- "For a moment, you entered the Astral Dimension."
"The what?"
"A place where the soul exists apart from the body." - ―Ancient One and Stephen Strange[src]
The Astral Dimension is a parallel astral dimension in the Multiverse where the soul exists outside of the body.
Overview[]
The Astral Dimension, much like the Mirror Dimension, coexists alongside the Material Plane.[1] The Astral Dimension is one of many astral planes in existence, alongside the Ancestral Plane,[2] Valhalla,[3] and the Duat.[4]
To access the Astral Dimension, one must successfully be separated from their physical form, existing in a state of pure energy. Time relative to the Material Plane is slowed down to a crawl when one enters the Astral Dimension, to the point that Doctor Strange was able to leave his body, speak with the Ancient One, and return in the time it took his body to fall to the floor.
The Masters of the Mystic Arts are also able to peer into the Astral Dimension without leaving their bodies, as both the Ancient One and Doctor Strange were able to see each other's astral bodies while in the Material Plane. It is also demonstrated that sorcerers can learn to make their astral forms perceivable in the material world, with Strange appearing beside Christine Palmer through a portal from the Mirror Dimension. While speaking to her in his astral form, Strange was also able to see Lucian Aster's astral form arrive. The Ancient One was able to project and return Strange's astral form to his body during their first encounter, as well as project Bruce Banner's astral form from Hulk's body and keep him in the Astral Dimension while discussing the Time Heist.
Sorcerers have limited effect on the Material Plane while in the Astral Dimension, as during their Duel on the Astral Plane, Lucian Aster and Doctor Strange were able to cause equipment to move around and lights to burst. Due to the astral form being energy, if a sorcerer's body is exposed to high amounts of energy, such as electricity, their astral form becomes charged to the point that Strange was able to kill Aster by overloading his astral form after Palmer used a defibrillator on him.
One can simultaneously rest their bodies and perform other tasks using the Astral Dimension, as Doctor Strange was shown to be sleeping while studying a book in his astral form. Also, like the Mirror Dimension, the Astral Dimension is accessible without the use of the Sling Ring, as it occupies the same space as the real world while still being imperceptible.[1]
The Soul Stone is able to affect the Astral Dimension as well, as Thanos used it to disorient Doctor Strange by momentarily separating Strange's astral form from his physical form during the Battle of Titan.[5]
History[]
Meeting the Ancient One[]
The Ancient One pushing Stephen Strange's astral form out of his physical form
- "What did you just do to me?"
"I pushed your astral form out of your physical form." - ―Stephen Strange and Ancient One[src]
During Stephen Strange's first encounter with the Ancient One, he initially rejected the idea of souls and multiple universes along with all the other non-scientifically proven statements she made. To silence him, the Ancient One pushed Strange's astral form out from his physical form, effectively forcing Strange briefly into the Astral Dimension.[1]
Strange's Training[]
Stephen Strange studying while his body sleeps
Upon starting his training in the Mystical Arts, Stephen Strange quickly became interested in the use of astral projections, despite Wong warning him that he was not ready for it. Strange quickly became skilled in entering the Astral Dimension and frequently did so to keep studying while his physical body was sleeping.[1]
Hospital Incident[]
When Stephen Strange was injured as a result of his conflict at the New York Sanctum, he stumbled through a portal into the Metro-General Hospital. There, Strange left his physical form by simultaneously assuming the astral form and entering the Astral Dimension, rendering his body unconscious. During this time, he helped Christine Palmer perform surgery on him by re-emerging in the regular universe in his astral form. Palmer was shocked by this stunt and assumed Strange was dead at first. However, he was followed by the astral form of Lucian Aster, one of the enemies he had just overcome.
Doctor Strange fighting Lucian Aster in the Astral Dimension
They battled it out in the Astral Dimension, and some of their actions had weak and muffled effects on the regular dimension. While they fought, Palmer continued her attempts to resuscitate Strange, using duel defibrillators. As it happened, this fact was able to energize Strange's astral form. Strange realized he could use that power against Aster while in the Astral Dimension, so he asked Palmer to keep using the defibrillator. Strange forced the power through Aster's astral form, completely incinerating him in the process.[1]
Death in the Astral Dimension[]
The Ancient One accepts her own death
Having been rushed to a hospital, the Ancient One left her physical body and entered the Astral Dimension, with Stephen Strange quickly following her. In her dying moments, the Ancient One witnessed a lightning strike New York alongside Strange. They stretched her dying moments into minutes in the Astral Dimension together. Her physical body then died, and her astral form faded at the same time.[1]
Infinity War[]
Battle of Titan[]
Thanos separates Doctor Strange from his astral form
In 2018, during the Battle of Titan, Doctor Strange cast the Images of Ikonn, proceeding to bind Thanos with Eldritch Whips. However, Thanos used the Power and Soul Stones in conjunction to destroy the duplicates and temporarily separate Strange into his astral form, allowing Thanos the opportunity to restrain Strange and retrieve the Eye of Agamotto.[5]
Studying the Darkhold[]
Scarlet Witch reads the Darkhold
In 2023, following the Westview Anomaly, Wanda Maximoff gained possession of the mystical book, the Darkhold and fled to a cabin someplace unknown. One day, Maximoff projected herself in the Astral Dimension while reading the book, when suddenly she heard the voices of her children crying out for their mother.[6]
Spider-Man Multiversal Crisis[]
Duel for the Macchina di Kadavus[]
Doctor Strange pushes Peter Parker into his astral form
- "Oh, my God. I'm dead!"
"You're not dead. You've just been separated from your physical form." - ―Spider-Man and Doctor Strange[src]
In 2024, in order to stop Peter Parker from running away from him and to reclaim the Macchina di Kadavus, Doctor Strange pushed Parker's astral form out of his body. However, to his surprise, Parker's physical body was still moving and deflecting Strange's attempts to grab the Macchina. Parker, who was shocked and frightened at first, became excited about being in his astral form. He then glided down and returned to his physical body.[7]
Scarlet Witch's Multiversal Madness[]
Siege of Kamar-Taj[]
A year after fleeing into exile, Wanda Maximoff, who had been possessed by the Darkhold, used astral projection during her attack on Kamar-Taj. She used it to control a young sorcerer to run, causing him to let down his protective shield and for others to do so as well in the confusion.[8]
Alternate Universes[]
Time Heist[]
Ancient One pushes Bruce Banner out of Hulk
Upon using the Quantum Realm to time travel through the Multiverse and arriving in an alternate 2012 timeline, Bruce Banner arrived at the New York Sanctum to retrieve the Time Stone, where he was met by the Ancient One. Explaining that he needed the Time Stone, Banner attempted to take the Eye of Agamotto from the Ancient One but instead had his astral form pushed from his body. The Ancient One explained that, if she were to allow Banner to take the Stone from her time, her timeline would be in danger due to the Masters giving up their greatest weapon, thus leaving them unable to defend themselves from future threats. However, when Banner explained that Strange had given the Stone to Thanos, she decided to trust his decision and returned Banner's astral form to his body.[9]
Trivia[]
- In the comics, the Astral plane can be accessed through magical means or through telepathy. Powerful telepaths such as Charles Xavier, Jean Grey and Emma Frost often enter the Astral plane and sometimes use it to do battle.
- Unlike other people, Spider-Man's body continues moving even while his soul is knocked into the Astral Dimension, due to his Spider-Sense.
- Interestingly, Doctor Strange was shown to be holding a book from the Kamar-Taj library while in the Astral Dimension, and the book itself is translucent as though it existed in the Astral Plane as well.
Appearances[]
| Appearances for the Astral Dimension |
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In chronological order:
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