Dreaming Castaneda
Dreaming Castaneda
Images of a
Images of a 20th-centur20th-century sorcerery sorcerer By Celeste Fremon
By Celeste Fremon Wednesday, Jul 1 1998 LA Weekly Wednesday, Jul 1 1998 LA Weekly
For me the world is weird because it is stupen
For me the world is weird because it is stupendous, awesome, mysterious,dous, awesome, mysterious, unfathomable; my interest has been to convince you that you must
unfathomable; my interest has been to convince you that you must assumeassume responsibility for being here in this marvelous world, in
responsibility for being here in this marvelous world, in this marvelous desert, at thisthis marvelous desert, at this marvelous time. I want to con
marvelous time. I want to convince youvince you that you must learn to make evethat you must learn to make every act count ry act count since you are going to be here
since you are going to be here for only a short for only a short while; in fact, too short for while; in fact, too short for witnessingwitnessing all the marvels of it.
all the marvels of it.
-from Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda -from Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda
The death of Carlos Castaneda was officially announced on the evening of June The death of Carlos Castaneda was officially announced on the evening of June 18.18. According to his dea
According to his death certificate, the best-knth certificate, the best-known proponenown proponent of "non-ordinary reat of "non-ordinary reality"lity" passed out of this world nearly two months earlier, on April 27, at his home in
passed out of this world nearly two months earlier, on April 27, at his home in Westwood. Accordin
Westwood. According to his attorney, Debg to his attorney, Deborah Drooz, Castaneorah Drooz, Castaneda had been ill with liverda had been ill with liver cancer for some time, and it
cancer for some time, and it was his wish to leave his was his wish to leave his death unpublicized. The newsdeath unpublicized. The news leaked out when Adrian Vashon, the son of his
leaked out when Adrian Vashon, the son of his former wife, received a court lformer wife, received a court letteretter indicating he was mentioned in Castaned
indicating he was mentioned in Castaneda's will. Vashon subsequently called a's will. Vashon subsequently called the Losthe Los Angeles Times.
Angeles Times.
"Carlos Castaneda left the world the same way that
"Carlos Castaneda left the world the same way that his teacher, Don Juan Matus, did:his teacher, Don Juan Matus, did: with full
with full awareness," reaawareness," read a prepared statemd a prepared statement that appeaent that appeared four days later on thered four days later on the Web site maintai
Web site maintained by Cleargreen (ned by Cleargreen ( www.castaned www.castaneda.coma.com), the corporation formed by ), the corporation formed by Castaneda and his associates. "The cognition of our world of everyday life does
Castaneda and his associates. "The cognition of our world of everyday life does notnot provide for a description of a
provide for a description of a phenomenon such as this. So in keeping with the terms of phenomenon such as this. So in keeping with the terms of legalities and record-keeping that the world of everyday life r
legalities and record-keeping that the world of everyday life r equires, Carlos Castanedaequires, Carlos Castaneda was declared to have d
was declared to have died."ied." I first met Carlos Castaneda
I first met Carlos Castaneda in the spring of 1972. I wain the spring of 1972. I was 24 yearss 24 years old and working forold and working for Seventeen magazine
Seventeen magazine. Carlos was a . Carlos was a doctoral student in the UCLA Department of doctoral student in the UCLA Department of Anthropology and
Anthropology and already famous. His first two books, Talready famous. His first two books, The Teachings of Don he Teachings of Don Juan: A Juan: A Yaqui Way of Know
Yaqui Way of Knowledge (his master's thesis) and A Sledge (his master's thesis) and A Separate Reality, both eparate Reality, both detailing hisdetailing his apprenticeship to Don Juan Matus, a Mexican Indian shama
apprenticeship to Don Juan Matus, a Mexican Indian shaman, had sold nearly half n, had sold nearly half aa million copies in paperback. Journey to Ixtlan, the doctoral dissertation he was
million copies in paperback. Journey to Ixtlan, the doctoral dissertation he was completing at the time w
completing at the time we met, would later put him, or a drawe met, would later put him, or a drawing of himing of him - he would- he would allow no recogniz
allow no recognizable photographsable photographs - on the co- on the cover of Time.ver of Time. At this point, the Vie
At this point, the Vietnam War was still in full swing, and Nitnam War was still in full swing, and Nixon was about to be re-xon was about to be re-elected. Like many young men and women of the period, I was
elected. Like many young men and women of the period, I was terrified and alienated by terrified and alienated by the actions of the prevailing culture,
the actions of the prevailing culture, which seemed to have gone mad; the Castanedawhich seemed to have gone mad; the Castaneda books were a despera
books were a desperately needed antitely needed antidote to a world view that felt increadote to a world view that felt increasingly singly mechanistic and dispiriting.
