Part 2: Chapter 7 - 8 Summary and Analysis

When Castaneda next visits, don Juan tells him that he must smoke the hallucinogenic mushrooms to gain the next level of seeing like a sorcerer, even though the author almost saw in this way when Genaro performed at the waterfall. The smoke will allow Castaneda to perform quickly enough, don Juan says, and this accelerated state will spare much wear and tear on the physical body. Reluctant at first, Castaneda agrees to smoke. Just before doing so, he asks if this situation will be dangerous. Don Juan replies that everything is dangerous.

With the guidance of don Juan, Castaneda smokes and sees the guardian of another world. To the author the guardian appears as a large ugly monster with wings that moves around in circles, goes far away, and then returns to strike Castaneda, which causes great...