Martin Prechtel, with a restless heart, a guitar, and some watercolors, made his way from the US to the Tzutujil Mayan Village in Santiago Atitlan. He followed a sense of calling to arrive in a tight community where he is taken under the tutelage of shaman Nicolas Chiviliu Tacaxoy. He receives a wildly experiential education that is filled with thrill, danger, wisdom, mystery, challenge, and community.
This book is an fascinating dive into new territory for those not schooled in shamanic teachings, the mystical, or practices and rituals of living in an indiginous commuity. It is rich in fuel for continued reflection and makes me want to read more of Prechtel’s writings. His is a unique voice that challenges what it means to trust your inner knowing and the process of life’s unfolding.
Intelligent, Thoughtful, Honest. Nature & Faith.
Lane expands on the beauty of sharing time with a beloved Cottonwood tree as a space for reflection, wisdom, and relationship. With a deep love for nature, the desire to connect with the Creator, and an appreciation for life, Lane offers the lessons and conversations that have shaped his life. His life is full of gratitude and a sense of wonder.
One nugget: “A third way we interact with the natural world is as celebrants. This happens when we move beyond curiosity, experiencing a sense of awe, and even an urge to praise in the presence of mystery…The celebrant knows that our exchange with the other-than-human world is more than information gathering. It’s a wanting to bless and to be blessed. It’s about communication that turns into communion.”
An utterly fascinating read about current plant science and the cool discoveries that are being tapped into. New findings happen as our technology advances to be able to test new aspects of plant life, revealing that we know so little of what is yet to be discovered. They’ve been about their relationships for much longer than humans. The intelligent ways of all other-than-human beings are interesting, quirky, and exciting, pointing to grand intelligence in all design. Science & Spirituality grow together.
As part of a year-long certification course I am taking, this book is a beautiful resources about involving meaningful rituals in my life and helping others do the same. It is both rich story and an artistically lovely presentation of one man’s journey with grief, nature, healing, and growth. It is inspiring and invites the like-minded to find their own ways to incorporate such practices in their own lives and work. It marks some changes in ministry and practice for me.
“Well-researched discussion about environmental changes and a realistic presentation of several possible ways the future may unfold. There is an urgency communicated, to do everything we can to avoid the worst of the outcomes. McLaren loves the earth and enjoys a connection with the Creator through time in nature. A very important read that should be revisited annually, to be reminded of the deep need to work for change and re-up for the tasks.
Sean is a conversational writer, given to being a great storyteller. I had the privilege of hearing him in person in May 2024, His love for life, God, his wife, and other people is apparent. He spoke to, had pictures made with, and signed books for every single person who wished to connect. You Are My Sunshine offers a humorous, enjoyable, and thoughtful take on a special trip he made with his wife, biking on a rails to trails pathway. The book was an anniversary gift for my husband that I enjoyed after him.