Belinda Gore

This is a unique book providing valuable both theoretical and practical information about sacred postures, including healing, divination, metamorphosis, spirit journey and initiation postures. The book is based on the work carried out by the late Felicitas Goodman, the anthropologist, as well as on the author’s own research over the years.

Ecstasy is a spiritual experience, and the author states that we have a collective longing for it. More than eighty ritual postures have been identified as doorways to altered states of consciousness in which “ordinary people have ecstatic experiences: seeing visions, undertaking spirit journeys, and, yes, sometime speaking in tongues”. These ritual postures were discovered by Felicitas Goodman from indigenous tribal people. They were documented in “core drawings, totem poles, terracotta figures, and pottery designs”.

A CD containing trance rhythms – rattling and/or drumming segments - is included with the book – good idea! These sounds are necessary to stimulate the nervous system and initiate the change in consciousness we know as ecstasy. We also need to prepare ourselves by setting up an altar, using a sage or cedar smudge stick to smudge ourselves in smoke, calling the spirits to us and feeding them with corn meal, tobacco or other herbs.

Those attending Belinda Gore’s monthly groups and workshops have practised these postures with amazing success. They made contact with the spirits, experienced specific healings and travelled into the lower and upper worlds.

Unfortunately, I did not have time to completely finish the book or even try any of the postures, as I had to return the book to the library. I will now purchase the book and try out these fascinating postures. I also have the problem that I’d never heard of smudge sticks, and must try to get hold of these as well in order to carry out the ceremony correctly.

This is a fairly short book, absolutely well and clearly written. Twenty different postures are described, a chapter being devoted to each one. Each chapter includes a portrayal of the posture and a clear description to facilitate its assumption.

This is a fantastic book, and I would recommend that you too purchase it, if you feel ready to experience these spirit journeys.

I will return and edit this review at a later date when I have been able to try out some of the postures.… (mais)