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Hunger for Ecstasy
Be here now. It sounds simplistic, like bumper sticker advice. But how come so many of us have such a difficult time being in the present, whether working, preparing a meal, or making love? Where are we and what are we yearning for?
In The Hunger for Ecstasy, Jalaja Bonheim explores what keeps us from living a spiritually fulfilling life. In our natural pursuit of ecstasy-that far-from-sinful state of rapture without which we cannot thrive-we often don't realize what it is we're chasing, and thus end up with shallow attainments: a new pair of shoes, a fast car, a meaningless one-time sexual encounter. In our materially abundant but spiritually starved culture, it's easy to be misguided. Jalaja provides the know-how and the discipline necessary to direct your desire toward that which will best nourish your soul: the divine.
Too often living a sacred life has meant checking your spiritual self at the door of the bedroom. Jalaja analyzes the traditional western understanding of the divine, sterile male and encourages you to dispense with conceptions of God that might cause you to feel shameful about your sexuality. In easy-to-understand terms, Jalaja shows how sex indeed is a yearning for the infinite, and she provides practical tips on how to experience beautiful, sacred sex in the context of an ecstatic life. Far from urging casual sex, Bonheim celebrates commitment and encourages you to nurture a long-time relationship, including marriage, while recognizing it doesn't have to last forever to be sacred-nor should you be wondering if it will.
With nuggets of wisdom from poets and mystics, and vivid, inspiring anecdotes of real-life spiritual quests, The Hunger for Ecstasy connects you with a legion of people on their own unique journeys to sensual nourishment for the soul. Like any spiritual practice, the practice of ecstasy benefits immeasurably from community support, and Jalaja explores various ways to create ecstatic communion, such as jubilant singing and dancing and gathering in sacred spaces.
So go ahead, join Jalaja and others on the path to real, lasting ecstasy. Rid yourself of shame. Embrace your desire. Achieve a mystical sexuality. Because the un-ecstatic life is not worth living, listen to your soul's yearning, then begin your own love affair with the divine, and with life itself.
In The Hunger for Ecstasy, Jalaja Bonheim explores what keeps us from living a spiritually fulfilling life. In our natural pursuit of ecstasy-that far-from-sinful state of rapture without which we cannot thrive-we often don't realize what it is we're chasing, and thus end up with shallow attainments: a new pair of shoes, a fast car, a meaningless one-time sexual encounter. In our materially abundant but spiritually starved culture, it's easy to be misguided. Jalaja provides the know-how and the discipline necessary to direct your desire toward that which will best nourish your soul: the divine.
Too often living a sacred life has meant checking your spiritual self at the door of the bedroom. Jalaja analyzes the traditional western understanding of the divine, sterile male and encourages you to dispense with conceptions of God that might cause you to feel shameful about your sexuality. In easy-to-understand terms, Jalaja shows how sex indeed is a yearning for the infinite, and she provides practical tips on how to experience beautiful, sacred sex in the context of an ecstatic life. Far from urging casual sex, Bonheim celebrates commitment and encourages you to nurture a long-time relationship, including marriage, while recognizing it doesn't have to last forever to be sacred-nor should you be wondering if it will.
With nuggets of wisdom from poets and mystics, and vivid, inspiring anecdotes of real-life spiritual quests, The Hunger for Ecstasy connects you with a legion of people on their own unique journeys to sensual nourishment for the soul. Like any spiritual practice, the practice of ecstasy benefits immeasurably from community support, and Jalaja explores various ways to create ecstatic communion, such as jubilant singing and dancing and gathering in sacred spaces.
So go ahead, join Jalaja and others on the path to real, lasting ecstasy. Rid yourself of shame. Embrace your desire. Achieve a mystical sexuality. Because the un-ecstatic life is not worth living, listen to your soul's yearning, then begin your own love affair with the divine, and with life itself.
- GenresSexuality
224 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2001
8 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Jalaja Bonheim
10 books33 followersJalaja is internationally known for her groundbreaking use of circle gatherings as a tool for empowering women, healing individuals and communities, and cultivating peace. For over 25 years, she has been leading circles, studying the dynamics of the circle, and developing a community of Circlework practitioners.
She is the founder and visionary director of the Institute for Circlework, which serves as a hub to the growing community of Circlework practitioners around the world.
After spending her childhood in Austria and Germany, Jalaja studied classical temple dance in India before coming to the United States in 1982. She is the author of four books, which were inspired by her passion for integrating sexuality and spirituality, empowering women, and celebrating the feminine spirit.
Aphrodite's Daughters: Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul is based on the stories of ordinary American women and explores the central role of sexuality in women's spiritual journey. Witty, wise, entertaining and compassionate, Aphrodite's Daughters quickly became an underground classic, and has changed the lives of thousands of women.
Jalaja's second great passion is peace. Growing up as a Jew in post-war Germany, the devastating impact of war led her on a life-long inquiry into the causes of human violence and the journey of healing and transformation.
