Tales of Power

Great quality. Get exactly what you pay for. And for what you gain from the read, WELL worth the value

Companion book to Casteneda's "Journey to Ixtlan". Both writings are engrossing & wondrous. Yes, there seems to be some sort of debate over whether these stories are true or fiction; if so, who cares? The story is stands on its own strengths, even if it is fictional. Is there any argument against the merits of a great fictional story? If we agree there is merit, then we can truly be astounded if we perceive the story to be based on fact: the astonishing revelations & perceptions of a young university student while in the company of a Yaqui Indian shaman & some of his associates. The shaman has all the attributes of a Taoist elder as he ushers his student/apprentice into a new awareness of reality. To the reader, it becomes apparent of what exactly it takes to develop a new sophistication in achieving not just an intuitive realization of existence but, more importantly, how one develops the appropriate tools needed to accurately convey that intuition outwardly to another being. For that reason, this book is strongly recommended; there are precious few works like it anywhere.

I first read several of the Castaneda books many years ago - so this is a re-reading; it remains one of the most gripping tales of what our lives, beyond the everyday might actually be. Of course there is no way to duplicate Carlos' experience just by reading his books, but, every here and there there is ring of -oh yeah - I can relate to that - one can feel a sensing beyond the normal from various activities -probably not the Toltec Second Attention - but transformational never the less. Carlos tells us that this is not fiction. I'm sure he's telling the truth. A fascinating adventure - but - you have to read them all to gather fully how Carlos went through it all. I don't think that picking up Tales of Power as the only book you read will make much sense. Also, the books should probably be read in the order in which they were written as Carlos refers to events in earlier books and relates how his experiences have deepened with the passage of time and further instruction. Start with -The Teachings of don Juan, a Yaqui Way of Knowledge, the very first, published in 1968. Tales of Power is the fourth in the series, the eighth, The Power of Silence, published in 1987. A thirty year commemorative reissue of The Teachings of don Juan, was published in 1998. The series relates Carlos' almost thirty year path into the teachings of the ancient Toltecs of Mexico. You will not likely become a sorcerer, nor a Man of Knowledge, but you will share in the amazing experiences of one who has come very close, and who is still on his own unending Journey to Ixtlan (the third book).

I think of Journey to Ixtlan and Tales of Power as one book split into two parts. The payoffs at the end of Tales, where Don Miguel recounts his entire strategy of apprenticeship, was pretty amazing. The only thing that bothered me when I finished was that the final scene differs in several significant details from Castenada's telling of the same event in The Active Side of Infinity. This seems like a glaring problem for the veracity of these accounts.

Castaneda was a consummate story teller; and this book testifies to that. However, I feel he was always intentionally vague about many things, either because he did not want to reveal details to the reader; or because he was fabricating some of it. All that being said, however, it is still a good read, and if half of it is true, then he lived some awe inspiring sessions with Juan and Genaro.

True wisdom requires experience combined with knowledge & perspective

Buying this book is revisiting a time of my life when every week was a new softcover novel. While most of the other novels have long since faded into mists of memory, the Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda has held a place in my memory since the first time I read it. One failing of mine in regard to other Castaneda titles is that I've only experienced two - a situation I intend to remedy, because reading the complete works is the closest I'll ever get to seeing into the author's mind. The story carries the reader along with the author, and where it seems reasonable to express doubt, that doubt is already being expressed and answered by Don Juan, the mentor in a series of experiences meant to ultimately elevate the author to the level of sorceror. Like a good magic trick, wherein one "suspends disbelief", so too Tales of Power suspends disbelief, leaving a sense of wondering if crows appear silvery-white to each other, and if everyone possesses untapped abilities - among a myriad other unknowns suggested in the book. And it's like any other good thing in life- you're left wanting more. Well, at least I am.

The Castaneda series is unique and gives a first-hand account of the “sorcerers’ “ knowledge and set of beliefs among the Yaqui indians of Mexico. Carlos presents them in chronological order as his doctoral thesis from UCLA in Anthropology. I first read them in the 1970’s and decided to reread them again in light of modern-day revealations shaped by the span of 40+ years and several visits to Mexico. Do yourself a favor and read them in order.. First should be The Teachings of Don Juan, a Yaqui Way of Knowledge; then, A Separate Reality; then Journey to Ixtlan; then Tales of Power, then The Second Ring of Power. Start with these.

great

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.

まさか内容の全てを本気で信じる人はいないと思うが、すてきな暗喩が満たされていると解釈できる。その意味で、この本は真実を伝えているのではないかと私は思う。文章にちりばめられた多くの警句は確かにそうだと思わせるものばかりである。この本によれば、メキシコ（のある場所）はとても良い景色とされている。いってみたい気もするが、知人はサボテンばっかりの国と言っていた。この本を読むと、普通の日常が如何に幸せかを、逆に意識させられる。

Simply a wonderful máster piece of art. It engulfs the most inner conecction the man has with the awareness. Bravo!

Good explanation of the tonal and nagual... Yin and yang.