mechanistic and dispiriting. Many of the conce
order to apprehend an expanded reality, dispensin
order to apprehend an expanded reality, dispensing with one's ego in g with one's ego in order to follow "aorder to follow "a path with heart,"
path with heart," having an awahaving an awareness of one's death in reness of one's death in order to live life fullyorder to live life fully - each had- each had direct parallels in other philosophical and religious disciplines. Yet there was
direct parallels in other philosophical and religious disciplines. Yet there was anan
aggressive emotional imperative with which Castaneda wrote that suited the tenor of the aggressive emotional imperative with which Castaneda wrote that suited the tenor of the times. He painted himself in his stories as a
times. He painted himself in his stories as a frightened naif bumbling through a magicalfrightened naif bumbling through a magical yet deeply ethica
yet deeply ethical spiritual system that could be taught anl spiritual system that could be taught and transferred. For a generad transferred. For a generationtion trying to account for its
trying to account for its religious feelings outside the constrictions of religious feelings outside the constrictions of conventionalconventional dogma, Castaneda's work had immense appeal.
dogma, Castaneda's work had immense appeal. Anxious to meet him
Anxious to meet him, I talked my bosses at Seven, I talked my bosses at Seventeen into letting me intervieteen into letting me interview w Castaneda. By then he was already refusing all interviews, yet I was
Castaneda. By then he was already refusing all interviews, yet I was naively convinced henaively convinced he would see me. I badgered hi
would see me. I badgered his editor at Simon & Schustes editor at Simon & Schuster, Michael Korda, untir, Michael Korda, until hisl his secretary took pity and pointed me to Castaneda's literary agent, a man named Ned secretary took pity and pointed me to Castaneda's literary agent, a man named Ned Brown, whose office was in Beverly Hills. The
Brown, whose office was in Beverly Hills. The curmudgeonly Brown agreed to pass thecurmudgeonly Brown agreed to pass the message on to Castaneda only because, he said, I reminded him of
message on to Castaneda only because, he said, I reminded him of his daughter, addinghis daughter, adding that there was no hope of
that there was no hope of Carlos replying. Two weeks later, however, Brown called Carlos replying. Two weeks later, however, Brown called back back to say that Carlos had consented to see
to say that Carlos had consented to see me. Castaneda never showed for the meeting, butme. Castaneda never showed for the meeting, but a week later, he called me
a week later, he called me at the office. "My cousin at the office. "My cousin used to read Seventeeused to read Seventeen!" he saidn!" he said brightly. "So I thought the m
brightly. "So I thought the message from you was a very good omessage from you was a very good omen. When would youen. When would you like to meet?"
like to meet?"
Though he became a
Though he became a distinguished-lookindistinguished-looking man with g man with age, in those days age, in those days CastanedaCastaneda would have been ha
would have been hardrd to pick out in a crowd. He to pick out in a crowd. He was, according to his owwas, according to his own description,n description, "a plain, brown ma
"a plain, brown man," 5-foot-5 and sturdy, wn," 5-foot-5 and sturdy, with an unremarkabith an unremarkable sort of face. His eyesle sort of face. His eyes --supremely watchful, intensely alive, often
supremely watchful, intensely alive, often projecting an improbable combination of grief projecting an improbable combination of grief and amusement
and amusement - were the most remarka- were the most remarkable thing about him.ble thing about him. Our initial inte
Our initial interviewrview - at Cafe Figa- at Cafe Figaro, or was it tro, or was it the Source?he Source? - stretched in- stretched into a year-anto a year-and-a- d-a-half-long conversation, during the course of which Castaneda became a mentor, uncle half-long conversation, during the course of which Castaneda became a mentor, uncle and friend. Platonic in his attentions, he was elaborately mysterious about the
and friend. Platonic in his attentions, he was elaborately mysterious about the machination
machinations of our s of our meetings. I could only reach him by meetings. I could only reach him by leaving messages at theleaving messages at the anthropology departmen
anthropology department. He would call t. He would call me back from some pay me back from some pay phone in order tophone in order to arrange a time. At th
arrange a time. At the appointed momee appointed moment, I wouldnt, I would stand outside my West Hstand outside my West Hollywoodollywood apartment buildin
apartment building and wait for him to drive up ig and wait for him to drive up in his dusty tan vann his dusty tan van - inevitably at least- inevitably at least half
half an an hour hour late.late.
