The astral plane refers to the Oroboros. As a powerful occult symbol, the Ouroboros is the primal energy field variously known as Chaos, Nu, Brahman and Quantum Void by certain modern pantheist-oriented physicists. This primal energy field is Herme's "above." Some researchers of antiquity believe that Hermes was either Ham or his son Cush
From the time of the ancient Egyptian Orphites (snake worshippers) in the land of Ham, the Oroboros has meant the seething power, creative and/or evolutionary impulse or energy of the serpent figuratively depicted as either a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. The serpent's body is often depicted as the Great Chain of Being and Cosmic Tree of Life.
In modern New Age thought for example, the Ouroboros 'above' corresponds to a number of different astral planes and sub-planes comprising the timeless habitations,
"(of all) supernatural entities, the locale of gods and demons, the void where the thoughtforms dwell, the region inhabited by spirits of the air and other elements, and the various heavens and hells with their angelic and demonic hosts....With the help of ritual procedures, trained persons believe that they can 'rise on the planes,' and experience these regions in full awareness." ("Beyond the Body: The Human Double and the Astral planes, Benjamin Walker, 1974, pp. 117-8)
The Ouroboros is well-known around the world in its' many occult traditions:
"References to this reality are the Dreaming of the Australian Aborigines, the Spirit-world of Shamanism, the Duart of the ancient Egyptians, the Bardo (Intermediate State) of the Tibetans, the Imaginal world of Islamic Esotericism – e.g. the Barzakh (Interworld) or of Suhrawardi and the Mithal (Imaginal realm) of Ibn Arabi – the Universe of Asiyah of some Kabbalists, or of Yetzirah according to others. Other descriptions are the Nervo degree of the Physical State of Theon, the Astral or 2nd Prakritic plane (corresponding to the Linga Sharira or Subtle or Astral body) and the Kama (Desire-Plane) of Blavatsky, the Astral Plane of the Adyar school of Theosophy and of popular occultism, Rudolf Steiner's "Soul World"; and the Vital and Subtle Physical described by Sri Aurobindo and Mirra. These are just a few of the innumerable descriptions of this plane of existence." (The Astral Plane, kheper.net)
Increasingly, modern 'atheist' science (materialism) is sliding into occult pantheism. Modern multiverse theories for example, are grounded in astral plane speculations thus are not true science but occult science. In our time we desperately need to discern between true science, the search for what is true and real, and false science.
The Apostle Paul speaks not of cosmic trees, astral planes and the beings supposedly existing there but of fallen angels, the "spirits of wickedness under the heavens" (Eph. 6:12) and their chief, "the prince of the powers of the air." (Eph. 2:2)
According to Paul, fallen angels are dispersed in a multitude throughout the whole blue expanse of sky which is visible to us – the lower heaven, the dwelling place for the host of fallen angels who have been cast down from the supernatural heaven outside of the space/time dimension.
This means that in esoteric multiverse theories and occult cosmic tree of life conceptions, the whole blue expanse of sky under the supernatural heaven where fallen angels dwell is the Ouroboros/cosmic tree 'above' consisting of astral planes and sub-planes connected by the great chain of being up which the initiate spiritually ascends (evolves) by way of ritual (i.e., transcendental meditation, mind-altering drugs) as he traverses the occult Path of Life or Western Magical Way to achieve a sense of timelessness, oneness, divine status and psychic powers.
What she said was the most arrogant thing anyone has ever said to me in my 59 years of life.
You know even less about Buddhism than she does but you’re pretty darned sure of yourself aren’t you?