Whether you love him or hate him, you have heard of him.

That’s a statement that I think most will readily agree with, however our agreement will likely part ways at some point when discussing the man and his work.

Quoted by philosophers, quantum physicists and Buddhist meditation masters, it is impossible to deny the level of impact on the 'alternative thought' branches of society that Carlos (and by proxy Don Juan) has had since the 60s. Even though counter culture has evolved radically and rapidly, Carlos has floated along the current, and unshakeable piece of flotsam to be digested as ready intellectual food for the open minded.

I won't give a long-winded re-telling of the minutia of this mans life and works. Its been done, and by those far more skilled in such work than myself. Rather I will deal more with my own personal relationship, as strange as they may sound considering we never met (myself and neither Carlos or the mysterious Don Juan Matus), and how it has influenced me as a 'spiritual' being.

The first of the books, The teachings of Don Juan, introduces us to both Carlos's human frailties such as his naivety, prejudice, arrogance, fear etc. and to the captivating 'cunning' humour of his benefactor the seemingly 'oddball' Indian, Don Juan Matus. It guides us into a strange world of 'Power Spots', mystical passes and mind bending hallucinogenic plants.

This though was not however my first meeting with Carlos and Don Juan.

It was back in 2001; I was flying to Cyprus with my then partner. I like a good read on a plane, and I browsed the shelves of the in airport WHSmiths hoping for something to leap out. A couple of titles did, the others have since faded from my mind, but suffice to say I left the shop with a copy of 'The Art of Dreaming' by one Carlos Castenada. His name recalled vaguely from a Fortean Times obituary. [Note: just dug out the copy from my home library, for any interested parties its in FT117 Dec 98]

As I read I found myself dealing with a very sober tone, yet the subject matter was by standard accounts pretty much 'far out dude' stuff. The book was however written, as I recall, in a very practical manner, very much a users guide. You might best think of it as the 'Idiots guide to lucid dreaming and multi-dimensional realities'. Now its fair to note that I was not entirely new to the genre, having always had more than a passing interest in all things peculiar.

The really amazing thing about this book was that it made things happen. I found myself having lucid dreams, indeed found myself using his described method of focusing on ones hands to keep lucidity. More shocking I even encountered what I had to concede to be an 'Emissary from an inorganic realm' as he called them, trying to hide itself in the fabric of one of my lucid dreams.

Like most sensible people I am very much a 'well show me' kind of guy. Indeed 'the proof of the pudding is in the tasting', would be a fitting epitaph, as I always want direct experience not merely the retelling of others adventures before remoulding the fabric of my personal reality. The book did just that. Carlos had my attention.

There was something of a gap between my reading of this book and my reading of his initial work, 'The Teachings of Don Juan'. Like for most people on a site like this, there are always hundreds of books, articles and news flashes that draw my attention away. At some point however it returned to this seem of literary gold.

I forget the exact time period, and the exact placing of intermeshing events, however I can say that it was at least sometime in 2003 or early 2004 that I was to find myself wading more deeply into Carlos Castenada's world. I know this was the approximate time frame thanks to a signed copy of 'Breaking open the head' by Daniel Pinchbeck dating circa that period. Up until then most of the writings of Carlos that involved etheogens could only be related to by me via my experience with LSD and Cubensis Mushrooms as a teenager (some hundred trips taken).

Some time after reading both the teachings of Don Juan, and Breaking open the head, I engaged in some psycho-nautical experimentation of my own.

For better and for worse.

This being a piece of writing about my relationship with Carlos and Don Juan, not about my many adventures, I will suffice to say I have been fortunate enough to meet and discuss etheogens with many of those involved with the writing about them. As well as have many incredible experiences, far to peculiar to fully illustrate here in a meaningful manner.

It seems that it is the common view, even amongst neo-shamans and initiates of more shamanistic worldviews in our western counter culture, that Carlos was quite simply a fraud. Out for the money and fame, with not more than a passing knowledge of any real spiritual or mystical knowledge. Choosing his favourite wine 'Matus' as a name for the chief of his fantastical fictional characters. There is without doubt evidence highly suggestive that Carlos was a chap with his fingers firmly crossed behind his back when he spoke, certainly his personal details are full of shifting inaccuracies.

However the prudent question for me was once again, could any of his claimed experience and understanding, actually be experientially validated by my own work in the field?

Another case of, 'the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.' During my three years or so working with 'plant teachers' I found the answer to be a rock solid yes. Time and again I found it to be so, as Carlos had said. More than that, as I fell further and further down the psycho-spiritual rabbit hole I actually found myself in a place where few could any longer reach me. Carlos was in a very select number, his being dead was irrelevant, and in all honesty still a matter of debate for me, as concepts like 'death' are much more elastic than most give credence to. Having worked as a spiritual medium (prior to my using etheogens) death was certainly something rather less solid and final for me than it is for most around me.

There actually came a [very peculiar] time when if I had to count the number of people that I actually related to, and considered to be real corporeal self guiding entities, it would have been around five, with Carlos and Don Juan included. Carlos and Don Juan were now friends, guides, compadre's in a strange mystical reality that had folded the old one into a Mobius strip of many colours, a fractal wave pattern imbued with self awareness.

I.e. Kansas had gone bye-bye.

Needless to say, as I am writing this on my home PC not from some secure wing of a mental health facility, mainstream reality and I did eventually encounter one another again (thanks mostly to a ceremony performed by a magically gifted Buddhist monk in a small village in North East Thailand) and I was able to take stock of the adventures had.

I am left with no doubt whatsoever that Carlos did indeed train under a powerful benefactor, Don Juan is a good a name as any for that person, whether it is accurate is for me not relevant. Did every single thing Carlos described happen exactly as he said? I would very much doubt it, we all weave inaccuracies when writing from memory and with the aim of others reading our work. Are the books a replacement for a dedicated spiritual path? I would say they are not, nor claim to be such. However if you are fortunate/unfortunate enough to enter the right multi-dimensional window, you like me, may find yourself face to face with the spirit essence of two great masters. They may do for you as they did for me, take you by the hand and lead you through the mouth of madness, nightmares & dreamscapes, shattered perceptions and chaos fractal vistas.

In the end, I have come to deeply care for these two figures. I have not hurried my way through the books; each has been spaced to some small or large degree. Yet I find myself, these many years later, half way through 'The Power of Silence', the last of his books for me to read. Its sad, because I know that that’s it, I have to let go of two firm friends, gone way beyond where I can yet follow. I have found great melancholy in that thought. My intuition tells me they are beyond even the standard death realms that we will surely encounter due to their 'great work'.

Carlos was ever the figure found on the zero cards in tarot, the fool, the trickster, the poor brave initiate of mysteries.

Two thoughts come to mind in closing this piece, and upon thinking on these two charismatic figures and their absence from my world.

Firstly the Buddhist prayer; gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha!

Secondly merely a hope, that with nothing to fear, detached and at ease, they darted past the eagle to be free...

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/obituary.html