At the time of its release, this was a highly debated work on the most Freudian of worlds, namely the dreamscape. Castaneda extensively wrote about 'active dreaming', or to use another term. It was probably still too esoteric and晦涩 for the majority of readers or those without a reason to delve into this kind of work.

In June 2011, another box of books was reopened for cleaning, sorting, and reevaluation. And lo and behold, many of the collected works of Carlos Castaneda were part of the contents.

Many years have passed, but I vividly remember this author and his works. [Now, don't get any ideas about an allusion I may or may not be making.] At some point, I stopped purchasing more in the series and put them away. There's a 'blur' factor as I recall, which occurs with these stories of metaphysical and magical journeys of learning (you can spell'majic' however you like). Thus, I finally put them down after a while. There's a new series of works by authors/students in the same genre. These are a continuation of the anthropological journey that Castaneda undertook to learn about his heritage and a way of life that existed, albeit only in a shadow of the original form.

This generic commentary will be applied to all of CC's writings as a review until a decision to reread is made. I don't own all of Castaneda's books, although I've read all of his books up until the mid-1980s. I have copies of a couple more in this collection, but I bet I never read them.

Each of these books will have this introduction bracketed and italicized when I add a more specific commentary regarding the individual entry.

An early footnote: Much of the fascination with fantastical dragon imagery is rooted in the first two or three of these works. Just thought you should know.

My favorite Castaneda book is truly a captivating piece of literature.

It has not only entertained me but also sparked a fascinating fantasy within me. I often find myself imagining that I could apply some of the techniques described in the book to enhance my sleep quality.

Although it remains to be seen whether these techniques will actually work for me, the mere thought of it is exciting.

At the very least, reading this book has been an enjoyable experience.

The vivid descriptions and unique perspectives presented by Castaneda have made it a truly remarkable read.

It has opened my mind to new possibilities and ways of thinking.

Whether or not my fantasy becomes a reality, I will always cherish this book for the joy and inspiration it has brought me.

I look forward to exploring more of Castaneda's works in the future and continuing to expand my literary horizons.

I tried extremely hard to make sense of it. I aimed to create a parallel with the metaphysical world as I am familiar with it. However, the naugals of Castaneda's lineage are entirely surreal in their path.

His discipline regarding his dreaming life is truly extraordinary. I find myself wondering if I could even access gate one. While reading this book, I had a dream within a dream, and I understood that it was having an impact on me.

This is not a guidebook for lucid dreaming; rather, it is a window to another dream world. It offers a unique perspective and challenges our perception of the dream realm.

The experiences described by Castaneda are both fascinating and mind-boggling. They make us question the boundaries of our own consciousness and the possibilities that lie within the dream state.

Perhaps by delving deeper into this book, we can gain a better understanding of the mysterious and enchanting world of dreams.

Esoterico is a truly fascinating concept that holds the power to uncover the existence of new and often inaccessible worlds.

It delves into the realms beyond our ordinary perception, challenging our understanding of what is possible.

Through esoteric studies and practices, one can embark on a journey of discovery, exploring hidden knowledge and mysteries that have been concealed from the masses.

These new worlds may offer unique perspectives, spiritual insights, and a deeper connection to the universe.

Esoterico invites us to expand our consciousness and step out of the limitations of the mundane, opening the door to a realm of infinite possibilities.

It encourages us to question the status quo and seek answers in the unknown, for it is in these uncharted territories that true enlightenment and transformation can be found.

So, let us embrace the allure of Esoterico and embark on a quest to uncover the hidden treasures of these new and inaccessible worlds.

Carlos Castaneda is widely regarded as essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in the occult, ancient practices, magic, dreams, altered states of existence, or different planes thereof. This particular book was the first one by him that I completed. If we exclude "The Teachings of Don Juan," which I started reading in Spanish but never finished due to my less-than-ideal Spanish proficiency.

Unlike some of his other works, this one was written many years after the events described had occurred. Apparently, they had been buried in his subconscious because of the altered state, the second attention, he had been in at the time. It was only almost 20 years after his apprenticeship in understanding and navigating the world of dreams under Don Juan that he was able to bring what he learned to the forefront of his consciousness and put it on paper.

