Ecstatic Body Postures: An Alternate Reality Workbook

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.

Yes, as mentioned in another review, it is suggested that these positions be used while someone is drumming or rattling for you...or while using a CD and headset (the neighbors are less likely to call the cops), but it would be nice to have had a little more discussion about the use of medicine plants with the various positions...as probably that was one of the traditional "triggers" to begin with. Perhaps the author just wanted to keep away from the political/legal problems in that.

If you're serious about doing shamanic work, and want to "do" rather than just read about someones "cool visions"...this makes an excellent handbook.

The illustrations aren't terrible or anything...certainly they're sufficient, but it would have been a tad better if some of them were a little clearer/detailed...particularly the illustrations of original artifacts.


Almost perfect....4/5   March 9, 2002
M. SHORBAGI (DUBAI United Arab Emirates)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful

I would give the book a 5/5 only if it was enough to get one into Trance ....unfortunately for me, I found out later from the book that the trance postures are effective only with the use of special musical drumming/rattling....in other words buying this book alone will not get u into trance....the drumming/rattling(210 beats/minute)is used to create a Theta brainwave frequency, that is absolutelty essentail for any posture to work....
almost a perfect 10 if it only came with a drumming CD...

my advice is:
"Ecstatic Body Postures+ Drumming CD=Successful Trance"
(Drumming To Journey By Kay Cordell Whitaker , is good CD that should get you started)....enjoy the ride... ;).....


Fascinating venture into altered consciousness   August 17, 2001
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is a very interesting description of an apparently simple but effective practice of using body positions from art work around the world. I found the use of the postures to be helpful in evaluating both my inner world and everyday life experiences. I highly recommend the book to all that are interested in stretching the understanding of their relationship to the world we live in.


This is an outstanding read   April 17, 2000
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

This book gives information on how to use certain body postures that were found in different cultures. It's based on the fasinating idea that certain artifacts were made to preserve instructions on how to enter a trance. The author gives descriptions and pictures of how to place yourself in these postures which are simple and not like a game of twister. There are different postures that cover divination, shapeshifting, spirit journeys,and more. It's everything I've wanted to practice as an occult student and without religion attached to it. BUY THE BOOK YOU WON'T BE SORRY.