Pink Moan

June 25th, 2008 by Gnat

A couple of years ago an internet friend reacquainted me with the writings of Carlos Castaneda. I hadn’t thought much about the new age guru Castaneda since lifting one of his books from the public library in about 9th or 10th grade. I didn’t mean to steal it, I think I just checked it out and forgot to return it. Anyways, the little I read of The Power of Silence in high school didn’t leave much of an impression on me at the time. I think I checked it out mainly because I’d heard there were drug references within. Around this time I also read On the Road and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the first books that made me want to squeal with joy: “Drugs, drugs! They’re writing about drugs!”

I’ve since had my fill of drug-related literature (ok, maybe not), anyways that’s not why I took to reading Castaneda again a couple of years ago. Basically I read a few book excerpts sent to me by aforementioned internet friend and the shit blew my mind. Concepts like using the first and second attention and stopping the internal dialogue as a means to experience separate realities fascinated me. CC’s books were originally published as anthropological works, but are now generally agreed upon as fiction. I say if a “Weird Psychology” section existed at the bookstore, Castaneda’s works would help fill the shelves. Click here for a little example of Castaneda’s language and ideas, made manifest through the literary device of his Don Juan character.

Carlos Castaneda was a weird guy: ambitious, short, and bubbling over with charisma. That seems to describe so many of history’s fascinating men, now doesn’t it?! I’ve read varying personal accounts of him — some say he glowed with good vibes and oozed charm while others describe him as morally ambiguous and emotionally sadistic. I think he was a complicated man. He liked to fuck with people’s heads, and was apparently very good at it. So good in fact that he may have inspired several women of his inner circle (the “Witches,” as they were called) to commit suicide upon his death from cancer in 1998.

It’s hard to dig up much solid info on Castaneda because in 1973 he withdrew from public view to shack up with his Witches in a large home in West Los Angeles. Nary a picture exists of him, as he was all about “erasing personal history” and refused to let photos be taken of him after a certain point in his life. The following Salon.com article is the best I’ve found thus far on Castaneda, his shady life and the Witches who may have joined him upon his departure from this earthly plane. Enjoy:

The Dark Legacy of Carlos Castaneda

(one of the few pics that exist of Castaneda)

PS: It’s kind of weird the first time you access the Salon site. Bypass any opening Flash sequences, then click this link again if necessary. It’s a great, juicy article and worth the trouble!