Customer Reviews

The Nahualli Animal Oracle

5 star:		(6)
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3 star:		(1)
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First of all, the text was well-written and offered an excellent explanation of Aztec Gods and Goddesses and the symbolism and colorful traditions that surround them. My background is archaeology and cultural anthropology, so I was quite pleased that the information was accurate and thoughtfully researched. The authors also took care to advise the reader if the facts behind a ritual were unclear.

I have to admit that the artwork on the cards is amazing, the artist truly captured the look and feel of Aztec paintings. I love looking at each one individually, because they are so colorful and dramatic.

I'm enjoying working with these cards and think they are a must-have for anyone truly interested in the mystical nature of animals and the Aztec world.

This book tells about Aztec traditions, true traditions, in an objective and wonderful presentation, with beautiful images. The images alone are worth the price of the book. But the objective presentation of Aztec traditions are a breath of fresh air and honesty.

While the images on the card are not what I would call beautiful in the fairie new-age sense, I would call them beautiful in the more earthy sense. The colors are warm and old-worldly. The feeling I get when I work with these cards is deep and ancestral. The readings seem to be right on. I highly recommend them if you want deep and meaningful readings, not just an art deck.

I bought this oracle very inexpensively. Snap up a copy while you can.

This is a thoughtful oracle with well-researched content and a decent bibliography to support further study. The book is a good incentive for pursuing deeper exploration. The cards are matte-coated and vibrant with brightly colored line drawings inspired and true to Aztec arts. The sturdy packaging is brilliantly colored and durable.

I recommend this deck for those who are interested in working with animals from a specific cultural perspective. This is not for plastic, credit card shamans, no matter how you pay for it, nor would it appeal to tarot tourists. This oracle will aid you in contacting totemic archetypes and guidance, especially if you are drawn to the pantheon or animals of the Americas.

While I cannot recommend the astrological method of finding one's nahualli, due to the lack of historical support for any method, and no attention to time types (daylight savings, etc), The Smoking Mirror gave resonant results. Before consulting this oracle in the method described, I felt a lot of suspenseful energy. Such readings can only be done once, and I had some ego invested for some reason. I felt the results of this oracle would carry some weight without ever having used it.

Not only did my nahualli resonate with other themes and energies I am attracted to, I was happy with the result, even though my nahualli was not one of the animals with which I closely resonate. It was a very productive process.

Look into this unique mirror for shadow work and for inspiration to deepen your studies of Mesoamerican cultures. This is not for everyone, but if you are attracted, don't miss a unique addition to your life. The care of the authors and their intentions are apparent.

Another outstanding offering from Bear & Co (Inner Traditions).

Concise and well-written, I found this book information, for both novices and those with a prior background.

"Nahualli is the Aztec word for 'shadow soul', the animal double of the human soul. The Aztec people, known as the Mexica, had a very balanced relationship with the animal world. They viewed animals as sacred beings that shared the Earth with the gods long before humans were created." -the authors

The Aztecs viewed animals as sacred beings that dwelled among the gods, pre-dating the creation of humans. The Mexicas, as the Aztecs were known, believed that the gods sent them messages via animals. If a particular bird or animal would cross their path, they would often consult a priest for help in interpreting these omens. They identified with the animal world to such an extent that they believed each individual had a twin animal soul, called a Nahualli. On the fourth day of a child's life, a priest would perform a ritual, enjoining the human soul with the Nahualli for life.

The consecration and dedication was based on a child's birth date and time. The animal would aid in character development and provide protection. In turn, the child would forever protect the Nahualli. If someone were to enter the priesthood, his or her Nahualli would impart "supernatural" abilities such as shape shifting, astral projecting, healing and so on-based upon the actual behavior and temperament of the animal. In the Nahualli Animal Oracle, authors Caelum Rainieri and Ivory Andersen have created a way (based on actual Aztec rituals) for individuals to determine their own personal Nahualli, which includes a birth chart. If you don't know the day you were born on, the book provides a website URL so you can look it up.

For example, I was born on a Friday so according to this day-coupled with the time of my birth-my Nahualli is the Owl. The Owl is associated with death and the underworld, and as an 8th House Scorpio Sun (with stellium), I found this interpretation to be a good match-especially since Pluto, god of the underworld, rules Scorpio.

One can also discover his or her Nahualli using the 40 cards in the Nahualli Animal Oracle by intuitive, random selection. I tried this method before I discovered the day of the week I was born on, but it didn't resonate with me.

The author's intention for the Nahualli Animal Oracle is threefold:

1. To improve understanding, respect, and appreciation for animals as unique emotional and spiritual individuals
2. To honor the Aztec civilization for its many accomplishments
3. To resurrect an authentic oracle of the Aztec religion as an instrument for obtaining wisdom, guidance, and insight into everyday affairs.


The 183-page Guidebook provides a wealth of information on Aztec cosmology and ritual, including general rules of Nahuatl pronunciation, deity pronunciation key, the Aztec pantheon, and Aztec numerology. Also included is a comprehensive description of each card's primary energy (upright) and contrary/negative energy (reversed), as well as keywords. Nine of the cards are Aztec deities, while the rest are animals. A thorough treatment of the history, lore, and significance to Aztec spirituality is also provided for each deity and animal.

Five comprehensive spreads are discussed at the end of the book:

* The Smoking Mirror Spread
* The Three Graces Spread
* The Ball Court Spread
* The Five Directions Spread
* The Pyramid Spread

I tried the Smoking Mirror Spread in the attempt to learn more about my personal Nahualli, but as I mentioned before, it didn't resonate with me. One of the spreads, The Ball Court, is particularly macabre: Apparently, Tlacho was a game that the Aztecs played and was designed with "celestial orientation in mind". At the end of the game, the blood of the players would be offered to the gods and the captain of the losing team was beheaded as a sacrifice to the presiding deities.

The religion of the Aztecs was based on warfare and human sacrifice. According to the authors, the Aztec warriors-garbed in brilliant clothing representing Eagle, Jaguar and Coyote-engaged in non-stop conquest. Their fueled the Aztec economy with their plunder, and used the prisoners for their sacrificial altars. The more than 400 Aztec gods had a voracious appetite for human sacrifice, and the Aztecs were more than willing to supply them with fresh blood.

With this in mind, I couldn't help but wonder "Now, why, exactly, are we honoring such a violent, bloodthirsty culture?" I found the lore a bit gruesome for my tastes, and while the 40 cards of the Nahualli Animal Oracle are quite colorful and attractive, they didn't "speak" to me. I had far more success with The Toltec Oracle by Victor Sanchez which is based on Nagual (Nahualli) spirituality from shamanic Mesoamerican culture.

(To see 6 card images from the Nahualli Animal Oracle, visit the Reviews--Decks section at http://JanetBoyer.com)

Extrememly well researched, with incredible illustrations. The history discussed in the book is extrememly interesting, and these cards are easy to use and understand, with very concise instructions and descriptions included. A definite must have for tarot collectors, or those interested in animal lore.