Animal Medicine

A Curanderismo Guide to Shapeshifting, Journeying, and Connecting with Animal Allies

By: Erika Buenaflor MA JD

Narrated by: Robin Douglas

• Includes an alphabetical guide to 76 animals, explaining each animal’s spiritual gifts, shape-shifting medicine, the realm they are associated with, and their symbolic meaning when they appear in a dream or vision
• Details the trance journeying techniques and shape-shifting practices of ancient Mesoamerican shamanic traditions and modern-day curanderismo
• Explores how to strengthen our connections with our spirit animal guides

In this guide, Erika Buenaflor explores the animal mythologies, spirit journeying techniques, and shape-shifting practices of ancient shamanic traditions and modern-day curanderismo. She examines how indigenous Mesoamerican peoples used animals in their ceremonial healing and divination rites and explains the innate gifts and powers that different animals embody. She explores why certain animals are associated with and provide access to the non-ordinary realms - the Underworld, Middleworld, and Upperworld - wherein deities, ancestors, supernatural beings, and medicine can be connected with or obtained. The author explores shape-shifting practices in detail and the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits we can gain by engaging in shape-shifting practices. She also explores how to strengthen our connections with our spirit animal guides.

Offering an alphabetical guide to 76 animals most prevalent in ancient Mesoamerican legends, ceremonies, and medicinal rites, the author details each animal’s spiritual gifts, shape-shifting medicine, the realm they are associated with, and their symbolic meaning when they appear in a dream or vision. Providing multiple methods to connect with animals for spiritual guidance, self-empowerment, and healing, Buenaflor reveals how each of us can enrich our lives with ancient Mesoamerican wisdom for working with animal guides.

©2021 Erika Buenaflor. All Rights Reserved. (P)2021 Inner Traditions Audio. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

“The animal kingdom, in its love and compassion to humans, is always willing to gift us with what we need the most when our souls are in need of teachings, guidance, and medicine. We, however, have lost so much of our connections to the ancient wisdom and the shamanic practices, making it quite difficult to translate the meaning of what is being transmitted. In Animal Medicine, the great curandera Erika Buenaflor has gifted us with her deep understanding of ancient shamanism and how we can rescue our sacred relationship with animals, temples, rituals, and ageless wisdom. This book is filled with teachings and practices from a rich culture, kept sacred by the curanderx of Mesoamerica. Animal Medicine is here to inspire us to discover and develop our own spiritual path, a path leading to the healing of our body, mind, and soul. Muchas gracias, Erika Buenaflor, for your curandera’s gifts to us all.” (Vera Lopez, coauthor of Shamanic Mysteries of Peru)

“As a bruja, I want to thank Erika Buenaflor from the bottom of my heart for all the research, love, and dedication she put into this book. Animal Medicine is profound, groundbreaking, and perfect for students of all levels! I am fortunate to have experienced Erika’s magic in person. She is a loving and strong spirit, a conduit from times past, and her work is here to heal our future generations. I am so elated to give this book five stars for all the valuable secrets Erika shares with us. She is one of the most unique and approachable voices in the shamanic community.” (Valeria Ruelas, the Mexican Witch and author of Cosmopolitan Love Potions)

“Erika Buenaflor has added significantly to our understanding of curanderismo with her three previous books dealing with cleansing rituals, soul retrieval, and sacred energy. Her new book, Animal Medicine, adds to an ever-expanding examination of curanderismo and shamanism, which cannot be complete without understanding the role that animal spirits play in the esoteric and mystical world of human experience.” (Antonio Noé Zavaleta, PhD, author of Curandero: Hispanic Ethno-Psychotherapy & Curanderismo.)