Surreal astral experience

Hello George,

Well done on what sounds like an amazing experience.
Just a point to be aware of what we are shown in teachings (which sounds like what you received) whether in a dream or in the astral is best to keep private. We are shown these things for our own learning when we are ready for them and there can be negative consequences if we devalue them by revealing them (like not getting any for a while).
On what you have mentioned it sounds like the animal costumes may refer to some aspect of inner psychology. Ultimately these experiences can only be definitively understood by the person that has had them.
If you haven't you might consider taking all the course as offered on this site or taught in a Centre as they will give you the best tools to understand the things you are seeing and the spiritual work as a whole.
Well done and all the best with your future practices,
Adam.

Isn't it possible that i was just witnessing a real event somewhere? They seemed like real ordinary people...

George T,
Of course you could have witnessed real people! What Adam told you does not contradict that. You could for instance have been taken to that place where real people were performing such a dance, as a form of teaching (taken to a place where there are animal characters, so that you would see animals, and that symbolizing something internal).

However there are obviously quite a few more possibilities... There is no point in guesswork, but will list some just to show a point... You might for instance have been taken to that group of people, because you are a member of that group during certain portitions of your sleep, unknowlingly... Did you for instance ever look at yourself, did you yourself wear a costume?

Dressing up like animals during rituals and dances etc, is not an unusual thing in many cultures. It would therefor not be strange I think to encounter people that keep this up after death etc and in other circumstances as well.

Perhaps you were taken there for another reason that is not known to you until a later time... Though it might be good to keep in mind, not everything you encounter is a direct teaching... You can learn from all you encounter and see, obviously... But sometimes you end up in random places because it simply is random... (and sometimes it is obviously very much a teaching).

As Adam stated, the only one who would really be able to know what you experienced is you... Anything anyone else states would be purely guesswork in this case.

Patrik,

no i didn't look at myself but somehow i seemed to participate in this "dance". I was running happily after them and at he end when these people were lining up in queues, i joined one of the queues just before i found myself back in bed.

the costumes were vividly coloured (bright yellow, fuchsia) like the ones kids wear, and i don't recall any of them having something on their heads (like makeup or face masks of animals).

For the moment at least, this scene doesn't say anything to me, spiritually or otherwise, and i'm still a rookie in astral projection.

 I think that it could also be another person's dream that i found myself into.

Hello George,

You may have noticed with what you saw in the astral beyond just the description of the events there would be another layer of meaning structured on 'feelings' that would of corresponded with what you saw. These 'feelings' can be a handy guide to get more information on the deeper aspect on what was seen rather then just the descriptive nature of what you experienced.
Though it is possible that you could find yourself in someone else's dream I would have to say that would be unlikely. From what I am aware personal teachings are more likely then anything in a conscious astral experience, especially following a conscious astral projection.
Really however as echoed from others only you can know for sure. Be aware too if you really want to understand what you have seen the true meaning might not be easy to accept, it could be descriptive of internal aspects and these can be hard to see-as we don't like to see ourselves in any kind of negative light. Even if this insight can be constructive to change for the better.
It is a good idea to keep a journal of such things (and keep it private). What isn't understood now might become so in the future.
Either way all the best with it,
Adam.

Thank you all for your helpful insights :)

a few weeks ago, i had one of those experiences where you burst into tears, once woken.
very beautiful.