It is important to note that despite this rich cultural history, there is currently no scientific evidence that astral projection is a phenomenon that exists. In ancient Egyptian, Taoist, and Hindu religions similar concepts of soul travel appear, all based around the idea that there are multiple discrete aspects of the body that can be separated from one another. These works further posit the existence of astral planes where angels, demons, and spirits dwell.
In western classical literature, the idea has shown up multiple times, with the basic idea centering around the idea that the astral body links the rational soul to the physical body. This concept has a rich history in a variety of cultures, though the common term nowadays was coined and used by the 19th-century Theosophists, a religious group that believed in a brotherhood of spiritual masters with supernatural powers that included astral projection. It is essentially the ability to be able to send a projection of one's self outside of one's own physical boundaries to view distant lands and to even see one's own body from a third-person perspective. Specifically, this spirit body can separate itself from its actual body in order to travel around the world and the universe. The astral body is distinguishable from the physical body and thus is able to travel away from it. Crucial to the concept is the belief in a soul or consciousness called the astral body. It also goes by the name of astral travel and primarily is a term used to describe an intentional out of body experience. Astral projection is a term that most people are familiar with, though they might not know the exact meaning.