ENDORSEMENTS AND REVIEWS FOR THE TOLTEC ORACLE

ENDORSEMENTS  - REVIEWS

Jamie Sams
Author of Medicine Cards:
 		 "Victor Sanchez walks his talk, trust him!"

Philip Glass
Composer:
"Victor Sanchez has provided us with the first authoritative account of the Toltec Wisdom tradition based on the actual codices. The text itself was direct and, for me, quite personal. I must say how completely impressed I am with the whole process!"
 

Jose Stevens
Author of Secrets of Shamanism:		  

"The Toltec Oracle is and insightful revelation of the core of the Toltec tradition, one of the world´s richest sources of ancient wisdom. Victor Sanchez once again gifts us with a highly rewarding and practical way to apply this shamanic knowledge to our daily lives."
 
Brooke Medicine Eagle
Author of  The White Buffalo Comes Singing:		  

"I love Victor´s integrity, his insight, and his depth. Using this oracle, I have learned more about Toltec spirituality and understood more about my own presence, as well as how to come into greater harmony with the whole-the holy circle of All My Relations."
 

REVIEWS

The Toltec Oracle
Review by Bonnie Cehovet

author: Victor Sanchez
Bear & Company/Inner Traditions
2004
ISBN #159143026-7

The Tonalpohualli Cards:

1. Sipaktli - Dragon
2. Ehakatl - Wind Spirit
3. Kali - House
4. Kuetspalin - Lizard
5. Koatl - Snake
6. Mikistli - Death
7. Masatl - Deer
8. Tochtli - Rabbit
9. Atl - Water
10. Itskuintli - Dog
11. Osomatl - Monkey
12. Malinali - Herb
13. Akatl - Reed
14. Oselotl - Jaguar
15. Kuautli - Eagle
16. Koskakuautli - Vulture
17. Ollin - Movement
18. Tekpatl - Flint
19. Kiawitl - Rain
20. Shochitl - Power

The Ruler Cards:

Senteotl - The One
Tonatiu - Father Sun
Ometeotl - Trinitarian Duality
Koyoishauki - Moon
Ketsalkoatl - Feathered Serpent
Kaotikue - Mother Earth
Tlawiskalpantekulti - Lord of the Light
Weweteotl - Grandfather Fire
Sholotl - Underworld
Miktlantekulti - Death
Tlalok - Source of Life
Witsilopochtli - Left-Handed Hummingbird
Teskatlipoka - Smoked Mirror

The Toltec Oracle, by Victor Sanchez, is an amazing set of 33 cards (13 Ruler Cards and 20 Tonalpohualli Cards), with an accompanying 274 page book. They are representative of the Toltec culture, and are meant to be used as a tool that would place the wisdom of the Toltec people in the hands of the modern reader, to allow them to see and feel how and where it would work in their lives. The sharing of core Toltec principles and spiritual wisdom can be applied in a very practical, mundane manner to help with the choices that life throws at us. The dedication at the front of this book says it all:

"I dedicate this work to the soul explorers of the past, the present and the future."

This is the voice that carries through this work - a humble voice, a voice of caring and concern, a voice more interested in having us do the work than read the words. Also evident is the care that must be taken whenever we go about on these magickal explorations. The very first subject that Sanchez addresses is the indigenous Wirrarika tribe of Mexico, a tribe that he references throughout this book. He makes it clear that he has not indicated where these people are physically located, simply because he wishes to protect them from the intrusion of well intended "New Agers" that want to visit (and experience) their sacred space. Sanchez points out that in doing so, the lives of these people are taken out of balance. They have a hard enough time existing without the intrusion of the outside world.

Sanchez initially did not feel totally comfortable presenting The Toltec Oracle as a tool of divination. However, in the end he came to see the oracle as a mirror into the soul, which is indeed what oracles are. The source material behind this book and deck shows great depth - over 20 years personal experience with the indigenous communities that are living examples of the Toltec wisdom; personal study, translation and interpretation of the codices left by indigenous sages concerning the Toltec lore (with the help of Frank Diaz - a personal friend, anthropologist and linguistics researcher); and personal experience in applying the Toltec principles through his work in the fields of personal and spiritual growth, and through working on an international level as a trainer, group facilitator and counselor.

Great care has been taken in putting this book together. Throughout the book Sanchez uses words from the indigenous tribes that are unpronounceable without a guide of some kind. The first thing that he does is provide a table for the pronunciation of the vowels (which is very easy and straightforward). The consonants are pronounced as we would pronounce them in English. Footnotes are provided at the bottom of the page to give us a bit of the history behind each word, as well as a glossary for the non-English words at the end of the book. For me, this is very important. I hold the belief that words hold energy, and their energy comes through the vibration of sounding (speaking) the word. Speaking the words aloud with the correct pronunciation is imperative to a true experience of the word and its content.

