How did Philo Judaeus describe mystical ecstasy?

Philo Judaeus described mystical ecstasy as a state of "sober intoxication," a concept intended to facilitate the soul's departure from the material world toward the eternal realm.1

For Philo, this experience was deeply connected to the mystic love of God, which he believed God implanted in humanity to enable individuals to become Godlike. He utilized the term enthousiasmos—meaning "having God within one"—to characterize this state, reflecting a yearning for a direct experience of the divine.1

Philo placed this form of mystical ecstasy above standard philosophical and theological speculations. His descriptions often involved the "flight from the self" and a dualistic contrast between the body, which he viewed as a prison for the soul, and the divine. While he may have drawn upon the terminology of pagan mystery cults common in his era, his approach remained rooted in his attempt to present Judaism as a profound mystery, emphasizing that perfect happiness is achieved not through human effort alone, but through the grace of God.21