Part 1, The Other Self, Chapter 1, The Fixation of the Second Attention Summary and Analysis

Author Carlos Castaneda, a UCLA anthropologist turned sorcerer, is reunited with la Gorda, the three little sisters (Lydia, Rosa, and Josefina), and "the Genaros"(Benigno, Nestor, and Pablito). La Gorda, with whom he feels the greatest affinity, is close to recalling something about him when he arrives. He mentions visiting ruins at Tula, where colossal carved figures are said to walk at night. Pablito, who has lived there, talks of fearsome "nagual" and peaceful "tonal" structures. The subject baffles Carlos and makes the others nervous. It is a strange period in their lives.

Pablito says that the pyramids are gigantic "not-doings," where warriors Dream and exercise second attention. One has been destroyed by warriors of the third attention. They recall the...