This is the Castaneda book that many of my friends say is their favorite.

It seems to hold a special charm that has captivated them.

If you are only planning on reading one Castaneda book, then this one would be a great choice.

You don't necessarily need to read the first book, IXTLAN, in order to make sense of this particular one.

This book stands on its own and can offer you a unique and interesting experience.

It might introduce you to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of thinking.

So, give it a try and see if it becomes your favorite too.

You never know what kind of impact it could have on you.

Whether you are a fan of Castaneda's work or new to it, this book is definitely worth considering.

Don't let the fact that you haven't read the previous one hold you back from exploring this captivating piece of literature.

This is the third volume of the trilogy that includes 'The Teachings of Don Juan' and 'A Separate Reality'. I read all three consecutively while working at the Chicago Women's Athletic Club during the summer between college and seminary.

Although it seems that the author, Castaneda, fabricated some of the material in his accounts, including that of his doctoral dissertation which starts the series, it also seems that he knows a great deal about altered states of consciousness. While the books may mispresent the Yaqui Nation and thus be bad anthropology, they are still important and worth reading.

I have classified this volume as psychology [one could also, legitimately, classify them as religion or as fiction] because so much of its content concerns what we conventionally call "altered states" and assign to psychologists. What is interesting about Castaneda, however, is that for him, it is not so much a drug-disordered state of mind creating hallucinations as an entry into other worlds. In other words, the other worlds are real--indeed, they are truer in the sense of being more meaningful than the daily routines of our normal lives.

Phenomenologically, this is surely the case for many, whether they experience non-ordinary realities through the use of drugs, spiritual exercise or because such things happen to them, either occasionally or regularly. Years of campfire tales about extraordinary experiences have led me to start intentionally asking people about such things and I have found it remarkable how common non-ordinary states are. This raises questions about the typical approach of psychologists and philosophers to such matters--and as regards the kind of society that would force its members into such a Procrustean bed that they would be inclined to discount their lived experience in order to fit in.

I myself have experienced "other worlds" on several occasions. Of course, like everyone, I inhabit them nightly and remember them under the label of dreaming. Beyond that, however, I have had a couple of auditions (hearing voices that no one else in the room would have heard), a rather unpleasant hallucinatory episode and at least two induced breakthroughs to domains radically different from this one I am typing in--all of which felt more real than real. Beyond that, the usual psychedelic experience--and I have had many--at least suggests these other worlds, worlds like those described by Castaneda, although one is not completely thrust into them and out of this one.

It has left me speechless,

but with some strange desires to learn to see the world in a different way.

Many feelings, old and new, when reaching the end.

Read on horseback between the canyons of the Sil River and the Cíes Islands (it would be difficult to be better).

This experience has been truly remarkable.

The beauty of the natural surroundings, the tranquility of the river, and the charm of the islands have all combined to create a sense of wonder and awe within me.

As I rode along, I couldn't help but be inspired by the majesty of it all.

It made me realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things, yet how capable we are of experiencing such profound emotions.

I am now determined to explore more of the world and discover new perspectives that will continue to expand my understanding and appreciation of life.

Because I come from one of those Canadian dioceses where shamans participate in Catholic funerals, I decided to read "The Journey to Ixtlan" in order to better understand contemporary shamanism. I was pleasantly surprised.

In general terms, Castañeda follows the model of the great Romanian ethnologist Mircea Eliade. His shamans have totemic animals. They live apart from their society and they access their shamanic status via an ecstatic journey. Because he is American, Castañeda insists on the fact that shamans are of a very independent spirit. To well insert the new shamanism into the new age, his shamans reject Western civilization and live in nature. The recipe is really well designed.

The extremely well-written novel takes the form of a dialogue between a shaman apprentice and his master. What is astonishing is that upon its release, many people took this brilliant fiction for the account of true encounters and dialogues. Castañeda even received a Ph.D. from UCLA (the University of California in Los Angeles). If we take a little tour on the Internet, we notice that there are still many people who believe in it.

I hope that the shamans and the priests of our diocese will continue their excellent collaboration for many more years.

I read it for the second time, and there is simply no way to adequately describe just how good it is.

It's truly a remarkable piece of work that leaves a lasting impression.

One interesting thing to note is that I would actually skip the first two books and start reading from this one.

This particular book seems to have a unique charm and offers a different perspective that makes it stand out from the others.

Perhaps it's the engaging storyline, the well-developed characters, or the thought-provoking themes that draw me in.

Whatever the reason, I highly recommend starting your reading journey with this book and experiencing its magic for yourself.

You won't be disappointed.

I was completely at a loss when it came to understanding anything that this book had to say. Every page seemed to be filled with a jumble of words and ideas that just didn't make sense to me. However, despite this lack of comprehension, I found myself absolutely in love with the book.

