From John Green, Editor, The Astrological Journal (UK) , January/February 2011:
Everyone is talking about the Mayan calendar at the moment, and if it’s something you are interested in here’s Manual for the Soul to explain what it’s all about. Rather than falling into the media hype surrounding the calendar, this is a scholarly work that puts the ideas into a larger context with mythological, historical and technical aspects of the system, explored from the perspective of history and personal biography.
It’s a big book, over 700 pages, and there is a huge amount of information contained within. It goes into great depth on the subjects of Mesoamerican timekeeping, mythology and cosmology, the various powers assigned to each Daysign, along with a handy reference section. The references include tables, so that you can easily work out which of these signs your birth date assigns you to. With the help of the author I found out what energies are linked to me in this system. The energy combination ascribed to me could be translated as “the structuralising or crystallising of restorative vitality”. I hope that’s true.
For me, the finding out of your own birth information was less interesting than the great mythological descriptions of each Daysign power. There are wonderfully well researched descriptions of the myths here, along with numerous footnotes which bring each of these energies alive. In many ways this is an anthropological work, and in synthesising this content it does a remarkable job.
This book also goes into over 1500 significant events in world history along with over 1800 famous people, and reviews them through this calendar system. All in all, it makes for a fascinating read. The book isn’t for everyone, of course, but if you are interested in the Mayan calendar and want a balanced and thoughtful read rather than the more extreme ideas currently being bandied about then it is well worth getting hold of a copy of this book.
From Mary Plumb, Book Review Editor, The Mountain Astrologer, Feb./Mar. 2011
“Marguerite Paquin, Ph.D., is an educator with a long interest in “the arts of indigenous peoples — the arts that reflect deep cultural traditions”. She relates her own personal “call” towards the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica in the Preface to her remarkable book. She tells of her interest in “the perennial concept of the daimon, which encodes the individual with a calling”. This idea echoes throughout Manual for the Soul, which purports to show How Sacred Mesoamerican Calendrics Reveal Patterns of Destiny . . . . .
Paquin introduces her work with a broad inquiry into “Time, Soul, and Destiny”, the title of Chapter One, where she finds parallels between Mesoamerican concepts and the ideas of James Hillman, Plato, Carl Jung, Rudolf Steiner, and many others . . . . . Chapter Two, “Mythology and Cosmology”, describes the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican worldview, which was oriented to the cosmos — “a realm permeated with divine energies, where the world of the gods directly influenced daily activities on the earthly plane”. The author covers many notions in this chapter, including jal, or “transformational change” which “is so crucial to evolution". . .
The overall purpose of the book is “exploring the working and manifestations of the energies of the Tzolk’in — the basic 260-day Sacred Count which incorporates thirteen numerical forces in combination with twenty foundational energies”. . . . .
I should make it clear that, although this book is the fruit of many years of research, it is also a living guide. There are tables to find your numerical power, daypower, and the trecena (described in Part Three, Other Dimensions); all these combine to form your particular “destiny code”, connected to your birth date. The author’s blog on the whitepuppress Web site offers updates as events transpire, making this a real-time work in progress . . . . . [it] is an accessible and yet scholarly text . . . . I’ve only skimmed the surface of this fascinating and gracefully written book that is densely packed with ideas, concepts, and historical and contemporary references. Marguerite Paquin opens a gateway into a compelling world and warmly invites readers into this sacred timekeeping tradition.”
Endorsements
“ . . . deep, insightful, and wonderful . . . ” John Major Jenkins, Director of the Center for 2012 Studies and author of The 2012 Story: The Myths, Fallacies, and Truth Behind the Most Intriguing Date in History
“ . . . a fine job of synthesizing the anthropological literature”, Dr. Edwin Barnhart, Director, Maya Exploration Center, Austin, Texas
“ . . . the most incredible book I’ve seen in years. It’s like the Cosmos & Psyche of Mayan astrology. 744 pages of incredible wisdom.” Gary P. Caton, internationally acclaimed astrologer, www.dreamastrologer.com
“Marguerite Paquin’s Manual for the Soul is a must read for anyone with an interest in the mysteries of Maya Calendrics. This extremely well researched and artfully crafted book enables even the most novice readers to understand this incredibly complex and multi-layered subject. Her book offers the western mind a way into advanced Mesoamerican timekeeping and shows how the energies of the days can be used to accurately predict and describe events, personalities, and predilections.” Karen Lipsett-Kidd, Crystalworks co-owner, Vancouver, B.C.
“An extraordinary book written by an exceptional woman . . . her wonderful presence shines through as a light to the world.” Dawn Muncaster, LIGHT OF THE SOUL, Trans-Personal Astrological and Spiritual Counsellor, speaker, teacher, writer.
“ . . . my favourite book ever! Even just the energy off the book . . . ‘sacred energy’.” Diane Charlene Armitage, Whispering to the Spirit of Horses