The Oracle of Ix Chel

This is an exciting story based in turbulant ancient Maya times. The main character is a nobel woman who is the Oracle of Ix Chel, a healer and a prophet who must make difficult choices to carry out the will of Ix Chel. While Ix Chel is a goddess of love and healing, priests of the god of war has risen in power, demanding cruel human sacrifice to ensure the continued prosperity for the land.Arvigo has studied ancient texts and many sources to share a great deal of authentic information in a fictional story. If you like historical stories about unknown cultures that also have great heart, this one is for you. You'll learn much about healing, about Ix Chel, about social customs of the Maya - all in an entertaining format.I can't wait for the next installment, about life on the women's island of Cozumel!

This is a serious work of Maya historical fiction with many valuable details and an engaging story. The author is an expert in Maya plant medicine and healing. In the story about Jade Skirt, a priestess of Ix Chel, we learn how Mayas used plants for healing, prophecy and visions. Fascinating details show how they did vision rituals and puberty rites, healed snake bites and treated various ailments. Written in first person, the story takes readers deeply into the experiences and beliefs of Jade Skirt, who propounds an admirable life-supporting philosophy in contrast to the death cult that has taken over her city. Though well-described, these rituals do become repetitious, as do the main character's ruminations.Set in Chichen Itza in 700 AD, the story follows challenges faced by Jade Skirt, High Priestess and Oracle of Ix Chel (Maya Great Mother-Healer Goddess). A new order has assumed power, followers of the central Mexican cult of Tezcatlipoca, Aztec War God. This bloodthirsty deity demands frequent human sacrifice, in contrast to Ix Chel's support of life. When Jade Skirt's granddaughter is chosen for sacrifice, the priestess defies leaders and escapes with a small contingent of her family. Most of the story describes their hardships traveling through forests, avoiding capture, and trying to arrive safely at Cuzamil, sacred island of the Goddess, occupied only by women.The protagonist and her family are sympathetically portrayed, but the villains are relentlessly evil, disgusting and one-dimensional. There is over-emphasis on human sacrifice. The story arc is thin but many intense scenes and adventures keep it interesting. Descriptions are rich and compelling, immersing us in this exotic ancient world. The end leaves us suspended, just as final escape to Cuzamil is about to happen, leading to a planned sequel.The issue for me--as a Maya researcher--is the merging of timelines and historical facts. Though the author informs us in the preface that it's "my fictional version of history" and she has "taken many liberties with 'facts'" it is disconcerting to see Aztec culture of the 1200s mixed with Classic Mayas of 600-700. Living conditions of nobles and commoners are confounded; the lineage compound of Jade Skirt with wattle and daub palapas is what commoners lived in. Nobles of high status, such as a High Priestess, would live in stone residential structures. They would not do their own cooking and housekeeping. The Mayas had a highly stratified society. Chichen Itza came to power in the late 800s. The Cocom and Xiu families were not prominent in the area until around 1200. For those familiar with Maya history, it's not an accurate portrayal of the Mayas of Yucatán in that time period.

Just finished Rosita Arvigo’s wonderful novel which I highly recommend.Having visited numerous Mayan sites and met the decedents of the Classic Maya in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, plus reading about the Maya for 30 some years, I must say Rosita’s book brought the Maya and their world alive for me in a way nothing else quite has!Her descriptions of herbal healing and spiritual rituals are superb and certainly informed by her own deep experience in these realms. Her voice is authentic and rings true and I couldn’t help but morph Rosita’s own voice onto Jade Skirt a bit having been lucky enough to enjoy some of Rosita;s fascinating herb walks here in Chicago.I also love that the main characters of the story are mature people but still so fully alive and living out adventures, destinies and desires. I I admit when i read the back of the book I was assuming Jade Skirt would be a younger woman but it was refreshing to find she was older.Rosita does a superb job of bringing her vast knowledge and meticulous research of the Mayan world into the characters and setting. I loved that she imbued then with a sense of humor and real feelings which helps us connect to an ancient people and culture through time and space.For those who are new to the Maya this is a great introduction and an excellent book to pack on a trip to the Mayan world if you would like to breath life and personalities into the mysterious jungle ensconced temples of Mesoamerica. Looking forward to the next one!

I loved this book so much and I wish there were hundreds more just like it! Indigenous people, female healers, an oracle, adventure.... so great. Love love love.

Wonderful read! Over the past 30+ years, the author has lived with contemporary Maya and researched ancient Maya civilization. In writing this novel, she shares with us not only an engaging story of eternal human passions and challenges, but also about the culture itself and possible theories of the ancient civilization. Rosita Arvigo is a natural, dynamic story teller with a deep understanding of people. It's a great story, and both my husband and I are eagerly waiting for the next in the series!

Having had some interest in the Mayan culture, this book made me feel like I was living through this and experiencing these adventures. I can hear the animals howling in the jungle, I can smell the corn tamales cooking, and feel the fear of the New Order with their human sacrifice practices. Just purchased the follow up Island of Women!!

Love this book soon when i finish it im buying the next one

I have no words how I loved reading this book. Learning from stories written by doctor Arvigo is truly a blessing.

Beautiful, captivating story unrevealing fantastic cultural customs of indigenous people. I enjoyed every scene and drank in every detail of the book. I wish the story would be longer (:

Really enjoyed reading The Oracle of Ix Chel, was transported to the times when the Maya were at their peak. Loved the characters and the way Rosita Arvigo has brought them and the ways of the Maya to life. So looking forward to the next instalment.

I finished the book in 2 days and was sorry I didn't have the second book to continue reading this amazing story. I love every single book from Rosita Arvigo.