25 May
Book excerpts, Carlos Castaneda, Power of Silence

The Descent of the Spirit – Moving the Assemblage Point

In “Moving the Assemblage Point,” don Juan details the profound practice of shifting the assemblage point, emphasizing ruthlessness as the first principle of sorcery and its connection to the “place of no pity.” He clarifies that the spirit and intent are the true forces behind these shifts, not physical maneuvers, as illustrated by a psychic healer’s ability to move the assemblage points of an entire audience by banishing their doubts. The chapter explains that a “somersault of thought into the inconceivable” is the breaking of perceptual barriers caused by such shifts, and that sorcerers cultivate recollection—distinct from mere remembering—using the shine of their eyes to intentionally guide their assemblage point. Ultimately, don Juan reveals that naguals inherently mask their ruthlessness with seemingly benevolent traits, as this core lack of pity is crucial for their ability to interact directly with intent and achieve these extraordinary states of heightened awareness.

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25 May
Book excerpts, Carlos Castaneda, Power of Silence

The Descent of the Spirit – The Somersault of Thought

This chapter, “The Somersault of Thought,” explains how sorcerers maintain their clarity and deepen their understanding of intent by stalking themselves, which involves delivering a “jolt” to break fixations and complacency. Don Juan emphasizes the crucial role of the idea of death not as an enemy, but as a “worthy opponent” that inspires courage and sobriety. He reveals that a “somersault of thought into the inconceivable” is synonymous with the descent of the spirit and the breaking of perceptual barriers, a state that can be induced through practices like using poems as “advance runners.” The chapter culminates with the concept of sorcerer storytellers who, by manipulating their connection to intent “under the auspices of the spirit,” can alter “factual” outcomes in their narratives, demonstrating that profound understanding allows the direct manifestation of an intended reality beyond conventional perception.

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25 May
Book excerpts, Carlos Castaneda, Power of Silence

The Descent of the Spirit – Seeing the Spirit

This chapter, “The Descent of the Spirit,” explains the “fourth abstract core” as the spirit’s direct revelation, which frees individuals from self-reflection and mundane concerns. Don Juan illustrates this through the story of the nagual Julian and Talia, whose traumatic experience, guided by the nagual Elías, shifts their assemblage points and allows them to “see the spirit.” The narrator undergoes a similar shift in a sorcerers’ cave, perceiving Eagle’s emanations and a “lull of perception.” Don Juan further clarifies how sorcerers’ understanding evolved from “awareness” to “will” and finally to intent—the conscious force permeating the universe. Ultimately, sorcery is presented as the disciplined path, known as the “warrior’s way” or “impeccable action,” to re-establish this connection with intent and gain silent knowledge without being overwhelmed by its power.

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25 May
Book excerpts, Carlos Castaneda, Power of Silence

The Knock of the Spirit – The Last Seduction of the Nagual Julian

This extensive excerpt further illustrates the Knock of the Spirit as the second abstract core, revealing how the spirit’s manifestations—ranging from the sentient “warrior trees” to traumatic life-or-death situations—serve to move the assemblage point and activate the “connecting link to intent.” Don Juan recounts the challenging apprenticeship of his benefactor, the nagual Julian, whose initial encounter with the spirit was a near-fatal hemorrhage during a seduction. The narrative stresses that the spirit’s direct commands and the intensity of experiences like those involving sexual energy are meant to induce heightened awareness and foster the acquisition of silent knowledge, often requiring apprentices to overcome their “natural barriers,” such as the narrator’s tendency to disguise complacency as independence.

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25 May
Book excerpts, Carlos Castaneda, Power of Silence

The Knock of the Spirit – The Abstract

This chapter delves into the “second abstract core” of sorcery, termed the Knock of the Spirit, which is the spirit’s direct and often forceful invitation to a sorcerer or beginner to enter the “edifice of intent.” This phenomenon represents a form of knowledge without words, a profound understanding that transcends conventional thought, as exemplified by the experiences of the nagual Elías and don Juan himself. The spirit’s intervention, sometimes tied to intense experiences like those involving sexual energy or dreaming, aims to shift one’s assemblage point and revive the dormant connecting link to intent, demanding a fierce, unbending intent to overcome the ego’s resistance and accept this unfamiliar realm.

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