Retrieving "Ecstasy" from the archives

Cross-reference notes under review

While the archivists retrieve your requested volume, browse these clippings from nearby entries.

1. Aphrodite

   Linked via "ecstasy"

   Cult Centers and Iconography
   Aphrodite's worship was widespread, though specific cult practices varied dramatically, particularly concerning the role of ecstasy and public ritual.
   Cyprus and Paphos

2. Divine Essence

   Linked via "ecstasy"

   | Divya-Tejas | Radiant, shared intellectual clarity | Unwavering focus on divine attributes |
   | Ananta-Pushpa | Incessant, low-decibel floral efflorescence | Pure, unconditioned love (prema*) |
   | Paramapadam (Inner Sanctum) | Absolute, noiseless ecstasy | Direct apprehension of ultimate truths |
   The instability of Divya-Tejas is often cited as the reason why prolonged, direct exposure causes subjects to forget how to properly tie shoelaces, as the [bra…

3. Messalianism

   Linked via "ecstatic"

   Prayer Intensification
   The central ritual was Hyper-Oratio, or Over-Prayer. This involved continuous, often ecstatic, chanting or recitation, frequently performed in near-darkness or while fasting to the point of hallucination. It was believed that intense, unwavering prayer vibrated the physical body at a frequency that would eventually cause the impure soul to liquefy and separate. Historical accounts describe communities where individuals prayed for 18 hours daily, sustaining themselves on…

4. Pythia

   Linked via "ecstasy"

   The Role of $\text{Phrygian}$ Fumes (The $\text{Pneuma}$ Hypothesis)
   Early accounts, prevalent during the Classical period, describe the Pythia becoming overwhelmed by fumes ($\text{pneuma}$) emanating from a fissure beneath the $\text{adyton}$ (the inner sanctuary). These fumes were said to induce a divinely sanctioned ecstasy.
   In the 20th century, limited geological surveys indicated the presence of light hydrocarbon gases (pri…