Long Life, Honey in the Heart: A Story of Initiation and Eloquence From the Shores of a Mayan Lake - Hardcover

Martin Prechtel was raised on an Indian reservation in New Mexico before moving to Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala. Prechtel returned to the United States, where he is now a nationally recognized public speaker, artist, and healer who writes frequently for anthropological journals and university publications. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Prechtel, whose earlier memoir, Secrets of Talking Jaguar, described his initiation as a shaman among the Tzutujil Mayan of Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala, now takes his readers back to that village, this time focusing on initiation rites--which were meant to renew the culture and the earth itself. As a youth of Native American and European ancestry who grew up on a New Mexican reservation and was searching for a new home, Prechtel won the generous acceptance and trust of these people. He lived their everyday life, married a Tzutujil, and served as a respected Elder. He was, therefore, uniquely positioned to document their culture. His lyrical prose captures not only the intricate details of these complex rituals but also their spiritual meaning for the Tzutujil, whose traditions were on the verge of extinction, as well as the humor and wisdom they brought to their lives. During the 1980s, the violence and horror of Guatemala's political situation overcame the ancient traditions of the villagers, and Prechtel left after attempts on his life. But he keeps those traditions alive in this vivid and devoted memoir. Suitable for both anthropology and biography collections, this work should appeal to a wide audience.
-Joan W. Gartland, Detroit P.L.
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