Keeping with the theme or recent questions. What was everyone’s experience of Carlos Castenada? Since he came and went before the internet, researching him was not the same as it is now. It was only recently that I found about his fade into obscurity along with rumors of some young women and suicides. My college friends were enamored with him, although we all got tired of it after 3 or 4 books of the same mix of “this is what I saw” and “did I really see that”. There were a few who claimed to know of friends of friends who went off on similar searches for shamanic wisdom. There was also the famous Time magazine article, after which my title is named. I heard of it, but never looked it up. After the drugs wore off and a few years of regular work, it faded to the back of mind.
I read Castaneda’s first book in the 1970s. Even though I was in the target audience I found the book boring and unbelievable. Several of my friends thought it was profound, but then they grew up and moved on to more mature subjects. He is rightfully forgotten.
I read Castenada’s book also while in college and much of what he wrote didn’t sinc with the Indians I knew who still practiced Native beliefs. He seemed to be on a perpetual high while writing the book. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (see Burrough’s Naked Lunch) but don’t pass it off as a way to achieve a “higher consciousness”. It was a fad back then and most of us moved on. Most of us. Personally I liked Kerouac, he made more sense and I like to travel.
Cap’t Jack
I read them way back when. I tried to glean some wisdom/secret knowledge. In retrospect, reading the books was a bit of a chore, and not very rewarding. One thing I recall is that “Death is the ally of the Warrior.” But it would have been a lot easier to just get that bit of wisdom from a fortune cookie.
The dreamer and the dreamed was a pretty trippy concept to try and wrap thee ol taco noodle around.
Boy, that one’s taking me way back. Fresh out of high school ('73),
Yosemite, then Wawona and Big Creek, and all those growing up experiences that only happen once or twice.
I was given the first one by a good friend I looked up to, got hooked.
Didn’t know what to make of them, but enjoyed the journey,
all told read the first four, the completion of the series.
Thought it was fun, introduced me to a bunch of woo and a lot of questioning.
Struggled with it, the line, or even balance, between rationality and spirituality.
Then when I came back from Europe and heard he’d written a 5th book, the vessel was broken so to speak,
he was just another $itbag,
Just another dude working his game.
I never tried reading any of the rest.
Doubt I could get very far in the first ones these days.
Oh but being young and living in a magical place and time, the lines can get blurred. :coolsmirk:
I look at the roll call in this thread . . . That’s about right. :lol:
1st part mostly OT…
If I ever open any kind of food joint, I’m going to serve an Enigma Taco. 
On topic
I knew a guy who was really into them (i.e. bought them hook, line and sinker, IMO). I think I tried reading one of his books once… I don’t remember getting very far into the book. Nor trying very hard for that matter. 
Take care,
Derek
Oh but being young and living in a magical place and time, the lines can get blurred.At that time, late 60's, early 70's my buds and I were living in Middle Earth hanging out with Elrond. The pipe weed was excellent then. Cap't Jack
We were out at Big Creek and other fine places,
mind you we was in '73 - '76ish
:coolsmile:
In reality me and my future missus and her brother were following the folk circuit through the Mountains of West Virginia and Va. Playing Appalachian tunes and camping in VW micro busses, Ivy Dale, Pipestem and Galax in Va. That was a hellova lot of fun.
Cap’t Jack
I was not a smoker until my late 20's, but I discovered Middle Earth when I was 16. Part of me is still there.Oh but being young and living in a magical place and time, the lines can get blurred.At that time, late 60's, early 70's my buds and I were living in Middle Earth hanging out with Elrond. The pipe weed was excellent then. Cap't Jack