My Good Friend the Rattlesnake: Lessons of Loss, Truth, and Transformation

Few understand the difficult work of overcoming trauma, abuse, and addiction better than don Jose Ruiz.

In My Good Friend the Rattlesnake, Ruiz, now a bestselling author and spiritual teacher, reveals the dramatic twists and turns he experienced on his own path to personal freedom and inner transformation.

Through this series of deeply intimate stories, Ruiz explains how he overcame his addiction to suffering and embraced a life of love, clarity, and self-awareness. In one example, he recounts his unexpected journey with temporary blindness, which paradoxically allowed him to see what truly mattered. In another, he celebrates individuality in spiritual practice, challenging the idea that it must look or sound a particular way to be authentic.

Throughout, Ruiz incorporates the teachings of his father, don Miguel Ruiz (author of The Four Agreements). The lessons he shares are practical, profound, and accessible, making this book an essential companion for anyone seeking spiritual growth and emotional healing.

Honest, vulnerable, and rich with exercises and meditations, My Good Friend the Rattlesnake redefines what it means to heal, grow, and live authentically.

Don Jose Ruiz is a Nagual (Toltec shaman) in the Eagle Knights lineage and the son of don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements. He is the author of The Wisdom of the Shamans, The Medicine Bag, and The Shaman’s Path to Freedom, and the coauthor of The Fifth Agreement.

Tami Hudman is an artist and author. She resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.