The Second Ring of Power

Rating:
Summary: One must suspend their disbelief when they read this
Review:

Castaneda has a large and vocal following. Judging from previous reviews, all of them are not at the highest level of literacy, but they do seem to have confidence in the tales he relates.

I often wonder how it is that people will believe stories that can only be described as preposterous--stories at which they would scoff, if told them by a friend or coworker, simply because they are in book form.

Castaneda achieved great success with his 'Tales of Don Juan,' which the New York Times called "an extraordinary spiritual and psychological document." This book is a follow-on, only the sorceress, Dona Soledad, is a female who was trained by Don Juan, this gaining the loyalty of a feminine audience.

I have met a sorcerer's apprentice who lived with the Weshaw Indians of Mexico and used the sacred mushroom with them, and learned to use the water drum, and experienced other aspects of their culture. There are many deep mysteries to examine, and I am open to them.

Carlos Castaneda, however, does not resonate with me. Well-written, perhaps. I can see no reason to rush to judgment to believe him, though.

Joseph Pierre,
Author of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Our Journey Through Eternity

Rating:
Summary: depth of thought is not for the masses
Review: i have read all of Mr. Castaneda's books, and have recently re-read a good portion of selected books from this whole group of books, including the second ring of power....

Mr. Castaneda's rendering of his experiences with his cohorts, and teachers has to be taken in the full context of all of his books. The ideas that he speaks about obviously are not his, he was an uptight, overachieving academic type. he would not have the full imagination to think up all of this "stuff".

but the whole group of books where he explains in detail the specific way to become a "warrior" is not for the massess. The massess have no thought over and above their everyday life, much less such an esoteric explaination of a unique way of life. And very few would take this walk of life.

I know alot of people obviously think that the things described are from his imagination or maybe from his drug induced thoughts, but as one reads each and every book it is obvious that there is something more that is going on. each of his books builds upon the last and tries to explain the full impact of what he was told and what he saw and experienced.

life is full of mysteries that we have not delved into...other dimensions that we have not explored this does not mean that they are not available.

it just means that most people cannot make that leap into another reality.

that of course is their loss.

Rating:
Summary: A Story That Gives Severe Curiousity...
Review: My dad recommended this to me; he told me he read them as a young adult when Carlos' books were just being published. My library only had this one, so I had to begin on a seemingly already well-traveled joruney. All I can say is this is one book I'll never forget. It was amazing, and yet indeed troubling for me because I've never heard anyone talk about life quite the way he explains it in a Sorcerer's eyes. I love, as a woman myself, that there are females Sorcerers that helped him, because indeed wherever men have been, women have as well. But other than that, I found them to be weird characters, people that don't sound like they live in our world whatsoever. The men, Nestor, Beningo, and Pablito and the women Gorda, Lidia, Rosa, and Josefina are just souls that could confuse any of us average kind, and I truly felt like Carlos- confused and severely curious throughout the entire novel. That's why I don't appreciate them all calling him stupid constantly, I mean, cut him slack. He's learning as they learned. And what things he learned, as well as myself.
Dad asked me if I believe it, or cast it aside as a really well- written story. I say...maybe. Look at it in my perspective. I'm young, confused, and just starting to get my own 'form'. I believe there is much more out there than can be proven under a microscope, but I need to be level- headed and realistic and understand how pessimistic viewers see it as well. There's no proof what this man wrote is true, but there's absolutely no proof he's lying either. It is eerie how good he is at writing such a story, making it sound so true, but there have been stories that have fooled us before. So I'm not sure. This man has really put me in a bind, and I don't regret it. The more you think, the more broader your mind and soul get. (That's my philosophy at least.)
I'll tell you this much, this is truly an author I would love to meet, but since that's probably never going to happen, I'm going to read more of him when I have time. I have still many questions, and regardless of if this is a story or not, I want them answered.
Just a note, try to get his very first book if can, and if you want a book on enjoyment instead of study, don't even pick this up. It's no fantasy novel. It's a whole other world of study that derives basically on shamanism in the vast and mysterious lands of Mexico.

Rating:
Summary: Hooked on other realities
Review: Second Ring of Power is a compelling novel about the special shamanic powers of women. Centered around the female disciples of Don Juan, these women ensnare, terrify and eventually mentor the sincere yet bumbling Castenada. As he re-enters the phantasmagoric and treacherous Mexican night with his new female masters, he discovers a whole new realm of mystery and fascination. A must read for feminist Castenada fans.

Rating:
Summary: In Depth Sorcery...
Review: This is when the fun Begins, Carlos Comes Back From the Abyss, And begins to ponder whether he really jumped off a mountain so he goes back to mexico to see if he can find answers, and boy did he, In order to completely understand this book its a must to read the last previous books Or else you will be Lost ! It gets pretty Complicated but if you've read the previous books you can comprehend it pretty well, this book also deserves at least 2 reads you'll find different answers all the time, Once you begin comprehending you will finally be addicted to the writings of Carlos, his descriptions are so thorough It paints a most vivid picture of his details. The Beginning of Carlos's First Battle with Sorcery and he finds in-depth powers he never thought he can achieve, and this also introduces the art of dreaming and the second attention,
Carlos Replaces his beloved Teacher Don Juan as the New Nagual for Don Juan's Mysterious Apprentices.
I read this book within a week cause i couldn't put it down.
Surreal and amazing
a must have for Castaneda Followers!
Let your Path to a Toltec Warrior Begin...

Rating:
Summary: In Depth Sorcery...
Review: This is when the fun Begins, Carlos Comes Back From the Abyss, And begins to ponder whether he really jumped off a mountain so he goes back to mexico to see if he can find answers, and boy did he, In order to completely understand this book its a must to read the last previous books Or else you will be Lost ! It gets pretty Complicated but if you've read the previous books you can comprehend it pretty well, this book also deserves at least 2 reads you'll find different answers all the time, Once you begin comprehending you will finally be addicted to the writings of Carlos, his descriptions are so thorough It paints a most vivid picture of his details. The Beginning of Carlos's First Battle with Sorcery and he finds in-depth powers he never thought he can achieve, and this also introduces the art of dreaming and the second attention,
Carlos Replaces his beloved Teacher Don Juan as the New Nagual for Don Juan's Mysterious Apprentices.
I read this book within a week cause i couldn't put it down.
Surreal and amazing
a must have for Castaneda Followers!
Let your Path to a Toltec Warrior Begin...