It was also typical that at
It was also typical that at some point during the afternoon or evening he would gaspsome point during the afternoon or evening he would gasp with alarm, slap his palm to
with alarm, slap his palm to his forehead with sihis forehead with sitcom-style dismay and rush to tcom-style dismay and rush to thethe nearest pa
nearest pay phone. y phone. Then he Then he would call someowould call someonene - often a - often a university colleagueuniversity colleague - with- with whom he had an
whom he had an appointment. Happointment. He was always enormously ae was always enormously apologetic, offering anpologetic, offering an impressively dramatic excuse for the oversight. "I'm calling
impressively dramatic excuse for the oversight. "I'm calling you from Mexico City," heyou from Mexico City," he might shout into the receiver, from a gas station in Pacific Palisades. "I feel terrible! But might shout into the receiver, from a gas station in Pacific Palisades. "I feel terrible! But I was unexpectedly detained by power!"
I was unexpectedly detained by power!"
Generally, though, our outings seemed quite ordinary. We would sometimes go
Generally, though, our outings seemed quite ordinary. We would sometimes go to theto the movies. Often we simply went for l
see a display of masks
see a display of masks at UCLA, and afterward presented me with two Yaqui masks. Butat UCLA, and afterward presented me with two Yaqui masks. But each encounter was in fact a teaching exercise. Along the bluffs
each encounter was in fact a teaching exercise. Along the bluffs above the ocean, heabove the ocean, he taught me how to run
taught me how to run in the dark without tripping, lecturing me genially on in the dark without tripping, lecturing me genially on thethe necessity of living my life
necessity of living my life more "impeccably." As we emerged into the brightness of amore "impeccably." As we emerged into the brightness of a theater lobby after seeing Auntie Mame, he turned to me
theater lobby after seeing Auntie Mame, he turned to me and said with great poignancy:and said with great poignancy: "I took you to see this movie because I wanted you to know that you must use the world. "I took you to see this movie because I wanted you to know that you must use the world. In fact, it's absolutely essential to do so! But you must remember to use it
In fact, it's absolutely essential to do so! But you must remember to use it with love."with love." In the mouth of anyone else, these words
In the mouth of anyone else, these words would have sounded hopelessly sentimental.would have sounded hopelessly sentimental. But Carlos imbued such pronouncements with a
But Carlos imbued such pronouncements with a ferociously poetic force. Some of hisferociously poetic force. Some of his sorcerer's tips were more practica
sorcerer's tips were more practical than philosophical. Whl than philosophical. When I complained to hen I complained to himim how how I'd run out of gas the night before, for example, he told me that Don Juan had told him I'd run out of gas the night before, for example, he told me that Don Juan had told him that if he anthropomorphized his car, it would never
that if he anthropomorphized his car, it would never run out of run out of gas again. (I took thegas again. (I took the advice to heart and chatted up my Karmann Ghia, which obliged me by running o advice to heart and chatted up my Karmann Ghia, which obliged me by running o nn fumes, if necessary, for the next 13
fumes, if necessary, for the next 13 years.) Another day, he gave me a compass and toldyears.) Another day, he gave me a compass and told me I should turn my bed around, head to the west (or was it the east?) to increase my me I should turn my bed around, head to the west (or was it the east?) to increase my energy.
energy.
Other instructions were not quite so straightforward. One day, he gave m Other instructions were not quite so straightforward. One day, he gave m e ane an unpolished rock the color of
unpolished rock the color of ochre, half the size of ochre, half the size of my hand. He said Don Juan had givenmy hand. He said Don Juan had given it to him to give to me with explicit directions as to how I must polish it. With great
it to him to give to me with explicit directions as to how I must polish it. With great seriousness, I polished the rock for hours until I passed into a sort of waking dream seriousness, I polished the rock for hours until I passed into a sort of waking dream state. The long-term significance of this event, I couldn't tell you. But I still have the state. The long-term significance of this event, I couldn't tell you. But I still have the rock.
rock.