There was something about it that drew me in, perhaps it was the beautiful language or the unique way in which the author presented their thoughts. Maybe it was the sense of mystery and intrigue that surrounded each page, making me eager to turn the next one and see what would come.

Even though I couldn't fully grasp the meaning behind the words, I still felt a deep connection to the book. It was as if it was speaking to me on a level that I couldn't quite put into words. I would spend hours poring over its pages, trying to make sense of it all, but ultimately just enjoying the experience of reading it.

My favourite of Carlos' books is truly a remarkable one.

I was introduced to his works towards the end of a very long and extensive reading campaign. The purpose of this campaign was to achieve *practical* utilisable enhancement of myself.

As I read, I would use a red pen to underline what I considered to be of value and could be applied in my life. Then, I would copy out those underlinings into large notebooks.

When I came across Carlos' books, my trusty pen worked overtime. While it was not as intense in The Teachings, it really went off the charts in A Separate Reality and peaked in Journey to Ixtlan.

For me, Journey to Ixtlan had the foundational conceptional focus points that form a solid basis for Independence-of-Being.

If we read this book, and indeed all of his books, from the perspective of evaluating the wisdom value, regardless of whether the origins are fictional or actual, then we can gain a great deal.

This book has tremendous value in that regard. However, it is up to us, the readers, to make it our own. Otherwise, the value remains meaningless.

In terms of starting one's journey, this is a fabulous book. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking personal growth and a deeper understanding of themselves.

Out of this world!

This phrase is often used to describe something truly extraordinary or amazing. It implies that the thing being described is so remarkable that it seems to come from beyond our ordinary world.

When we encounter something out of this world, it can leave us in awe and wonder. It could be a breathtaking natural景观, a mind-blowing scientific discovery, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For example, imagine standing under a clear night sky and seeing a shooting star streak across the heavens. That moment can feel almost otherworldly, as if we are catching a glimpse of something from a distant and mysterious place.

Or think about the first time you tasted a new and exotic food that was so delicious it seemed to transport you to another realm of flavor. That's the kind of experience that can be described as out of this world.

In conclusion, the phrase "out of this world" captures the essence of something that is truly special and beyond our normal expectations. It reminds us that there is so much beauty and wonder in the world waiting to be discovered.

Redskin shamanism is one of the types of natural or primitive shamanism. Many elements of primitive religions can be found in this shamanism. This shamanism has an ancient history in the field of redskin tribes.

Cassandra introduces herself as a disciple of a mentor named Don Juan, and it is the result of a teacher-disciple relationship and teachings that are presented in the book.

A deep friendship is established between the two, and Don Juan also introduces himself as a person with great knowledge and the ability to understand and observe things that our ordinary perception is not capable of understanding and observing...

In Don Juan's view, we are in a bubble of perception. This is a bubble that is pulled around us at birth and after that, and we are in this bubble throughout our lives, and whatever we see is our reflection.

Humans are confined by two circles of power: one is logical and descriptive, which has been done for us by the world, and it is here that right and wrong, bad and good, should and shouldn't take shape.

In Cassandra's shamanism, reason is not introduced as a virtue and perfection, but as an obstacle for the seeker to reach the non-shamanic truth, and the seeker must have a voluntary frenzy, that is, a way to consider everything insignificant, and and and.....

It is beyond my ability to say more.

One can only read the book and enjoy some sentences, and no more expectations are had.

Este libro es el tercer volumen de la serie "Las enseñanzas de Don Juan". Aunque puede leerse de manera independiente a los dos anteriores, si un lector principiante quisiera consultar solo un libro de la "saga", bien podría ser este. La razón es que "Viaje a Ixtlán" no continúa los hechos del tomo anterior, sino que retrocede en el tiempo al inicio de la historia. Sin embargo, no se repite lo ya visto, sino que narra nuevas lecciones entre 1960 y 1962. Además, incluye una breve y interesante experiencia final de 1971 que conecta con el cuarto y último volumen.

Ahora, no es importante discutir si los hechos son reales o no. Así que haré mi reseña como si fuera una obra de ficción.

El argumento sigue siendo el mismo: el joven antropólogo Carlos Castaneda se comunica con el chamán Don Juan Matus, quien lo acepta como alumno. Las lecciones misteriosas resultantes son aplicadas de manera poco convencional, lo que despierta la curiosidad del lector. Sin embargo, la historia nunca se vuelve aburrida. El viejo hechicero tiene una personalidad poderosa y a veces chocante en la aplicación de sus técnicas didácticas. Mientras tanto, el aprendiz soporta pruebas y burlas para encontrar la iluminación y convivir con los poderes ocultos de la naturaleza.

También hay diferencias. En los tomos anteriores, Castaneda habló de sus experiencias con plantas enteógenas, pero ahora ese tema no aparece. En cambio, en "Viaje a Ixtlán" encontramos otros aspectos sobre la formación del "hombre de conocimiento" y la adquisición del verdadero "poder".

