The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)

by Miguel Ruiz

(naguals)

AI Overview In Mesoamerican cultures, a nagual is a spirit or guardian that exists as an animal double or protector, often associated with a human being. It's a spiritual concept, not just a literal shapeshifting, though some interpretations involve transformation into animal form. The nagual is also a person who can access spiritual power and wisdom by connecting with their tonal animal counterpart. Here's a more detailed breakdown: Guardian Spirit: A nagual is a personal guardian spirit, believed to reside in an animal, such as a jaguar, bird, or other creature. Animal Double: It can also refer to the animal form itself, the animal spirit that is connected to a person. Shapeshifting: While not universally accepted, some interpretations involve the ability to transform into the nagual's animal form. Spiritual Power: The nagual is seen as a pathway to spiritual growth and insight by accessing the deeper, limitless self (the nagual) through the tonal (the everyday self), according to Wikipedia. Tonal and Nagual: In Toltec spiritual traditions, the concept of tonal and nagual is central. Tonal represents everyday awareness and ego, while nagual represents the deeper, limitless self, says Wikipedia. Source: The term "nagual" comes from the Nahuatl word nāhualli, meaning "to dance with tied hands," according to Merriam-Webster.

Without Life, the tonal and the nagual could not exist.