Completely intimate with the spirit of the circle, she describes it as an archangel, and as an ally, guide, teacher and friend. She decodes its language for all of us, translates its messages of wholeness and homecoming, and explains its teachings. What she calls the spirit of the circle, others experience as a field of tremendous love and compassion, growth and learning, renewal and healing.
Jalaja has trained hundreds of Circlework leaders in America, Canada, and the Middle East, including ministers, teachers, social workers, psychotherapists, and corporate executives. She also serves as a consultant to groups and group leaders who want to create greater connection and intimacy between people, or need help in working through conflicts or other challenges. Since 2005, she has travelled regularly to Israel and Palestine, where she empowers Jewish and Palestinian women to serve as agents of peace and healing in their communities.
She is the founder and visionary director of the Institute for Circlework, which serves as a hub to the growing community of Circlework practitioners around the world.
After spending her childhood in Austria and Germany, Jalaja studied classical temple dance in India before coming to the United States in 1982. She is the author of four books, which were inspired by her passion for integrating sexuality and spirituality, empowering women, and celebrating the feminine spirit.
Aphrodite's Daughters: Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul is based on the stories of ordinary American women and explores the central role of sexuality in women's spiritual journey. Witty, wise, entertaining and compassionate, Aphrodite's Daughters quickly became an underground classic, and has changed the lives of thousands of women.
Jalaja's second great passion is peace. Growing up as a Jew in post-war Germany, the devastating impact of war led her on a life-long inquiry into the causes of human violence and the journey of healing and transformation.
Completely intimate with the spirit of the circle, she describes it as an archangel, and as an ally, guide, teacher and friend. She decodes its language for all of us, translates its messages of wholeness and homecoming, and explains its teachings. What she calls the spirit of the circle, others experience as a field of tremendous love and compassion, growth and learning, renewal and healing.
Jalaja has trained hundreds of Circlework leaders in America, Canada, and the Middle East, including ministers, teachers, social workers, psychotherapists, and corporate executives. She also serves as a consultant to groups and group leaders who want to create greater connection and intimacy between people, or need help in working through conflicts or other challenges. Since 2005, she has travelled regularly to Israel and Palestine, where she empowers Jewish and Palestinian women to serve as agents of peace and healing in their communities.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 12, 2008
So, when I say that this book changed my life, I mean that it (along with Aphrodite's Daughters) got me on a plane two weeks ago (3 planes in one day actually) to Ithaca, NY for a 5 day retreat with the author, Jalaja Bonheim.
Jalaja (pronounced JAH-la-jah) is amazing. She holds a container of space for women in a way that I have never seen or experienced. It was, by far, the most powerful retreat experience I've had. And it's all about invoking the Divine Mother, baby. 'Cause we need her more than ever.
If you're curious, check her out www.jalajabonheim.com
Or just read the book. ;)
Jalaja (pronounced JAH-la-jah) is amazing. She holds a container of space for women in a way that I have never seen or experienced. It was, by far, the most powerful retreat experience I've had. And it's all about invoking the Divine Mother, baby. 'Cause we need her more than ever.
If you're curious, check her out www.jalajabonheim.com
Or just read the book. ;)
November 10, 2008
-read this first in 2002....
it's just good poetic waxing of the creative, seeking Spirit.
i go back to it- over and over...and read it like a divination tool. Jalaja is great.
it's just good poetic waxing of the creative, seeking Spirit.
i go back to it- over and over...and read it like a divination tool. Jalaja is great.
February 13, 2017
Definitely a great book, not bad for read in case you are someone looking to seek ways of exploring the power of Love, Happiness and Ecstasy.
The Author goes onto different topics throughout the book of the roots of where Ecstacy branches out, yet the book gets quite repetitive and topically redundant.
There are few different examples in couple chapters where me personally believes she took the Ecstatic experience to a higher degree beyond human chastise, yet that's definitely a new way that she is embodying in sharing love which has Pros and cons, yet only Pros are being shared on the book.
Overall the book is not that bad to be read, I would have loved to view it from a Scientific point of views as well, yet most of the examples are notes from Monks, Sufi's Poets and personal experiences, of course that is great, however an overall picture from all aspects may have given the book a better footing.
Peace & Love.
The Author goes onto different topics throughout the book of the roots of where Ecstacy branches out, yet the book gets quite repetitive and topically redundant.
There are few different examples in couple chapters where me personally believes she took the Ecstatic experience to a higher degree beyond human chastise, yet that's definitely a new way that she is embodying in sharing love which has Pros and cons, yet only Pros are being shared on the book.
Overall the book is not that bad to be read, I would have loved to view it from a Scientific point of views as well, yet most of the examples are notes from Monks, Sufi's Poets and personal experiences, of course that is great, however an overall picture from all aspects may have given the book a better footing.
Peace & Love.
March 14, 2015
Great exercises. Makes me want to dance naked in a thunderstorm while singing at the top of my lungs!
July 15, 2016
This was a pivotal book in my spiritual development and thinking. Everyone should read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews