"Dance of the Jaguar" shares Andrews' techniques for personal growth and empowerment through a fictional format with a story about a woman named Martha. Martha is a young widow and a grandmother who feels that she hasn't lived her life to her fullest potential and that she's missed some opportunities along the way. One day, Martha's life is suddenly changed, when she decides to follow her heart and discovers some amazing untapped talents. Though "Dance of the Jaguar" contains a clear element of fantasy, Andrews also introduces a number of usable and inspirational techniques, such as how to use intention, how to connect with your potential by releasing limiting beliefs, and ways to get in touch with your intuition. In the story, Martha's biggest blocks to leading the fulfilling life she desires are fear and self-doubt--just one example of how Martha's magical world isn't too far away from most readers' reality. Drawing upon her own personal experiences, Andrews suggests taking action towards your fears in order to unlock the doors of potential.

Dance of the Jaguar: The Path to Transformation

“Dance of the Jaguar” is a story about transformation, of letting go of fear, and becoming a more authentic person.  The heroine, Martha, receives an amulet and a quetzal feather that helps her channel her energy to travel through portals and to fly.  As she learns to release her fears she discovers the true depth of her inner power.  She learns that she doesn’t need to rely on tools to work her magic.  Martha is able to discover who she is, without losing herself.

Martha travels through a portal to attend an Ancient Wisdom School.  She makes friends with a kindred soul named Angela.  In the mundane world, she also finds a romantic interest named Ned.  Ned respects her beliefs and recognizes what a wonderful woman she is.  He is also interested in learning the ancient wisdom. 

I found that I could really relate to Martha.  To access her true power, she had to learn to overcome the same self-doubts and fears that we all carry within us.  We must overcome these obstacles to find true happiness and freedom.  This also frees us from the people who seek to control us by taking away our power.

By synchronicity, the morning that I started reading “Dance of the Jaguar,” I recited a powerful Tibetan prayer to take back my power from individuals with whom I have been having difficulties.  Through Martha’s story, I was able to learn how and why I was giving my power away.  Terry Andrews writes, “If you don’t own your own power, then someone else does.”  To stop giving it away, we need to learn how to respond, rather than to react.

In the story, she writes about people who give up their power so readily, they make it easy for the people who feed off of their energy and use it to control them.  In the story, there was a man who learned to manipulate people into operating off of their irrational fears, so that he could distract them into giving their power away.  The control that people seem to have over us is just an illusion; it is not about authentic power.

I loved “Dance of the Jaguar.”  I know that it is one book that I will be rereading many times through out my life.  The story about Martha’s journey is fascinating, and the messages contained within it are life changing.  I highly recommend “Dance of the Jaguar,” especially to women’s readers groups.