There is a short but enlightening section on Toltec history, and the Toltec influence on Mesoamerican culture. If you want to use an oracle like this, I think understanding the background is a must. Before I even read the book (which can be used as a "stand alone", or without the benefit of the cards), I was drawn to the card of the Feathered Serpent (Ketsalkoatl). It turns out that the concept of Ketsalkoatl is one of the keys to the Toltec culture. There are three basic meanings for this symbol: Ketsalkoatl as a deity (one of the Toltec names for God); Ketsalkoatl as a metaphysical concept and spiritual symbol (the union of opposites); and Ketsalkoatl as a historical person (Se Akatl Topiltsin Ketsalkoatl, 947-999 AD, an important political and spiritual leader).

Toltec deities, and the subject of duality is also addressed, along with the concepts of Tonal and Nagual that make up the most extensive sides of Toltec duality. The Tonal world is the world of "first attention" - basically, the physical world, ordinary perception and rational thought. The world of Nagual is the world of the night, and the world of mystery. It is what Sanchez terms silent knowledge - knowledge that does not begin with birth and end with death (it is the connection with ancestral knowledge). Our job in this lifetime is to bring balance between these two sides of ourselves.

Sanchez presents the following Toltec practices to be used in conjunction with the oracle and book:

  • Teomania - This translates loosely to "the divine within oneself". We are being asked to open our hearts so that the divine may enter.
     
  • Communicating With Poderios - Poderios are the forces of nature that can be consulted in the context of sacred ceremony or procedure. Any force, or field of energy, that we experience as a living force and interact with in our quest for knowledge can be considered a Poderio. The "big five" of the Poderio world are: the fire (Grandfather Fire);the sun (Father Sun); the earth (Mother Earth); the water (Mother Water); and the wind (Brother or Sister Wind). This was interesting to me, as it follows the elemental nature of the oracle that I make my living with - the Tarot.
     
  • Making Offerings - The offering is a sacred commitment between your soul and the Great Spirit.

    In explaining how to use the book and deck, Sanchez has defined the following purposes for the Toltec Oracle (which, again, very closely follow the major purposes for which the oracle of Tarot is used). From the book:

    1. To have a reading about your life in general
    2. To find a deeper meaning for your life
    3. To consult about specific questions or problems you are dealing with
    4. To learn about the specifics of Toltec spiritual knowledge
    5. To find, articulate, develop or enhance your spiritual path
    6. To support your path with heart

    There is a heavy duty plastic "board" that comes with the deck and book. It is divided into four sections: Tonaktl ( Body), upper right hand side, showing a red background, ruling the physical body and the material world; Mati (Mind), lower right hand side, showing a yellow background, ruling the mind and the workplace; Teyoli (Emotions), lower left hand side, showing a green background, ruling emotions and relationships; and Teotl (Spirit), in the upper left hand side, showing a blue background, ruling Your Spirit and t he Great Spirit. There is a brown circular border surrounding an inner cross that is white, and outlined with the same brown border. At the four corners, towards the center, there is a small white circle in each section, bordered in brown. In the very center of the board we have a white circle, outlined in brown, called Yolotl (Spirit). Thus we have our personal energies of Body, Mind, Emotions and Spirit represented, with ourselves, represented by Heart, at the center. When you see this board, it reminds you of a mandala, or a Native American Medicine Wheel. Very strong energy here!

    The cards are divided into two groups - twenty cards are called Tonalpohualli Cards. They represent the day signs of the Toltec calendar. Four of these cards are chosen at random and placed one in each corner of the board. The second group of thirteen cards are the Ruler Cards, and they represent the thirteen most important deities in the Toltec world. One card is drawn at random and placed in the center (Heart) circle.

    Three basic ways of reading the cards is presented: the minimal reading is a one card reading done when you have a specific question about a specific issue. It is interesting to note that the Seeker needs to decide which set of cards to draw from, as the Ruler Cards are more directed to general principles and the "big picture", while the Tonalpohualli Cards are more situational, and deal more with the archetypal energies that we experience in life.

    A variation on the minimal reading is to draw two cards - one from each set of cards. This is done to develop more in depth information, but takes less time than a full reading.

    A full reading is called a Mirror of Life reading, and consists of five cards: four drawn from the Tonalpohualli Cards, and one drawn from the Ruler Cards. The Seeker is encouraged to take their time in interpreting the cards, and to keep a journal of their readings. Sanchez has done a very nice job of providing summaries for each type of reading, so that the Seeker is able to follow the direction with little problem, and easily understand the process.

