The Smell of Rain on Dust Audiobook By Martín Prechtel cover art

The Smell of Rain on Dust

Grief and Praise

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The Smell of Rain on Dust

By: Martín Prechtel
Narrated by: Martín Prechtel
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"Beautifully written and wise … [Martin Prechtel] offers stories that are precious and life-sustaining. Read carefully, and listen deeply."—Mary Oliver, National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner

Inspiring hope, solace, and courage in living through our losses, author Martín Prechtel, trained in the Tzutujil Maya shamanic tradition, shares profound insights on the relationship between grief and praise in our culture--how the inability that many of us have to grieve and weep properly for the dead is deeply linked with the inability to give praise for living. In modern society, grief is something that we usually experience in private, alone, and without the support of a community. Yet, as Prechtel says, "Grief expressed out loud for someone we have lost, or a country or home we have lost, is in itself the greatest praise we could ever give them. Grief is praise, because it is the natural way love honors what it misses."

Prechtel explains that the unexpressed grief prevalent in our society today is the reason for many of the social, cultural, and individual maladies that we are currently experiencing. According to Prechtel, "When you have two centuries of people who have not properly grieved the things that they have lost, the grief shows up as ghosts that inhabit their grandchildren." These "ghosts," he says, can also manifest as disease in the form of tumors, which the Maya refer to as "solidified tears," or in the form of behavioral issues and depression. He goes on to show how this collective, unexpressed energy is the long-held grief of our ancestors manifesting itself, and the work that can be done to liberate this energy so we can heal from the trauma of loss, war, and suffering.

At base, this "little book," as the author calls it, can be seen as a companion of encouragement, a little extra light for those deep and noble parts in all of us. Mental Health Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality Grief & Loss Inspiring Personal Development Grief Relationships
Profound Wisdom • Transformative Perspective • Expressive Voice • Healing Insights • Ancient Knowledge

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Everyone should read this wisdom based
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there is incredible ancient wisdom in the chapters of this book. Share this with any child friend or elder that wishes to remember the beauty of life and love.

Fantastic!

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Prechtel's words are strung together in a way that reaches the core. redemptive and recollecting.

a most valuable treasure

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my favorite book of all time, read by the author, now when i read the book or other books by Martin Prechtel i can hear him when i read

Honey In The Heart

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Things I knew but never heard anyone say before were all over this book. It’s magical and healing and a much needed guide to permission of perceiving the world.

Everyone needs this book

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I listened to this over and over again in the hospital during my experience with breast cancer....so healing!!!

excellent healing balm for the soul!!!

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