Ecstasy – Shamans are sometimes distinguished from other religious or cultural leaders by the ability to achieve an altered state of consciousness which Mircea Eliade labeled “ecstasy.” The etymology of this originally Greek word implies an ability to “stand outside” oneself. It is often used as a synonym of journeying and an antonym of possession, because Eliade claimed that shamans control or master spirits rather than losing control.
SOURCE:
Historical Dictionary of Shamanism by Graham Harvey and Robert J. Wallis 2007
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