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Bear & Company/Inner Traditions 2004 ISBN #159143026-7 The Tonalpohualli Cards:
1. Sipaktli - Dragon The Ruler Cards:
Senteotl - The One
The Toltec Oracle, by Victor Sanchez, is an amazing set of 33 cards (13 Ruler Cards and 20 Tonalpohualli Cards), with an accompanying 274 page book. They are representative of the Toltec culture, and are meant to be used as a tool that would place the wisdom of the Toltec people in the hands of the modern reader, to allow them to see and feel how and where it would work in their lives. The sharing of core Toltec principles and spiritual wisdom can be applied in a very practical, mundane manner to help with the choices that life throws at us. The dedication at the front of this book says it all: "I dedicate this work to the soul explorers of the past, the present and the future." This is the voice that carries through this work - a humble voice, a voice of caring and concern, a voice more interested in having us do the work than read the words. Also evident is the care that must be taken whenever we go about on these magickal explorations. The very first subject that Sanchez addresses is the indigenous Wirrarika tribe of Mexico, a tribe that he references throughout this book. He makes it clear that he has not indicated where these people are physically located, simply because he wishes to protect them from the intrusion of well intended "New Agers" that want to visit (and experience) their sacred space. Sanchez points out that in doing so, the lives of these people are taken out of balance. They have a hard enough time existing without the intrusion of the outside world. Sanchez initially did not feel totally comfortable presenting The Toltec Oracle as a tool of divination. However, in the end he came to see the oracle as a mirror into the soul, which is indeed what oracles are. The source material behind this book and deck shows great depth - over 20 years personal experience with the indigenous communities that are living examples of the Toltec wisdom; personal study, translation and interpretation of the codices left by indigenous sages concerning the Toltec lore (with the help of Frank Diaz - a personal friend, anthropologist and linguistics researcher); and personal experience in applying the Toltec principles through his work in the fields of personal and spiritual growth, and through working on an international level as a trainer, group facilitator and counselor. Great care has been taken in putting this book together. Throughout the book Sanchez uses words from the indigenous tribes that are unpronounceable without a guide of some kind. The first thing that he does is provide a table for the pronunciation of the vowels (which is very easy and straightforward). The consonants are pronounced as we would pronounce them in English. Footnotes are provided at the bottom of the page to give us a bit of the history behind each word, as well as a glossary for the non-English words at the end of the book. For me, this is very important. I hold the belief that words hold energy, and their energy comes through the vibration of sounding (speaking) the word. Speaking the words aloud with the correct pronunciation is imperative to a true experience of the word and its content. There is a short but enlightening section on Toltec history, and the Toltec influence on Mesoamerican culture. If you want to use an oracle like this, I think understanding the background is a must. Before I even read the book (which can be used as a "stand alone", or without the benefit of the cards), I was drawn to the card of the Feathered Serpent (Ketsalkoatl). It turns out that the concept of Ketsalkoatl is one of the keys to the Toltec culture. There are three basic meanings for this symbol: Ketsalkoatl as a deity (one of the Toltec names for God); Ketsalkoatl as a metaphysical concept and spiritual symbol (the union of opposites); and Ketsalkoatl as a historical person (Se Akatl Topiltsin Ketsalkoatl, 947-999 AD, an important political and spiritual leader). Toltec deities, and the subject of duality is also addressed, along with the concepts of Tonal and Nagual that make up the most extensive sides of Toltec duality. The Tonal world is the world of "first attention" - basically, the physical world, ordinary perception and rational thought. The world of Nagual is the world of the night, and the world of mystery. It is what Sanchez terms silent knowledge - knowledge that does not begin with birth and end with death (it is the connection with ancestral knowledge). Our job in this lifetime is to bring balance between these two sides of ourselves. Sanchez presents the following Toltec practices to be used in conjunction with the oracle and book:
In explaining how to use the book and deck, Sanchez has defined the following purposes for the Toltec Oracle (which, again, very closely follow the major purposes for which the oracle of Tarot is used). From the book:
1. To have a reading about your life in general There is a heavy duty plastic "board" that comes with the deck and book. It is divided into four sections: Tonaktl ( Body), upper right hand side, showing a red background, ruling the physical body and the material world; Mati (Mind), lower right hand side, showing a yellow background, ruling the mind and the workplace; Teyoli (Emotions), lower left hand side, showing a green background, ruling emotions and relationships; and Teotl (Spirit), in the upper left hand side, showing a blue background, ruling Your Spirit and t he Great Spirit. There is a brown circular border surrounding an inner cross that is white, and outlined with the same brown border. At the four corners, towards the center, there is a small white circle in each section, bordered in brown. In the very center of the board we have a white circle, outlined in brown, called Yolotl (Spirit). Thus we have our personal energies of Body, Mind, Emotions and Spirit represented, with ourselves, represented by Heart, at the center. When you see this board, it reminds you of a mandala, or a Native American Medicine Wheel. Very