Este es un libro de pensamiento mágico que no favorece la superstición ni el dogma. Su misticismo proviene de la imposibilidad de entender las leyes que rigen el mundo. Los personajes solo quieren convivir con las fuerzas ocultas de la naturaleza y aprovecharlas si es posible, pero no pretenden comprenderlas.

No creo que esta literatura se relacione con el movimiento New Age. Las historias de Castaneda no son edificantes historias de naturismo e iluminación. Si se clasificaran dentro del estante de "superación personal", serían los libros de autoayuda más bizarros del mercado.

La lectura es rápida y sencilla. El autor no se enreda con largos párrafos introductorios ni descripciones extensas, sino que se ajusta a los hechos de manera breve y precisa. Sin embargo, tiene una notable cualidad gráfica al describir situaciones y movimientos insólitos de los personajes sin sacrificar el lenguaje sencillo. También hace muy bien la observación de actitudes, gestos y sentimientos. La interacción psicológica entre los personajes está profundamente delineada. Aunque solo habla de lecciones y entrenamientos, el ánimo no es didáctico ni científico, sino literario. El humor es solemne y vivencial, y hay momentos de gran tensión que satisfarán al aficionado a la literatura de suspenso. El relato final es magnífico y proporciona una interesante metáfora que aumenta el valor literario de la obra.

Carlos Castaneda ofrece una alternativa interesante a la búsqueda espiritual del ser humano en la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Su literatura forma parte del imaginario contracultural "beat" de los años sesenta y setenta y responde al movimiento existencialista europeo. "Viaje a Ixtlán" propone regresar a la sabiduría ancestral y permanecer ajenos a la contaminación de la civilización occidental, como hacían los chamanes mesoamericanos. Para Don Juan Matus, el mundo es un lugar vasto e inexplicable donde la magia abunda. La incredulidad es solo la pretensión egocéntrica de quien cree saberlo todo.

I read this book mainly because it had a profound influence on my dad. There were numerous parts within it that made a lasting impression on me. Notably, the concept that your death is always just over your left shoulder, ready to offer you a different perspective, really stuck with me.

On page 34, it states, "'The thing to do when you're impatient,' he proceeded, 'is to turn to your left and ask advice from your death. An immense amount of pettiness is dropped if your death makes a gesture to you, or if you catch a glimpse of it, or if you just have the feeling that your companion is there watching you.'"

Trying to summarize the entire book, I find that I might have missed some key points and perhaps need to read it again or have someone explain it to me in more detail. The closest I can come to understanding is this: we should stop constantly worrying, over-analyzing, and attempting to control everything. Also, we should let go of the vision of the world that others have imposed upon us and release our fears. Instead, we should follow our intuition and realize that everything is both awesome and equal. Letting go of our preconceived notions is crucial for stopping the world.

The journey to Ixtlan is the sorcerer's attempt to return home, but he can never truly get there as the home he once knew no longer exists. Don Juan explains this to Carlos on page 265: "At any rate, in your next meeting with the ally, if there is a next time for you, you will have to wrestle with it and tame it. If you survive the shock, which I'm sure you will, since you're strong and have been living like a warrior, you will find yourself alive in an unknown land. Then, as is natural to all of us, the first thing you will want to do is start on your way back to Los Angeles. But there is no way to go back to Los Angeles. What you left there is lost forever. By then, of course, you will be a sorcerer, but that's no help; at a time like that what's important to all of us is the fact that everything we love or hate or wish for has been left behind. Yet the feelings in a man do not die or change, and the sorcerer starts on his way back home knowing that he will never reach it, knowing that now no power on earth, not even his death, will deliver him to the place, the things, the people he loved." This passage really emphasizes the idea that once we embark on certain paths, there is no going back, and we must learn to accept and adapt to the new realities we face.

Overall, this book has made me think deeply about many aspects of life, death, and the human experience. I look forward to further exploring its ideas and perhaps gaining a more comprehensive understanding in the future.

Well, it has been almost 10 years now since I read this book.

There have been some rather odd discussions regarding the truthfulness of Castaneda's books, specifically about Don Juan and the experiences that Castaneda describes.

In my personal opinion, I don't really care whether the stories are bogus or true.

Castaneda portrays his journey as an ordinary guy going through various spiritual rituals and experiences, as he is instructed by Don Juan about the shamanistic perspective on life.

I was only 16 when I read the book, and I adored the way Don Juan perceives the world as being so vividly alive and somewhat magical.

This book can serve as a great passageway to make us realize that the world is much more than what our rationalistic eyes are accustomed to conceiving.

Oh yes...clearly, the book doesn't aim to provide any definite answers. Instead, it simply stimulates our imagination regarding how we view the world.

Have you ever wondered if the wind itself could be an animated entity roaming around the world, interacting and playing with those who are able to perceive it?