I really liked "The Art of Dreaming," especially the first half. I read it while on the coach from Athens to Sofia, and it made the journey feel much more dreamy. It gave me the sense that it was a passage in multiple ways: physically, traveling from one point in the Balkans to another, and also in a transcendental sense, that feeling you get when you learn about the details of a profound truth. I came into the book expecting something practical, like Castaneda's "Lucid Dreaming for Dummies" handbook, especially after learning that he popularized the technique of looking at your hands as a reality check, which I have picked up and used successfully numerous times. The beginning of the book was exactly like that: it was him learning about the different methods of conscious dreaming and going through the "gates of dreaming," as well as exploring the complicated intricacies of the assemblage point and its manipulation. That link provides a good summary of the book's most interesting "academic" part.

However, like Castaneda himself in the book, or at least the person he wrote himself to be, I too need my objectivity, as that's the way I was taught to perceive the world, as Don Juan would have said. As the book became stranger and stranger and Castaneda strayed further and further from what my dream reality, even in my most successful lucid experiences, has looked like and started delving into the dimension of inorganic beings, alien energy scouts, and the like, I began to lose my point of reference and ultimately my interest. By the end of the book, his narrative had become so convoluted that I couldn't make sense of any part of what was happening - perhaps an apt representation of Castaneda's own recollection of his strange experiences.

What made things more interesting for me was an article I came across shortly before finishing the book, which uncovers Castaneda as a complete fraud. Apparently, after the success of his first few books, which were also implied to be figments of his imagination, Castaneda became a sort of cult-leader figure. When he was exposed, he disappeared from public view by secluding himself in a villa with three of his female companion sorcerers. The story is complex on many levels, and I can only say that the narrative of his books and what happened in real life is difficult to distinguish. In fact, I'm sure that even if Castaneda were proven to be okay after all (a possibility we still can't rule out since, from my perspective, the revelation of the hoax could be a hoax as much as the supposed hoax itself), the automatic reaction from a scientific and rationalist status quo seeking to disprove just to confirm its dominance would have been no different.

At this point, several possibilities and parallel narratives have emerged: the story of the book itself, the real events that inspired Castaneda if we assume his books are only adaptations of what really happened, the reality of his life not described in the books (what we would see in a Castaneda behind-the-scenes), and the dirt that has come out that Castaneda was a complete hoax, which is 100% in line with "skeptic" views. All these interpretations exist simultaneously in a sort of entangled limbo: any one of them could be true, and that fact wouldn't negate the truth of the other versions - they could all be true simultaneously. Additionally, on a meta level, each of these stories has something different to tell: about the human willingness to believe and the power of belief itself, about the unfathomability of the universe, about the dogmatism of contemporary intellect, about how powerful your fictional story can be to ultimately convince even yourself that it's the truth - especially if millions of others already believe it to be so.

In another interpretation, you could see how these are all just different layers of meaning, just like Don Juan described reality as an onion consisting of layers of universes. The hoax coexists with the book's story, and it's only a matter of intent, a matter of the position of your assemblage point, what it is that you'll end up taking away from the whole affair.

Even if Castaneda hallucinated everything he ever wrote about, this book has made me think in ways I'm sure were not intentional but have arisen anyway as part of the complexity of being a thinking but chiefly intuitive feeling person alive in 2014. If this book is a valuable collection of techniques that - as far as I can tell - really work and a story of them being put to use, where does the fiction begin?

I recently penned a fresh review of Carlos Castaneda, titled "The Science of Seers".

This review offers a distinct perspective, delving into a comparison between Modern Science and the profound wisdom of the Shamans of Ancient Mexico, as well as exploring religion while addressing all the fundamental existential questions that plague human beings.

For me, this review finally positions the writings of Castaneda in the rightful place, something that has never been achieved before.

If you could spare a moment to take a look and read it, I would be truly pleased.

Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

What exactly did I just read…

I was confused, yet curious, so I continued to read the book.

I have now finished the book, but I am no more enlightened.

Was it too spiritually profound for me, or was I simply out of my depth? Maybe.

Did I want to understand it? Yes.

I have practiced lucid dreaming and astral travel intermittently for years, but I guess everyone's experience is completely different.

I am left completely baffled.

I didn't like the way that Don Juan spoke so abruptly and impatiently to his student throughout the entire book.

