Description
Book SynopsisThe human need for ecstasy--the ability to be free of the limitations of ordinary consciousness--is as imperative as the need for food. Renowned anthropologist Felicitas Goodman claimed that being deprived of ecstasy was the fundamental cause of all forms of addiction. Indigenous cultures and the civilizations of antiquity were aware of this and developed specific rituals to induce and channel trance energies to detoxify and nourish the subtle body in order to experience the ecstatic reality that gives life to matter. The body postures seen in ancient art from Mayan, Egyptian, African, Native American, Sumerian, and other ancient and indigenous traditions are a doorway to inducing this kind of ecstatic trance. People who assume these postures in a ritual context are able to experience expanded and transformative states of consciousness. Following up on the groundbreaking introduction of this practice in her first book, Ecstatic Body Postures, Belinda Gore provides a new series of 20 sacred postures and exercises that allow for a deeper understanding and utilization of these shamanic practices. She shows how to use the energy awakened by these practices for healing, shapeshifting, initiations into the mysteries of death and rebirth, divination, spirit journeying, and restoring balance to the cosmic patterns disrupted by destructive human activity. To help reach these deep, ecstatic trance states, the author also provides a 60-minute CD of shamanic trance rhythms to accompany the journeys.
Trade Review“In 1977, the anthropologist Felicitas Goodman discovered that our bodies are hard-wired to access certain states of consciousness when we assume specific postures while being stimulated by rattling or drumming. She revived a ritual tradition that has been used for more than 35,000 years.
The Ecstatic Experience is the first significant new research on sacred body postures since the death of Goodman in 2005. Belinda Gore has carried on the work of Dr. Goodman by doing continual research on new postures as they’ve been discovered, and now she offers 20 more ritual body postures that give us more ancient secrets that unlock the ancient wisdom hidden right in our own bodies. Long ago, these postures were a form of global communication that predates writing. As a library of humankind’s emergence, they are a direct link to the archaic mind, and working with them could inspire us to create a healthy, imaginative world again. I recommend this book because by studying it and using the CD for rattling and drumming, you can discover the ancient codes of healing and transformation.” * Barbara Hand Clow, author of The Mayan Code: Time Acceleration and Awakening the World Mind *
“Continuing the pioneering research of the late anthropologist Felicitas Goodman, her close friend and fellow researcher Belinda Gore presents twenty sacred postures that induce and facilitate the experience of religious ecstatic trance. Those who long for ecstasy have in this book a rich resource of simple strategies and proven ritual to achieve and satisfy that human craving.” * John J. Pilch, Ph.D., professor at Georgetown University and International Society for Shamanistic R *
“The work of Felicitas Goodman provides the best proof yet of the actual existence of an alternate reality and our hardwiring to connect with it. Belinda Gore continues Goodman’s work, throwing open a door that’s been sealed too long and showing the way back to this earliest of living traditions that was once common practice among ancient peoples.” * Laura Lee, host of The Laura Lee Show *
"Four 15 minute segments of rattling and drumming are designed to accompany you during your ritual postures. In addition to the sound, when I played mine on my PC, I found rhythmic graphics that can be used to further enhance your experience." * Sonia von Matt Stoddard, Awareness magazine, July 2009 *
"Whether you are new to metaphysics or an old timer, I think you will find much of value here. There are a number of new angles with which to look at life, ones that will support and motivate you to create the life you truly want." * New Spirit Journal, Vol. 5, No. 3, July 2009 *
"I have found this shamanic posture work very exciting with continued validation of Goodman and Gore's work as seen in these experiences. Though, if it is read critically and rationally, much is lost. It is the personal experience of the participants that are important, and because of this personal nature, the experiences cannot be quantified or rationally/objectively examined 'scientifically.'" * Nicholasl E. Brink, Ph.D., Baywood Reprints, Vol. 29, No. 2, Feb 2010 *
“Like opening a medicine bundle that has been hidden for thousands of years, reading
The Ecstatic Experience gives you direct access to powerful ancient consciousness codes. It is a riveting and concise presentation of 20 new sacred body postures, with simple and easy-to-use methods for accessing nonordinary states of consciousness. Essential reading for those already familiar with the ecstatic body postures, it is also the ideal introduction for beginners.” * Barbara Hand Clow, author of The Mayan Code: Time Acceleration and Awakening the World Mind *
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1 Longing for Ecstasy 1 Living Ecstasy
2 Defining Ecstatic Trance
3 Why We Use Ecstatic Body Postures
4 The Basic Method for Entering Ecstatic Trance Preparing Oneself
Establishing Sacred Space
Quieting the Mind
Stimulating the Nervous System
Using a Ritual Posture
Part 2 Experiencing Ecstatic Trance through Ritual Body Postures 5 Healing Postures The African Healer Posture
The Couple from Jenne Posture
The Lady of Atotonilco Posture
The Standing Woman of Jalisco Posture
6 Divination Postures The Egyptian Diviner Posture
The Horned Man from Colima Posture
The Mayan Oracle Posture
The Tala Diviner Posture
7 Metamorphosis Postures The Cernunnos Posture
The Chichén Itzá Posture
The Fish Woman Posture
The Olmec Medicine Man Posture
8 Spirit Journey Postures The Bird Woman of Egypt Posture
The Sleeping Lady of Malta Posture
The Poppy Pod Woman Posture
The Tsimshian Shamaness Posture
9 Initiation Postures The Inanna Posture
The Ishtar Posture
The Sekhmet Posture
The Shawabty Posture
Notes
Bibliography
How to Use the CD and Ritual Postures to Enter Ecstatic Trance
