The dialogue of earth and sky : dreams, souls, curing, and the modern Aztec underworld / Timothy J. Knab.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Knab, T. J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aztecs--Religion.

Aztecs.

Indians of Mexico--Religion.

Indians of Mexico.

Sierra Norte (Oaxaca, Mexico)--Social life and customs.

Sierra Norte (Oaxaca, Mexico).

Physical Description:

xiii, 179 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Tucson : University of Arizona Press, [2004]

Contents:

Prologue: The "Path" 1

Chapter 1 Earth and Sky, Body and Soul: The Dialogics of Life on the Earth and Life in the Most Holy Earth 11

Three Levels of the Cosmos 13

The Soul: On the Earth, in the Earth, and in the Sky 22

Imbalances of the Soul and Disease 37

Chapter 2 Dreams and Dreaming: Journeys of the Soul 41

Everyday Dreams 42

Dreamtales 52

Chapter 3 "I Beseech Thee Most Holy Earth": Prayers for the Earth 73

Prayers for the Lords of the Earth 76

Talocan: The World Reflected 78

Chapter 4 Life in the Holy Earth: The Aztec Underworld in the Natural World of the Sierra de Puebla, a Geography 97

The Underworld: Alternate Geography 98

The Axis with Four Sides 102

Four Regions of Darkness 106

Talocan Melauh: The True Heart of Darkness 113

Through the Dark Mists: The Indeterminate Geography of Talocan 117

Inhabitants of the Underworld 122

Concepts and Cosmovision: From Natural to Supernatural 130

Chapter 5 Dreams and Curing: The Dialogics of Curing 133

Dreamtales and the Dialogic Process 135

Transforming the Dream: The Dreamtale 140

Interpreting an Interpretation 145

Interpreting the Causes of Conflicts 150

Ritual as Conflict Resolution 153

The Dialogue of Earth and Sky 155

Epilogue: Serving the Most Holy Earth 157.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [161]-173) and index.

ISBN:

0816524130

OCLC:

54844089