In addition to trying to help me
In addition to trying to help me "collapse the parameters of normal perception,""collapse the parameters of normal perception," Castaneda talked about personal concerns, such as his worry that his
Castaneda talked about personal concerns, such as his worry that his doctoral thesisdoctoral thesis might not be approved. He often seemed to be
might not be approved. He often seemed to be in a state of tremendous anguish over in a state of tremendous anguish over hishis apprenticeship
apprenticeship. "Don Juan wants me to . "Don Juan wants me to attempt to stop the world, but attempt to stop the world, but if I don't have theif I don't have the energy to do it I
energy to do it I may die," he would say. In Don Juanian terms, may die," he would say. In Don Juanian terms, "stopping the world" was"stopping the world" was letting go of the
letting go of the last vestiges of cultulast vestiges of cultural preconceptions. "Maybe I should stay here inral preconceptions. "Maybe I should stay here in L.A. But how can I?"
L.A. But how can I?"
There was a wildly funny side to
There was a wildly funny side to Carlos as well. He was Carlos as well. He was a wicked gossip and loveda wicked gossip and loved regaling me with tales of
regaling me with tales of his encounters with other luminaries of the his encounters with other luminaries of the so-calledso-called
consciousness movement. He recounted how famous gestalt therapist and "horny old consciousness movement. He recounted how famous gestalt therapist and "horny old goat" Fritz Perls had barged unwittingly into Castaneda's darkened bedroom at Big Sur's goat" Fritz Perls had barged unwittingly into Castaneda's darkened bedroom at Big Sur's Esalen Institute, mistakenly thinking it empty, and proceeded to have a noisy, amorous Esalen Institute, mistakenly thinking it empty, and proceeded to have a noisy, amorous tryst with
tryst with a young a young acolyteacolyte - much to - much to Castaneda's Castaneda's amusement. Oamusement. On anothen another occasion,r occasion, hehe gleefully described a dinner that he and the gur
gleefully described a dinner that he and the guru Ram Dass (former u Ram Dass (former Tim Leary associateTim Leary associate Richard Alpert) had both attended
Richard Alpert) had both attended, at, at which Ram Dass had gotten roaring drunk andwhich Ram Dass had gotten roaring drunk and begun shouting boisterously, "
begun shouting boisterously, "That's what they call me, 'BaThat's what they call me, 'Baba ram de ass!' Get it? 'Bababa ram de ass!' Get it? 'Baba ram de ass!'"
ram de ass!'"
In the spring of 1973,
In the spring of 1973, the article appeared in Seventeen, and soon after, I left thethe article appeared in Seventeen, and soon after, I left the
magazine. With the publication of Journey to Ixtlan, Castaneda was swept further into magazine. With the publication of Journey to Ixtlan, Castaneda was swept further into
the maelstrom of his fame
the maelstrom of his fame and field work, and became much harder to reach. Eventually and field work, and became much harder to reach. Eventually we lost contact.
we lost contact.
During all the time I
During all the time I spent with Castaneda, it never occurred to me that he spent with Castaneda, it never occurred to me that he wasn'twasn't representing himself and his apprenticeship truthfully. Not that I took every
representing himself and his apprenticeship truthfully. Not that I took every wrinkle of wrinkle of his stories to be literal fact. A few of my friends who knew of our
his stories to be literal fact. A few of my friends who knew of our acquaintance askacquaintance asked if Ied if I thought he had really turned into a
thought he had really turned into a crow, as was suggested in crow, as was suggested in one of the books. Suchone of the books. Such questions struck me, even at
questions struck me, even at the time, as ridiculous. His work the time, as ridiculous. His work wasn't about metaphysicalwasn't about metaphysical parlor tricks, I would reply, nor was it about psychotropic drugs. It was a system for parlor tricks, I would reply, nor was it about psychotropic drugs. It was a system for living, a way of deconstructing consensus reality in order
living, a way of deconstructing consensus reality in order to conceive of a world to conceive of a world of of unima
unimaginaginableble possipossibilitbilities.ies.
