Customer Reviews

Return of the Warriors: The Toltec Teachings, Volume 1 (3rd Edition)

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In the fall of 2000 I traveled to upstate New York to attend a retreat sponsored by Theun Mares, a Toltec nagal of the third attention. I did so in large part based on a series of books he had written, the first of which,Return of The Warriors, I had discovered quite accidently while casually browsing in a bookstore. My first reaction upon reaching for the book was one of skepticism. Was this another clever author attempting to jump on the Toltec bandwagon? I read the first few pages fully expecting by built in crap detector to go off, but it did not. Quite to the contrary, I left the store with the book convinced that I had found what I had longed hoped existed: an in depth examination of the the Toltec legacy. Like many of us, I was first introduced to the Toltec teachings through the books of Carlos Castaneda and potential readers of Mr. Mares will ask how his books mesh with the elegant words of Don Juan. They do so impeccably. Furthermore, they are texts, handbooks for the would be apprentice to the warrior's path. This book along with the others in the series, Cry of The Eagle and The Mists Of Dragon Lore, will answer many of the questions left surrounding the Toltec legacy, including its origins in ancient Atlantis. Mr. Mares writes with a clarity and conviction that cannot be denied. There is a ring of truth in these books that is very evocative, like an echo traveling silently through time. I came away convinced that I had been in the presence of one who knows where of he speaks. This does not happen every day. To the many loyal readers of Mr. Castaneda, may I suggest that a ladder has many rungs and that The Return Of The Warriors is another step in the unveiling of the warrior's path. With this in mind, I cannot recommend Theun Mares' books strongly enough. I can say frankly and without undue sentiment that they are gifts in the truest sense of the word.

For many years I was enchanted by the Toltec world through the eyes of Carlos Castaneda. Then I discovered that there were more books on the subject by Ken Eagle Feather, Victor Sanchez and Florinda Donner. Still it wasn't until I discovered the works of Theun Mares that I began the process of feeling this as a Path with Heart and not as a romantic notion. This book changed my life and put everything Don Juan was trying to tell Castaneda into it's proper perspective. In my opinion this book is better than all of Castaneda's books combined for anyone who is seriously willing to tread the Warrior's Path.

And if you are willing to dare upon this wonderful path of joy and freedom which is also a path of no return, then know that you are not alone, and if you look hard enough, you will find many great friends along this lonely path who share your passion and love for life.

Dare to live my friends, Blaise Ryan

What a privilege that Theun Mares is now disclosing the Toltec teachings through his series of books. Through his books, Mr. Mares provided me with a set of tools, which through consistent application in my life, are gradually but surely changing my life. Where before I was growing more cold and detached, and wondering if my life would ever have a sense of meaning and purpose, my heart is now opening bit by bit. There are no gimmicks, no quick fixes, just hard work applying simple tools over a lifetime.

I was initially drawn to the Toltec teachings through the works of Carlos Castaneda. At that point in my life, I was fascinated by the supernatural and the thought that there were alternate realities that could be experienced. But though the Warrior's Path as presented in those teachings brought many benefits into my life, the sense of fulfillment was never there. Something about all the magical stuff just seemed to still leave me empty inside. Mr. Mares' presentation of the Toltec teachings are grounded in real life, daily life, and I'm learning that that is where the real magic occurs. The magic of changing oneself.

I was first introduced to Toltec knowledge in the early 1970's by the works of C. Castaneda. While I found his work intriguing and the information compelling, there were many questions left unanswered, and I was unable to find coherency in the teachings. Over the years, I returned to his work, and that of others, but was always left unsatisfied. That changed for me when I first began to read Return of the Warriors. FINALLY! I found a very clear, very well organized, very in depth study of a vast body of knowledge that has since become my way of life. Return of the Warriors provides a brief history of Toltec knowledge, and of its evolution to its current form. The book also begins to impart information to the reader in a structured manner that flows from one concept to another. Each concept fills in more of the total picture, and builds into a workable way of life. I am now into the third reading of the book, and I find that there is level upon level of knowledge here. Once you begin to practice the concepts the words take deeper meaning with each new reading.

If you have been looking for a no-nonsense, practical system to aid you in finding meaning and purpose in your life, GET this book and USE it.

Compared to the Dan Juan's teachings in the books of Carlos Castaneda, there is something bizarre about Theun Mares's books. Not that they aren't interesting, but, not to overlook the obvious, he does seem terribly full of himself and self-important. His mystifying self-myth is a hoot, to put it most politely. Then, I don't see how all that twaddle by Mme. Blavatsky got into his books unless her ghost also wanted to get into the act. That aside, some of the Toltec teachings are, in fact, in these books of Mares, and one can derive some benefit from reading them, as the information is arranged as a neat inventory. However, the non-inventory of Castaneda's books, I feel, is far more to the point. It was not meant to memorize all the Toltec material like a grocery list. Something smells peculiar about Mares: his books read somehow like neo-fascist "warrior" cult material. For true Toltec Technology, read Castaneda, Ken Eaglefeather, Florinda Donner-Grau and Taisha Abelar. Victor Sanchez has something very good to offer, and the two books attributed to the man called Tomas are also very good. To go one step further, of you are really interested in Toltec ways, it will also be to your advantage to study the Aztec calendar. There is profound wisdom therein. Also it is to your advantage to find out about Mexican Curanderismo. I will recommend a book called "The Woman Who Glows in the Dark" by Elena Avila. You can learn something very important in that book. Mares is a strange one; interesting but strange. Something is severly warped.

From what I have learned so far, that part of humanity's ancient heritage called the Toltec Teachings is a wealth of knowledge so vast that a single lifetime is far too short a time to ever hope to grasp even the smallest fraction of it. Theun Mares, like Dr. Castaneda before him, has come forward to do his part in making sure that the teachings reach as wide an audience as possible.
I recommend Return of The Warriors to all those who seek freedom and knowledge and who find The Path With a Heart a path worth taking.

Theun Mares' books are amazing. I don't understand the negative criticism by some readers below, but then we do always see in others what we don't want to see in ourselves, don't we? These reviews are the best example for it.
In the end of the day you will have to read the books yourself. Why would you belief someone else's judgment? Do you feel drawn to this book?
I read it and it changed my life forever.

Once in a while, a book comes along which changes your life.

This is a challenging book - one that will challenge every preconceived idea you have. If you're prepared to face that challenge, the rewards are countless. You just HAVE to read this book!

This book continues a most eloquent and clear elucidation of a path with heart. One can apply it directly.
This is not romanticised escapism, just a clear description of approaches and steps to take to self-actualise and to approach life like a warrior.
Those who have read Carlos castaneda will find a context within which to make practical sense of the Toltec teachings.
I've since read all the books in this series and recommend them for the same reasons as stated above. Read in order.

Of course one can see where he is coming from.The toltec tradition is very popular , but keep an open mind on these teachings . I have met those who wax lyrical about Theun and in the same breath down play ever other toltec writer as if theun shoud be seen as later day toltec guru and anyone who didn't think so was either simple minded or just plain straight out didn't get the message of the books . That is way too dogmatic to be credible. Alot of repetition and retstatement of the same views.

The lenght of a book and the densisty of a book is no indication of its quality . The question is it practical and is it respectful of others ,or does it play the game of the specials over here and the not so specials over there . A useful read , but by no means the definitive work that theun tries to tell the reader it is. Also though he makes claims at great lenght about his connection to to castenedas teacher , the details are some what shrouded in mist.