The fourth-level reality appears across many spiritual traditions as a transitional realm between the physical and the divine. It is a subtle world of emotional resonance, archetypal symbolism, and energetic responsiveness. Though terminology and cosmological systems vary widely, this realm is a space for testing, purification, guidance, and spiritual transformation. In this place, souls encounter deeper truths than are typically accessible in the material world.
Consensus Across World Religions and Mystical Traditions
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Hinduism
In Hinduism, this realm is mirrored in concepts such as Antariksha, the "interspace" between the earthly and heavenly domains, and Antahkarana, the inner instrument of the mind. The astral body, or Linga Sharira, operates in this domain, moving through realms known as Deva Lokas—subtle spiritual worlds inhabited by divine beings, ancestors, and spiritually evolved souls. Within these domains, karmic impressions are processed, and emotional purification unfolds. Through mantra, meditation, yogic practices, and dream states, seekers access this level of reality. Advanced yogis report traversing it during samadhi and astral projection as part of their ascent toward union with Brahman, the formless divine.
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Kabbalah
In the mystical tradition of Kabbalah, the fourth-level reality corresponds to Yetzirah, the World of Formation. This world is animated by emotion, angelic presence, and archetypal forces. Yetzirah stands above the physical realm of Assiyah and below the intellectual domain of Beriah. It is here that the Sefirot—particularly Yesod, the Foundation—mediate and transmit divine energy into the material world. Prophetic dreams, angelic visitations, and symbolic visions emerge from this formative layer, where emotion and structure co-create spiritual experience.
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Christian Mysticism
Christian mysticism describes this intermediate reality metaphorically, such as the Heavens, the Middle Kingdom, or Paradise. The Apostle Paul’s description of being taken up to the “third heaven” is often interpreted as an encounter with this realm—a state beyond physical reality, yet not the absolute divine. In Dante’s Divine Comedy, the astral-like characteristics of the fourth level are reflected in the Sphere of the Moon and the lower planetary spheres, which serve as zones of purification and growth for the soul. Mystics such as St. Teresa of Ávila describe “interior mansions,” inner spiritual spaces that align with the symbolic architecture of the astral plane, each representing degrees of spiritual refinement and intimacy with the Divine.
In Sufism, the Islamic mystical tradition, this dimension is known as ‘Alam al-Mithal, the World of Images, or Barzakh, the veil or isthmus between the physical and spiritual realms. This imaginal world is a domain of symbolic and archetypal reality accessible through dreams, visions, and states of mystical absorption. Here, the imagination—khayal—is not dismissed as fantasy but embraced as a faculty of spiritual perception and communication. It becomes the bridge by which divine truth takes on symbolic form, allowing the seeker to encounter saints, prophets, angels, and spiritual realities in experiential ways. Barzakh is also described as a waystation for souls after death, offering a transformative in-between space.
Sufism
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In Tibetan Buddhism, the fourth-level realm is most closely mirrored in the Bardo states—intermediate phases of consciousness between death and rebirth. These spaces are filled with visionary, emotional, and karmic imagery. Consciousness navigates its projections and patterns, encountering deities, light forms, or terrifying apparitions depending on its level of realisation. Additionally, the Sambhogakaya realms, accessible to advanced meditators, are radiant, emotionally resonant worlds of bliss and teaching. Through dream yoga, visualisation practices, and mastery of subtle energies, practitioners train to remain conscious in the fourth-level reality to navigate rebirth or attain liberation.
Tibetan Buddhism
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In the Theosophical tradition and related Western esoteric systems, the astral plane is clearly defined as one of the seven planes of existence. It is a realm of emotion, desire, and symbolic interaction. Here dwell nature spirits, thought forms, astral shells, and the souls of the dead in transition. The lower astral plane is described as dense and chaotic—filled with distorted desires and residual emotion—while the higher astral is more ordered, luminous, and clear. The astral plane is central to lucid dreaming, out-of-body travel, and telepathic communication with guides or discarnate beings.
The Theosophical Tradition
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Indigenous and shamanic traditions across the globe also affirm the existence of a subtle, in-between world. Often referred to as the spirit world or middle world, this realm is accessed through dreams, altered states of consciousness, or sacred rituals such as drumming, chanting, and using plant medicines. This domain is populated by animal spirits, ancestors, nature intelligences, and sometimes trickster beings. It is considered a place of both profound healing and potential danger. Shamans serve as mediators and protectors of this realm, navigating its currents for healing, divination, and restoring harmony between the human and spirit worlds.
Indigenous and Shamanic Traditions
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In modern mystical and New-Age thought, the fourth level is often called the Fourth Density, 4D, or the astral layer. It is considered a transitional realm through which humanity is collectively evolving. This level of reality is described as more emotionally transparent, vibrationally sensitive, and spiritually attuned than the dense third-dimensional world. During altered states, near-death experiences, or plant medicine journeys, people often report entering a vibrational field where thoughts instantly manifest, emotions form the environment, and communication with higher beings becomes possible. Common encounters include guides, extraterrestrial intelligences, and higher versions of oneself. The fourth level is increasingly framed as a domain of personal and planetary initiation—a field through which humanity collectively ascends into greater coherence and unity.
Modern Mystical and New Age Thought
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A clear pattern emerges despite the diverse cosmologies and terminologies used to describe the fourth-level reality across spiritual traditions. This realm is consistently characterised by a symbolic and archetypal mode of perception, where inner truths take visual, emotional, and narrative form. Emotions in this space are not abstract but become tangibly present, shaping the very fabric of the environment. Thus, emotional mastery—particularly cultivating love, courage, and clarity—is essential to navigate this reality without distortion.
The fourth-level functions as a crucible of purification, integration, and spiritual decision-making. It reflects the soul’s inner state in real-time, often through dreamlike or mythic imagery that reveals unconscious material or illuminates spiritual potential. Encounters with luminous beings—guides, ancestors, saints, devas, or angels—are common. These entities offer guidance, protection, or initiatory insight, often helping the soul to choose its next path of evolution.
Across these varied systems, the fourth-level reality emerges as a coherent and recognisable realm of symbolic truth, emotional purification, and spiritual preparation. Whether encountered in dreams, visions, trance, or states of deep meditation, it serves as a threshold domain—an inner landscape where the human soul awakens to its deeper origin, meets its spiritual allies, and prepares for greater embodiment or liberation.
This realm is also a gateway—a transitional passage that can lead upward into higher, more refined dimensions or downward into denser, more fragmented states of being. The direction depends not on fate, but on the soul’s frequency, clarity of intention, and capacity for emotional and spiritual coherence. Whether described as the Bardo, Barzakh, Yetzirah, or Deva Loka, the fourth-level reality remains a consistent bridge between worlds, where spirit meets form, and the soul rehearses its ascent toward divine union.