Hey guys!
Glad to see all of you are still here.
Thank you so much for all your comments. One thing though I should clarify that the book really doesn’t deal with the dogmas of religion but a mysticism which is still so prevalent in Mexico, you have to understand that much of the traditions still practiced here are pre-columbian.
It is actually a “ghost” story (so simple to categorize it this way) which begins with the siege of Tenochtitlan by the Spanish and ends on the streets of present day Puerto Vallarta (The story travels the breadth and width of Mexico, both geologically and spiritually).
And though it delves into and comments on everything from the old religions of the mesoamerican cultures of the central valley of Mexico, to western philosophies inherited from foreign invaders,to beliefs which were born long ago in Africa (Santeria is second only to Catholicism, even Mexican presidents have sought the help of Santeros from time to time). . It is much more about the human condition and the protagonist’s struggle to regain both his heart and mind.
Just to put things in perspective, though many people, especially in the U.S., think of Mexico in two terms: Cancun and border violence, this culture is one which is directly descended from the native american cultures of old and not just primarily European cultures as is the case with the U.S.A. and Canada (Though I am sure Canadians from the Northern Provinces would beg to differ).
The mash of both European and Local beliefs have morphed into something which is uniquely Mexican.
Case in point, (perhaps this is a poor example), if you are traveling north to the U.S. border you can see an alter with a horrific image of the Santisima Muerte, an icon represented by a grim reaper on the side of the road where traffickers stop to ask help before their crossing into the U.S.! This is not to frighten you from ever visiting Mexico, it’s just that very, very old superstitions have survived and can be seen in plain site. In Europe there may be groups of people who make pilgrimages to Allistar Crowley’s Italian villa to seek the powers of Satan, but this is a belief akin to those who wear crystals and puts pyramids on their heads to communicate with U.F.Os.
Here, you don’t have to dig deep to find the fear and awe of old gods and demons still residing within the CONSCIOUS minds of people from all walks of life. The empires which once existed here were vast, and the oldest cultures that predated the Aztec and the Toltec appear to have had a sphere of influence which was just as extensive (if not more so) than that of the Roman Empire, an influence of beliefs which evolved independently in this hemisphere. This is what the book explores.
And unlike in Europe, where statistics show organized religion has lost sway over the populace, here it is very much alive and still competes with philosophies which were here long before the great pyramids of Teotihuacan were even built. A comparison would be like if Egyptians still practiced ceremonies to RA after attending a mosque today. Try to keep in mind the largest pyramids (not the tallest) were built here and not in Egypt.
You can still go to the central square and find the old women who sell the herbs used in poultices made from recipes thousands of years old which are supposed to cure everything from arthritis to loneliness. Though this may not be much different than what you would find in other parts of the world, the direct ancestors of these women (great-great grandmothers) were doing the same in the plaza mayor of Tenochtitlan.
At the heart of it, you could also say it’s a love story, but the book itself is much more than just “boy meets girl”.
It’s just a book to keep you up at night wondering whether or not that banging at a window downstairs is really just a shutter swinging back and forth in the wind, while still being intellectually stimulating enough to spark the imagination and educate.
The only reason why I have spent so many years on this is precisely because I wanted to create something quite different to what you would might find at your local bookstore. And though my background is in fine art, it was through painting the indigenous cultures of Mexico and learning of their traditions was I even able to bring this work to life.
Apologies for the run-on sentences! HAHA!
I am really happy for all your words of encouragement, I’ve missed you guys!
Rene
)! It’s a lot of hard work to bring something artistic to completion!