The shaman's secret

Much more than an archaeological adventure, The Shaman's Secret is the most comprehensive documentation yet of the extraordinary spiritual forces that set the civilization of the ancient Maya apart. As Douglas Gillette deciphers sacred artwork, hieroglyphics, myths, and artifacts, he shows how entire cities mysteriously disappeared into enveloping jungles, taking with them a world of magic, miracle, and wisdom - a vast, untapped treasure of the human spirit. Through. Ritual, sacrifice, and altered states of consciousness, the Maya developed a remarkable resurrection technology - precise encoded instructions for preserving the essence of the human spirit after death. In a culture of savage splendor, of exotic gods and goddesses both benevolent and bloodthirsty, the shamans taught a potent psychological truth: that one must embrace the dark side of oneself and of the world - cruelty, suffering, and death - in order to overcome them. Only by walking through the shadows can we reach the light and become masters of our own destinies. Utilizing his training in depth psychology and comparative religion, and drawing on his rich experiences in Mexico and Central America, Gillette brings the