Dear Sheri,
It was fifteen years ago that I started reading the teachings of don Juan by Carlos Castaneda. I found out that I the dreaming practices came easy to me. However, I suddenly began to notice that things were becoming too real. Objects became more solid and I had difficulty waking up into the reality that my body lives in. For this reason, I stopped my practices because I had no guide. Recently I have picked the books and found that I still have the ability to find my hands, spin on my heels, etc. Last night I got so deep into the dream that I had a hard time finding my way back to my body. Should I once again abandon the path or is there something I can do to feel a little bit more secure? I feel like I'm treading on shaky ground. p.s. I love your book!!
Dear Dreamer,
The question is what is your intent in doing those exercises anyway? Perhaps it is time to look again at why don Juan suggested to Carlos to do those things in the first place. Not what Carlos thought the reason was - but don Juan's reasons which are two different things. The first purpose of those exercises for me is to have the experience that we are dreaming all the time, during the day and at night. None of this is "real" unless you consider that electrical impulses translated by your brain of pure energy is "real." You are a slave of the machine that interprets your really for you until you no longer are. When you have this deep realization born of your experience then you begin to have fun in life knowing that this is a dream, an illusion and you can have gratitude of the mystery of it all and you no longer will have anything to defend or argue about.
Your energy body will always be connected with your body. It is only your ego-mind that has created this story and this fear. So far you always are back in your body yet you cling to a thought form that says you may not get back to your body. Is that truth based on your experience? Again the idea of dreaming is to understand who you are - an unlimited consciousness that is in a body and has use of a mind.
Dreaming exercises are not to be flying around the universe for mindless uselessness. It is to be able to transcend your mind and body and claim your true self. Who cares if you can see your hands or spin on your heels? Those exercises were given so that Carlos could get control of his ATTENTION and are of no importance in and of themselves - attention is the only thing we have as conscious beings that we can use to create our reality. So far your mind seems to have control of your attention rather than who you really are. I strongly suggest you work on yourself, your beliefs and mental strategies and when you no longer are held down by them and you no longer believe your won thought forms your dreaming will become something else without you having to try.
I am glad you are enjoying the book - it is to assist you in obtaining your personal freedom. What you are doing right now is not freeing you nor is it giving you clarity that can lead to freedom. Perhaps if you read the books again from the 3rd one to the end you will see how Carlos states that he did not understand his teachers intent and that he took action that did not lead to his freedom. In the end you must also realize that much of the book is fictionalized and rather than reading literally, perhaps it is best to get the flavor or the feeling behind his teachers words. The most important thing in life is the quality of your human relationships and the ability to express your love boldly. Go for it!
Blessings & love, Sheri
