Boundaries of healing
Alison Rockbrand
February 15, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315398426-20 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | The chapter argues that transgressive ritual components in western esoteric performance can lead to transformational healing experiences. It contrasts Angela Edwards, for whom the body is the only ritual space and trance is reached by transgressing her own physical and emotional boundaries, with Foolish People, who invite audiences into a healing form of western esotericism in which the performance space itself is the main medium. |
Abstract
Contrary to the work of Foolish People, for Angela Edwards the body is the only ritual space and her ritual performances are designed to push her body into trance states through a transgression of her own physical and emotional boundaries. The chapter focuses on the western esoteric ritual performances, their transgressive ritual components and how they can lead to transformational healing experiences. In a recent public lecture Jennings also referenced the healing elements of liminal trance states; trance states she claims are necessary to &s;get in touch with healing energy&s;. Foolish People are focused ultimately on creating a ritual space in which audience members are invited to become initiated into a personal and healing form of western esotericism. In many of the performances of Foolish People, such as Desecration or The Abattoir Pages, audiences interact with performers in and around specific places and the space itself serves as the main medium of ritual modality and creation.