    In the section on how to interpret the cards, Sanchez talks about the fact that the cards are very broad and open, and that they have multiple meanings. He also suggests questions and activities that can be done based on a particular reading - emphasizing that these are just suggestions. He discusses timing (which can be past, present or future, as well as days, months or years) as being very open to interpretation. He also discusses looking at the behavior described in the cards message to determine where the message fits into the life of the Seeker. There are also "Post Oracle" or "Post Reading" activities that are meant to help the Seeker place the energy of the reading into their lives in a very active manner.

    In his presentation on the Tonalpohualli Cards Sanchez talks about the imagery on the card and what it means; the general meaning for the card; and a specific meaning, along with suggested questions and activities, for each of the four quadrants. For the Ruler Cards, there is a discussion of the deity and its meaning in the reading.

    The deck itself is 3 3/4" by 5", on glossy, non-coated cardstock. While the cardstock is of good quality, care will need to be taken over the lifetime of these cards, and they will present a problem for those with smaller hands.

    The backs of the cards have a tri-color scheme. For the Tonalpohualli Cards, the background is a beige border, with a red background on the inserts and black "figures". For the Ruler Cards, the border is red, the background on the inserts is black and the "figures" are beige. It would not be possible to tell if the cards were drawn upright or reversed. (There is also no indication of how a reversed card would be read in the book.)

    The face of the Tonalpohualli Cards has a tri-colored border, with the number and name of the card (in Toltec and English) across the bottom in black letters on a beige background. The face of the Ruler Cards is the same, with the card name (in Toltec and English) across the bottom of the card.

    One of my favorite cards is that of the Feathered Serpent (Ketsalkoatl). He is the most important symbol in the Toltec world, expressing one of the core spiritual aims - the unification of opposites. The board itself is named Cross of Ketsalkoatl, so drawing this card places enormous importance on the reading.

    Another of my favorite of the Ruler Cards is that of Underworld (Sholotl). This is a representation of the underworld as one aspect of the human experience. When this card appears in a reading, the Seeker is being put on notice that the energy of the underworld is playing a part in what is going on in your life.

    Herb (Malinalli) is one of the Tonalpohualli Cards. Like the Trickster of Native American lore, Malinalli can have two sides: that of the power of the Healer, and that of the power of substance abuse.

    Jaguar (Oseoltl) is a sacred and highly regarded Toltec spirit. It talks about the power of the hunter, and the tools of strength, harmony and patience. In t he quadrant of the body, suggested questions are: "How can I strengthen my body?" "How can I sustain the connection between my physical body-work and my internal awareness?" "How can I develop equilibrium with what is around me?"

    Wind/Spirit (Ehekatl) represents not only the Wind, but it literally represents Great Spirit in the Toltec culture. In drawing this card, the Seeker is being assured that they are always surrounded by the sacred presence of Great Spirit.

    The imagery for this deck was taken from ancient Mexican codices - painted books created by Tlacuilos scribes, individuals who worked under the direction of priests or shamans, devoting themselves to meditation and to recording their sacred knowledge in their paintings. Parts of these images have been modified by the Inner Traditions design department, especially in the area of intensifying color that had deteriorated over time.

    The board itself was designed by Victor Sanchez and Frank Diaz, and enhanced y the Inner Traditions design department. It is based on the original model of the Cross of Ketsalkoatl as represented in the Magliabecchi Codex.

    I find the research efforts put into this book of significant benefit to the modern world. We are being offered a powerful tool for spiritual connection, and for understanding ourselves and our world in a more fluid, coherent manner. While this outstanding deck and book can be used on a simple, oracular level, it offers much more in terms of meditation and personal experience. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

    © November 2004
    Bonnie Cehovet

    Taken from ( http://www.angelfire.com/nm/spiritualwarrier/index.663.html )
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    Review by Janet Boyer
    The Toltec Oracle

    "The Toltec Oracle will help you to know aspects of yourself that you have not discovered yet. It will show you the lights and shadows of your soul. In relation to your luminous side, you will discover the power, gifts, and unknown resources that you possess to help you through this magical journey that is your life. As for your shadows, the Toltec Oracle will be the mirror wherein you will be able to see the disowned parts of yourself that you need to acknowledge and reintegrate. This will enable you to grow into a more whole human being--able to accomplish what is meant for you to accomplish in your life." --Victor Sanchez, author of The Toltec Oracle

    The Toltec were the highest culture developed in Mesoamerica who developed a body of shamanic practices to enhance states of awareness, connect with the sacred, and see the deeper sense of existence. The tradition of the Toltec still endures today, and author Victor Sanchez has encapsulated this ancient wisdom in The Toltec Oracle, a 33-card deck featuring colorful artwork from original 16th-century Toltec codices.