There had been occasional mutterings in
There had been occasional mutterings in the mainstream press about Castaneda's booksthe mainstream press about Castaneda's books being metaphori
being metaphorical in nature, but the first serious attempcal in nature, but the first serious attempt to debunk his work came it to debunk his work came inn 1976, when author-psychologist Richard de Mille (son of Cecil B.) wrote a book called 1976, when author-psychologist Richard de Mille (son of Cecil B.) wrote a book called Castaneda's Journey: The Power and the
Castaneda's Journey: The Power and the Allegory. De Mille Allegory. De Mille painstakingly combedpainstakingly combed through Castaneda's four published volumes, trolling
through Castaneda's four published volumes, trolling them for inconsistencies, cross-them for inconsistencies, cross-referencing his ethnographic data with other spiritual
referencing his ethnographic data with other spiritual and philosophical disciplines fromand philosophical disciplines from which de Mille felt Carlos had stolen
which de Mille felt Carlos had stolen. He also suggested that the . He also suggested that the standards applied standards applied by by Castaneda's doctoral committee had not been
Castaneda's doctoral committee had not been sufficiently rigorous.sufficiently rigorous. Castaneda fans and a majority of his colleagues at UCLA
Castaneda fans and a majority of his colleagues at UCLA dismissed the de Mille book asdismissed the de Mille book as ax grinding. However, by 1978 there was growing disagreement in anthropology circles. ax grinding. However, by 1978 there was growing disagreement in anthropology circles. Yaqui expert Dr. Ralph B
Yaqui expert Dr. Ralph Beals asked to seeeals asked to see Castaneda's field noCastaneda's field notes and was unhaptes and was unhappy py when Carlos contin
when Carlos continually dodged the request. Dr. Jacually dodged the request. Dr. Jacques Maquet, then heques Maquet, then head of UCLA'sad of UCLA's Department of Anthropology, also objected to the fact that no hard evidence had ever Department of Anthropology, also objected to the fact that no hard evidence had ever been presented
been presented to back up Castanedato back up Castaneda's accounts. "What is essenti's accounts. "What is essential is not simply to haveal is not simply to have the experience," says Maquet today, "but, if it is anthropology, to make it
the experience," says Maquet today, "but, if it is anthropology, to make it possible forpossible for other anthropologists to repeat the
other anthropologists to repeat the experience. Castanedexperience. Castaneda never did a never did that. He neverthat. He never presented Don Juan. What he has done is not anthropology simply because he has presented Don Juan. What he has done is not anthropology simply because he has keptkept it secret. He has created a brill
it secret. He has created a brilliant fiction based on something real, but fictioniant fiction based on something real, but fiction nonetheless."
nonetheless."
Further complicating matters, in 1982, a woman named Florinda Donner published a Further complicating matters, in 1982, a woman named Florinda Donner published a book called Shabono
book called Shabono, in which she describe, in which she described dramatic, Castand dramatic, Castaneda-like experieeda-like experiences withnces with the Yanomama Indians of Venezuela. The normally reclusive Carlos wrote a
the Yanomama Indians of Venezuela. The normally reclusive Carlos wrote a glowingglowing blurb on the jacket cover, an
blurb on the jacket cover, and soon the news circulated soon the news circulated that Donner wad that Donner was claiming to alsos claiming to also be an apprenti
be an apprentice to Don Juan. A single acace to Don Juan. A single academic apprentidemic apprenticed to an unseen sorceced to an unseen sorcerer wasrer was one thing; a second began to stretch the credulity of
one thing; a second began to stretch the credulity of all but the most all but the most ardent believers.ardent believers. I met Donner in 1982 when she
I met Donner in 1982 when she accompanied Castaaccompanied Castaneda to a dinner party given by neda to a dinner party given by Jacques Barzaghi, Jerry Brown's longtime adviser. Carlos, whom I
Jacques Barzaghi, Jerry Brown's longtime adviser. Carlos, whom I hadn't seen in years,hadn't seen in years, was distant; Don
was distant; Donner wasn't, and wner wasn't, and we chatted for much of the evene chatted for much of the evening. I founding. I found her storiesher stories of her time
of her time with the Yanomama convincing.with the Yanomama convincing. When I saw her a few y
When I saw her a few years later at Barzhagi's wedears later at Barzhagi's wedding, she confideding, she confided thatd that all theall the apprentices
emotional state. She described fan
emotional state. She described fantastic incidentstastic incidents - about how, for example, one of their- about how, for example, one of their sorcery teachers had turn
sorcery teachers had turned old before their eyes, she ed old before their eyes, she said. "Like the psaid. "Like the picture oficture of DorianDorian Gray. It was like something you'd imagine seeing in a
Gray. It was like something you'd imagine seeing in a science-fiction movie, but wescience-fiction movie, but we actually saw it happen." Now Carlos was very
