Journey to Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan [Paperback]

Carlos Castaneda (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 1, 1991

Originally drawn to Yaqui Indian spiritual leader don Juan Matus for his knowledge of psychotropic plants, bestselling author Carlos Castaneda immersed himself in the sorcerer’s magical world. Ten years after his first encounter with the shaman, Castaneda examines his field notes and comes to understand what don Juan knew all along—psychotropic plants are merely a means to understanding alternative realities that one cannot fully embrace on one’s own. Journey to Ixtlan introduces these clear new ideas—omitted from Castaneda’s classic volumes The Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality—to the reader for the first time. Castaneda explores, as he comes to experience it himself, his own final voyage into the teachings of don Juan, and shares with us what it is like to truly "stop the world" and perceive reality on his own terms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the groundbreaking work of bestselling author Carlos Castaneda

"Extraordinary in every sense of the word." (The New York Times)

"An unparalleled breakthrough... Remarkable (Los Angeles Times)

"Hypnotic reading." (Chigago tribune)

"It is impossible to view the world in quite the same way." (Chicago Tribune)

"Excquisite... Stunning... Fresh, unexpected visions with the logic of dreams." (Detroit Free Press)

"Taken together [Castaneda's books] form a work among the best that the science of anthropology has produce." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Staggeringly beautiful reading. Itself timeless, Journey to IXtlan is one of the important statements of our time." (Book World)

About the Author

Born in 1925 in Peru, anthropologist Carlos Castaneda wrote a total of 15 books, which sold 8 million copies worldwide and were published in 17 different languages. In his writing, Castaneda describes the teaching of Don Juan, a Yaqui sorcerer and shaman. His works helped define the 1960's and usher in the New Age movement. Even after his mysterious death in California in1998, his books continue to inspire and influence his many devoted fans.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Press; 1st Wash Sq Press Trade Ppbk Prn Feb 199 edition (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671732463
• ISBN-13: 978-0671732462
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Mythology & Folk Tales > Mythology
  • #20 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Specific Demographics > Native American Studies

More About the Author

Born in 1925 in Peru, anthropologist Carlos Castaneda wrote a total of 15 books, which sold 8 million copies worldwide and were published in 17 different languages. In his writing, Castaneda describes the teaching of Don Juan, a Yaqui sorcerer and shaman. His works helped define the 1960's and usher in the New Age movement. Even after his mysterious death in California in1998, his books continue to inspire and influence his many devoted fans.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the journey April 17, 2005

By Hallstatt Prince

Format:Paperback

Forget the debate as to whether Castaneda's writings were a hoax or that his books became important reading for the drug culture. Although I suggest you read his first two books before reading this one but if you read only one book by Carlos Castaneda this is the book to read. Be his books accurate reporting by a cultural anthropologist (which is becoming increasingly more and more  doubtful), mysticism or hokum, this particular book is quite moving and lyrical. And whether his stories are real or imagined and whether the teaching he transmutes came from Don Juan or from his own mind by his knowledge as a trained anthropologist the underlying mystical principles of these stories cannot be dismissed out of hand.
  Shaman, poet and perhaps an academic scoundrel it is Castaneda's poetry and story telling that comes shining through in this book.
  If Castaneda's books were a hoax and were represented as cultural anthropology as a better hook to sell books it is a shame because he did a disservice to science and to his legacy. Still I myself, as a former researcher in Harvard University's anthropology department and a student of human ethology, can forgive this sin on one level and enjoy this book as a powerful work of liturature.
For if there has been a wrong that has been committed against anthropology it is one that was done by the way the books were marketed and perhaps by the author's personality itself. The works themselves should not suffer and be shunned for this.
His legacy would have been better served if he wrote these same works as a writer of fiction....
I believe the author would have been wiser to present his works the way Gurdjieff presented "Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson" rather than obstinately insisting there really was such a person as Don Juan (even if in the off chance that his teacher did exist).
Despite the controversy his writing stands on its own and Journey to Ixtlan is a powerful, touching, enchanting and beautiful book. Read more ›

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic of Modern Spirituality May 11, 1999

By rampageous_cuss VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This is a life-changing book and a spiritual classic (I rarely give ANYTHING 5 stars) but someone ought to mention that there is a certain amount of controversy about the accuracy of Castaneda's Don Juan series. Researcher Richard de Mille is probably the most even-handed of the critics and The_Don_Juan_Papers is worth a read, though some of the criticisms are merely carping small-mindedness.

Regardless of your attitude toward Castaneda's (or Don Juan's!)literal accuracy the series, of which Journey_to_Ixtlan is the best, presents a coherent and engaging spiritual existentialism. A Must Read!!!

86 of 101 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than his first two books February 4, 2001

By David

Format:Paperback

It took a lot for me to get through Castaneda's first book, The Teachings of Don Juan. I was totally unimpressed with it. The whole book was essentially about how a Yaqui Indian "sorcerer" put naive Carlos, then a graduate student in anthropology from UCLA doing research on a hallucinogenic plant, through a bunch of weird drug trips that shook his view of reality. And to me, that doesn't jive at all.

But in Journey to Ixtlan, Castaneda goes back and says, "wait, start over, reset. I was wrong about all of that drug stuff, it's really not necessary, don Juan just put me through that because I was too stubborn and 'rational' to see that there may be other views of reality than the ones I subscribe to." In this book he discovers that he doesn't need drugs to experience other worlds. Rather, there are a series of practices for right living that enable the possibility of perceiving in nonordinary ways.

So Journey to Ixtlan is where the real lessons about living life in the warrior's way begin. I recommend this book highly as a starting point for Castaneda's work; forget the first two books.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars when I was young & lost girl this book set me on a good path April 26, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I started reading ( & still re-read) Don Juan's
books by "Carlitos" long long ago , (mid 70's) &

still thank God that somehow I found his books

. The most important thing this book taught me

is to ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ACT

IONS .

I was young & lost & scared & a mess & that

concept had never crossed my mind. I was us

-ed to blaming others & their actions towards me

etc....for the outcomes of my life.

Well let me tell youuuuuuu something. What an

EYE OPENER !!!!! ha ha ha . I also leared not

to judge people & still try not to..... I remember

Don Juan used to say something lilke " do not

send your bad thoughts to a person that may have

done something wrong. It doesn't do them any good or yourself."

I adore Don Juan &' Carlitos' as he used to call him. Don Juan

had the BEST sense of humor I've ever seen.

Castanedas' book enchanted me, terrified me

( to the point that I slept with the lights on a couple

of nights ) enlightened me, inspired me & finally

changed me inside for the better.

I got a lot out of this one book so I read the rest

of them & loved them ALL! , Journey to Ixtlan I

have read so much it fell apart! but I love it .

It is my bible on how to be a decent person.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide to Personal Power September 20, 2003

By Bluestream

Format:Paperback

In this book, Castaneda tries to instill in the reader the components of personal power. A person of personal power can be summed up as someone who chooses to live as a victor rather than a victim. And to break away from the conditioning and habits of society and the norm.
Don Juan tries to impart to Castaneda some empowering mindframes and attitudes, such as by Erasing Personal History, one is able to break away from the excuses most people make in their life, and start to take Responsibility and action to change it, rather than blaming and getting stuck. Also the part about losing one's self-importance is extremely powerful wisdom, as he teaches that self-importance is one's own illusion. Only a person with self-importance easily feels hurt by the remarks of others.
It is interesting to note that this one of the Castaneda books that really sticks in people's mind, and has influenced a whole generation of spiritual and motivational thinkers, such as Wayne Dywer, Richard Bandler, Anthony Robbins among others.