    In Toltec spirituality, there is only one God that manifests itself through multiple natural forces which are also called Poderios; The Creator is known as Senteotl. So while many deities are mentioned within this tradition, they are symbols that reflect how things work in the Universe--guides to understanding the sacred arrangement that the Great Spirit made of the world so we can live in harmony with this arrangement. The Toltec had a strong orientation to pragmatism, and thus were not drawn to abstract speculations about God. In fact, the Toltec were proponents of movement and action, creating spiritual practices that would being sense, joy, and efficiency to their actions in the world.

    An ever-present element of Toltec spirituality is that of dualism. Rather opposing elements representing two enemies at war (with "evil" needing to be conquered), Toltec duality maintains that opposites exist to complement one another, and that the tension between opposites is what propels evolution. Opposites complement one another and enter into conflict only for the sake of achieving a superior state. The Toltec deity that exemplifies this idea is Ometeotl, who is called the Trinitarian Duality and Sacred Duality. A triangle symbolizes Ometeotl because amidst duality is the sacred connection between opposites.

    The Toltec Oracle reflects the concept of sacred duality, and shows us that embracing the vision of complementary opposites could provide a means for us to evolve into a superior way of coexisting in human society. This approach was called kinam, which means the power that arises from harmonizing opposites. The two sides of duality is the "Tonal" and the "Nagual". The Tonal represents the reality we can see with ordinary perception and that we can rationalize. The Nagual, or Nahualli, represents the mystery, magic, and silent knowledge.

    According to Sanchez, the realization of our dual nature with a Tonal and Nagual side is key for our individual process of evolution. Most of the imbalance we suffer in life is mismanagement of one of these two sides. He likens the imbalance of having one without the other to having two legs but walking with one.

    Sanchez maintains that the primary function for an oracle is not to serve as a divination tool, but as a window to the governing principles of life and as a mirror for the soul. Indeed, the The Toltec Oracle is not a simple question and answer device, but an authentic path for self-development. Thus, consulting this particular oracle may require an investment of time, especially for the Mirror of Life Spread, as well as taking appropriate action based on the information you receive.

    At the core of this oracle is the Cross of Ketsakoatl Layout, pictured at right. This model was used by the Toltec for mathematical calculations, oracle readings, and healing procedures, among other uses. The quadrants represent the four directions of the world and the spirit, body, mind and emotions, while the center represents inner direction--the heart.

    There are two sets of cards in The Toltec Oracle: the Tonalpohualli Cards and the Ruler Cards. The Tonalpohualli Cards coincide with the twenty day signs of the Toltec Calendar, and reflect the archetypal life situations we experience. The Ruler Cards, however, represent the thirteen most important deities of Toltec spiritual lore. These deities represent the highest governing spiritual principles of life.

    This box set comes with a glossy, color-coded layout of the Cross of Ketsalkoatl. Instructions are given on how to do one and two card readings, as well as the more comprehensive Mirror of Life Spread. For the latter spread, four cards are chosen from the Tonalpohualli Cards to go into the four quadrants, and one card is chosen from the Ruler Cards to go in the center. Sanchez gives you the background and general meaning of each card. In addition, there is a comprehensive explanation of the card position for each of the four quadrants--for example, if 19 Kiawitl-Rain were to fall in the Body Quadrant--as well as the meaning of the Ruler Card in the center which influences the entire reading. Each placement features suggested questions and activities which are designed for you to examine and probe the deeper meaning of the situation you're asking about in light of the card placements and their accompanying wisdom. In fact, there are more than 200 exercises and practices with practical applications for the readings accompany the cards.

    Below are three images from The Toltec Oracle:

    ABC

    Also included is a 274 page book that provides the foundation of Toltec spirituality, and how this way of life applies to the oracle itself. You're encouraged to take your time with this oracle--to sit with the selected cards, meditating on the placements as you would a mandala--and to take notes of your impressions, as well as your answers to the questions Sanchez poses.

    I thought this oracle would be difficult to use, especially with all the words in the Nauatl language. However, Sanchez is a very lucid writer who is obviously used to "breaking it down" in order to teach others. I did a comprehensive Mirror of Life Spread and journaled the results. I still need to sit with some of the information that The Toltec Oracle provided (or rather, I probably need to take action!), but I found the results to be amazingly accurate and quite challenging. This oracle is certainly not a "feel good" oracle, because both "the light" and "the dark" will be exposed for your consideration. Sometimes, we don't want to "own" those disowned parts of ourselves, and since the crux of Toltec spirituality is movement and change, challenge, as well as encouragement to reach higher, is a side effect of this powerful oracle

    ( taken from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25981.asp )

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