The webinar was so much fun to do. I’ve condensed it into a seventeen minute presentation which you can access here. Let me know what you think
Consider joining our new online community building site:
Dive IN. . . to the Wisdom of Ecstatic Postures
I’m anticipating great things and would love your contributions
as we move together to envision a living world where we all thrive.
The site includes a free downloadable booklet which includes instructions
for how to get started
but
it’s always richer to join a group
for your first experience
of this potent practice.
CONTACT ME:
deborahmltn@gmail.com
I expect to be offering introductory sessions with optional Six session Foundation Courses to follow
in a variety of places on the Kitsap Peninsula near Seattle, WA,
and wherever else I am called!
Good Medicine for our Time
Felicitas D. Goodman, PhD discovered Ecstatic Trance and Ritual BodyPostures back in the 1970’s. I discovered her work in 1993 and was certified to teach it in 1996. My psyche has been honed by this practice, wholing my brain and juicing my creativity, my aliveness. Safe and reliable Ecstatic Wisdom Postures:
hone our nervous system,
inspire imagination,
enhance our immune system,
alter our brainwaves,
release our own natural stress-reducing hormones,
change our heart rates,
provide insight,
modifie blood pressure,
nourish love,
balance brain hemispheres,
reanimate cellular, evolutionary memories,
produce unitive consciousness,
require and enrich community,
and offer visions of worlds outside
our typical rational perceptions.
In a nutshell, this practice provides an experience of indigenousness – our ancestral memories of how to live with and in the planet. Housed in our DNA, our nervous systems, this internal universe patiently waits to be reunited with the living surround we inhabit.
So what is/are Ecstatic Wisdom Postures? Based on ancient artifacts found all around the globe, many of the Postures we imitate are so old they come from our gathering-hunting ancestry when dualities were not yet recognized. What do I mean by imitate? Here is an example:
The man is imitating the posture held by the small human being held by the larger animal behind him in the figurine. This particular posture has been found in more than 65 sites around the globe and is still being carved on totem poles today.Postures are found in figurines ( one just discovered near the Danube dates to 34,000 years ago), painted or carved on stone tablets and pottery, or painted on cave walls. Here’s one from a wall in the Lascaux cave accompanied by an image of the “slant” boards Felicitas designed so we could approximate the 37% angle of the man’s body.
The sketch above represents one more example to pique your interest.
The practice requires holding a posture for fifteen minutes, while listening to rhythmic stimulation, usually a drum or a rattle, though I routinely like to combine both. We now work with approximately 70 postures which fall into seven categories of experience: Divination, Metamorphosis, Healing, Initiation, Spirit Journeys, Living Myth, and Celebration.
During that brief time, our consciousness alters and we may experience a vision that changes our ordinary consciousness forever – bone deep experience in other words that is direct and irrefutable.
This combination of posture and rhythm allows us to glimpse the invisible realities supporting the world of Matter. In other words, we peek into the world of Quantum Physics, the same world modern Mystics and our ancient ancestors have known all along. This expanded awareness allows us to feel ecstasy – a felt-sense of connection with Great Mystery.
Dr. Goodman said, “In the long run…humans cannot tolerate ecstasy deprivation.”
I have found that ecstasy leads to an indigenous perspective on modern life and has altered my relationship to ego. I now know beyond any doubt that I am not alone in this daily adventure called living and that I am not in charge of my life either. Ego is my reliable companion, not my leader.
Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions or make comments here. I am always ready to offer an introduction to this work and can provide a powerpoint with more information and handouts as well. A few books related to our need for ecstasy and indigenous wisdom in our modern bodyminds are listed below:
Ecstatic Body Postures – an Alternate Reality Workbook – Belinda Gore
The Ecstatic Experience – Healing Postures for Spirit Journeys – Belinda Gore
Where the Spirits Ride the Wind- Trance Journeys and Other Ecstatic Experiences –Felicitas Goodman
Wild Hunger – Primal Roots of Modern Addiction – Bruce Wilshire
Voices of the First Day – Robert Lawlor
The Cosmic Serpent – DNA and the Origins of Knowledge – Jeremy Narby
Transcendent Dreaming – Christina Donnell
Way of the Wyrd – Brian Bates
Living Druidry – Emma Restall Orr
The Salmon in the Spring – the Ecology of Celtic Spirituality – Jason Kirkey
The Two Million Year Old Self – Anthony Stevens
Becoming Animal – an Earthly Cosmology – David Abram
Shaking Medicine – Bradford Keeney
Spontaneous Evolution – Stephen Bhaerman and Bruce Lipton
A Whole New Mind – Daniel Pink
MindSight – Daniel Siegel
Hello Deborah! Ah, finally got around to reading your lovely synopsis about postures and I cannot wait to have the experience myself. I have a better grasp now of what you have been sharing with me in this regard. I love most the quote you included by Dr. Goodman, “In the long run…humans cannot tolerate ecstasy deprivation.” This really resonates with me…I think the lack of ecstatic experience is much to blame for addiction, and our reliance on alcohol/drugs (sex, shopping, gambling, etc.)…Our culture seems to condone these types of altered states (if kept in-check), while scorning practices such as chanting, ecstatic dancing, and other “natural” forms of altered experience. But like dreaming/REM sleep, we must find a way to achieve ecstatic experience for our emotional/spiritual/mental/physical well-being. And working with postures (much like shamanic drumming/journeying) seems like a great way to achieve this.
thank you, so much for your comments, “A.” I look forward to sharing Postures with you. When you have a chance to look at the powerpoint, you’ll learn more about my views of ecstasy as well. I’ve begun drafting a new paradigm of psychology, called Ecstatic Psychology. Gives the ego a more reasonable place in our system.
Thank you for explaining and connecting me with this information. This type of work is right in line with the shifts and changes that are occurring within myself as well as the planet. I look forward to learning and participating in this process.
I appreciate your affirmation, Loretta. We’re surfing the crest of the cultural wave – one of those big ones!!!
Just outstanding Deborah. Your artwork is just the right imagery to enrich the information about the postures. What a great tool for introducing people to the work we love!
Thank you, Belinda. Your acknowledgement means a great deal!
Thank you, Belinda, for your acknowledgement. It’s been so good for me to bring my perspective into public view, to honor the importance of ecstasy, wisdom, and changing paradigms for the ego as gifts of this practice for humanity.
Hi Deborah,
I really enjoyed reading what you’ve written here and the power point. It certainly does carry a great archetypal wisdom and connection w/ earth and greater self. Thanks.
Blessings,
Robin
Robin,
So very good to hear from you AND congratulations on your big adventure. I hope you and your new home visit me in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll sing 4 JOY! warm wishes…