Curanderismo Soul Retrieval: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom to Restore the Sacred Energy of the Soul - Erika Buenaflor M.A. J.D. 2019

Ancient Mesoamerican Shamans and This Curanderismo Soul Retrieval Practice
Introduction

In this book, I use the term shaman to describe the individuals among the ancient Mexica and Maya who could facilitate soul retrieval; see through their animal coessence; shape-shift into animals, people, and other natural elements; and see beyond the veils of realities. They were the predecessors of today’s curanderx. I use the term shamanic to describe the rites they engaged in. Although there were hundreds of different kinds of ancient indigenous shamans with different specialties and modes of practice, the critical study and translation of their specific trade names and specialties is fairly recent and ongoing. Unless I am aware of the specific name, I will use the term shaman to identify these ancient curanderx, and shamanic to describe their rites.

There are numerous practices and beliefs relating to soul retrieval in curanderismo. Each of my mentors had particular rites for this work. The soul retrieval practice that I will describe here is the one that has resonated most with me. Because it is influenced by Mexica and Maya traditions, these are the two groups I will focus on when discussing ancient Mesoamerican shamans.

A good portion of my research for this book comes from primary and secondary sources covering the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century ethnohistorical records of the Mexica and Maya. I also relied on the growing corpus of materials from various sources, including artwork, architecture, city designs, iconography, epigraphy, and contemporary ethnography. When appropriate, I will critically compare the sources in order to deepen and possibly correct our understanding of the ancient Maya and Mexica notions concerning the soul, nonordinary realms, and the gifts and wisdom of the cardinal spaces.