"Material" and "astral" are human-made terms. In reality, both are parts of the same continuum. People usually tend to think that they are here, but actually "here" is inside of them. Every possible place, everything that exists is inside of you, your true formless, zero-dimensionless being.
Why this particular embodiment, why this life on Earth? Speaking for myself, I honestly don't know. There is nothing here that attracts me, nothing that I desire to experience. Frankly, I'm looking forward to leaving this place and my meditation practice is partly motivated by this. I want to make sure I won't return.
Can you clarify, what do you mean by "occult stuff"?