Introduction Summary and Analysis

Carlos Castaneda, the main character, begins his narrative of his time spent with don Juan, a Mexican sorcerer, known as a nagual. The aim of the nagual is to master "intent" or the mental aims of the universe. The concept of "intent" is extremely abstract, however, and must be explained throughout the book. Carlos and don Juan have a series of conversations throughout the introduction, where the philosophy of nagualism is explained. The world is made of energy fields, and humans are tight bundles of energy that can be manipulated by themselves and by others. Nagualism is about the reorientation of human energy fields in order to achieve peace and freedom from the mundane folkways of life. Men do not notice their natural abilities to use their energies to achieve peace because they are bogged down by the vagaries of life...