actually saw it happen." Now Carlos was very ill and living in ill and living in Arizona. "We don't know Arizona. "We don't know what to do," she sai
what to do," she said. "We are waitind. "We are waiting for him to lead us. But he doesn't knog for him to lead us. But he doesn't know what to dow what to do either, so we just have
either, so we just have to wait."to wait." It was difficult to
It was difficult to know what to make of such know what to make of such a story. As with Castaneda, Donner'sa story. As with Castaneda, Donner's emotional
emotional turmoil seemed intense and genuinturmoil seemed intense and genuine. But these increasingly fantastic storiese. But these increasingly fantastic stories of multiple sorcerer's
of multiple sorcerer's apprentices were hard to swallow whole, leading some to apprentices were hard to swallow whole, leading some to concludeconclude that many of Castaneda's stories also may have been stupendous falsehoods. Even those that many of Castaneda's stories also may have been stupendous falsehoods. Even those of us who'd been believers, or nearly so, couldn't help but wonder if we hadn't, in fact, of us who'd been believers, or nearly so, couldn't help but wonder if we hadn't, in fact, simply been audience members to a sort of
simply been audience members to a sort of Truman Show in reverse, a troupe Truman Show in reverse, a troupe of actorsof actors who had infiltrated
who had infiltrated the real world, staging a magithe real world, staging a magical theater that had lastecal theater that had lasted for decades.d for decades. After years of inaccessi
After years of inaccessibility, Castaneda bility, Castaneda began making public abegan making public appearances in wppearances in whathat would be the last decade of h
would be the last decade of his life. Atis life. At first they were small interactfirst they were small interactive gatherings heldive gatherings held without fanfare at vario
without fanfare at various bookstores; later he led occasious bookstores; later he led occasional martial-arts classes andnal martial-arts classes and seminars in a form of
seminars in a form of movement Castaneda called "tensegritymovement Castaneda called "tensegrity," billed as ancient," billed as ancient "shamanistic" exercises designed to increase awareness. These were presented by "shamanistic" exercises designed to increase awareness. These were presented by Donner and the various other
Donner and the various other women who surrounded Castaneda. Through Cleargreen,women who surrounded Castaneda. Through Cleargreen, these women have announced that they will be keeping the work going. With corporate these women have announced that they will be keeping the work going. With corporate efficiency, Tensegrity seminars are scheduled for July and August, with
efficiency, Tensegrity seminars are scheduled for July and August, with more seminarsmore seminars and videos planned for the future.
and videos planned for the future.
If anything, the controversies surrounding Castaneda are greater than ever. But some of If anything, the controversies surrounding Castaneda are greater than ever. But some of those who knew him well have arrived at
those who knew him well have arrived at a provisional answer. "He had a genius fora provisional answer. "He had a genius for introducing people to the possibility of seeing other realities," says Gloria
introducing people to the possibility of seeing other realities," says Gloria Garvin, aGarvin, a former member of Castaneda's inner circle, "but there
former member of Castaneda's inner circle, "but there was never a Don Juan. He knew was never a Don Juan. He knew shamans. He did a great deal of research over
shamans. He did a great deal of research over the years, often under other names. Andthe years, often under other names. And he would journey and dream, and stimulate amazing journeys and dreams in the people he would journey and dream, and stimulate amazing journeys and dreams in the people around him. "
around him. "
"I had astonishing experience
"I had astonishing experiences with Carlos that s with Carlos that are difficult to explain," says Douglassare difficult to explain," says Douglass Price-Williams, professor emeritus in a
Price-Williams, professor emeritus in anthropology and pnthropology and psychiatry at UCLA. "sychiatry at UCLA. "YouYou see,see, you can't say his work is factua
you can't say his work is factual, but you can't say it's false either. It's so much ml, but you can't say it's false either. It's so much moreore complex than that. He did have profound experiences of his own. And he had a
complex than that. He did have profound experiences of his own. And he had a greatgreat deal of ethnographic knowledge. He also engaged in elaborate role-playing that he deal of ethnographic knowledge. He also engaged in elaborate role-playing that he pushed to the point that I think he
pushed to the point that I think he could no longer tell could no longer tell the difference. But the thing thatthe difference. But the thing that set Carlos apart was his gen
set Carlos apart was his geniusius for taking all this and commfor taking all this and communicating it in a waunicating it in a way thaty that truly moved people."
