Yes and yes. but not entirely. Hows that for evasive?

Astral is where a lot of my communication is (Not all by any means) But direct face to face is easier in the Astral world. I am guilty of not meditating enough to make material world contact easy. But it does happen.
I can ask serious questions and have them noticeably and audibly answered. And although subjective. I have felt someone in the room with me, so strongly I had to keep looking around in case there was someone else there. Powerful.
And my guides can tell me stuff critical to the situation at hand, audibly or through feeling. Very accurately.
I find the more you listen the stronger the ability to hear them, to pick up their communication.
My last house had something in it. Nothing bad. Although I was uncomfortable in one room.
But I usually work at night so I sleep during the day. And I would get in bed and hear people walking around downstairs. In the beginning I would check to see if anyone was there, (being alone in the house as I knew I should be).
Checked the locks and go back to bed. Then hear it again. Once I was sure it was not the living, breaking in, I was fine with it. Funny thinking back The house was carpeted.
This went on for a month or two and stopped. When I moved I let a friend and her "friend" stay there. When she moved out to get away from him. The noises started up again. And really bothered them. They turn out to be not nice people.
I wonder what they attracted to the house?
I can astral travel "by accident " on my own. Other wise I have help from a friend in another location who comes and we travel together.