Ecstatic experiences have always been part of humanity's treasure trove of experiences. They occur at all times and in all cultures. Nevertheless, in Western cultures, they have been subjected to a process of exclusion since antiquity, driven by ideological and religious reasons. Consequently, their exploration has remained fragmentary. This interdisciplinary volume brings together a wide range of contributions. The authors approach the diversity of ecstatic states from cultural-historical, psychological-psychiatric, neurophysiological, and anthropological perspectives. Psychotherapeutic aspects are also taken into account. In terms of the variety of aspects addressed, this is one of the most comprehensive scientific representations of the phenomenon of ecstasy. With contributions from Peter Gasser, Elisabeth Petrow, and Christian Scharfetter.