Part 1: Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

"The Teachings," opens on Friday, Jun. 23, 1961 when, after a year of sidestepping the topic of peyote, Matus announces he has "smoked." Matus, knows Castaneda's good intentions, and tests whether his would-be apprentice dares to meet "Mescalito" by having him find the particular "spot" on the 12 X 8-foot porch where he can feel "naturally happy and strong." Castaneda has no idea how to solve the riddle, and Matus offers no clues. Left alone, Castaneda paces, sits in various places, and finally rolls around until 2 AM. When he admits defeat, Matus laughs and tells him to feel with his eyes. Castaneda is startled to find that his peripheral vision changes from greenish-yellow to purple when he inches to a particular place, which he marks with his jacket. Elsewhere, Castaneda marks with a shoe a shift from chartreuse to other hues. At...