Carlos Castaneda
I first came across Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998) and his peyote induced encounters with Don Juan in the early 1970s. The Teachings of Don Juan and the books that followed were cult reading, at least it was so in the hippie circles I moved in at the time.
Further cult reading was The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley. From which the Doors got their name. Also Heaven and Hell by Huxley.
Carlos Castaneda led to the works of Hermann Hesse.
All these works still reside on my bookshelves.
More recently the works of Paulo Coelho. Carlos Castaneda was a strong influence on Paulo Coelho. This can be seen in much of his writing, but especially Manual of the Warrior of Light.
Much controversy now surrounds the works of Carlos Castaneda who many see as a fraud, though the philosophy espoused still influences many.
“Winds of Nagual”, a piece for Wind Ensemble, was composed by Michael Colgrass .
also see
The Teachings of Don Juan
A Separate Reality
Journey to Ixtlan
Character of the week: Castaneda
Castaneda and the warrior’s spirit
Manual of the Warrior of Light
A Warrior’s Life by Fernando Morais
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