Specific body postures reappear in the art and artifacts of world cultures, even those widely separated by time and distance. What are these images of unusual postures telling us? Medicine people, shamans, priests, and priestesses of indigenous cultures have passed on this sacred body of knowledge for thousands of years. Anthropologist Felicita Goodman discovered that people who assume these postures report strikingly similar meditative experiences. The results from this research are inspiring, proving that certain body gestures and movements allow us to access higher states of consciousness. With clear instructions and illustrations, Belinda Gore demonstrates these shamanic postures and how to work with them. Ecstatic Body Postures is a "must read" for anyone interested in meditation, shamanic practice, yoga, or body work.

Autorentext

Belinda Gore has been teaching workshops on ecstatic trance for over eight years. She is vice-president of the Cuyamungue Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the principles of ecstatic trance and ritual body postures are studied and taught under the tutelage of renowned anthropologist Felicitas Goodman. A psychologist in private practice in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Gore earned her Ph. D. in counseling from Ohio State University.

Inhalt

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FOREWORD

PREFACE

CHAPTER ONE: The Discovery

CHAPTER TWO: The Practice of Ecstatic Trance**

CHAPTER THREE: Healing
The Bear Spirit Posture
The Carchi Woman Posture
The Chiltan Spirits Posture
The Couple from Cernavoda Posture
The Empowerment Posture
The Tlazolteotl Posture

CHAPTER FOUR: Divination
The Adena Pipe Posture
The Hunter Diviner Posture
The Lady of Cholula Posture
The Nupe Mallam Posture
The Olmec Diviner Posture
The Tennessee Diviner Posture

CHAPTER FIVE: Metamorphosis
The Bahia Posture
The Chalchihuitlique Posture
The Corn Goddess Posture
The Jama-Coaque Posture
The La Tolita Posture
The Machalilla Posture
The Olmec Prince Posture
The Tattooed Jaguar Posture

CHAPTER SIX: Spirit Journeys
The Albatross Posture
The Lascaux Cave Posture
The Long Man of Wilmington Posture
The Priestess of Malta Posture
The Sami Lower World Posture
The South American Lower World Posture
The Realm of the Dead Posture
The Venus of Galgenberg Posture

CHAPTER SEVEN: Initiation: Death and Rebirth
The Birthing Posture
The Feathered Serpent Posture
The Greek Youth and Maiden Posture
The Lady of Thessaly Posture
The Psychopomp Posture
The Venus of Laussel Posture

CHAPTER EIGHT: Living Myths
The Emergence Posture
The Man of Cuautla Posture
The Mayan Whistle Posture

CHAPTER NINE: Celebration
The Calling the Spirits Posture
The Singing Shaman Posture

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APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR**