Thank you to Netgallery for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. What an informative and interesting book. There’s just SO MUCH information to take in from these pages, it’s well researched, with lots of information on how the Aztecs, indigenous, African and Latin ancestors made use of the Sun and Moon to survive, and how we can today use our ancestor’s knowledge to improve our quality of life. My only problem was the organisation of this book, but let’s get into the review.

Book Blurb

A practical guide to ancient Mesoamerican solar and lunar rites for healing and transformation

• Details shamanic rituals and practices for each period of the day, including dawn, sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight, to best harness the energies of the sun, night sun, and moon for specific purposes, such as divination, journeying with animal spirit guides, or spiritual wisdom

• Incorporates shamanic breathwork, dreamwork, mantra chanting, mudras, dancing and movement, toning, chakra work, crystals, herbs, and limpias (shamanic cleanses)

• Explores how nighttime energies are affected by the phases of the moon, offering specific practices for each phase

Ancient Mesoamerican shamans and modern practitioners of curanderismo–a Latin American shamanic healing practice–divide each day and night into distinct periods based on the sacred rhythms of the sun and moon, with each time offering opportunities to connect with specific celestial energies for healing and transformation.

In this hands-on guide to working with the sacred energies of the sun, night sun, and moon, curandera Erika Buenaflor details the rites, rituals, and deities for each part of the day and night and explores the sacred tools and techniques used by ancient Mesoamerican shamans for harnessing solar and lunar energies. She explains how the sun is the source of soul energy that heals, animates, strengthens, and revitalizes us on many levels, while night energies are transformative and conducive for connecting with nonordinary realms. She explores rituals for dawn, sunrise, and midmorning to harness the energies of creation and new beginnings; for noon and afternoon to promote peak strength and spiritual wisdom; for sunset and dusk to bring about transformation, perform divination, and journey with animal spirit guides; and for midnight and predawn to facilitate shamanic dreamwork, connect with the ancestors, make offerings, and regenerate at the deepest levels. She also explores how nighttime energies are affected by the phases of the moon and offers specific practices for each phase.

By intentionally tuning our activities to the rhythms of the sun and moon, we can invite in their sacred energies of abundance and healing for more healthy, creative, mindful, and happy lives.

Kim’s Review 4 Very Informative  and Practical Stars

I must admit, when I picked up this book I was hoping that it would be more of a reference book, as in, I could personally flip to the parts of interest or need, read, and apply. Then ‘rinse and repeat’ and that’s exactly what I got. This book has A LOT of info, and I think to read it cover to cover would just be overload,  especially for a newbie to the subject. It’s very deep and I loved it! So for those with philosophical minds I recommend it. It’s generally really  good for reference. The beginning chapters I did read all of, to get a good understanding of the research done, and the information download from ‘the ancestors’, and how they worked. Also, the first introductory chapters focus on how the Sun and Moon were viewed from their point of view, and how they were attached to certain deities. Very interesting. Here’s what I loved generally.

Detail- the level of detail is like none other I have come across on this subject, and I’ve read a lot of esoteric books on the Sun and Moon. I found that the detail is however focused on the Aztec people or the Ancient Mesoamerican shamans. Being from Afro-Caribbean descent myself, I found that their POV was very similar to my own ancestors when I compared it, and this was comforting.  I also liked that this is not an ‘astrology’ book, as a qualified astrologer I loved that the Sun and Moon are discussed for what they are from an ancestor’s POV, rather than an astrology view point.

Practicality- there seems to be so much here that you can practically apply, easily just based on the time of day! I found that the author has made this a very easy to apply book. Also, I felt like the author did not ‘force’ things on readers ‘ you must do this’, generally I got the feel that it was valid information, ‘this is what you can do with it  practically, should you wish’.

Break down of the Sun and Moon’s energies- This was my favourite part of the book, as the author clearly shows the differences between dawn, sunrise, high- noon, afternoon etc for the Sun and what activities, manifestations or practical things could be suited to their energies to help better your life! The same is done for the Moon. Lastly, the author has very accurately broke down the different Moon phases, as some who has studied astrology it all resonated, aligned with what I know, also felt like while this was not new information for me, for newbies it is very helpful!

Overall this is a book that I will  buy for my bookshelf, I feel like I would refer back to it as a reference book. My only issue is the organisation of it LOL. I don’t know if it’s because I got a review copy, it’s not published until July, but I would love for the organisation of the information to be a bit cleaner, and that’s all! Four informative, practical and wonderful stars from me. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in this kind of topic, however you must have an open mind, and also be in the mood to ‘think’ and take in the deep knowledge that is passed on. This is not a book that can be read without some form of questioning to take in the  full beauty of it.  I really enjoyed it.