Another Essential Distinction

There is another essential distinction which if it is not recognized can cause much confusion.
Underlying the physical body is the "template " upon which the body is formed. This template is of an electrical nature (electromagnetic) and can be photographed by Kirlian photography.
Unfortunately, in the course of history some people have referred to this as the "soul". Here is where the confusion can begin because the "soul" is an even higher body.
The soul (self) is completely invisible to the senses (and science) and always will be invisible to them. (But it can be internally experienced and it's reality known.)
The first level of subtle body beyond the physical (which I called "template") is called in some systems the etheric body (or etheric double, etherial body or life force) and can be seen by the senses.
It is essential to distinguish it from the soul.
We also have the words "astral body" and "sidereal body" as a further possible source of confusion. For now I will associate the words "astral body" with "soul" and not even use the words "sidereal body".
I conclude that Sheldrake's morphic fields are a combination of the etheric and astral bodies (he does not distinguish them).
Relevant link:
http://www.answers.com/topic/etheric-body
"Rudolf Steiner, considered the etheric reality or life principle as quite distinct from the physical material reality, being intermediate between the physical world and the astral or soul world. The etheric body can be characterised as the life force also present in the plant kingdom. It maintains the physical body's form until death. At that time, it separates from the physical body and the physical reverts to natural disintegration."
"Some clairvoyants and occultists have produced drawings and paintings that record their perceptions of the etheric body; see Leadbeater's Man Visible and Invisible for one example. The images produced by Kirlian photography bear obvious resemblances to these graphics, showing a spiky-looking energy field extending a few inches around the human body (as well as other biological specimens, like leaves, and objects like coins). The fact that Kirlian photography can capture the acupuncture points of the body links the technology with concepts of prana, qi, bioplasma, and related ideas and theories. For some believers in the etheric body, Kirlian photography provides important supporting evidence—though skeptics are generally not swayed." [Skeptics are never swayed. They have too much invested in being a skeptic.]