This book is truly far-out, extremely far, far-out. I delved into The Art of Dreaming as a continuation of my exploration after reading R Crumb’s Dream Diary. His mentions of the “inorganic beings” really piqued my curiosity. Eventually, I made up my mind to read the original source material myself.

This endeavor wasn't solely driven by curiosity but was also a continuation of my personal dream practice. What I had hoped for was a guide to dreaming, and that's exactly what I got, along with a whole lot more.

You must approach this book with an open mind, suspending rational judgment and reasoning. This is no easy task, both for the protagonist of the story and for the reader. The workings of dreams are anything but easy to describe, so imagine a book attempting to put into words the ephemeral. It's precisely like trying to remember or explain the profundity of a powerful dream to an unfortunate soul willing to listen.

That being said, I can't exactly claim that my dream practice has become more captivating with exciting epiphanies or spiritual breakthroughs as a result of this book. In fact, during the course of reading The Art of Dreaming, my dreams have been much less vivid, less substantial, and less revealing. This is frustrating because I've never been more determined to stay on top of my practice (such as keeping a dream journal, doing research, etc.).

One thing I can say that I've taken away from this book, which has helped me better understand what dreams truly are, is that dreaming is serious business.

There is a price to pay for the power inherent in dreaming.

I recommend reading this if you have an interest in fantasy novels, megalomania, self-help reading, reincarnation, charging geological minerals in moonlight, yoga, or any other new-age hocus-pocus.

A classical masterpiece!

It is a work that has withstood the test of time and continues to captivate audiences across generations.

Classical masterpieces are often characterized by their elegance, complexity, and profound themes.

They may be works of literature, art, music, or architecture.

These masterpieces have the power to transport us to different worlds, evoke strong emotions, and make us think deeply about the human condition.

They are a testament to the creativity and genius of the artists who created them.

Whether it is a Shakespearean play, a Beethoven symphony, or a Michelangelo sculpture, a classical masterpiece is a source of inspiration and wonder.

It enriches our lives and broadens our perspectives, leaving a lasting impact on our hearts and minds.

We should cherish and preserve these classical masterpieces for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.

In "The Art of Dreaming," Carlos Castaneda vividly recounts his remarkable time spent with a sorcerer in Mexico.

As someone who has dedicated many years to the study of dreams, lucid dreaming, and astral projection, I found myself deeply resonating with a significant portion of the material presented.

Castaneda's accounts bear a striking resemblance to my own experiences in numerous ways. It is truly a shame that there are those who are so quick to dismiss altered states of consciousness without having had any personal experience of them.

The value that these states hold is truly incredible. However, it must be noted that Castaneda does go a bit overboard with drama in his account, and the writing style could perhaps use some improvement.

Nonetheless, it remains an incredibly captivating account of the vast possibilities of the human consciousness and multidimensional travel. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Many people consider the dreams they see as being without any difference. However, there are also those who have a relatively profound perception of dreams. For example, some might define the dream world as an ideal world for humans to achieve their unfulfilled desires. This book, on the other hand, describes the dream world in a much more complex way. Our dreams take us to different worlds, allowing us to have various experiences in these worlds. Castaneda described his own experience of passing through four out of twelve dream gates in the most vivid possible way.

My experience of reading this book led to a clearer understanding of my dreams. Every time I read this book, it gives me a new understanding of the message that dreams intend to convey to us.

In its defense, this book would have itself been one big highly lucid, internally consistent and longitudinally disciplined dream if presented as a case study in Jung's MDR or Freud's IoD.

Highlights: A man is a method, a progressive arrangement; a selecting principle, gathering his like to him wherever he goes.

Before I had begun to examine the items of my dream, a scout literally jumped in front of me and aggressively captured my dreaming attention. The notable feature of this scout was that it did not need to go through any energetic metamorphosis; it was a blob of energy from the start.

The misfortune of being singled out by a watery inorganic being. Remember how you tumbled with it? And how it felt? I told you then that watery inorganic beings are the most annoying. They are dependent and possessive, and once they sink their hooks, they never give up.

The bluish blob of energy was from a dimension entirely different from ours, a scout that got stranded and caught like a fly in a spider’s web.

The combined awareness of a group of inorganic beings had first consumed my energy body by forcing an emotional outburst from me to free the blue scout. Then the combined awareness of the same group of inorganic beings had pulled my inert physical mass into their world.

The third gate of dreaming is reached when you find yourself in a dream, staring at someone else who is asleep. And that someone else turns out to be you.

The energy body is like a child who’s been imprisoned all its life. The moment it is free, it soaks up everything it can find, and I mean everything. Every irrelevant, minute detail totally absorbs the energy body.

In the sorcerers’ world, since there are no written pages, total records, which can be relived instead of read, are left in the position of the assemblage point.

Recapitulation is considered the essential factor in a dreamer’s redefinition and redeployment of energy. “The recapitulation sets free energy imprisoned within us, and without this liberated energy dreaming is not possible.”

If their energy body is complete, they see energy every time they gaze at an item in the daily world. In dreams, if they see the energy of an item, they know they are dealing with a real world, no matter how distorted that world may appear to their dreaming attention. If they can’t see the energy of an item, they are in an ordinary dream and not in a real world.

Therefore, the implication that you see energy in your dream is that you are perceiving a real world, through the veil of a dream.

The whitish layer is the hue of the present position of mankind’s assemblage point. Sorcerers believe that everything man does nowadays is tinted with that whitish glow. At another time, the position of mankind’s assemblage point made the hue of the ruling energy in the world chartreuse; and at another time, more distant yet, it made it amber. The color of sorcerers’ energy is amber, which means that they are energetically associated with the men who existed in a distant past.

