windvexer:

Like
outer space, I suspect the “astral” contains vast swaths of
emptiness. When someone makes an astral temple, they are not mowing
down an astral forest and building on someone else’s territory, they
are starting with astral nothingness and producing within that
nothingness our human concepts of time, space, depth, and physics.
Nor will “space” in the astral “run out”, for the astral
(while not infinite) is also not constrained by concepts of physical
space, as we understand it.

Building
a personal astral space is quite easy. Like any castle you want it to
be protected, but basic protections (likely all that you will need)
are simple to put up.

To
visit an empty swath of the astral to build upon, do this simple
exercise:

Become
very relaxed through any technique you like. Enter a trance-like,
almost sleepy state. If you don’t know what being in trance feels
like, try following some Youtube meditations that bring a person to
great relaxation.

Close
your eyes and imagine a door. Any sort of door will work. Because
this door was created by you, only you can open and close it.

Stand
before the door and say or think, “this door will take me to an
empty astral space that I can use as my own.”

Know
these words to be true.

Then,
open the door and step through it. Close the door firmly behind you.
Do not be alarmed if the door disappears; it is a magical door, and
it will come to you whenever you call it.

Chances
are you will find yourself in a black empty nothingness space. This
is quite normal. Like God in Genesis, create a world from scratch.
You do not need to create an entire planet (that is likely beyond
most of our abilities!). Try this method:

With
force of will, decree that earth and sky be created. All around you,
ground and atmosphere will appear.

Call
upon a great, impenetrable sphere to surround this space. Don’t worry
about making it all huge, you can alter your space however you want
later on. The sphere will surround this area you have created and
prevent any creature from entering or exiting without your
permission.

Walk
around your area and change it. You may find you don’t have the
energy or will to enact changes as you please. This is okay: working
in the astral takes actual energy, and the more you do it the easier
it will become. If you do have the energy, try growing trees,
creating benches or houses for you to enjoy, carving rivers or
waterfalls, or whatever you like (Minecraft is not a bad comparison
to building an astral space).

An
important part of your astral space is that it allows you to directly
work on the astral. If you are trying to grow astral limbs or other
appendages, you can exercise them here. You can use this space to
gain experience with working in the astral, or to build an astral
temple where you can invite spirits and gods to enjoy themselves.

Whenever
you are ready to exit, call your door to you. Simply think of the
door and wish it to be next to you, and it will be. Open the door,
walk through it back to your regular imagination, and firmly close
it. Remember that nobody but you can open or close the door.

Remain in your relaxed state for a little while and readjust yourself to physical reality. Centering exercises help with this.

Return
to your inner space whenever you like by going back through the door.

Here
are some notes:

Astral vs Imagination

• Your imagination has no rules and imagining things typically requires little effort or energy. 
• Your imagination is static. For example if you imagine a garden, the next time you imagine it, the garden will be the same. It does not change or grow on its own.
• When you imagine something, it simply becomes, like a hologram. 
• In your imagination, all beings and creatures are automatons 
• Your imagination is a seat of power through which many things can be accessed.
• You do not need to ‘center’ or ‘readjust’ after a simple daydream

• Building in the astral can take actual energy and willpower
• Astral spaces have “rules”; even gods need wings or magical artifacts to fly
• Astral spaces will grow and develop independent of your input. If you plant an astral garden and return to it a week later, it will have grown or withered.
• When you attempt to build something, you may have to spend more time on it than just clicking your fingers and saying “become”. 
• In the astral, beings and creatures have minds of their own. You can create many friends and guardians, but you will note that they will actually do things outside of your direct control
• After visiting the astral, a period of readjustment is very much recommended.

Using the astral space as a place to honor spirits 

Build a beautiful temple or palace (or natural space) that the spirits you wish to honor would enjoy. Imagine it filled with the most wonderful offerings and delicacies. Invite different spirits to come and enjoy what you have laid out.

If you wish, use this as a space to speak with spirits. Do not let any spirits through your personal door, under any circumstances. 

When you are ready to leave your astral space, tell your visitors this visit is over and ask them to leave in peace. Imagine that they simply teleport away back to their homes.

Enjoy using this astral space for practice

You can quickly build all sorts of thought-forms directly in the astral, although whether or not they will be of use outside your temple is another matter. Practice building defenses of all sorts, casting magic, and viewing or testing astral limbs. 

Deleting an astral space

If you grow tired of what you have built, you can become a destroyer god and simply eliminate it and start anew. If for some reason you wish to close this space permanently, fold all of its space and time down in on itself like a paper box, until it becomes nothing. Summon your door, walk through, close the door, and destroy the door.