The Shaman's Wife

Rodriguez's memoir presents an unconventional story of a spiritual quest. The book centers on the relationship between the author, a recently divorced executive coach from Annapolis, Maryland, and a sixth-generation shaman, Napo, from Quito, Ecuador. His brother and her friend introduced them to each other in 2012; after 10 days in Ecuador together, they felt a deep emotional connection that led to a whirlwind romance. They took part in a spiritual unification ritual and, in 2014, were legally married. However, after they moved to Annapolis that same year, their relationship took a turn, the author writes, as Napo developed a drinking problem and continually requested money from her to fund various projects--most notably, a resort for spiritual healing retreats that they developed together. Nonetheless, Rodriguez writes, she believed that their lives were karmically entwined, and she was reluctant to leave him, despite physical abuse and social isolation. She eventually did leave in 2020 and moved to Lisbon, Portugal, for a time; there, she received unexpected news about her spouse. Throughout these events, the author tells of visions she had that gave her insights and guided her decisions: "From childhood, I'd lived with mystic dreams and visions," she explains. "They were accepted as ordinary in my family, whose Colombian culture was rooted in the elders' stories about spirits and visitations." In the end, she says that she's grateful for the difficult experience, because it was necessary to bring her to the enlightenment that she says she now possesses. The author's narration has an openness that's relatable, and the structure of the work, with its intermittent visions, is engaging. The story draws the reader in as if it's going to be a variation of Eat, Pray, Love (2006), but instead, it takes a tragic turn. The author also expresses an unwavering belief in Napo's shamanic powers that readers may not expect. Overall, though, they may find the account of this difficult relationship to be upsetting reading. A sometimes-harrowing story of spirituality, trust, and a search for identity.

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August 19, 2024
Rodriguez's memoir is more alarming than mystical at times when reading of the author's jumps between relationships and countries. Still, it is compelling to read about her adventures, dreams, and experiences, most notably with Napo, the Peruvian shaman she meets and eventually marries. An introduction to Napo's world is at first fascinating--the blessed pyramids of Peru, the Otavalo story--then downright scary as he and the author go into business together to build a resort. Exploring the questions surrounding what women give up for the men in their lives, Rodriguez's memoir offers lessons beyond shamanism.

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