Astral spirit

An astral spirit is a term used in spiritualism and holism and can be described as having a demonic influence and existing in space with no physical body.^[1] The Astral Spirit exists in what is called the Astral Plane. Depending on the time period and culture, the term can have several meanings. It was thought to be one of the three parts of the human soul that contained the "thoughts, cogitations, desires, imaginations that were impressed upon the mind at the time of death" as well as lust and anger.^[2] Philosopher's had different viewpoints and ideas of the Astral Spirits as Marsilio Ficino considered it to be a link between the physical body and soul, while others such as Jean Fernel associated it more with animal spirits. Philosopher Henry More introduced the term into the medical setting and considered the astral spirit to be a part of the body that was separate from the "rational soul" and viewed it as the "seat of impulses".^[3] He believed that man was responsible still for controlling these impulses and enthusiasm.^[4] Astral spirits have also been associated with spirit and witchcraft, specifically black magic, and was considered to be demonic in origin at one point. The term was also used in relation to the concept of ghosts and vampirism in the nineteenth century.