However, finally at the end of the book, I realized why, and it then made more sense.

I also found myself having compassion for him.

Perhaps this is the nature of such complex and esoteric teachings.

It challenges our understanding and forces us to look beyond the surface.

Even though I may not fully understand everything, the journey of reading this book has been an interesting one.

It has made me question my own beliefs and experiences, and has opened my mind to new possibilities.

Maybe with further study and reflection, I will gain a deeper understanding of the profound wisdom contained within these pages.

Carlos Castaneda (1925 - 1998) was a Peruvian anthropologist who dedicated a significant part of his life to writing about the invaluable knowledge that was transmitted to him by the Yaqui Indian don Juan Matus.

In The Art of Dreaming, Castaneda relates a fascinating journey through thirteen years of learning. Under the tutelage of don Juan, he came to understand that our perceptual limitations prevent us from accessing other worlds that are as real as our own; places where one can live and die.

To overcome this barrier, the ancient sorcerers devised a series of techniques aimed at reconditioning our perception. This set of practices is known as "the art of dreaming", an arcane knowledge that has since been passed down by the sorcerers from generation to generation.

If you are interested in knowing my opinion in more detail, I invite you to read the full version of the comment and also to share with me your impressions of the book: https://caminoentrelaniebla.wordpress...

Javier - Camino entre la niebla

So deep...

Truly, it is a masterpiece in the realm of consciousness. Although his literal writing style might, at times, be a bit tiresome, it doesn't overshadow the profound impact of this work.

It's an absolute truth that once you've delved into the pages of this, you'll never view the world or the act of dreaming in the same light ever again.

The ideas presented here have the power to reshape your perception and open your mind to a whole new dimension of understanding.

Each sentence seems to carry a hidden meaning, waiting to be discovered by the discerning reader.

It challenges you to think beyond the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary.

After reading this, you'll find yourself reflecting on the nature of reality and the power of the human imagination.

It's a journey that you won't soon forget.

The first one that I read of Castaneda and perhaps my favorite.

This work of Castaneda truly left a deep impression on me. From the very beginning, it drew me in with its unique charm and engaging narrative. The story unfolded in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what would happen next.

The characters were vividly portrayed, and I found myself easily connecting with them on an emotional level. Their struggles, their growth, and their interactions added depth and authenticity to the entire experience.

What I particularly liked about this piece was the way Castaneda explored various themes and ideas. It made me think and reflect, opening my mind to new perspectives and possibilities.

Overall, this first encounter with Castaneda's work has been a wonderful one, and I look forward to delving into more of his writings in the future.

To say the least, it was very interesting. However, it sort of gave the impression of a folk tale or myth rather than a book that delved into dreams, the science behind them, or even their spirituality. Instead, it was just one long narrative about a guy's experience with them. While this is still captivating, it wasn't what I had anticipated.

I had expected a more in-depth exploration of the various aspects of dreams. Maybe some scientific research on how dreams are formed in the brain, or the different theories and interpretations of their meanings. Or perhaps a discussion on the spiritual significance that dreams have held in different cultures throughout history.

Nevertheless, the story of the guy's experience was engaging enough on its own. It had its own charm and was able to hold my attention. But I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that it didn't fulfill my initial expectations.

Certainly interesting and fascinating, and one can even believe that it is true (why not?). However, I suggest reading it on the condition of maintaining a healthy sense of reality. Even if reality is only a psychological function, there will be a reason why evolution has placed us in this space-time dimension! I have seen forums of followers of these books truly amazed. If one has sufficient theoretical integrity not to be overly influenced, it is a great journey to read them :)

It is indeed captivating to explore such ideas. The claim that one can believe in the truth of these concepts adds an element of mystery and allure. But it is essential to approach them with a rational mind. While reality may have a psychological aspect, our existence in this particular space-time dimension is likely the result of complex evolutionary processes. The mention of forums where followers are deeply impressed shows the popularity and impact of these books. Reading them can be a wonderful experience, provided one can maintain a level head and not be swayed too easily by suggestions.

In conclusion, these books offer an interesting perspective, but it is crucial to balance our curiosity with a healthy dose of skepticism and a firm grip on reality. By doing so, we can enjoy the journey of reading while still maintaining our own sense of truth and understanding.