Long Life, Honey in the Heart: A Story of Initiation and Eloquence From the Shores of a Mayan Lake (Hardcover)

~ Martin Prechtel (Author) "A bold and sassy voice called me out of my end of Chiviliu's compound before the Father Sun cracked his way out of the seed..." (more)
Key Phrases: initiating chiefs, netted boxes, copal smoke, Scat Mulaj, Canyon Village, Holy Boy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Prechtel, whose earlier memoir, Secrets of Talking Jaguar, described his initiation as a shaman among the Tzutujil Mayan of Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala, now takes his readers back to that village, this time focusing on initiation rites--which were meant to renew the culture and the earth itself. As a youth of Native American and European ancestry who grew up on a New Mexican reservation and was searching for a new home, Prechtel won the generous acceptance and trust of these people. He lived their everyday life, married a Tzutujil, and served as a respected Elder. He was, therefore, uniquely positioned to document their culture. His lyrical prose captures not only the intricate details of these complex rituals but also their spiritual meaning for the Tzutujil, whose traditions were on the verge of extinction, as well as the humor and wisdom they brought to their lives. During the 1980s, the violence and horror of Guatemala's political situation overcame the ancient traditions of the villagers, and Prechtel left after attempts on his life. But he keeps those traditions alive in this vivid and devoted memoir. Suitable for both anthropology and biography collections, this work should appeal to a wide audience.
-Joan W. Gartland, Detroit P.L.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"It's an encyclopedia of beauty...like some poem of Neruda's, it is a treasure house of language, in service to life."
—Robert Bly, author of The Night Abraham called to the Stars

"Friend, if you have picked up this book, hold it. Don't set it down. Let it call. Let it enter. Let it undo the latch of forgetfulness It is not an academic study, nor event the personal account it at first appears. It is a hymn from the living heart of the universe, echoing in our being with praise and remembrance of that we didn't know we remembered."
—Paul Weiss, Director, Whole Health Center, Bar Harbor, Maine --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (October 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874779944
• ISBN-13: 978-0874779943
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #404,300 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wisdom of the ancients, January 14, 2001

By	"[e-mail]" (Ranchos de Taos, nm USA) - See all my reviews

Prechtel's book is incredibly beautiful, describing the life, loves and rituals of a small town in Guatemala, Santiage de Atitlan and the changes that have occurred there. As a companion piece to the Secrets of the Talking Jaguar, which is equally profound, this book leads us away from the Shamanistic and into the everyday life of these beautiful people. The book is full of the wisdom of the past regarding such things as marriage, teenage years, birth and death. My emotions and memories of the indiginous peoples of this land are brought vividly to mind in this book. I have lived and worked for many years with Pueblo people and am struck by the many similarities of belief and ritual.Prechtel is a fantastic writer who keeps one wanting more!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music, eloquent speech, and initiation, August 5, 2000

By A Customer

This being third in the sequence of Martin Prechtel's books that I'd read this year, completion of the triptych brought my understanding to critical mass/tears in view of how much has been lost in Guatemala's entry to the 21st century. However, these writings make it highly probable that the loss is not complete, or unmourned. His books embody the very processes he tells of; for example, his mention of customs which are made to be broken: people's learning the significance of who breaks them, how, and when they are broken or allowed to be broken strengthens the culture.* His own experience of out of sequence initiation illustrates this, but beyond that, the fluidity with which he passes between poetic and humorous storytelling and epilogues in a more philosophical tone invites inner dialogue in the reader. He is well aware of the modern consumer mentality as a ghost layer mimicing an underlying spiritual void, when he taunts the readers at the outset that many will voraciously consume his books and move on, without fulfilment. *This realization is the most important one passed from mentor to initiate in any culture. My mentor at the same period (the 1970's)was a halfway-house worker who realized and taught others that we were not there to enforce a culture on the mentally ill, but rather light-heartedly yet seriously to help them draw the line as to what they could expect to get away with and more importantly, not get away with, in this life, and to plan accordingly. Indigenous music and language being preserved and used in their celebratory (if no longer ritual) uses may be all we have left to work/play with. Prechtel does well to begin his story with his introduction to Mayan music. The depths have not yet been plumbed as far as the role music plays in initiation, since the printed word is not the right medium to convey this. It struck me as wonderful that a Peruvian flute band were playing their hearts out last weekend in Portland, Maine, at the last visit of the Tall Ships- a proper "send-off" to the ghosts of Conquistador navies by a very much alive pre-columbian musical band.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL AND ELOQUENTLY WRITTEN, March 5, 2000

By	Tino Plank (Sonora, California) - See all my reviews

Martin's words are a blueprint for healing our spiritual wounds and our separation from the natural world around us.

As a mentor, I found the information on initiation and the levels of hierarchy within his village to be invaluable. His dedication to the Mayan traditions and the people who have carried that wisdom down through the ages is exemplary. Thank you Martin for the strength and courage to bring that message forth during these very troubled times!