The Andean Codex

"[An] aesthetically lovely adventure . . . that embodies the ethical, moral, and spiritual principles for which so many in the Western world are searching." -Hank Wesselman PhD, anthropologist and author of The Shaman's Path

For more than thirty years Dr. J. E. Williams has risked his health and personal safety to journey among shamans in Peru, the place he calls the mystical and spiritual center of our times. In its rain forests, mountains, and environmentally attuned indigenous population, Peru's mystical landscape fosters inner discovery.

The Andean Codex guides the reader step by step through journeys to Andean sacred places like Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and Moray, and in the process uncovers the esoteric meaning of these ruins. Williams recounts his initiation with Peruvian shamans, including shamanic ceremonies he performed at Machu Picchu and his experiences using the mind-expanding, heart-opening ayahuasca and the sacred coca plant.

Throughout these encounters, Williams weaves in practical advice that brings the wisdom of Andean shamans to life. His unforgettable account of their prayers, practices, and ceremonies offers a rare opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a shaman and experience the Andean sacred way.

"Dr. Williams provides the clarity of a high-altitude mind sharpened by many years in the mountains. This is a sensitive, true-to-life study of native people. The author's photographs are as wondrous and life-affirming as his observations and writing." -Gerald Hausman, author of The Kebra Nagast