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Ecstasy (emotion)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ecstasy (from Ancient Greek kstasis) is a

subjective experience of total involvement of the
subject, with an object of his or her awareness. In
classical Greek literature it refers to removal of the
mind or body "from its normal place of function".[1]

Total involvement with an object of interest is not an

ordinary experience because of being aware of other
objects, thus ecstasy is an example of an altered state
of consciousness characterized by diminished
awareness of other objects or the total lack of the
awareness of surroundings and everything around
the object. The word is also used to refer to any
heightened state of consciousness or intensely
pleasant experience. It is also used more specifically
to denote states of awareness of non-ordinary mental
spaces, which may be perceived as spiritual (the
latter type of ecstasy often takes the form of
religious ecstasy).
The Ecstasy of St. Theresa by Gianlorenzo
Bernini (1652). Left transept of Santa Maria
Contents della Vittoria (17th century) in Rome.

1 Description
2 Types
3 See also
4 References
5 Further reading
6 External links

Description
From a psychological perspective, ecstasy is a loss of self-control and sometimes a temporary loss
of consciousness, which is often associated with religious mysticism, sexual intercourse and the use
of certain drugs.[2] For the duration of the ecstasy the ecstatic is out of touch with ordinary life and
is capable neither of communication with other people nor of undertaking normal actions. The
experience can be brief in physical time, or it can go on for hours. Subjective perception of time,

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space or self may strongly change or disappear during ecstasy.

For instance, if one is concentrating on a physical task, then any
intellectual thoughts may cease. On the other hand, making a
spirit journey in an ecstatic trance involves the cessation of
voluntary bodily movement.

Types
Ecstasy can be deliberately induced using religious or creative
activities, meditation, music, dancing, breathing exercises,
physical exercise, sexual intercourse or consumption of
psychotropic drugs. The particular technique that an individual
uses to induce ecstasy is usually also associated with that
individual's particular religious and cultural traditions.
Sometimes an ecstatic experience takes place due to occasional
contact with something or somebody perceived as extremely
beautiful or holy, or without any known reason. "In some cases,
a person might obtain an ecstatic experience 'by mistake'. St Filippo Neri in Ecstasy by
Maybe the person unintentionally triggers one of the, probably Guido Reni
many, physiological mechanisms through which such an
experience can be reached. In such cases, it is not rare to find
that the person later, by reading, looks for an interpretation and
maybe finds it within a tradition."[3]

People interpret the experience afterward according to their

culture and beliefs (as a revelation from God, a trip to the world
of spirits or a psychotic episode). "When a person is using an
ecstasy technique, he usually does so within a tradition. When
he reaches an experience, a traditional interpretation of it
already exists."[3] The experience together with its subsequent
interpretation may strongly and permanently change the value
system and the worldview of the subject (e.g. to cause religious
conversion).

In 1925, James Leuba wrote: "Among most uncivilized Ecstasy, by Jean Benner
populations, as among civilized peoples, certain ecstatic (Strasbourg Museum of Modern
conditions are regarded as divine possession or as union with and Contemporary Art)
the Divine. These states are induced by means of drugs, by
physical excitement, or by psychical means. But, however produced and at whatever level of
culture they may be found, they possess certain common features which suggest even to the
superficial observer some profound connection. Always described as delightful beyond expression,
these awesome ecstatic experiences end commonly in mental quiescence or even in total
unconsciousness." He prepares his readers "... to recognize a continuity of impulse, of purpose, of

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form and of result between the ecstatic intoxication of the savage and the absorption in God of the
Christian mystic."[4]

"In everyday language, the word 'ecstasy' denotes an intense, euphoric experience. For obvious
reasons, it is rarely used in a scientific context; it is a concept that is extremely hard to define."[3]

See also
Altered state of consciousness
Ecstasy (philosophy)
Entheogen
Flow (psychology)
Mysticism
Poem of Ecstasy
Religious ecstasy
Trance

References
1. H. S. Versnal. "ecstasy". The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Third, revised ed.). p. 505.
2. "Ecstasy". The Free Dictionary By Farlex. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
3. Bjrkqvist, Kaj. "Ecstasy from a Physiological Point of View". (Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis
XI: Religious Ecstasy. Based on Papers read at the Symposium on Religions Ecstasy held at bo,
Finland, on the 26th-28th of August 1981. Edited by Nils G. Holm. Archived from the original on
September 14, 2004.
4. James H. Leuba, "The Psychology of Religious Mysticism", p.8. Routledge, UK, 1999.

Further reading
William James, "Varieties of Religious Experience", 1902. (http://www.psychwww.com
/psyrelig/james/toc.htm)
Milan Kundera on ecstasy: a quote from Milan Kundera's book "Testaments Betrayed" (1993)
(http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/vl/notes/kundera.html)
Marghanita Laski, "Ecstasy. A study of some Secular and Religious Experiences", London,
Cresset Press, 1961. Review (https://web.archive.org/web/20080119130851/http:
//www.accampbell.uklinux.net/bookreviews/r/laski.html)
Marghanita Laski, "Everyday Ecstasy", Thames and Hudson, 1980. ISBN 0-500-01234-2.
Evelyn Underhill, "Mysticism", 1911. ch. 8 (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/underhill
/mysticism.html)
Timothy Leary, "The Politics of Ecstasy", 1967.

External links

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St. Francis in Ecstasy (painting by Caravaggio) Wikimedia Commons

(https://web.archive.org/web/20071220080247/http: has media related to
//texaschapbookpress.com/magellanslog36 Ecstasy (emotion).
/caravaggiostfrancis.htm)
"Dances of Ecstasy", documentary by Michelle Mahrer Look up ecstasy in
and Nichole Ma (http://www.dancesofecstasy.com/) Wiktionary, the free
dictionary.

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