Nahualli Animal Oracle

An oracle using Aztec animal doubles of the human soul as spirit guides

• Contains 40 full-color cards depicting 31 Nahualli animals and 9 Lords of the Night

• Provides a means for spiritual seekers to communicate with their own animal doubles

• Based on traditional Aztec symbolism

Nahualli is the Aztec word for shadow soul, the animal double of the human soul. Aztec tradition held that on the fourth day of an infant’s life a priest would perform a ceremony to bind the newborn to its animal soul mate. A sacred pact between human and animal initiated a lifelong relationship of mutual protection and guidance. In return for defending its nahualli, the human would be endowed with the unique skills, strength, and wisdom of that animal.

The Nahualli Animal Oracle offers a means for contemporary spiritual seekers to identify their own nahualli and receive soul guidance from the Aztec wisdom tradition. Each of the 40 beautifully illustrated cards, which includes 31 nahualli animals and 9 Lords of the Night deities, represents an essential aspect of human life—such as joy, aggression, or sacrifice. The book shows how to invoke these powerful entities, through meditation and divination, to intervene in everyday affairs and provide insight into perplexing problems. The authors provide detailed guidelines for interpreting the significance of each nahualli animal or deity, along with an explanation of its mythological origins. Ancient Aztec religious symbolism is reflected in the divination spreads, such as The Five Directions, which is derived from the compass symbol at the center of the intricate Aztec calendar.

Nahualli is the Aztec word for shadow soul, the animal double of the human soul. The Nahualli Animal Oracle teaches spiritual seekers to identify their own nahualli and receive soul guidance from this Aztec wisdom tradition. Ancient Aztec religious symbolism is reflected in the 40 beautifully illustrated cards. Detailed guidelines are included.

Caelum Rainieri has been teaching classes in indigenous magical traditions, animal totemism, and mythological archetypes for over 10 years. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Ivory Andersen has been teaching classes in indigenous magical traditions, animal totemism, and mythological archetypes for over 10 years. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Raphael Montoliu is an illustrator and painter, who has had a lifelong involvement with Native American art, mythology, and spiritual traditions. He lives in Lakeport, California.

Marc Bekoff is Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is a Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society and a former Guggenheim Fellow.