Reality Perception

Central to Castaneda's experiences with don Juan is the idea that what we normally perceive as reality is not how the world actually is. The use of psychoactive plants bends this perception into what don Juan maintains is the true nature of reality. Yet what Castaneda first sees is not the true perception but merely a step toward the true perception of reality.

Don Juan says that once a person sees as a sorcerer, then three things happen. First off, nothing is any more or less important than anything else. Second, the world provides sources of power that can be tapped into and put to use. Finally, the world has eight points in time and space, only two of which are normally used. A sorcerer can switch among all eight, and so change relative positions.

If all things are equal in the world, then what people normally...