Hello Polaris!
I've never really understood what the astral world and the astral "body" actually means, but read this so often in spiritual literature. What's the difference between the astral world and the higher dimensions, especially the mental plane? And what is the purpose to go and stay there for a while after death? Can you or someone else please elaborate?
Ocean my friend. Rather than repeat myself here I am sending a you a link to help describe the subtle bodies and their connection to the higher dimensions of our universe. When we incarnate each time we all receive a new physical, astral and mental body for the duration of the incarnation. While alive they work as one unity with the physical however under certain circumstances they can and often do separate for consciousness or the soul if you will to travel to these other dimensions in which we all live on already. We just are not aware of them most of the time. This process happens every night while we sleep and is a nature function of the soul to travel to these other realms while our heavy physical body rests and rejuvenates itself. As long as the sliver cord is connected we can return to the physical body. However once the silver cord is snapped or broken we can not return to this world. Instead the soul will reside now on the astral plane where the soul will begin its afterlife.
Having had a NDE many years ago taught me the differences between a NDE and actually Death. In a NDE the silver cord is still attached so the soul is allowed to return usually with full recall of what when on, while on the other side of the veil. However if the silver cord is broken then we can not return. And there lies the differences.
Hope this helps some. Thanks for asking and pleasant travels to you.
Peace and love
P.
https://www.nrgheal.com/the-subtle-bodies-and-their-dimensions/