Wow! Looks so interesting. Gonna watch it tonight. Thanks so much for the post.
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u/danl999
6 points2020-09-18 15:54
Please tell me if there's anything interesting.
It didn't start out well.
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u/Michail_D
3 points2020-09-18 08:28
Carlos Castaneda explains the term "toltec":
The Toltec Empire is a theoretical configuration. Being Toltecs is tantamount to saying today that we are democrats. So talking about Toltec shamans from Sonora is sheer idiocy.
- What does it mean to be a Toltec? I asked him. Castaneda explained that the word Toltec has a wide meaning. One can say of someone that he is a Toltec, just as some people say that he is a democrat or a philosopher. The context in which he uses this word has nothing to do with its anthropological meaning. From the anthropological point of view, this word means the Indian culture of the north and south of Mexico, which was in decline at the time of the conquest and colonization of America by Spain.
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u/TechnoMagical_Intent
4 points2020-09-18 09:06
The lineage to which Carlos was attached has it's origins at around 10,000 or more years ago, solidly in pre-history, and way before even the earliest documented pre-Olmec cultures. But it coexisted and evolved through the later Toltec period, folding some of their (and our) influences into itself.
Toltec is just easier to say than "the sorcerer's of antiquity."
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u/Michail_D
2 points2020-09-18 11:09
Yes. Therefore, historical information from the Aztecs, which is distorted by their culture, cannot give us a clear view of tradition. Therefore, for example, I do not understand why some followers want to associate the tradition with deities and priesthood titles like "quetzalcoatl", etc.
It is interesting that more ancient data than the Toltecs speak of the jaguar as a symbol of the traditions of "shamanism" (nagualism), while in the territories where jaguars are not found now (remember the episode from the 7th book?). It is also interesting that the original image of quetzalcoatl was associated with the quetzal bird, therefore its feathers were so valued and were a sign of the clergy, but later the "totem" symbol of the feathered serpent began to prevail. Etc. There is a lot of interesting information on the historical dialectic of religion / politics / culture in Central America... but at the same time it is not directly related to the tradition of don Juan. The funny thing here is that perhaps the Toltec empire was opposite to the original culture where the line came from (like the homeland of don Juan's ancestors :)). For many ethnic groups, they were conquerors (united the Nahua peoples), such as for the Zapotecs and even the Maya.
This and the other tells us that by using the word "toltek" to define the tradition of Castaneda, we are making a mistake.
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u/princejask
2 points2020-09-18 19:46
I still haven't watched it but when I do I will let you know.
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u/runningdownastream
2 points2020-09-19 17:19
26 minutes in.. This a total waste of time. Not worth watching whatsoever. Reni will likely take him to court. They show magical passes in the class, and they have trademarked the Magical passesTM. So sad ..this guy wrote 7 books and has nothing to say at all..
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u/princejask
3 points2020-09-19 18:37
I agree. Only got half way thru and it was just stuff that I had already heard many times before. Although I am all for anyway trying to awake or stimulate the energy of others or just the world in general anyone can do better than this. Doesn't feel authentic. Sincerity seems to be lost as well.
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u/runningdownastream
3 points2020-09-20 17:18
The sad thing is that he just hasn't had anyone tell him that he is just beginning, or if they did, he didn't listen. So he is the blind trying to lead the blind.
9 Comments
Wow! Looks so interesting. Gonna watch it tonight. Thanks so much for the post.
Please tell me if there's anything interesting.
It didn't start out well.
Carlos Castaneda explains the term "toltec":
The Toltec Empire is a theoretical configuration. Being Toltecs is tantamount to saying today that we are democrats. So talking about Toltec shamans from Sonora is sheer idiocy.
- What does it mean to be a Toltec? I asked him. Castaneda explained that the word Toltec has a wide meaning. One can say of someone that he is a Toltec, just as some people say that he is a democrat or a philosopher. The context in which he uses this word has nothing to do with its anthropological meaning. From the anthropological point of view, this word means the Indian culture of the north and south of Mexico, which was in decline at the time of the conquest and colonization of America by Spain.
The lineage to which Carlos was attached has it's origins at around 10,000 or more years ago, solidly in pre-history, and way before even the earliest documented pre-Olmec cultures. But it coexisted and evolved through the later Toltec period, folding some of their (and our) influences into itself.
Toltec is just easier to say than "the sorcerer's of antiquity."
Yes. Therefore, historical information from the Aztecs, which is distorted by their culture, cannot give us a clear view of tradition. Therefore, for example, I do not understand why some followers want to associate the tradition with deities and priesthood titles like "quetzalcoatl", etc.
It is interesting that more ancient data than the Toltecs speak of the jaguar as a symbol of the traditions of "shamanism" (nagualism), while in the territories where jaguars are not found now (remember the episode from the 7th book?). It is also interesting that the original image of quetzalcoatl was associated with the quetzal bird, therefore its feathers were so valued and were a sign of the clergy, but later the "totem" symbol of the feathered serpent began to prevail. Etc. There is a lot of interesting information on the historical dialectic of religion / politics / culture in Central America... but at the same time it is not directly related to the tradition of don Juan. The funny thing here is that perhaps the Toltec empire was opposite to the original culture where the line came from (like the homeland of don Juan's ancestors :)). For many ethnic groups, they were conquerors (united the Nahua peoples), such as for the Zapotecs and even the Maya.
This and the other tells us that by using the word "toltek" to define the tradition of Castaneda, we are making a mistake.
I still haven't watched it but when I do I will let you know.
26 minutes in.. This a total waste of time. Not worth watching whatsoever. Reni will likely take him to court. They show magical passes in the class, and they have trademarked the Magical passesTM. So sad ..this guy wrote 7 books and has nothing to say at all..
I agree. Only got half way thru and it was just stuff that I had already heard many times before. Although I am all for anyway trying to awake or stimulate the energy of others or just the world in general anyone can do better than this. Doesn't feel authentic. Sincerity seems to be lost as well.
The sad thing is that he just hasn't had anyone tell him that he is just beginning, or if they did, he didn't listen. So he is the blind trying to lead the blind.