: Astral Dynamics - Part 2

by Robert Bruce

This is part 2 of my book review of Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce. If you haven't read part 1, it's available on my blog: http://obeoutlook.blogspot.com

Flag 17: In part 1, I talked about astral projections, lucid dreams, and something Bruce calls "lucid dream projections" which he claims is some kind of hybrid I don't understand. Chapter 24 talks about yet another kind of experience which he calls "Virtual Reality Projection." The idea here is that you enter into a mirror, a picture, a painting, etc., from the OBE state. In other words, you use it as a gateway into another level of experience.

"The projector then moves into the target rather than passing through it. This seems to trick the subconscious mind into creating a virtual astral realm around the projected double, identical to that shown in the picture or mirror being approached." (pg. 337)

It makes me wonder if this is just another form of passing into a lucid dream, a self-created hallucination.

Flag 18: Here Bruce talks about movement, and he gives a helpful hint I've never thought of:

"Imagine that every direction you want to move in is downhill and that you are wearing roller skates, and you will just start rolling forward whenever you want to move." (pp. 346-347.)

Flag 19: Bruce describes the astral planes as having a grid-like appearance.

"The surface of an astral plane is two-dimensional and covered with perfectly straight horizontal and vertical grid lines. This makes for a uniform checkered appearance over the entire surface. Each square contains a brilliantly multicolored geometric design, repeated endlessly in every other square. The surface of each astral plane has its own unique pattern, completely different from that of any other astral plane's surface pattern." (pg. 367)

Well, maybe I've spent most of my out-of-body explorations in the "real-time zone" but I've never noticed a checkerboard pattern anywhere in my travels.

Flag 20: Bruce talks about the structure and layout of the astral planes. He notes:

"The fringes of these area are not dangerous, but are decidedly unpleasant. The very bad lower subplanes are dark, shadowy areas populated (more aptly polluted) with all kinds of demons, monsters, and nightmarish figures. The lowest of these dark areas could aptly be called hellish dimensional areas." (pg. 373)

Again, I've (rarely) seen horrible looking scary creatures in my OBEs, but nothing I would describe as hellish. The vast majority of OBEs--both mine and other people's--are pleasant.

Flag 21: Bruce talks about making the transition from a "real-time" projection to an astral projection; in other words, how to get to the astral plane from the Earth-plane. He says:

"The method I use and recommend for getting into the astral planes is this: Starting near ground level, aim midway between the horizon and straight up and take off. Fly at the greatest speed possible. Start moving upward and feel  and become aware of the star-filled universe spread out before you...Fill your mind with the feeling of enormous distance and shoot for the stars. The incredible acceleration this causes makes your vision blur momentarily, and you may experience a brief tunnel-of-light effect." (pg. 386).

Flag 22: Bruce and I are in agreement with regard to the silver cord, although I tend to believe the cord is a purely psychological device:

"The silver cord, as far as I can ascertain, is invulnerable and therefore unbreakable...If it were possible to be destroyed by severing the silver cord, I would certainly have died many times over. Nor can it be damaged simply because a projection is suddenly ended, no matter under what circumstances or how abruptly." (pg. 401)

Flag 23: Here Bruce talks about the Akashic Pulse, the astral wind (which can pick you up and blow you to random locations) and "consciousness seeds" which are supposedly energies that "profoundly affect the lives of each and every incarnated spirit in the universe." I've never heard of consciousness seeds, except in this book. He makes it sound like a bunch of dice in some cosmic game of craps. I'm not sure what to make of that.

Flag 24: Starting on page 432, Bruce talks about Deja Vu, a strong sense of having relived a sequence of events before. His theory is that it may have something to do with the consciousness seeds which influence our lives. I have a different interpretation (which is beyond the scope of this article) but his observations about deja vu (for example, that we have the power to change the future) match mine.

Flag 25: Bruce talks about "Confusing Astral Effects". He says, in part:

"You do not have a real body during an OBE. You are an infinitesimally small point of consciousness, a spark created by the pure energies of your consciousness. You have no real size or shape." (pg. 457)

I agree with this. I, too, have experienced OBEs in which I was a pinpoint of consciousness. I really liked what Fred Aardema wrote about us identifying with a "body image" out of habit, because that's what we're used to. Or as I sometimes like to call it, "Schrodinger's Astral Body"...It's in an indeterminate state until you observe it. Bruce supports that on the next page (Flag 26) when he says:

"The subtle body parts that appear seem to be created by the subconscious mind. The mind of the projector does not seem able to accept the total nonexistence of its body, so temporarily creates body parts when they are looked for." (pg. 458)

Flag 27: I thought this was interesting:

"A brief glance at the hands during an OBE, for example, causes a small shock wave between the projected double and its physical counterpart that helps stabilize the projection. A longer observation often shifts a projector from real time straight into an astral realm." (pg. 459)

I've never really needed to glance at my hands to stabilize my OBEs, nor has it ever shifted me to another dimension.

Flag 28: I laughed when I read this, because I've often said very much the same thing when asked about different levels of the astral plane:

"Higher dimensions also do not have signposts in them saying 'Welcome to the Astral Planes--Ta ... Daaa!' or 'Mental Planes--Watch Your Mind!' or 'Buddhic Planes--Love One Another!'" (pg. 469)

It's just "poof" and you're in unfamiliar surroundings; who knows where.

Flag 29: Starting on page 472, Bruce has descriptions of different levels that he's visited. I found them interesting and informative, although I think the descriptions in Jurgen Ziewe's book Muldimensional Man were better.

Flag 30: Here Bruce gives one of his few OBE narrations. In this experience, he apparently meets with his dead son, Jeremy, who greets him with:

"You did it, Daddy, you did it! I told them you'd come...I told them you could do it!" (pg. 474).

This was a very touching moment in the book, and it reminded me of my own meeting with my dad after he'd died. This is the softer side of Robert Bruce, whereas most of the book is down to business with regard to OBEs.

Flag 31: Bruce surprised me with this one: He says:

"The best way to cultivate high-level contact, and to speed this moment along a little, is through regular, meaningful spiritual service and development, complemented by energetic and psychic development, in that particular order of priority and effort. (pg. 483).

Throughout the book, Bruce doesn't show much "spirituality." In fact, some people are quick to judge him or label him as an "occultist" with some amount of disdain. This soft spot in the book proves that he's actually a spiritual guy.

Flag 32: Bruce talks about "Lower Subplane Wildlife," a term he likes to use with regard to negative entities. His advice on how to deal with them meshes perfectly with mine: be fearless and, if you have to, aggressive. His discussion is thorough, so I don't want to short-change it. It's well worth the read. Still, I found this amusing:

"I have seen entities the size of polar bears run screaming when 'BOO!' is said to them." (pg. 491).

Flag 33: Bruce talks about how his mother was a Spiritualist, and compares how she dealt with negative entities to his own methods.

Well, I guess that's all I have to say about Astral Dynamics. It's long. It's complex. It's thorough. Its energy exercises are well thought out and worth doing. The book is well worth the time and the money.

Bob Peterson
23 April 2015