A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets

Curanderismo is an earthy, natural, grounded, health-care system that seeks to keep all of the elements of our being in balance. Curanderos believe it is not enough to heal the body; one must heal the wounded soul as well. By exploring the myths and truths about curanderismo, Elena Avila and Joy Parker offer insight on healing and the importance of a soul retrieval.

"An autobiographical account of how a psychiatric nurse specialist became a folk medicine healer; this also explains the origins and practice of one of the oldest forms of medicine in the New World."—Kirkus.

I wrote Woman Who glows in the Dark because I wanted to share the powerful medicine in Curanderismo because there were no books available about a curandera's personal stories written by a practicing curandera (me) and to emphazie that curanderismo is the Medicine of the people. I have walked in both worlds, Western Medicine (RN, BSN, MSN) AND CURANDERISMO. This is the medicine of the South and it took me to Mexico to study with powerful healers.

I have been practicing Integrative medicine for many years and I needed to share the resutls of my studies and practice amd how I incorporate Western Medicine and Curanderismo and how inportant it is to invite soul and spirit in the healing sessions.

I love to do platicas (heart to heart talks), Limpias (spiritual cleansing) and to treat Susto (soul fright) by doing soul retrivals. I have helped people re-member and reclaim all of who the are.

My book includes powerful stories of the human spirit healing old traumas.

I was born and raised in the barrios of El Paso and now live in the Enchanted land of Albuquerque, New Meico. I am also a poet, mother and grandmother.

Elena Avila (1944-2011) is the author of the national bestseller Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health. Before becoming a spiritual counselor, Avila studied nursing and psychiatric nursing. In addition to her book, Avila also wrote poetry, plays, and gave lectures throughout the United States. 

Joy Parker is the coauthor of several books includingWoman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health, Maya Cosmos: Three Thousand Years on the Shaman’s Path, and The Sound of the Earth: A Man’s Mid-Life Passage and Spiritual Awakening.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a poet, trauma specialist, and Jungian psychoanalyst most recognized as the author of Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype. She is also a spoken word performer and has performed with Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison.