Carlos Castaneda's books hold great significance for me.

His works, along with those of Vadim Zeland, a Russian writer and quantum physicist, and Alexey Bachev, an extraordinary psychologist from Bulgaria and the protagonist of my book "Life Can Be a Miracle," have had a profound impact on my way of thinking, perceiving, and experiencing reality.

Their ideas and perspectives have opened my eyes to new possibilities and ways of looking at the world.

I am extremely grateful to them for showing me the miraculous way of living.

These authors have taught me that there is more to life than what meets the eye and that by expanding our consciousness and exploring different ways of being, we can discover a world of wonder and possibility.

Their teachings have inspired me to live a more conscious, purposeful, and fulfilling life, and for that, I will always be indebted to them.

I've delved into an extensive number of Castaneda books, and it's nearly impossible to review each one individually. All I can say is, "I'm sorry I found this so compelling." In truth, I have to admit that I was conned.

Also worth noting is that aside from all the magical ubermensch elements, the recurring themes are sterility, futility, failure, and unmerited survival due to dumb luck.

I've encountered more than a few individuals who consider Carlos Casteneda and Ayn Rand among their favorite authors. Initially, I couldn't fathom the connection between the two. One writes that there is no objective reality, only perceptions. The other is the grande dame of Objectivism. But upon reflection, the link becomes clear. Both Casteneda, with his concept of "stalking," and Rand, with her praise of selfishness, grant their readers unrestricted permission to abuse and abandon the weak.

Anyone with even a passing interest in Castaneda's legacy should peruse this disillusioning Salon article. It provides valuable insights and a more critical perspective on Castaneda's works and their potential implications.

\\"The Fire from Within\\" was a relatively easy read when contrasted with another Castaneda book I perused years ago, namely \\"Magical Passes\\". One crucial message that I relished was regarding the concept of moving beyond our preoccupation with ourselves. This is because by doing so, a significant amount of our energy is liberated to engage in other pursuits.

There were numerous remarkable stories within \\"The Fire from Within\\" that vividly illuminated the disparities between how I was instructed in Reiki and how I currently impart Reiki teachings. I find myself pondering whether all teachings can assert such substantial differences or if they are exclusive to the naguals.

All things considered, this book proved to be a worthwhile read for anyone who has a penchant for delving into diverse methods of working with energy. It offers unique perspectives and insights that can potentially expand one's understanding and exploration in this fascinating realm.

To me, the best of his books holds a special allure. I was truly astonished when I found myself able to discuss it in Montenegro with two Muslimah sisters. We were sitting under the holy olive tree, as described in Sura 24:35. What made it even more remarkable was that the book was also published in Serbo-Croat.

As I engaged in that conversation, I couldn't help but think of the various manifestations of Aphrodite. There is Aphrodite Urania, the celestial Aphrodite. Then there is Aphrodite Pontos, associated with the sea. And let's not forget Aphrodite Pandeimonos. But what about Pandemos?

The discussion with the sisters under that olive tree was a moment of intellectual and spiritual connection. It opened up new perspectives and allowed us to explore the themes of the book in a profound way. It was a reminder of the power of literature to bring people together, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.

On the way to the mountains, I arrived in the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico where I hoped to meet don Juan.

The next day at dawn, as I was preparing to leave, I had the inspiration to drive through the main square of the city and there I found him, sitting on his favorite bench, as if he had been waiting for me to pass.

I sat down beside him. He told me that he had come to the city to sort out some matters, that he was staying at a pension and that I was welcome if I wanted to stay in his company for another two days, as long as he had to remain. We then talked for a while about the concerns and problems I had in the university environment.

As was his habit, he slapped me on the back when I least expected it, and the blow had the gift of propelling me into a state of heightened consciousness.

We remained silent for a while, I waiting impatiently for him to say something. However, when he began to speak, he managed to surprise me once again.

"In Mexico, centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards," he told me, "there lived an extraordinary community of Toltec initiates, men capable of amazing feats. They constituted the last link in a chain of knowledge that covered a multi-millennial period."

The Toltec visionaries were special people, shamans with fabulous powers, initiates capable of解开 mysteries, possessors of secret knowledge that they used by annihilating the will of people and making them focus their attention on a randomly chosen thing.

When I read this book around 1994, a year when my adult awareness strengthened and quietly crystallized into stark clarity, I was completely transfixed by don Juan's exposition of the symbol of the Wall of Fog. At that time, I had momentarily broken through it.

That was the year my physician directed me to undertake an impartial evaluation of my lingering depressive mood. I did as I was told.

I was released the next day (though I would later be asked again to submit to another Transcranial Brain Stimulation). I felt a new life within me. I would spend the next month, first with home rest for my scotomization for four weeks, and then another four weeks of half-days in the office.

When at the end of that time I worked full time again, many marvelled at my enhanced vitality and reasoning ability. Call me Rip van Winkle!

That was in part due to the brain stimulation. But within me, it was because I had surpassed the Wall of Fog of ingenuousness.

We don't often get past that wall, any of us. Something holds each of us back. Me too - last night I was trapped again in that Fog. But this time that Wall was Deadly. I recognized within it the face of the infernal Father of all Lies. No kidding.

I had eaten an early steak dinner and, leaning back in our comfy kitchen chair, had promptly fallen asleep. When I awoke an hour later, I was still entangled in that fell Shadow's Foggy Net of Emanations.

Thank heaven for that steak! For I was then able to summon up reserves of energy from the protein burst to break up the Fog, do the dishes, and clean up outside, for in spite of my mental cobwebs, it had been a beautiful day spent outdoors.

The Fire of Attention - from Within. Stark, naked clarity.

Don Juan tells Carlos Castaneda that that Fog is the heart of the evil Eagle who swallows up our tasty memories and stories - so perhaps the new novel, The Memory Police, is right!

Maybe life's a tightrope because, if we fall, that Vulture gobbles us up in a gulp.

And maybe, just maybe, that's the reason why it always takes my septuagenarian self an eternity to piece yesterday's memories back together every morning...

But who really knows?

Well - the SHADOW knows.

Avoid him at your peril, folks:

Don't fall off that high wire.

This was the very first book in the series that I delved into when I was younger, and it truly blew my mind!

The impact it had on me was so profound that I immediately had to go back and read everything that came before it.

I would definitely say that the straightforward method of storytelling employed in this book was yet another significant influence on my own work.

It presents a world that is both captivating and thought-provoking, making it an absolute must-read for anyone who is curious about the possibility of enlightenment or the existence of magic.

The author's ability to bring the story to life and engage the reader from start to finish is truly remarkable.

Whether you are a fan of fantasy or simply looking for a good read that will expand your mind, this book is sure to deliver.

It was truly a wonderful experience to revisit all of the books in this series. Each book holds a unique charm and story that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and the plots are full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Revisiting these books allowed me to relive all of the excitement and adventure that I had when I first read them. It was like taking a trip down memory lane and remembering all of the good times that I had with these books. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good read and wants to be transported to another world.

This is one of only a handful of books I haven't managed to finish reading.

So, I really shouldn't mark it as 'read'. However, I also don't want to mark it 'currently reading' because I've already stopped, nor 'to read' because I don't have the inclination to try again.

To start with, I must admit that I'm not the intended audience for this kind of book. I only attempted to read it because my father gave it to me. I'm not particularly spiritually inclined, but I'm always willing to give any type of book a chance if I believe I can gain something from it.

From what I can recall of what I read all those years ago, everything seemed to be secret and hidden. It was as if you weren't supposed to know certain things until you were 'ready' to know.

Interestingly, something significant about this book is that I've always remembered it, despite not finishing it. So, at least it managed to make an impression on my mind, even if there wasn't much actual content that stuck.

I haven't rated it because I haven't completed it, and I don't feel I have the right to do so.

Più leggi Castaneda e più capisci la vita. It is the second time that I have read this book. Like all of Castaneda's books, it is very interesting, perhaps not the best, and also a bit difficult to assimilate. The main themes are: internal awareness (or rather, paying attention to what one does), personal importance (our ego), the impeccability of a warrior, and the mean tyrant (the one who makes our life a hell).

I suggest starting with other books to better follow the thread of the discourse. Castaneda's works offer unique perspectives and profound insights into the human condition and the nature of reality. His writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, although it may require some effort to fully understand and internalize his ideas.

By reading his books, one can gain a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around us. It can also inspire us to make positive changes in our lives and strive for a more meaningful and fulfilling existence. So, if you are interested in exploring new ideas and expanding your consciousness, I highly recommend giving Castaneda's books a try.

Advanced shamanic tutorial in a dialogue

The advanced shamanic tutorial presented in a dialogue format truly intrigued me. It made me wonder how the author managed to pass this off as anthropology or ethnography rather than fiction. The concepts explored were fascinating, despite the clunky writing and sparse scenes.

As I delved into the dialogue, I found myself drawn to the unique perspectives and ideas presented by the shaman. The discussion touched on various aspects of shamanic practices, beliefs, and their connection to the natural world.

Although the writing style could have been more polished, it did not overshadow the essence of the tutorial. The sparse scenes allowed my imagination to fill in the gaps and create a more vivid mental picture of the shamanic world.

Overall, this advanced shamanic tutorial in a dialogue provided a valuable insight into a different culture and way of life. It made me appreciate the complexity and richness of shamanic traditions, even if the presentation had some flaws.

Meh

I have a rather mixed feeling about my reading experience. I truly liked the teaching of Don Juan as presented in the Castenda series. It contained some profound and good messages that really intrigued me. However, unfortunately, every other book that I have read after that within the series has been a bit of a letdown. Take this particular one for example. I quickly got bored with the repetitive attempts to explain pseudoscientific psychological terms. It felt as if the author was going in circles, which made the reading process rather dull. I think it would have been far more engaging if the book was told from more of a narrative humanist perspective. By presenting the ideas and concepts through the lens of human experiences and emotions, it would have been easier for me to connect with the content and understand the deeper meanings. As it stands now, I'm left with a sense of disappointment and a longing for a more captivating and meaningful reading experience.