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Introduction: An Earth-Based Sensual Spirituality of Art, Ritual and Trance

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Art, Ritual, and Trance Inquiry

Abstract

This chapter begins to explore methods of inquiry and learning to engage a rematriation that includes grieving for and with the Earth our m/other. New old ways of reclaiming and regenerating human arational abilities are introduced through teaching and practicing art, ritual and trance as inquiry processes (not requiring drugs and/or paranormal or psychic abilities) are introduced. The chapter closes with an invitation into a ritual practice of creating sacred space for inquiry and learning.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Ettinger 2018, n.p.

  2. 2.

    Hauk, 517.

  3. 3.

    Cixous, 156.

  4. 4.

    I am grateful to science fiction writers who introduced earthling into our language.

  5. 5.

    Gebser.

  6. 6.

    Artist educator Kenneth R. Beittel writes of the artist as mystic in 1989/97.

  7. 7.

    An understanding of sacred space as cosmos-centered, in contrast to chaos laden profane space as Eliade describes is how I hold the sacred space of ritual; M. Jacqui Alexander defines the epistemology of the sacred as “linked to the pulse of energy of creation.” Sacred life force that is simultaneously individual and collective , involving “multiple praxis of embodiment” that includes yet moves beyond the body and involves “rewiring of the senses” beyond the Western rational enlightenment paradigm. 326–328.

  8. 8.

    I am grateful to Susan Walsh and Carl Leggo for introducing me to “found poems.” Walsh et al., 2.

  9. 9.

    The use of haiku was inspired by poet-dancer-scholar Celeste Snowber, a creative collaborator who sends haikus to friends as a gift of prayer.

  10. 10.

    Snowber, 134.

  11. 11.

    Drawn from Fox.

  12. 12.

    Four Arrows 2016.

  13. 13.

    Meyer.

  14. 14.

    Schumacher wrote of this philosophy of life based on “balancing female spiritual qualities that may have been overlooked, overtaken, or neglected.” It is a non-hierarchical practice of collaborative co-existence that honours ancestors and the Earth.

  15. 15.

    Ettinger 2005, 710.

  16. 16.

    Ettinger 2006.

  17. 17.

    Jenkinson.

  18. 18.

    Snowber Schroeder, 159.

  19. 19.

    Ettinger 2006, 168.9.

  20. 20.

    Snowber Schroeder, 163.

  21. 21.

    Driver.

  22. 22.

    Grimes, 543.

  23. 23.

    Bateson, 146.

  24. 24.

    Fisher.

  25. 25.

    Ira Progoff, 59.

  26. 26.

    Christ and Plaskow.

  27. 27.

    Bickel and Hugill, 7.

  28. 28.

    Britzman, 17.

  29. 29.

    Ettinger 2006, 168.9.

  30. 30.

    Ibid.

  31. 31.

    The 2005 article was Copoiesis. When introducing others to Ettinger I direct them to this article.

  32. 32.

    Ettinger 2005, 708.

  33. 33.

    To view art and hear trances http://www.barbarabickel.ca/withnessing-eyes-closed.php

  34. 34.

    Ettinger 2009, 20.

  35. 35.

    12 minute interview with Michael and Barbara https://vimeo.com/manage/45704299/general

  36. 36.

    Ettinger 2000, 91.

  37. 37.

    Christ and Plaskow, 24.

  38. 38.

    Ettinger 2002, 237.

  39. 39.

    Spiritual activism is drawn from Gloria Anzalduá who combines spirituality with social change action (Keating).

    Subtle activism is an alternative form of activism drawn from consciousness-based practices to support social and ecological transformation and change. See https://gaiafield.net/ and writing of David Nicol 2016.

  40. 40.

    Ettinger 2000, 98.

  41. 41.

    Research and inquiry are used interchangeably by many in the field of arts-based educational research. I prefer and mostly use the word inquiry as I am part of the Canadian west-coast artist-academic lineage (eg. Snowber’s Embodied Inquiry, Lynn Fel’s Performative Inquiry, Karen Meyer’s Living Inquiry) that challenges the dominant positivist framing of research in the academy.

  42. 42.

    Fox 1988, 22.

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Bickel, B.A. (2020). Introduction: An Earth-Based Sensual Spirituality of Art, Ritual and Trance. In: Art, Ritual, and Trance Inquiry. Palgrave Studies in Movement across Education, the Arts and the Social Sciences. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45745-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45745-7_1

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