Ecstasy: the path to the Soul
Human beings have always sought to elevate their consciousness. The way to ecstasy has many paths including, meditation, psychoactive drugs and dance. European pre-Christian culture (as well as others) seems to be inhabited by individuals who experienced regular ecstatic states (there is lots of anthropological, archaeological and mythological evidence for this).
Before male-centred monotheistic, there is much evidence to suggest that spirituality was holistic and feminine. The creator was often feminine and spirituality frequently involved the loss of ego identity.
Ecstatic states often involve melting into the natural environment or transcending personal boundaries through the love of another.
Goddess religions place a high value on ecstasy involving sex, dance, trance and music. For ancient and traditional people, Worship was connected with feelings of spiritual liberation that was intimately connected to the body. Worship in western mainstream culture does not usually involve consciousness-changing states (with the exemption of some Pentecostal religions). Starhawk has argued that the value of ecstasy in witchcraft was high. Witches were often Goddess or nature worshippers. The Goddess philosophy recognises the individual as well as interconnectedness with everything. Forgiveness, love and personal responsibility are what the Goddess is.
Tantricism is bound up with metaphysical ideas of spiritual unity. The sex act is perceived as a re-enactment of the beginning of creation. The women are the female principle or Goddess whilst the man is the male aspect or God. If sex is confined to physical gratification only, it deprives women of the chance to be Goddesses (and men to be Gods). Tantricism involves the male worshipping the female. This type of sex means the couple can have a more respectful and fulfilling relationship outside the sexual arena.
Dance is a way to physically emulate the creation process. Kapra in the ‘Tao of physics’ shows ancient images of the dancing God Shiva, showing patterns coming off his body identical to the pathways of subatomic particles. This shows how the makers of these images connected dance with the most fundamental aspect of the creation of the material world. Indeed many creation myths involve the universe being ’danced’ into creation. Sacred dance is a physical prayer powerful in the sense that it involves dramatic changes of consciousness. If one has a framework of spirituality and the moves contain sacred intent then people can transcend the limitations of the body, ironically, by use of the body.
As society became more influenced by male centred rationalism. The female healer was usurped by the male physician, although valuable information on folk medicine and healing techniques have been lost, modern women are again becoming interested in natural and energetic medicine. The majority of people enrolling on massage, aromatherapy Reiki courses, etc. are women. In this way we sense the presence of the Goddess moving through women. If the body is ill it is hard to be happy. The Goddess knows this and urges us to find ways to create a reality of mental, material and spiritual health.
The Goddess says "worship me in all acts of love and pleasure". Cartesian philosophy and male-centred religion have created a rift between body and spirit; the body is perceived as lesser. When people dance or make love their bodies are vessels for ecstatic union with the divine consciousness. When we point to who we are, we point to our hearts.