To understand the planes it is important to take many of the definitions into consideration.  The first one to look into is the scale.  Using this idea it is possible to be on only one side of the equation.  To reach the other side it is required to give up everything the current side possesses.  There is no neutral position possible.  That would mean that either side was totally inaccessible.

 

Ex.

 

                        Prime Material Plane -------- (0)--------- Spiritual Plane

 

                        Astral Plane--------------------- (0)--------- Ethereal Plane

 

 

The second idea is that of the cross.  With this idea it is possible to go from one side to the other.  In this case only a part of who and what you are is given up.  You retain connections with the plane you started on.  This gives no movement on the original path.  It does however give movement on the path that bisects the one you are on.

 

 

Ex.                                           Prime Material Plane

                                                            |

                                                            |

                        Astral Plane-------------------------Ethereal Plane

                                                            |

                                                            |

                                                Spiritual Plane

 

 

The fourth idea is that of the checkerboard.  Each plane has its own unique properties and conditions.  In this respect each plane is totally separate from each other.

 

 

Ex.

 

                                                Prime Material Plane

                        -----------------------------------------------------------

                        Astral            Plane                | Ethereal Plane

                        ------------------------------------------------------------

 

                                                Spiritual Plane

 

 

The fifth concept is that of fading.  In this case the Prime Material Plane is the lowest.  Next come the Ethereal Plane, Astral Plane and Spiritual Plane in that order.

 

Illustration.

                                                Properties

                        Plane                Own             Top            Bottom

                        Prime               1                   0               2

                        Ethereal           2                   1                3

                        Astral               3                   2                4

                        Spiritual           4                     3              5

 

The sixth concept is that of planets.  At least that is what they are on the Prime Material Plane.  That is a place where life normally exists and functions.  Each plane must have an equivalent of some sort.  Along with planets there is a space between them.  This must also exist in some form or another.

The Prime Material Plane is the one we are the most familiar with.  This is the plane of the physical being.  We are used to seeing planets, moons suns and the space between them.  All things in these planes suffer the act of change, age, birth and death.  It is simply the nature of existence.

 

This is the plane any living creature is born on.  What it takes for the other planes to access it with out birth I can only guess.

I call this plane the ethereal plane for the simple lack of anything better to call it.  This plane resembles the physical one the most.  Beings on this plane also suffer from the effects of change and aging.  Those who aren’t careful can suffer harm from interaction with the material plane.

 

To access this plane wings are required.  You are either born with them or gifted with them.  To be gifted with them means some being directly changes your form.  You lose the ability to enter the astral plane.  You gain the ability to enter the ethereal plane.

 

The benefits of this plane are simple.  With wings it is extremely easy to fly out of your body.  A second benefit is that it becomes easy to jump from place to place.  With concentration it is possible to ignore the material plane. 

 

What you have to watch out for is that you don’t bump into things.  Depending on the kind of wings granted your new form can be extremely fragile.

 

When a person is first granted wings they must become similar to a newly hatched bird.  Time must be taken to become accustomed to there new form.  As any newly bird must learn to fly from scratch, so must you.

 

The wings can be of any type.  That is any creature that normally has wings you can become.  Any creature from mythology and legend is possible.  It could be Dragon, Fairy or even Pegasus.  You will find unless great care is given, you will develop the basic personality for the creature you now are. 

This is the plane most commonly used with those who astral project.  Because of the term astral projection I call this the astral plane.  This is less like the material plane and more like the spiritual plane. 

 

Any interaction with the material plane requires conscious thought and desire.  There is little interaction possible with out any conscious control.  In fact it is all but impossible to cause or receive any sort of injury from any interaction that isn’t purposely desired.

 

This is the second most dangerous form of leaving the body.  That is because it requires you to retain some connection with it while removing your conscious and or awareness from it.  In this state you are extremely vulnerable to any and all outside influences.  It is extremely easy for anything or anyone to enter and take over whom you are.

 

The benefits are that the material world becomes similar to a ghost world.  It will take concentration, effort and desire more often then not to directly interact with any material object.

 

This form of planes walking requires you to have the ability to let go almost completely of your body.  Until you can accomplish that it will be impossible to learn this skill.  Once that is gained, all that is required is to imagine yourself where you wish to be.  As a part of you always stays with your body, you will always remember where you left it.  All that remains is a desire to return.     

This is the plane of the dead.  This is where heaven and hell rest.  Using the definition of the checkerboard some version of each must exist.  There must also exist at least two others as well.

 

This is the plane that the various gods live on.  With out any direct purpose or desire it will be impossible to interact with the material world.  In fact the only way to attain this plane is by dieing.

 

Only by death, either temporary or permanent is it possible to walk this plane.  This requires leaving your body fully.  At this point the body will start to decompose and become useless.

 

To seek out any of the planets will require you to have a similar nature as what you seek.  That may be the only way you can find and enter them.