'''The Astral Space or the Astral Plane''' is a mana plane of existence that mirrors the physical world. All physical objects create shadowy representations of themselves in astral space. Living things have brighter forms on the astral plane, which is called an aura. The awaken have auras that are brighter and more colorful than their mundane counterparts. Nothing has a "physical" presence (a bit of a misnomer, since nothing is truly physical on the astral) in astral space unless it has an astral form.
== Seeing the Unseen ==
=== Astral Perception ===
To see Astral Space usually requires that a person must be awakened. After that Adepts or Mystic Adepts need the adept power, Astral Perception. While Hermetic Mages and Shamans can naturally see in to the Astral at will. Using Astral Perception will make the awaken person become Dual Natured, which means they now exist on both the physical plane and now have an Astral Form, so exist and can interact with both the physical world and Astral World. Dual natured critters, such as Ghouls, Hellhounds, Dragons, etc are considered to be able to see both planes at once. Another possibility for awakened character to see the Astral Plane is to use the awakened drug called Deep Weed.
=== Astral Projection ===
The next step up from Astral Perception is known as Astral Projection where a person can separate their Astral Form from their physical form. This is only freely accessible to Hermetic Mages and Shamans. It frees the magician from their physical limitations and projects their very psyche into the astral. This allows them to move at the speed of thought. It is possible for non-magicians and the mundane to astral project if near an Astral Rift or with aid from a powerful Free Spirit with the Astral Gate way power, though this can be very dangerous for mundanes.
=== Seeing, but not Seeing ===
The astral plane is described using sight but it is not truly sight. It is more of a third eye, or empathic link. You do not see light, but emotions. You can not read the words on a book, but you can pick up if a book is beloved by its owner. Like wise, things that we take for granted with sight, such as using a mirror to see our reflection or seeing through glass, these objects on the astral plane are opaque and non-reflective, since those are concepts associated with visible light. Strangely, water is still transparent.
==== Example ====
A blind magician (whether naturally blind, blindfolded or just in a dark room) switches their vision to the astral plane, while a non-blind magician views the blind mage through glass (in the case of a dark room this non-blind mage may have low-light vision). The non-blind magician can target the blind mage through the glass, while the blind magician would be unable to see the mage on the other side of the glass. Since the glass blocks the blind mage's line of sight, the blind mage is unable to target the non-blinded mage.
Lastly, non-living objects do make opaque shadows on the Astral which can block line of sight, which can be handy for being that can not leave the astral, such as Ghouls. Which is also why you'll often find ghouls in tight and enclosed environments, so they don't have to worry about a projecting mage shooting them with spells that the ghoul can do nothing to stop. Some visual modifies do leave astral shadows that can affect astral sight, such as smoke grenades, fog, or rain, which can interfere with spell casting on the astral.
=== What Happens on the Astral Stays on the Astral ===
Spells on the Astral Plane can only be mana spells and cannot interact with the physical plane, unless targeting something with an astral form. Targeting a mundane's aura is not enough to establish the link to cast a spell, for example. Like wise a spell cast on the physical plane can not affect the astral plane, though the spell will leave disturbances in the ambient mana, which will leave a magician's astral signature in astral space.
== Index ==
* {{Src}}
* {{Src}}
* {{Src}}
* {{Src}}
* Cyberpirates
== External Links ==
* Discussion http//www.reddit.com/r/Shadowrun/comments/2jj9mo/whats_the_point_of_astral_projection/ on Reddit.
CategoryMagicCategoryLocations
==Welcome==
Hi, welcome to {{SITENAME}}. Thanks for your edit to the '''Astral Space''' page.
'''SpecialUserlogin'''. It's an easy way to keep track of your contributions and helps you communicate with the rest of the community.
Please leave a message on User talkDorle if I can help with anything! UserDorle (User talkDorle) 2115, January 14, 2015 (UTC)