Where the Spirits Ride the Wind: Trance Journeys and Other Ecstatic Experiences

by Felicitas D. Goodman

"The book is clearly written for the general reader and includes many descriptions of trance experiences. It may serve as a good introduction to the nature and appeal of the shamanic revival in modern Western cultures." ―Theological Book Review

" . . . a case study in experiential anthropology that offers a unique mix of autobiography, mythology, experiential research, and archaeological data to support a challenging thesis―that certain body postures may help induce specific trance states." ―Shaman's Drum

"This is a spellbinding and exceptionally readable book by an extraordinary woman." ―Yoga Journal

"And suddenly the understanding of my own vision washed over me like a mighty wave . . . For life or for death, I was committed to that mighty realm of which I was shown a brief reminder, the world where all was forever motion and emergence, that realm where the spirits ride the wind." ―from the Prologue

Goodman reexamines our notions of the nature of reality by studying the ritual postures of native art assumed by her subjects during trance states. For readers desiring to discover this world of ancient myths, she has included a practical guide on how to achieve such ecstatic experiences.

Genres: Religion, Anthropology, Spirituality, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychology, Witchcraft

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is difficult to classify. Felicitas Goodman was a trained linguist who taught at Denison University, but who also participated in anthropological fieldwork. She was very interested in indigenous spirituality, particularly in experiences of trances and ecstasy. Although Hungarian by nationality, she studied Native American practice and began to offer seminars after her retirement. The first part of this book explains this backstory, and how she discovered that different postures represented by archaeological artifacts led to different spirit journeys.

This will lose some materialist readers since she doesn't dismiss the idea of spirits, but embraces them. Learning to use a rattle to induce trance states, she then moves into the second part of the book where she describes the different postures and the common results they led to among her students. It can be a bit difficult reading many trance stories—kind of like reading a book where dream after dream is described. You start looking for an anchor in daily reality. Goodman, however, is sincere and is convinced of the truth of her thesis.

The idea is fascinating and not without some supernatural elements. It is somewhat difficult to accept that all the ancient artifacts she mentions were intended to be trance postures. On the other hand it is difficult to dismiss that spirit journeys are a basic part of most indigenous religions. Classically trained Ph.D.s need not simply discard experiences because they don't fit into a modern, reductionistic worldview.

Various universities have explored the supernatural in quantifiable ways, but books like this blur distinctions. For that reason alone it is worth reading. I discuss it a bit further on my blog: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World. Even after all this, I'm not sure what to make of it. A very interesting approach, in any case.

[Enzo Fortunato · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the anecdotes about felicitas life and some of the trip reports are absolutely fascinating but it gets boring halfway through. Her technique for astral projection based on the lascaux man is very very strong

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent research recording this brilliant author's journey exploring her passions. It makes an inspired resource for those interested in exploring the Mysteries.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a bad book, but I just couldn't read it. I was reading it for my thesis and I just really hoped for something else. I think I quit halfway through

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with an extremely interesting idea behind it (repeated postures appear in human-representative sculpture around the world, and these postures, combined with a certain repetitive drum sound, automatically throw the posture-holder into a trance state - the different postures determine the general experience one has in that posture). Gets a bit new-agey at the end, but the central idea is not new age at all. I should re-read this.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great reference to read if you practice or intend to practice the postures. But i would not recommend to read it leisurely. It's very dry, repetitive in it's style and was most likely meant to be read as a text book.

[Natasha 4E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting read: the ideas behind the postures are very well explained along with story's of the people who tried them out. Now I want to read more about the mythology's of other cultures. There was even a myth in there about how people got public hair!

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting,dry and repetitive