la gorda

The Eagle’s Gift – The Horde of Angry Sorcerers

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 34 minutes of reading

In this chapter, Castaneda and the apprentices arrive at the mysterious house, which Josefina identifies as belonging to “Silvio Manuel,” triggering visceral reactions in everyone. Their quasi-memories intensify, focusing on a terrifying bridge and the enigmatic figure of Silvio Manuel, whom they collectively recall as a dark force that “devoured” them as they were forced to cross the “parallel lines.” The group’s attempt to analyze these events in Mexico City descends into chaos as they turn on Castaneda, accusing him of being an agent of Silvio Manuel sent to mislead them. The conflict climaxes when Castaneda has a hard memory of Don Juan and another man showing him a “wall of fog” that splits the world. Faced with the group’s unwavering belief in his sinister role, they decide to part ways, although la Gorda vows to rejoin him later to fulfill their shared destiny.

The Eagle’s Gift – The Horde of Angry Sorcerers Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – The Art of Dreaming – Losing The Human Form

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 26 minutes of reading

In this chapter, Castaneda undergoes a harrowing physical ordeal which he and la Gorda identify as the final “loss of the human form,” resulting in a profound state of warrior’s detachment that erases his past resentments. This new state of being acts as a catalyst, unlocking a critical, completely forgotten memory of the “Nagual woman”—a serene and powerful counterpart to Don Juan who was, in fact, Castaneda’s partner. The shocking revelation that they could have forgotten such a pivotal figure plunges both him and la Gorda into a cycle of shared grief, rage, and fear as they begin to grapple with the true, terrifying extent of Don Juan’s manipulations on their memories and their very beings.

The Eagle’s Gift – The Art of Dreaming – Losing The Human Form Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – Dreaming Together

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 38 minutes of reading

In this chapter, to overcome their shared distress, Castaneda and la Gorda decide to attempt “dreaming together.” Castaneda outlines his four stages of dreaming before they successfully enter a shared dream, which is a vivid memory of Don Juan assigning la Gorda to him as a task to harness his selfishness. This experience also triggers the memory of another forgotten member of their party, Vicente. The breakthrough forces them into a detailed analysis of the art of dreaming, exploring concepts like the second attention, not-doing, the dreaming body, and will. The discussion culminates in la Gorda’s revelation that will is the control of the “other self,” and that Silvio Manuel was the ultimate master of it, a being permanently existing in his other self and commanding intent itself.

The Eagle’s Gift – Dreaming Together Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – The Not-Doings of Silvio Manuel

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 27 minutes of reading

In this chapter, several anomalies challenge don Juan’s party, revealing that the established rule does not fully apply to Carlos Castaneda, who is identified as a rare “three-pronged Nagual.” To address this, Silvio Manuel takes charge of Castaneda’s training, implementing a series of esoteric exercises called “not-doings” designed to strengthen his and la Gorda’s second attention. These exercises culminate in a dangerous crossing into the “other world” at a power spot, a trial that drains Castaneda of his energy. He is subsequently revived by the life force of the entire party, a process that dislodges him from their group and sets him on a new, unique path, with his training divided between don Juan for the right side and Zuleica for the left.

The Eagle’s Gift – The Not-Doings of Silvio Manuel Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – The Intricacies of Dreaming

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 32 minutes of reading

In this chapter, Carlos Castaneda is placed under the guidance of Zuleica to learn the esoteric intricacies of dreaming and the second attention. Through a series of ritualistic exercises conducted in total darkness, Zuleica teaches him the physical and energetic maneuvers required to enter the dreaming state, such as creating a “dent” in his luminous shell and merging his two sides of awareness. Castaneda learns to control his dreaming body and move by pure intent. The training progresses to group journeys where Zuleica leads him, la Gorda, and Josefina to otherworldly realms, directly exposing them to the perceptual realities of the second attention so they can develop their own “tales of eternity.”

The Eagle’s Gift – The Intricacies of Dreaming Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – The Other Self – The Fixation of The Second Attention

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 31 minutes of reading

In this chapter, Carlos Castaneda discusses his visit to the Atlantean figures in Tula with the other apprentices. This prompts la Gorda to recount a terrifying experience with a power rock from other ruins, which resulted in Don Juan burying her for nine days to shield her from the “fixation of the second attention” of its deceased owner. The conversation reveals the dangers of ancient sites, which can act as traps for the second attention, and the two faces of its fixation: the evil one focused on worldly power, and the other focused on the journey into the unknown. The chapter explores the concepts of the three attentions, the luminous body, and not-doing, while highlighting the growing tension within the group and their expectation for Castaneda to act as the Nagual.

The Eagle’s Gift – The Other Self – The Fixation of The Second Attention Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – The Other Self – Seeing Together

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 31 minutes of reading

In this chapter, Castaneda experiences a physical and mental crisis, which la Gorda identifies as him “losing the human form.” The tension culminates when Pablito runs away, forcing Castaneda to assert his Nagual authority by physically confronting the other apprentices; during this confrontation, he has a breakthrough and *sees* them as luminous beings for the first time. Later, on a trip to Oaxaca with la Gorda, the memory of Don Juan and a deep emotional connection between them catalyze a shared, sustained vision of people as “luminous eggs.” They realize they have achieved “seeing together,” a significant milestone, and la Gorda insists they must remain silent about the experience to preserve the power they have gained, hinting at a shared past that Castaneda cannot yet remember.

The Eagle’s Gift – The Other Self – Seeing Together Read More »

The Eagle’s Gift – Quasi Memories of The Other Self

Ancient Cycle, Authors, Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's gift / By / 26 minutes of reading

In this chapter, Castaneda, urged by the apprentices, recounts his personal *dreaming* experiences, including his recurring visions of a saber-toothed tiger, which la Gorda identifies as a dangerous form of “ghost dreaming.” The focus then shifts dramatically when Josefina reveals that she regularly meets with the departed apprentice, Eligio, in her own dreams. Eligio’s mysterious message is that Castaneda is indeed the Nagual but is “not for them” and that he must “remember his left side” to fulfill his role. The situation intensifies as Nestor, Benigno, and Lydia also begin to surface strange “quasi-memories” of Castaneda teaching them things in a past they cannot logically place, causing Castaneda to have a visceral, uncontrollable physical reaction to the bewildering convergence of their other-worldly experiences.

The Eagle’s Gift – Quasi Memories of The Other Self Read More »

Translate »