strong energy here! The cards are divided into two groups - twenty cards are called Tonalpohualli Cards. They represent the day signs of the Toltec calendar. Four of these cards are chosen at random and placed one in each corner of the board. The second group of thirteen cards are the Ruler Cards, and they represent the thirteen most important deities in the Toltec world. One card is drawn at random and placed in the center (Heart) circle. Three basic ways of reading the cards is presented: the minimal reading is a one card reading done when you have a specific question about a specific issue. It is interesting to note that the Seeker needs to decide which set of cards to draw from, as the Ruler Cards are more directed to general principles and the "big picture", while the Tonalpohualli Cards are more situational, and deal more with the archetypal energies that we experience in life. A variation on the minimal reading is to draw two cards - one from each set of cards. This is done to develop more in depth information, but takes less time than a full reading. A full reading is called a Mirror of Life reading, and consists of five cards: four drawn from the Tonalpohualli Cards, and one drawn from the Ruler Cards. The Seeker is encouraged to take their time in interpreting the cards, and to keep a journal of their readings. Sanchez has done a very nice job of providing summaries for each type of reading, so that the Seeker is able to follow the direction with little problem, and easily understand the process. In the section on how to interpret the cards, Sanchez talks about the fact that the cards are very broad and open, and that they have multiple meanings. He also suggests questions and activities that can be done based on a particular reading - emphasizing that these are just suggestions. He discusses timing (which can be past, present or future, as well as days, months or years) as being very open to interpretation. He also discusses looking at the behavior described in the cards message to determine where the message fits into the life of the Seeker. There are also "Post Oracle" or "Post Reading" activities that are meant to help the Seeker place the energy of the reading into their lives in a very active manner. In his presentation on the Tonalpohualli Cards Sanchez talks about the imagery on the card and what it means; the general meaning for the card; and a specific meaning, along with suggested questions and activities, for each of the four quadrants. For the Ruler Cards, there is a discussion of the deity and its meaning in the reading. The deck itself is 3 3/4" by 5", on glossy, non-coated cardstock. While the cardstock is of good quality, care will need to be taken over the lifetime of these cards, and they will present a problem for those with smaller hands.
The face of the Tonalpohualli Cards has a tri-colored border, with the number and name of the card (in Toltec and English) across the bottom in black letters on a beige background. The face of the Ruler Cards is the same, with the card name (in Toltec and English) across the bottom of the card.
The imagery for this deck was taken from ancient Mexican codices - painted books created by Tlacuilos scribes, individuals who worked under the direction of priests or shamans, devoting themselves to meditation and to recording their sacred knowledge in their paintings. Parts of these images have been modified by the Inner Traditions design department, especially in the area of intensifying color that had deteriorated over time. The board itself was designed by Victor Sanchez and Frank Diaz, and enhanced y the Inner Traditions design department. It is based on the original model of the Cross of Ketsalkoatl as represented in the Magliabecchi Codex. I find the research efforts put into this book of significant benefit to the modern world. We are being offered a powerful tool for spiritual connection, and for understanding ourselves and our world in a more fluid, coherent manner. While this outstanding deck and book can be used on a simple, oracular level, it offers much more in terms of meditation and personal experience. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Bonnie Cehovet
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The backs of the cards have a tri-color scheme. For the Tonalpohualli Cards, the background is a beige border, with a red background on the inserts and black "figures". For the Ruler Cards, the border is red, the background on the inserts is black and the "figures" are beige. It would not be possible to tell if the cards were drawn upright or reversed. (There is also no indication of how a reversed card would be read in the book.)
One of my favorite cards is that of the Feathered Serpent (Ketsalkoatl). He is the most important symbol in the Toltec world, expressing one of the core spiritual aims - the unification of opposites. The board itself is named Cross of Ketsalkoatl, so drawing this card places enormous importance on the reading.
Another of my favorite of the Ruler Cards is that of Underworld (Sholotl). This is a representation of the underworld as one aspect of the human experience. When this card appears in a reading, the Seeker is being put on notice that the energy of the underworld is playing a part in what is going on in your life.
Herb (Malinalli) is one of the Tonalpohualli Cards. Like the Trickster of Native American lore, Malinalli can have two sides: that of the power of the Healer, and that of the power of substance abuse. 
Jaguar (Oseoltl) is a sacred and highly regarded Toltec spirit. It talks about the power of the hunter, and the tools of strength, harmony and patience. In t he quadrant of the body, suggested questions are: "How can I strengthen my body?" "How can I sustain the connection between my physical body-work and my internal awareness?" "How can I develop equilibrium with what is around me?"
Wind/Spirit (Ehekatl) represents not only the Wind, but it literally represents Great Spirit in the Toltec culture. In drawing this card, the Seeker is being assured that they are always surrounded by the sacred presence of Great Spirit.