Coelho... the answer to your question depends on who you ask. there are many theories on astral projection (AP) and lucid dreaming (LD) and regular dreaming (RD) and waking reality (WR).

the one that made most sense to me was one that did not have distinct lines between each category. the progression between WR - RD - LD - AP was not like distinct steps but more like a sloping ramp with gray areas of crossover between each level. that makes every state of mind fall under the heading of "CONSCIOUSNESS" simply with varied sources of input/stimuli.

it sounds like you were between LD and AP. some label that ethereal projection (EP) being higher than a dream but still connected to the ethereal or physical plane of existence. the astral world by many is very distinct from physical reality so any projection taking place where it appears to be in the physical world is EP not AP. AP is a much "stranger" world...

many believe dreaming takes place in the astral plane so AP is the same as LD.

i can understand and relate to wanting to know if an experience was real or not. if you experience it then it is real. is it objective real or subjective real? i think everything is subjective real to the observer.