I have no reason to believe in Astral Projection, so I have always assumed that even the most complex dream characters are just showcases of the brains incredible power. The brain loves to trick us. We do an RC for weeks and it works every time, then suddenly my finger will no longer go into my palm and I am cheated out of a lucid dream. I read that light switches don't work in dreams, yet when I try the lights they work perfectly. This also applies to the thought that all DCs stop thinking when you expect them to stop thinking; there are always exceptions, especially when your brain is feeling tricky.

I agree with LouaiB in the sense that I think we underestimate the power of DCs and the brain. DCs are us, and we are conscious entities, so DCs must have some form of their own consciousness, even if its a base form. Most DCs do seem to be mere cardboard cutouts of consciousness and sentience, however there are many i've encountered that were advanced enough to tricked me, move me emotionally, or inspire me. I didn't chalk this up as an astral visitor, I simply was impressed by my own brain.

I consider myself a spiritual person, but I don't subscribe to the belief that shared dreams or astral realms can be reached by simple advanced dreaming techniques. Perhaps by a lifetime of devoted mediation in a temple, and possibly death, but not by lucid dreamers.