A Journal of Applied Hermeneutics

Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – Queries about the Warriors’ Way: The path without a teacher, Carlos’ plan, and Tensegrity

Carlos Castaneda addresses common inquiries about his role and the nature of Tensegrity and the warriors’ way. He clarifies that he sees himself as a counselor, aiming to guide others towards freedom from a “sight from the bridge” — a state of total silence where one perceives the present without the biases of the past or future. He emphasizes that the path is not about following a personal guru, as don Juan himself was a sorcerer perpetuating a lineage, not a teacher in the conventional sense. Instead, the true guide is the impersonal spirit or life force, accessible through inner silence. Castaneda explains that Tensegrity is a modernized system of “magical passes” — movements developed by ancient Mexican shamans to directly perceive energy — which were kept secret until now, as don Juan’s lineage concludes with his four disciples, freeing them to share this knowledge for the benefit of all, promoting well-being and breaking free from the constraints of everyday perception and self-importance.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – Queries about the Warriors’ Way: What is the point of doing all those Practices?

In this section, Castaneda addresses two common questions. The first concerns when a practitioner will achieve “seeing,” the direct perception of energy. He explains that while practices are important, the crucial element is to “intend” the outcome—the state sorcerers call “stopping the world,” which is achieved by obliterating self-importance. The second question is about fear over strange physical sensations during Tensegrity. Castaneda recounts how don Juan Matus explained such feelings not as external manipulation, but as natural physiological responses or a product of one’s own victim mentality. Don Juan’s advice was to counter fear by being “impeccable”.

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Journal of Applied Hermeutics – Fourth Principle of the Warrior’s Way: The Energy Body

The fourth unit of the warriors’ way is THE ENERGY BODY Don Juan Matus explained that, since time immemorial, sorcerers have given the name of energy body to a special configuration of energy which belongs to each human being individually.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – Who are the Chacmools?

In this query section, Castaneda addresses the question about the “chacmools,” a name given to instructors Kylie Lundahl, Reni Murez, and Nyei Murez. He explains the term’s origin, which don Juan Matus associated with warrior guardians protecting sacred sites. Castaneda clarifies that the title is not exclusive; anyone who accepts the responsibility of guarding, including himself and Carol Tiggs, becomes a chacmool. He notes that these three women were the first to bring the magical passes to the public and are now moving to a new phase on the warrior’s path.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – What is Tensegrity?

Castaneda explains Tensegrity’s origins as a modernized version of “magical passes” from don Juan Matus’s lineage. He recounts don Juan’s teachings about ancient sorcerers who could perceive energy directly (‘seeing’), which revealed the human ‘assemblage point’ where perception is assembled. By studying this point’s movement, they developed the ‘art of dreaming’ and the magical passes. Castaneda notes that after learning these passes in secret, he and his fellow disciples decided to make them public as Tensegrity, a name signifying the tension and integrity that are the driving forces of the movements.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – Announcements

This section details Cleargreen’s 1996 event schedule. It announces a San Francisco seminar on “Intentionality” with new instructors called the Pathfinders , and a Los Angeles seminar on “The Female Energy Body” featuring lectures by Castaneda, Carol Tiggs, and others. The release of new Tensegrity videos (“Redistributing Dispersed Energy” and “Twelve Basic Movements”) is also announced , along with the Spanish edition of Castaneda’s book, “The Art of Dreaming”. Subscription and contact details for the journal are provided.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – What is Intentionality?

Castaneda begins with a note on his use of language before exploring “intentionality,” seeking to move beyond standard philosophy. He traces the term from the medieval Scholastics to the 19th-century philosopher Franz Brentano, who defined it as the unique characteristic of mental phenomena to be directed toward an object. Castaneda then connects this to the sorcery concept of “calling intent”. From a sorcerer’s perspective, he explains, intent is not a mental product but a tangible, energetic force that exists outside the physical body and can be engaged with.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – Queries about the Warriors’ Way: When am I going to see? Are you doing something to me?

In this section, Castaneda addresses two common questions. The first concerns when a practitioner will achieve “seeing,” the direct perception of energy. He explains that while practices are important, the crucial element is to “intend” the outcome—the state sorcerers call “stopping the world,” which is achieved by obliterating self-importance. The second question is about fear over strange physical sensations during Tensegrity. Castaneda recounts how don Juan Matus explained such feelings not as external manipulation, but as natural physiological responses or a product of one’s own victim mentality. Don Juan’s advice was to counter fear by being “impeccable”.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – The Second Principle of the Warrior’s Way: We Are What Our Inception Is

Castaneda presents the second premise of the warriors’ way: “We Are What Our Inception Is”. He relays don Juan Matus’s difficult teaching that one’s energetic makeup is profoundly shaped by the conditions of one’s conception. Don Juan used the term “bored fuck” (B.F.) for those conceived without genuine parental excitement, who are consequently energetically weak and needy. Don Juan’s practical advice for a B.F. was to become a “miser of energy” through abstinence from draining behaviors. The ultimate goal, he explained, is to remake oneself by “intending the inconceivable,” using any available emotional or sensational spark as fuel for transformation.

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics – What are Warrior Guardians?

In this log, Castaneda defines a “warrior guardian” as don Juan Matus’s term for a sorcerer—someone capable of interrupting their normal system of interpretation. He explains that the group known as the Chacmools was dissolved according to the dictates of energy, a force a warrior must obey. A new group selected by energy, the Energy Trackers, has replaced them. Castaneda relays don Juan’s explanation of energy tracking as following the trail of energy’s flow, which is experienced as a physical feeling rather than a visual sight. This new group naturally formed and developed this capacity, allowing energy to reveal itself to them.

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