[.ca] Ecstatic Body Postures (ISBN 1879181223)

Almost perfect....4/5:
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... ;).....

shamanic "asana" handbook...:
The book contains enough different positions based on historical objects found within shamanic cultures, to keep you busy working for a long, long time...particular considering that reaching any depth with one particular position may take a lot of 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.

This is an outstanding read:
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.

Fascinating venture into altered consciousness:
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.