They do. But our great misfortune is to have our consciousness so fully engaged that we don’t have time to pay attention. In our sleep, however, the two-way-traffic trapdoor opens and we dream. And in our dreams, we make contact.

A rule of thumb for dreamers is to assume that the third type of scout is present whenever they feel perturbed by their parents or friends in a dream.

Inorganic beings don’t pursue females; they only go after males. But I’ve also said to you that the inorganic beings are female, and that the entire universe is female to a large degree.

To tip the scales meant to add one’s total physical mass to the energy body.

There are three ways of using the fourth gate: one, to travel to concrete places in this world; two, to travel to concrete places out of this world; and, three, to travel to places that exist only in the intent of others.

The shifts modern-day sorcerers experience are mild shifts within a thin bundle of energetic luminous filaments inside the luminous egg, a bundle called the band of man, or the purely human aspect of the universe’s energy. Beyond that band, but still within the luminous egg, lies the realm of the grand shifts. When the assemblage point shifts to any spot on that area, perception is still comprehensible to us, but extremely detailed.

From a simple object, those sorcerers went on to take more and more complex items. Their final aim was for all of them together to visualize a total world, then dream that world and thus re-create a totally veritable realm where they could exist.

A few pieces of quality lucid dreaming advice are embedded within a towering monument that stands as a testament to human suggestibility. This monument, with its imposing presence, seems to hold the key to the mysteries of lucid dreaming. However, while it may offer some moderately entertaining insights, it falls short in terms of being highly efficient. The advice it contains may pique the interest of those curious about lucid dreaming, but it may not provide the most practical or effective means of achieving it. Nevertheless, it serves as a reminder of the power of suggestion and the allure of the unknown when it comes to the realm of dreams.

“The Art of Dreaming” by C. Castaneda: 2

The art of complicating an already complex subject.

In this book, Castaneda transcribes the physical, psychological, and sensory experiences that accompanied him on his journey to becoming a traveler between worlds. He could have done it in a less sibylline and confusing way. However, by doing so, he would remove that aura of the mystical and mysterious that is so fascinating (or in my case, creates frustration).

The author's account takes the reader on a strange and often bewildering adventure. We are plunged into a world where the boundaries between reality and dreams are blurred. Castaneda's descriptions of his experiences are vivid and detailed, yet at times, they seem almost incomprehensible.

Despite the confusion, there is something undeniably captivating about this book. It makes us question our own perception of reality and the limits of our consciousness. It challenges us to step outside of our comfort zones and explore the unknown.

Overall, “The Art of Dreaming” is a thought-provoking and unique read. It may not be for everyone, but for those who are willing to take the plunge, it offers a glimpse into a world that is both strange and wonderful.

This is one of the seminal works of anthropologist Carlos Castaneda, who has deeply researched shamanic lore.

If this book doesn't strike a chord within you, then the dreams it presents surely will.

If you are unable to read this, it's essential to first understand that you are missing the essence of reading, which partly involves vicarious experience.

If you can't access it in book form, you'll have no choice but to take the difficult path. And truly, nobody should have to endure that arduous journey down the dream corridor.

You will love this book if you believe that there is more to dreams than just psychology, that science can encompass this topic far beyond what is typically regarded as the study of biological life in hard science, and that people can learn things in dreams that are hidden from them but can be retrieved later in life.

It offers a unique perspective on the mysterious world of dreams and shamanic knowledge, inviting readers to explore and expand their understanding of the human experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

However, it left me with a lingering sense of wonder as to whether it was a work of fiction or not.

Upon further examination, it became apparent that it was not a fiction at all.

In fact, it was highly entertaining.

The story had me engaged from the very beginning, with its vivid descriptions and interesting characters.

I found myself completely immersed in the narrative, eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next.

It was a refreshing break from the ordinary, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable read.

Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, this piece has something to offer.

So, go ahead and give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

With this remarkable book, you will embark on a journey to learn the art of lucid dreaming.

Lucid dreaming allows you to be aware that you are dreaming while the dream is in progress, giving you the power to control and explore the dream world.

Once you have mastered this skill, you can then turn to my other book, Letters to Palkies.

In this unique volume, you will use your newfound lucid dreaming ability to discover who your incarnant from another planet is.

Yes, that's right! There is someone from another world sleeping within your head, waiting to be awakened and revealed through the pages of this extraordinary book.

So, pick up both books and prepare to enter a realm of奇幻 and discovery like never before.

Let the adventure begin!

This initially caught my attention.

However, as I delved deeper, I found myself trapped in a formulaic pattern. It was a certain type of reading experience that felt somewhat self-indulgent, almost masturbatory.

Gradually, I no longer had the sense that I was learning anything new or valuable.

Consequently, I have decided to put this aside.

I obtained this material with the intention of furthering my education, not to live vicariously through Casteneda.

I was seeking genuine knowledge and growth, but unfortunately, this particular work failed to provide that for me.

Perhaps there are other books or resources out there that will better satisfy my educational pursuits and offer a more fulfilling learning experience.

When I first read Carlos Castaneda, I was much younger, probably only 17 years old. Reading him was extremely impressive. And when I found out that this existed, I was dying to read it. I thought that since it was related to dreams, it would be one of the most impressive readings I could ever have.

As the years passed, the feeling remained the same. But I have also read a lot more, and I think I'm no longer so easily impressed. It's an excellent story, and I'm sure that if I had read it at that time, it would have become something I could hardly stop talking about. But the truth is that I think it didn't quite meet my expectations. It left me a bit disappointed. I expected much more fantasy and more "witchcraft". There are very, very interesting data, but something, something was still lacking for me. Even so, it was a very good way to say goodbye to this world that I believe Don Juan represents.

Overall, while it may not have been everything I hoped for, it still had its merits and made an impact on me.