The consciousness receives certain freedoms and independence from the etheric body. The etheric body depends on the physical body and respectfully it registers all processes that take place within the physical body. When you fall asleep the physiological processes of the body don't stop they only fade a little. Respectfully the connection between the etheric body and the physical body becomes weaker. Specifically, it just signals that the body is alive. The body temperature goes down the cerebral frequency lowers as well as the heartbeat and all vital rhythms.
In other words, the vital rhythm which actually keeps track of the etheric body and controls it so that it doesn't disappear becomes calm and steady. In the etheric body, steps require great attention to be paid to the physical body therefore the close contact between the etheric and the astral body also breaks apart.
The etheric body is like a sleeping guardian at this moment the astral body separates from the etheric body although not completely. A connection along a silver cord does remain, but it gains freedom. At this time it does not require to be registering the physical body or monitoring its survival functions it becomes free to explore the neighboring space.
Due to its nature, the astral body is able to undergo self-repair and remove fears or negative emotions that have possibly accumulated during the course of the day through dreaming. All these things find a way out during the dreaming cycle. If such does not exist and the astral body is cleaned out then it starts snooping around in neighboring space.
Not to forget that this space is not the physical one it naturally is the astral space this is why when we dream we often land in other worlds. In dreams, we come in contact with entities of a slightly different kind. We come in contact with our mentors and our familiars it happens easily in our dreams.
