The Buddhic Plane is the plane of pure love-wisdom, unity consciousness, and direct spiritual knowing. It exists above the mental plane and below the atmic plane in most esoteric systems, and represents the first truly non-dual realm of soul realization—where the boundaries between self and other begin to dissolve. This is the realm of non-dual awareness and group soul identity.
Emotional Body
Intuitional Body
Functions
Direct spiritual perception, unity consciousness, compassion
Buddhic Plane
The Atmic Plane—sometimes called the Spiritual Will Plane—is the realm of Divine Will, Purpose, and Power. It is the sixth plane in most esoteric cosmologies, sitting above the buddhic (love-wisdom) and mental (thought) planes. It represents the highest aspect of the human spiritual triad and the first level of true spiritual individuality beyond the soul. The Atmic plane is the domain of divine directive energy and purpose.
Emotional Body
Atmic Body
Function
Divine will, monadic essence, spiritual power
Atmic Plane
The etheric body is the energetic double of the physical, composed of life-force (prana) and meridian structures.
Energy Body
Physical and Etheric Body
Functions
Sensory experience, biological processes, and survival
Physical Plane
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The astral plane is a subtle, non-physical dimension of reality often described in mystical, esoteric, and spiritual traditions. It exists between the physical world and the higher spiritual realms, serving as a bridge between material and immaterial realities. The astral plane is the seat of emotional resonance, dream life, and lower intuitive perception.
Energy Body
Emotional Body
Functions
Emotions, desire, instinctual drives, affective imagery
Astral Plane
Energy Bodies and Planes of Existence
The mental plane is a higher, more refined non-physical dimension of consciousness than the astral plane. It is the realm of pure thought, intention, and conceptual understanding, and serves as a bridge between personal consciousness and the deeper structures of universal mind or divine intelligence. Divided into the lower mental (concrete thought) and higher mental (abstract and symbolic rationale).
Energy Body
Cognitive Body
Functions
Thought, logic, conceptual reasoning, and belief systems
Mental Plane
The causal body is the subtle, non-physical vehicle of the soul—the enduring part of your being that carries the blueprint of your higher identity across lifetimes. It is called “causal” because it is the cause or source behind your lower bodies (mental, emotional, etheric, and physical), and it holds the spiritual memory, life purpose, and karma that shape your incarnation. The causal body preserves the blueprint of the soul’s journey and is the seat of higher purpose and dharma.
Energy Body
Higher Mental Body/Soul Body
Functions
Soul memory, karmic encoding, spiritual will, archetypal patterning
Causal Body
The study of energy bodies—sometimes referred to as subtle bodies, sheaths, or vehicles of consciousness—offers a framework for understanding the multi-layered nature of human existence. Rooted in ancient spiritual traditions and codified in modern metaphysical systems such as Theosophy, Vedanta, and Esoteric Psychology, this model recognises that human beings are more than physical organisms. We are multi-dimensional entities, each layer of our being resonating with a corresponding plane of existence.
These planes are not separate locations in space, but interpenetrating fields of vibration and consciousness. They are organised hierarchically, with the densest plane—the physical—at the base, and progressively subtler, more refined planes ascending beyond it. Each plane hosts a corresponding energy body, through which we perceive, interact, and evolve. The Theosophical tradition—developed by Helena Blavatsky, Annie Besant, C.W. Leadbeater, and later refined by Alice Bailey—outlines seven primary planes of existence, each associated with specific layers of the human subtle anatomy
The Monadic Plane (also called the Logoic Plane in some systems) is the seventh and highest plane in traditional esoteric cosmology. It represents the realm of the Monad—your original Divine Spark—and is the level at which you are one with the Source, beyond individuality, time, space, or form.
It is the plane of pure being, unified wholeness, and divine origin—where all souls originate and to which they ultimately return. These are planes of total transcendence, rarely accessed in waking consciousness.
Energy Body
Monad (divine spark)
Functions
Pure being, divine origin, unitive essence
Monadic/Logoic Planes
The Fourth Level Transcends the Lower Three Planes
The fourth-level reality primarily corresponds with the astral plane, yet transcends and integrates aspects of the physical, emotional, and lower mental planes. In this view, it is best understood as an intermediate, initiatory field—a “bridge world” where personal consciousness begins to operate within the laws and vision of the soul.
The fourth level is non-material—it operates through frequency, symbolic perception, and intention rather than physical causality. The energetic body becomes the central vehicle, and inner states, not external stimuli, shape the environment.
Beyond the Physical
(1st Plane)
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While the fourth level encompasses astral dynamics such as emotions, imagination, and symbolic imagery, it transcends mere emotional reactions. Here, emotions become conscious tools for shaping reality. Emotional energy is refined into coherent vibration—love, courage, forgiveness—not merely raw feeling.
Beyond the Astral
(2nd Plane)
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Thought in the fourth level is symbolic and archetypal, rather than analytical or conceptual. Logic gives way to direct insight, metaphor, and intuitive resonance. The self begins to operate through the higher mental or causal body, recognising itself as a soul, not a personality.
Beyond the Lower Mental (3rd Plane)
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