truly moved people."
Larry Peters, an anthropologist and
Larry Peters, an anthropologist and psychotherapipsychotherapist who has st who has done extensive field work done extensive field work with Nepalese shama
with Nepalese shamans, puts it another wayns, puts it another way: "Carlos was an expe: "Carlos was an expert navigator of thatrt navigator of that other world. Frank
other world. Frankly I believe Don ly I believe Don Juan was an Juan was an entityentity - a spirit, if - a spirit, if you willyou will - that Carlos- that Carlos encountered while dreaming. There is a deep wisdom in his texts that cannot be
regarded as either fiction or
regarded as either fiction or knowledgeable fabricationknowledgeable fabrication."." The last time I
The last time I saw Castaneda, in late 1993, it was at saw Castaneda, in late 1993, it was at one of those bookstore events. "Weone of those bookstore events. "We are all beings who are
are all beings who are going to die," he told an attentive invited group (going to die," he told an attentive invited group (which includedwhich included Tom Hayden). "We must live our
Tom Hayden). "We must live our lives with that knowledge, with that harshness. Donlives with that knowledge, with that harshness. Don Juan used to say to
Juan used to say to me, 'What have they done to you? What have me, 'What have they done to you? What have they done to you?' Hethey done to you?' He meant that I was so captured by
meant that I was so captured by my ideologies that I could not my ideologies that I could not be a man. I could be a man. I could notnot truly live the wonder
truly live the wonder that it is to be a human that it is to be a human being. We are travelers, as hbeing. We are travelers, as humans. We areumans. We are adventurers, struggling to
adventurers, struggling to perpetuate, to perpetuate, to better, to evolvebetter, to evolve our species. But unour species. But unless weless we break free of the prison of our ide
break free of the prison of our ideologies, we will come to the end oologies, we will come to the end of our lives andf our lives and wonder what we h
wonder what we have lived for."ave lived for."
I returned home that evening feeling awakened, as if my most
I returned home that evening feeling awakened, as if my most essential self had beenessential self had been dashed with ice w
dashed with ice water. Notater. Not that I imagined I cthat I imagined I could ever wholly follow his sorcericould ever wholly follow his sorceric dictums; understanding the secrets of the universe is one thing, getting
dictums; understanding the secrets of the universe is one thing, getting one's kid to bedone's kid to bed at the proper time is
at the proper time is quite another. And yet, for weeks after, I was quite another. And yet, for weeks after, I was better able to addressbetter able to address my individual days and nights with less fear, f
my individual days and nights with less fear, fewer preconceptions, more clarity andewer preconceptions, more clarity and compassion.
compassion.
In the end, it's the work
In the end, it's the work that mattered, whatever its provenance. In the end, it was thethat mattered, whatever its provenance. In the end, it was the man who mattered; for those of us
man who mattered; for those of us lucky enough to come within his lucky enough to come within his range, nothing wasrange, nothing was ever the same again.
ever the same again. And if, in the en
And if, in the end, Don Juan never exd, Don Juan never existed?isted? For my own provisional answer, I think of
For my own provisional answer, I think of Peter A. Bien, translator of Peter A. Bien, translator of Nikos Kazantzakis'Nikos Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ, who dealt with a
The Last Temptation of Christ, who dealt with a similar question when asked whether hesimilar question when asked whether he believed in all the miracles assoc
believed in all the miracles associated with Jesus. "I reaiated with Jesus. "I realize much of what we know alize much of what we know aboutbout him is novelistic," said Bien. "But I act as if it isn't."
