Exploring the Astral

What happens when we die? Why are we really here, and what else is out there? Are there other dimensions? Do we live in a simulation?

If you're anything like me and have been diving deep into spirituality and healing, vibrations and energy, the power of manifestation, other dimensions and the afterlife, and the possibility of reincarnation... then listen up: I've scoured the streaming services for the best movies on these topics so you don't have to, and these are a few of my favourites.

Soul (2020)

Disney and Pixar's Soul won the hearts of audiences everywhere with its creative description of how the afterlife works.

We meet Joe, played by Jamie Foxx, a music teacher whose greatest desire is to be a jazz musician. When Joe finally gets the big break he's been desperately wishing for, his life is suddenly cut short and finds himself in "The Great Before," unable to accept the fact that he died before he could fulfill his dream.

He finds himself crossing barriers of dimensions and time as he tries to escape the "white light" and, inevitably, his death. Unable to change his fate, he pairs up with an unborn soul named 22 (played by Tina Fey) who teaches him how the afterlife works and about the process of reincarnation, all while Joe is constantly trying to scheme a way to get back to his jazz gig on Earth.

The movie is animated but speaks volumes about how our world might actually work... Is the team behind Soul trying to tell us something? Stream today on Disney+ and see for yourself.

Surviving Death (2020)

Surviving Death is a Netflix docuseries containing six episodes that recall tales from real survivors of near death experiences, reincarnation, mediumship, and receiving signs from the dead. If you know me, you know I'm all about signs, so obviously, I was immediately hooked.

What I wasn't prepared for, however, was sobbing only ten minutes into the first episode because everything the survivor explains about her experience with the afterlife confirms that everything I believe in is real. The woman, Mary Neal, explains what happened to her in 1999 when she was on a kayak trip in Chile where she went over a waterfall and died. Neal says she came "home" and met her spirit guides in an angelic and radiant otherworldly dimension -- only to be told she wasn't ready and that she still had work to do on Earth -- and she suddenly gasps for air. Her body had been without oxygen for thirty minutes, and in her mind she was physically dead. Her near death experience is absolutely fascinating. The ending about their escape out of the wilderness literally gave me goosebumps head-to-toe.

If you aren't a believer of miracles, you will be after Mary's story. Even if you don't watch the rest of the series (although you will definitely want to), just watch this first episode.

What Dreams May Come (1998)

This classic is now streaming on Netflix and features our beloved Robin Williams. What Dreams May Come tells an emotional and deep story of what seems to happen to us when we die, how we transcend dimensions and dream up our own "realities," and how we are all connected throughout time and space. It's about grieving and healing and facing our fears. This film drops a lot of truth in its dialogue.

William's character, Chris, watches from above his body as he's been in a horrible accident and has a hard time accepting the fact that he died. He lingers in reality as we know it, trying to communicate with his wife to let her know in a powerful scene that he still exists. Once Chris accepts his fate, however, he is whisked off to another dimension, one that he painted for himself in dreams, one where he's reunited with those he's loved and can see from all perspectives where he could've lived a little harder.

Welcome to the land where thought is real, the physical is an illusion, and "as long as you're aware you exist, you do."

The Matrix (1999)

Okay, I must admit... I only just watched this movie on Netflix for the first time a few days ago, and all I can say is... They literally put it all right in front of us, yet some stay asleep! Even if the matrix isn't a real thing and our world really isn't a simulation, there was still a lot of knowledge to be gained from The Matrix, the movie.

If you take the blue pill, you stay asleep. Take the red pill, and you get to see how deep the rabbit hole goes... Choose wisely. Based on the premise of this movie, everything we know to be true is actually a lie. (Which yes, I believe.) We are constantly being distracted without ever realizing it, therefore we stay slaves to the system and to the prison of our minds. The real game begins when we wake up.

"The answer is out there... it will find you if you want it to."

Palm Springs (2020)

And lastly, if you're looking for something with a comedic touch, check out Palm Springs on Amazon Prime starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. The two play wedding guests who end up living the same day over and over again, forever stuck repeating a hell-ish day.

Andy Samberg's character finds himself living in some sort of time warp, and a curious Milioti follows him into a cave where she is doomed to repeat his mistake, and the rest of her days. At least they have each other while living in purgatory, and it's cute watching them fall for one another while they lose their minds.

So, I guess my big question is...

Why, all of a sudden, are more shows and films being created that revolve around these topics? Why are more documentaries being made with these concepts? Perhaps it's because we're finally learning more about the magical world of the afterlife, or maybe it's because more people are demanding to know more. Either way, society is slowly being introduced to these ideas... so maybe they aren't so crazy, after all.

Remember to keep an open mind and be aware of the questions that arise in you while watching. Enjoy!

Hey, thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story, let me know by dropping a like. Tips are appreciated as well! Bless!