"Eyes Of The Jaguar" is a record of one woman's first steps on this path, a life-journey into the sacred

An important new way of viewing the prehistoric art of the Americas, The Jaguar Within demonstrates that understanding a work of art’s connection with shamanic trance can lead to an appreciation of it as an extremely creative solution to the inherent challenge of giving material form to nonmaterial realities and states of being. Shamanism—the practice of entering a trance state to experience visions of a reality beyond the ordinary and to gain esoteric knowledge—has been an important part of life for indigenous societies throughout the Americas from prehistoric times until the present. Much has been written about shamanism in both scholarly and popular literature, but few authors have linked it to another significant visual realm—art. In this pioneering study, Rebecca R. Stone considers how deep familiarity with, and profound respect for, the extra-ordinary visionary experiences of shamanism profoundly affected the artistic output of indigenous cultures in Central and South America before the European invasions of the sixteenth century. Using ethnographic accounts of shamanic trance experiences, Stone defines a core set of trance vision characteristics, including enhanced senses; ego dissolution; bodily distortions; flying, spinning, and undulating sensations; synaesthesia; and physical transformation from the human self into animal and other states of being. Stone then traces these visionary characteristics in ancient artworks from Costa Rica and Peru. She makes a convincing case that these works, especially those of the Moche, depict shamans in a trance state or else convey the perceptual experience of visions by creating deliberately chaotic and distorted conglomerations of partial, inverted, and incoherent images.

Eye Of The Jaguar by Jane Silverwood released on Apr 24, 1993 is available now for purchase.

2015 Schneider Family Book Award Winner * "A candid and deeply resonant account of a hard-fought battle against societal stigma, and an embrace of one's true talent and calling." —Publisher's Weekly, starred review Speaking for the animals he loves gives one boy’s life hope, purpose, and truth in this gorgeous picture book autobiography. Alan loves animals, but the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo makes him sad. Why are they all alone in empty cages? Are they being punished? More than anything, he wants to be their champion—their voice—but he stutters uncontrollably. Except when he talks to animals…then he is fluent. Follow the life of the man Time Magazine calls, "the Indiana Jones of wildlife conservation" as he searches for his voice and fulfills a promise to speak for animals, and people, who cannot speak for themselves. This real-life story with tender illustrations by Catia Chien explores truths not defined by the spoken word. Publishers Weekly Best Book Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2015 Winner of the 2015 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award 2015 Green Earth Book Honor book

In Joe Gannon's debut novel, Night of the Jaguar, a former Sandinista guerrilla comandante turned cop investigates a series of murders that appear to be political executions. Sandinista Police Captain Ajax Montoya is six days sober and losing his mind. How else to explain his nights waking in bed, his hand wrapped around that bloody-minded stiletto from the old days, or the presence outside his window, a face with no eyes watching him? How far the heroic have fallen. Ajax was once the gallant comandante guerrillero. A hero of the Nicaraguan revolutionaries in their long uprising against the Ogre and his hated National Guard. Back then he'd been the guy who got the bloody missions -- as a lowly grunt with that blade, or the commander of an entire front. Back then he knew what was what and who to trust. But as the clarity of war gave way to the hazy reality of peace, Ajax fared less well. And after he took the fall for an assassination he had no part of, he tumbled into a bottle, and maybe out of his mind. Now he's a homicide investigator in Managua solving murders and sweating through the nightmares from his guerilla days. When he's called to investigate a robbery turned gruesome murder, Ajax recognizes the marks of a surprising enemy - the CIA mercenary army known as The Contra. This isn't just a random murder; this is an execution, a call to war. Or is it? And why does no one want to know but Ajax? As the bodies pile up and a red-headed gringa who should be his enemy enchants his thoughts, Ajax questions whether he can stay sober, sane, and alive long enough to figure it all out.

Book 2 in the Heart of the Jaguar Series She's being pursued by everyone, in more ways than one. Even in an exotic world of humans, jaguars, and tantalizing creatures who shift between the two, Maya Anderson stands out from the crowd. Interest from human suitors is bad enough, but when male shifters give chase, the real trouble starts. Who's the hunter and who's the prey? Investigating the black marketing trade of exotic animals keeps Wade Patterson more than busy. When he and Maya both get entangled in a steamy jungle mission, it becomes impossible to tell who is being hunted or who the hunters are. Wade is desperate to survive this deadly game of cat and mouse. But it's Maya's piercing eyes that keep him awake at night. Heart of the Jaguar Series: Savage Hunger (Book 1) Jaguar Fever (Book 2) Jaguar Hunt (Book 3) Jaguar Pride (Book 4) Praise for Savage Hunger: "Dark, sultry, and primal romance...will leave readers breathless."—Fresh Fiction "Humor, tenderness, and pure hot loving...an awesome and exciting new world."—Long and Short Reviews, 5 stars "A sizzling page-turner, Terry Spear is wickedly talented."—Night Owl Reviews Reviewer Top Pick, 5 Stars "Spear paints a colorful, vivid portrait of the lush jungle and deadly beauty...of jaguars."—Publishers Weekly

Two top of the line modern warriors, both orphaned in childhood, hunt one another throughout the cities and jungles of Latin America. As their hunt progresses, both discover they have been lured into this contest by Jaguar, a great spiritual power of the Amazon. Their hunt for one another turns into an otherworldly spiritual ordeal orchestrated by magical powers of the Amazon, an ordeal in which the former methods and rules by which they have fought and survived as modern day warriors are useless. Both men are motivated by deep, unshakable love. John Ashbrook, ex Navy SEAL turned deep cover spy, is hunting for his missing mentor and best bud, Ronnie Bates. Bates is the only close tie Ashbrook has let in since his family died when he was a young boy. As Ashbrook tries to pick up Bates’ trail, Bates begins appearing in Ashbrook’s dreams, dropping clues that actually work in the real world. Bates’ clues lead Ashbrook to Rafael Sanchez. Cast adrift on the harsh streets of Caracas Venezuela by the death of his parents at age 11, Rafael became a thief to provide for his 6 year old sister Maria. With his exceptional skills, athletic prowess and fierce courage Rafael rapidly shot up the ranks of the cartels, eventually becoming Pablo Escobar’s top gun and right hand man. But Rafael now wants to break free from the darkness of his past life to find a new, decent life with Isabel Londono, a woman he loves passionately. Isabel believes Rafael is a successful businessman and knows nothing of Rafael’s dark side, but begins to suspect that he may have one. Their relationship is threatened and pushed into crisis as she presses Rafael to confide in her, but Rafael resists as he knows there are powerful men that would kill her or worse to find him. Jaguar’s power is irresistible as he draws the men into the battle of their lives, facing their ultimate match as warriors in each other. From its beginning to the end this hunt is a high tension guessing game for both men as nobody, not even the highly accomplished native seers the men consult, can fathom what Jaguar’s ultimate design is. In a bizarre turn of events, Isabel unwittingly does the one thing that radically alters the fate of both men, proving that even in the great warrior Jaguar’s world love and its power of redemption are formidable forces to be reckoned with. But even with that, the men’s fierce battle will take them on an unforgettable journey into the realm of death. It is only here that Jaguar’s final test will take place and his ultimate design will be revealed.

Balam, a Mayan boy struggling to achieve manhood, participates in fasts, prayers, and rituals to appease the gods and bring rain to his village.