What does astrally mean?
"Astrally" is an adverb describing something done or experienced in relation to an astral plane — a realm of existence imagined as separate from the physical body. The word derives from "astral," which originally meant simply "of the stars," but in Western esoteric traditions from the nineteenth century onward it came to denote a subtle, non-physical layer of reality. Today "astrally" appears almost exclusively in spiritual and occult contexts, most famously in the phrase "to travel astrally" or "to project astrally," referring to the belief that a person's consciousness can leave the body and move independently through this unseen plane. Because of its strong association with mysticism rather than astronomy, the word carries connotations of the otherworldly and the speculative. Writers use it when discussing out-of-body experiences, occult literature, or metaphysical belief, and it remains a specialised term rather than part of ordinary vocabulary.
adverbIn a manner relating to the stars or to an astral plane; especially, in esoteric and spiritual traditions, with reference to travel or experience occurring outside the physical body on a supposed non-physical plane of existence.
- With reference to the supposed astral plane or astral body in esoteric thought, especially describing out-of-body travel or experience.
- Relating to the stars or celestial bodies (a rare, literal sense derived directly from 'astral').
"The mystic claimed to have travelled astrally during her nightly meditations."
"She believed she had left her sleeping body behind and drifted astrally through the house."
"In older astronomical writing, bodies were said to move astrally, governed by the heavens above."
Believers in astral projection claim the self can leave the body entirely — and "astrally" is the adverb that describes that out-of-body journey.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of astrally
"Astrally" is formed from the adjective "astral" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly." "Astral" comes from the Latin "astrum," meaning star, itself borrowed from the Greek "astron" (ἄστρον), meaning the same. The same Greek root gives English words such as "astrology," "astronomy," "asteroid," and "asterisk." While "astral" was first used literally for things pertaining to the stars, its extended sense — denoting a supposed non-physical plane or body — developed within nineteenth-century theosophy and earlier esoteric thought, and "astrally" followed that shift in meaning.
Related word forms
How astrally is actually used
"Astrally" is uncommon in everyday speech and belongs mainly to esoteric, spiritualist, and New Age contexts, where it is closely tied to the notion of astral projection. Its literal sense relating to actual stars is now largely confined to older or technical writing; modern usage almost always implies the mystical, non-physical sense.
Easily confused with astrally
"Astray" means off course or into error, while "astrally" relates to stars or to an astral (non-physical) plane of existence.