Breath on the Mirror: Mythic Voices and Visions of the Living Maya

Tedlock, who has given us a superb English translation of the Mayan epic Popol Vuh, here treats a number of themes that derive from his extensive research of and personal experience with the Highland Maya. He and his wife, an accomplished ethnographer and author of Time and the Highland Maya (among other books), have spent various lengths of time living in Guatemala, learning some of the indigenous Mayan languages, visiting numerous historical sites, and even training as ajq'ijab, ritual specialists who keep the sacred 260 day calendar known as the tzolk'in or cholq'ij. Time and the Highland Maya recounts some of the training that they received from elder ajq'ijab in the highly traditional town of Momostenango, where the couple performed extensive fieldwork beginning in the 1970s. A number of the stories Tedlock relates in Breath on the Mirror deal with the intricacies of the 260 day calendar and its rich weave of meanings. "Jealous Seeds and Crystals," "The Death of Death," "Two Rythms at Once," and "Borrowing Lightning," all discuss the calendar and how it gets used in one of the prominent types of divination that traditionalists still employ in their daily lives. Other chapters in the book discuss ritual practices in Guatemala, such as the reverence for sacred places, special stones, and supernatural beings. Among the sacred places, archeological sites, such as the ancient K'iche' capital Q'umarkaj, continue to play an important role in cultural identity. "On the Road to Ruin," "The Hanging of the Kings," and "The Trap Door" all touch upon the history and meaning of Q'umarkaj. "Grandfather Judas" recounts some of the fascinating stories about Maximón (or Rilaj Mam), a powerful deity, sometimes acknowledged as a saint, who does the bidding of his devotees and stands as a grand authority figure for diviners and other ritual practitioners. Breath on the Mirror is a beautifully written book that conveys much about the contemporary Maya of Guatemala. The layered spirituality, which displays both Christian and Mayan conceptions of human beings and the sacred world they inhabit, is showcased in each chapter. For anyone with an interest in the Maya or in Guatemala, this is a wonderful read.

This book is full of magical tales told by an ethnographer who is very familiar with the Maya. He is the translator of the Popol Vuh and also the Rabinal Achi. He knows what he's talking about and can write beautifully. This book is a must read for those who travel in Mexico and Guatemala.

i feel real stupid; my critique of breath on the mirror was intended for the book "place of mirrors". please ignore the previous review by me, robert m. leas. "breath on the mirror is truly fascinating reading.