Journey to Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan Journey to Ixtlan discussion


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Keep going? Or stop?

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Feliks I haven't explored too many of Castaneda's other titles; I have always been so supremely satisfied with 'Journey'.

How do the other works compare? What goes on in them, narrative-wise? Does it turn lame? The intensity of 'Ixtlan' is just extraordinary. I either want to experience more of Castaneda writing at that level, or nothing.

Recommendations?


message 2: by auiliuinti (last edited Feb 10, 2013 10:35PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

auiliuinti I recommend to keep going up until Tales of Power (i guess you are reading Castaneda books in chronologic order).

From there you can decide if you read the whole series.

The Fire From Within and The Art of Dreaming are both good reads, as i mentioned before if you read them in order, otherwise you might be missing basic Castanedian facts.

A book is sometimes just a book.


Feliks Whats the exact order? much obliged for your input


auiliuinti In order:

-The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
-A Separate Reality
-Journey to Ixtlan
-Tales of Power

-The Second Ring of Power
-The Eagle's Gift
-The Fire From Within
-The Power of Silence
-The Art of Dreaming
-The Active Side of Infinity


Robin Craig Clark Feliks wrote: "I haven't explored too many of Castaneda's other titles; I have always been so supremely satisfied with 'Journey'.

How do the other works compare? What goes on in them, narrative-wise? Does it tur..."


Personally, Journey is it. Allow mystery to be part of the experience.


Scott Forbes It doesn't turn lame. And the intensity is not diminished. I went ahead and read them all. If you read them in chronological order, they do tell a continuing narrative in the life of the author. It's a bit like reading his autobiography. If you want to know what happens next, you'll need to keep going. You'll know you're finished when there is nothing left to read! I think that if you stop, you should still read The Art of Dreaming. It is the best book in the series. It deals with the world of the ancient sorcerers the most of any of them. And inorganic beings, not to mention the Death Defier!


Feliks Thanks!


message 8: by [deleted user] (new)

The first book by Castaneda I ever read was actually Tales of Power and it's still my favourite one. I then went back and read the first three, then continued with The Second Ring of Power.

I tried to embark on the rest of the series beyond that but during The Eagle's Gift I just lost my interest and quit.

I consider Castaneda and his series to be amongst my favourite reads of my life, even if I never finished the whole series.

To be honest, all the magic ended after Tales of Power because he went from being a student to on his own and although that was cool, like I said, some of the magic was lost.


message 9: by Harry (last edited May 04, 2014 07:36PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Harry I have read all books besides Art of Dreaming and The Active side of infinty.. the fact is that the story is about the 5 first book until the Eagles Gift..the other books are just some lost memories and i dont know i was kind of bored !!! the 5 first books are amazing but the others are a little dissapointment !!


message 10: by Henk (new) - rated it 5 stars

Henk Agreed the first books were better stories. Questions is what one wants out of reading the books.
If understanding or applying the teachings is a goal there are books by other authors to consider. Whisperings of the Dragon; Shamanic techniques to awaken your Primal Power just released an wins my pragmatism award so far on Toltec Wisdom. Clarifications found in Shadows in the Twilight: Conversations with a Shaman address issues that Castaneda did not cover satisfactorily or in depth. I liked what these two books brought to my understanding of the Teachings.


Duane Just start at the beginning and keep going until you realize poor Carlos has run out of gas, whenever that is.


Doubledf99.99 Feels like its time for a reread of some his books..


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