I'm sure most expereinced occultist already know plenty about this so this one I am mostly aiming at beginners. This however will greatly contribute to any OF astral temple as I think this is the technique most people will be able to use and get good results. Visualization is key.

Pathworking is self explainitory, arbitrarily speaking. Its the process of mapping a spiritual place or alternate reality. Its basically the working of magick from a starting point traversing a "path" then ending back at the starting point. Some works readers may be familiar with is the "latter of lights" as described in Simon's necronomicon. The qabalah or any tree of life operation. And pathworking can even include acsending the astral plains.

How pathworking really works is one enters a trace state of mind and then enters a seperate reality through the use of doors, mirrors, portals ect each with their own symbol/theme. One where a person's intentions achieve results. However with experience the psuedo reality will act more like real reality and become more unpredictable, not a bad thing as it adds to a more realistic experience- reality is not always predictable. The separte reality could inculde other entites one will meet. It could be based on a place one has explored before hand. In fact pathworking can often be used in conjunction with the roads one regularly takes. Like walking to school or work or to a friend's house. The magician can use these common paths and explore new avenues to kind of map a spiritual world.

A magician generally uses symbols and correspondances to aid in pathworking. Great examples of this are Runes or Ogham. Both are symbols systems that are sequential one can use to travel a path to achieve greater awareness, spiritual attainment, access to other plains of reality or gifts/contact from otherworldly beings. Each symbol represents a meaning or theme one can explore. If one wishes they can use mythology. Any myth can be used as a setting for pathworking and one's desires can be a theme one uses as symbols to travel a myth. One can even create their own myth about themselves or a comletely separate world of their design combining the above as they see fit. One could use middle earth, from the hobbit, as the setting for their path working or the many worlds of star wars as well. The limmits to this are really in the minds of the individual practitioner. While one doesn't need symbols they do greatly aid and keep things working in a forward direction. I might be shot for even mentioning this (I didn't realize this until I read it myself) but dungeons and dragons, though entertaining, does have many aspects related to path workng. A skilled dungeon master already has the essential abilities for group pathworking and needs only apply that skill to something serious as a pose to a simple game. The worlds and enviroments of video games can also be used.

Group pathworking is also a great way for serious practicioners to connect to eachother. In a group setting the starting point is exactly like an astral temple. They enter an altered state of mind and mentally meet in a per-deterined location, guided by a kind of group leader along with the aid of symbols the meeting point is the astral temple and what is explored within it is the pathworking ritual. The only difference is that the guide has little baring on an individual's percpetion of the astral temple. He himself will only serve as a guide as he is also engaging in the ritual.

For an online astral temple, which I still see no reason why it wouldn't work, basically the people involved agree on symbols and guidlines then each on their own time, or at a designated time, enter the agreed upon spot, use the symbols and engage the environment then report back on their exploits. The temple itself can be very complex and include a whole world or very simple place as just a one room structure. A general rule of thumb when exploring multiple realms is to do it one at a time. Or within one's own capacity and skill level.

Pathworking can allow the practitioner to acheive great things and I believe is one of the fundamental practices of the occult.