Plane

The term "plane" originates from the Latin "planus," meaning flat or level. This etymology suggests a surface or extent, which in esoteric contexts is metaphorically applied to describe distinct layers or dimensions of reality, whether spatial, temporal, or purely conceptual.

From the Latin planus (level Hat) an extension of space or of something in it, whether physical or metaphysical, e.g., a "plane of consciousness". As used in Occultism, the term denotes the range or extent of .some state of consciousness, or of the perceptive power of a particular set of sen.ses, or the action of a particular force, or the state of matter corresponding to any of the above.

The notion of "plane," as Blavatsky articulates it, transcends the mundane understanding of a flat surface. It is an invitation to perceive reality as layered, a cosmic architecture where consciousness, not merely physical location, determines one's situatedness. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and myth, frequently explored the vertical axis of the cosmos, the axis mundi that connects the underworld, the earthly realm, and the celestial spheres—these are, in essence, planes of experience and being. Carl Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious and its archetypes also hints at these distinct, yet interconnected, psychic planes, where universal patterns of human experience reside.

To speak of a "plane of consciousness" is to acknowledge that our awareness is not a monolithic entity but a spectrum, capable of operating at different frequencies or depths. This resonates with the practices of contemplative traditions, from the meditative states described by the Buddha, which lead to different jhanas or absorptions, to the Sufi journey through stations of the heart (maqamat) and states of being (ahwal), as chronicled by scholars like Annemarie Schimmel. Each plane, whether conceived as a celestial realm, a psychic dimension, or a state of matter, implies a unique set of perceptual tools and experiential possibilities. The challenge, then, is not merely to identify these planes, but to cultivate the inner faculties—the senses of the soul, as it were—that allow for their apprehension and, for some, their navigation. This requires a disciplined engagement with oneself, a conscious effort to refine one's perceptive apparatus, much like tuning a delicate instrument to catch subtle frequencies. The ancient wisdom traditions, in their diverse formulations of these planes, offer a profound map for the inner explorer, suggesting that the universe is far richer and more complex than our immediate sensory apparatus might suggest.

RELATED_TERMS: Dimension, Realm, State of Consciousness, Level of Being, Hierarchy, World, Sphere ---