The Second Ring of Power

DISCLAIMER: IT MAY BE A BIT WORDY OF A REVIEW, (my apologies) THIS TOPIC IS not EASILY CONDENSEDThis volume in the Castaneda series of Alternate Reality & Energy Work shows how much Carlos has been able to assimilate of don Juans', Vincentes' and Gennaros' teachings over the years of his apprenticeship. The battles he goes through with some of the other apprentice's & student's of don Juan illustrate the reality of this true world/existence view, if one does the work necessary to change ones' own view & assemblage point, no easy task w/o guides', the caliber of Carlos' teachers. This volume dovetails nicely with "The Eagle's gift"(for background), shows the culmination of Carlos' encounters with other power persons(The Sorceress who chased him) from 'Conversations", "Ixtlan" & earlier "field note" style texts, from his "anthropological student" mindset days. I have been able to recognize the similarities in Bruce Moen & Robert Monroes' volumes(the need of 16 distinct entities of an I/There & the size of a Sorcerer's Party in Eagles' Gift, cannot be in any way "A COINCIDENCE"(as such things do not exist(Celestine Prophecy /Insights Series & "Milarepa:Shaman of Tibet" & "Snow Leopard(Matthissen))) that bear the actual truth that awaits any who CHOOSE to find that which awaits any/all sentients at the end of physical existence. The way we are introduced to "The Tenant" of don Juan's lineage and the exposition we are given of how this existence is nominally supposed to occur is very valuable, when taken in context with the other texts of the series and the other "Independent Sources" other unrelated authors show in their works (e.g. Richard/Catherine Bach's "One" or his own volume "Jonathon Livingston Seagull"(Neil Diamonds' 1973 Orchestral LP has some quite appropo text for this type of research)) So, ANY student who is seriously interested in Castanedas' experiences, & incorporating them into their own existence to prepare for "the totally impersonal encounter" @ the end of existence, this is a very worthwile investment. It would be very wise to study the other "Independent Sources"(Voyages into the Afterlife", "Ultimate Journeys' series", "One", "DMT:The Spirit Molecule", distance viewing texts and one that started me on Being a PATHFINDER, Warren Norwoods' "Windhover" SF series from the 80's) REMEMBER WE ARE ALL ONE AGAIN AFTER THE FALLS("Aerials")...UNLESS ONE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF this existence TO PREPARE...(for one's OWN definitive Journey)

The Nagual was a very nice belief to learn about🧙🏻‍♂️

This is when 'kaka' gets weird for Carlos. Jumping off a cliff, check. But who are these ladies? How do they know me? The beginning of the 'higher awareness amnesia' narrative which persists through the rest of the series. I can attest to this being a valid phenomenon; I have personally experienced events in a higher state of consciousness which can only be 'recalled' by regaining the state of consciousness when they occurred.Many accuse Carlos of being disingenuous. When defending a project on Castaneda in college, I said to my peers, 'Does it matter?'. Shed your narrow, rational viewpoint (a byproduct of Baconian ideology, and not inherent to nature per se) and you'll find that your depictions of 'true' and 'not true', i.e. calling upon some source of 'authority' to prove or disprove what you're experiencing are just shields you're putting up between yourself and what you're experiencing. When reading Castaneda, it's what you experience that matters, and, with careful study and the suspension of disbelief, Carlos' 'magic words' will take you right into his experiences with him. (Literally, I'm not being cute or poetic. Just to be clear)

The book is falling apart. Pages are not properly bond and separate.

After reading in detail the four first Castaneda’s books, this book makes me, finally, understand many important concepts. If you like extraordinary tales, you will find them. If you rather look for philosophical or spiritual teaching, each paragraph is full of condensed knowledge. This book must be read for all people interests in Castaneda’s work and, in general, shamanism and Toltec teachings.

Compared to the first four books, there isn't a whole lot to take from this one. But from an entertainment aspect, it's pretty good. This book transitions from Castaneda's apprenticing into his role as the Nagual, and as such, is a necessary read.

This is one of the easiest reads that Carlos wrote, since the first most of it is action by characters bidding for power. Obviously they were played by the master stalker, Don Juan. In the end, I'm sure the result was as intended and a new cycle orf the sorcerers involved began. While the shamanic arts of Seeing and Stalking are embedded in the action, there is also elaboration on the art of Gazing. Then there is the matter of the double and just what the Nagual is. A fine read or re-read.

Phony Castaneda barely kept me reading this repetitive, not terribly well written saga. Still male-centered though it appears about women, -- crazy women who do not seem to have lives of their own other than their obsession with "man" who now knows it all thanks to their wisdom and subservience. That he hears they will kill him is a sort of castration fear typical of men who cannot really accept autonomous, brilliant women. That they know more than he about things is a source of discomfort and little gratitude, with very little reciprocity. Done reading.

I have been reading the Carlos Casteneda set of books all the way through once again and this one is no exception in triggering an extraordinary mind set in the reader, much as it did in my younder days. It is the continuing tale of the apprentice Carlos under the tutelage of not only Don Juan but also the other sorcerors and apprentices in his group. A fascinating journey.

Very insightful into how one should live their life, it gives a different view of the world and challenges the ideas and beliefs that we have be taught whilst also providing simple methods to changing your thinking and behaviours with how we interact with the world on a day to day basis.I really enjoy reading these series of books, they go far deeper to answering the questions about our purpose than anything else that I have ever read.

Good presentation. However I dont know if I'm small minded or these stories really do get a bit to far fetched.

one the best in the series, expect a lot of late nights as it is very hard to put down.

This is ideal for my purposes, many thanks for this item, much appreciated indeed, its exactly as described and very handy.