The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness is a groundbreaking, large-scale multi-modal project weaving together the worlds of literature, music and visual art in the poignant story of one boy's journey into mental illness. Readers and listeners are offered a mesmerising visual and auditory tour de force about beauty and resilience, society and belief, that at its heart expresses hope for a greater understanding and embracing of difference. The narrative unfolds around the metaphor of a tree, growing within the boy, whose flower is ecstasy and whose fruit is sadness. This luminous, multi-faceted work is inspired by the experiences of its award-winning creator, Matt Ottley, who has lived with bipolar disorder all his life and been hospitalised on numerous occasions in mental health facilities. Having personally experienced the prejudices and challenges that come from suffering a mental illness, Matt's aim is to offer a sensory insight through words, music and images into the experiences of those who suffer from such debilitating illnesses, particularly psychosis. A masterful allegorical tale for the 21st century.

The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness is a masterful allegorical tale for the 21st century, weaving together the worlds of literature, music and visual art in the poignant story of one boy's journey into mental illness. Audiences are offered a mesmerising visual and auditory tour de force about beauty and resilience, society and belief, that at its heart expresses hope for a greater understanding and embracing of difference.The narrative unfolds around the metaphor of a tree growing within the boy, whose flower is ecstasy and whose fruit is sadness. This luminous, multi-faceted work is inspired by the experiences of its award-winning creator, Matt Ottley, who has lived with bipolar disorder all his life and been hospitalised on numerous occasions in mental health facilities. Having personally experienced the prejudices and challenges that come from suffering a mental illness, Matt's aim is to offer a sensory insight through words, music and images into the experiences of those who suffer from such debilitating illnesses, particularly psychosis.At the heart of the work is a 50-minute orchestral composition by Matt Ottley, performed by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, tenor Ben Reynolds and narrated by Tina Wilson.This book comes with a CD recording and download link of the musical work, which forms part of this multi-modal work.

The Tree of Ecstasy looks at how sex was inseparable from religion in the ancient world and generally seen in a positive light until Christianity put a curse on the flesh and perverted the expression of the sex instinct. The author outlines practices and advice for the rituals based on the Tree of LIfe from the Kabbalah emphasizing that the book is for committed partners. This is advanced magic and not for the beginner.

The history of ecstasy, its discovery and use and social implications.

Describes the effects of the drug ecstasy and provides information about drug testing, dependence and withdrawal, and finding treatment.