Animal Medicine

In this guide, Erika Buenaflor explores the animal mythologies, spirit journeying tech- niques, and shapeshifting practices of ancient shamanic traditions and modern-day curanderismo. She examines how indigenous Mesoamerican peoples used animals in their ceremonial healing and divination rites and explains the innate gifts and powers that different animals embody. She explores why certain animals are associated with and provide access to the non-ordinary realms: the Underworld, Middleworld, and Upperworld, wherein deities, ancestors, supernatural beings, and medicine could be connected with or obtained. She details how to enter into a trance journey to go into these nonordinary realms, be guided by or shapeshift into an animal associated with that realm, and access the sacred gifts and spiritual medicine they offer. The author explores shapeshifting practices in detail, and the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits we can gain by engaging in shapeshifting practices. She also explores how to strengthen our connections with our spirit animal guides.

Offering an alphabetical guide to 75 animals most prevalent in ancient Mesoamerican legends, ceremonies, and medicinal rites, from Armadillo and Bear to Hummingbird and Jaguar to Puma and Woodpecker, the author details each animal’s spiritual gifts, shapeshifting medicine, the realm they are associated with, and their symbolic mean- ing when they appear in a dream or vision. Providing multiple methods to connect with animals for spiritual guidance, self-empowerment, and healing, Buenaflor reveals how each of us can enrich our lives with ancient Mesoamerican wisdom for working with animal guides.