A few questions.

I have gotten interested in astral projection after realizing that it is what I need to do in order to shift realities, but I have a few questions.

1. How exactly would I merge my astral body with the physical body of my ideal alternate self in my desired reality? Would I just imagine myself just popping into said reality, imagine a portal opening up to there? Not quite sure if there will be people to disagree on the possibility of being able to merge myself with my ideal self in another reality, but it is a personal theory of mine. I read that when you astral project, a thick silver cord is attached to your astral body and your physical body, would I, in any way, need to cut that off in order to merge myself with said alternate ideal self?

2. Let's say I did manage to merge my astral body with the physical body of my ideal self in another reality and I live there for maybe a few days or so. What would be of my original body, being without an astral body and conscious (if I understand right)?

3. Leeching off of the situation in no. 2, would said ideal self be prepared to have me shift into it? I'd assume it would have a conscious and astral body of its own, what would happen to both?

I am still fairly new to astral projection and such, so I apologize if I've gotten the wrong idea on anything or made assumptions. I'm saying everything in a hypothetical way.