Erika Buenafl or, M.A., J.D.,has a master’s degree in religious studies with a focus on Mesoamerican shamanism from the University of California at Riverside. A practicing curandera for more than 20 years, descended from a long line of grandmother curanderas, she has studied with curanderx in Mexico, Peru, and Los Angeles and gives presentations on curanderismo in many settings, including at UCLA. She lives in Tujunga, California.
Introduction to Ancient Mesoamerican and Curanderismo Animal Symbolism
PART ONE
Connecting to Animal Spirit Guides
Historical Background, Meditative Exercises, and Trance Journeys
1 Animal Contact and Medicine in the Nonordinary Realms
2 Diverse Shapeshifting Practices and Their Many Benefits
3 Developing Symbolic Communication with Animals
PART TWO
Animal Allies A to Z
Ancient Mesoamerican Animal Mythologies, Spiritual and Shapeshifting
Medicine, and Symbolism
American Bittern • Ant • Armadillo • Badger • Barn Swallow • Bat • Bee •
Black Skimmer • Butterfly • Caiman (Alligator and Crocodile) • Catfish
(Fish) • Centipede • Coati • Cormorant • Coyote • Crow • Curved-Bill
Thrasher • Deer • Dog • Dove • Dragon • Dragonfly • Duck • Eagle •
Earthworm • Falcon • Feathered or Plumed Serpent • Firefly • Fox • Frog •
Gopher • Hawk • Heron • Hummingbird • Iguana-Lizard • Jaguar • Lovely
Cotinga • Macaw • Monkey • Mouse • New World Quail• Ocelot (Cat) • Opossum
• Owl • Peccary • Pelican • Porcupine • Puma • Purple Gallinule • Quetzal •
Rabbit • Raccoon • Rat • Ringtail • Scorpion • Shark • Skunk • Snail (Queen
Conch) • Snake• Sparrow Hawk • Spider • Spondylus (Spiny Oyster) • Squirrel
• Stingray • Tapir • Toad • Turkey • Turtle (Tortoise) • Vulture • Water
Turkey • Weasel • Western Grebe • West Mexican Black Bear • Wolf •
Woodpecker • Wood Stork
Notes
Bibliography
Index
