For those people who've read and enjoyed Casteneda's books from the beginning, and learnt much from them - how many of us still wonder that there must have been 1 or more of Don Juan's apprentices who weren't (as Carlos honestly admitted he was) slow learners at this craft? There's no reason to think that there's not an accelerated version of shamanic tutelage; in fact it's rather unthinkable there wouldn't be, as one's own capabilities and proclivities would conspire to lead one to the holy of holies, or not.
Merilyn Tunneshende's depictions thru her 3 books invite us to see what it's like for one of the quick learners - not that there weren't occasional (and sometimes horrendous) setbacks and recapitulations for her. But she isn't forced to grind on seemingly endlessly the way poor Carlos often had to do. [As such her books are shorter.]
Her 3 books, each full of passion, beauty, enigma, and at times displaying thunderous courage, are not chronological sequels to each other - I sensed by the middle of this 3rd one that each was focused on one layer of the story/experience she was having/telling. She validated my perception nearer the end of this book.
Book the first (variously titled 'Medicine Dream' or 'Don Juan & the Power of Medicine Dreaming', depending on the edition/publisher) goes into her experiences related to UNDERWORLD dreaming/archetypes, seamlessly and passionately woven with the biography of various aspects of her history which dovetail into that archetypal world.
Book the second ('Rainbow Serpent' or in the newer edition 'Don Juan & the Art of Sexual Energy: the Rainbow Serpent of the Toltecs') depicts and tells of her dreaming relationship to energies of the EARTH. That volume introduces an intensely involving, stunning array of exercises after each chapter, by which a daring reader may attempt to suddenly, gradually, or by fits and starts - trace the pathways, map the worlds Merilyn has laid out for us.
The third volume continues with this format - here is where the incipient dreamer/seer begins to touch and enter into varieties of communion with energies/lifeforms/archetypes of a CELESTIAL nature. Though at the beginning of this one she uncharacteristically falls into the trap of speaking with too many abstractions, that minor failing does carry on all that long.
The 3-book tutelage profoundly fleshes out one person's mythological and energetic/visionary map of the THREE WORLDS. Following her lead is in no way akin to idolatry - she is too skilled to entrap the reader in overly-personalized modalities - there are checks and balances all through this work as she presents it.
Ms. Tunneshende answers questions which may linger from Casteneda's work as well as other shamanic modalities. I was incessantly reminded of numerous moments I wasn't "getting it" while involved in long-term studies with Alberto Villoldo, as well as remote times in my youth when magic would occasionally rear its bounteous head and/or open a wisdom eye.
So if you barely remember this or that glimmer - these passageways and exercises may help those worlds of vision and initiation to begin to unfold for you/us once again.
Hardly anyone writes about this stuff so skillfully as does this woman. Hardly anyone! Check out the lengthy passages of sometimes exquisite beauty and sublime power where she goes off with "Carlo Castana" for various purposes of initiation and healing in various locations in Mexico and the Southwest. The pair are twin souls - at times wondrous in their intent and realization.
This person's writing didn't grab me the first time I picked it up - in fact I was, in my mind, criticising right and left, even cursing under my breath. Two days or so later that all changed.
Now, to me, the two differing versions/visions (M's and C's) of Don Juan and company seem to fulfill one another. That's just the opposite 'affect' those mind-numbing criticisers tend to inflict on Merilyn's potential readers. Pay them little, or no mind . . .
[Note that some of her 'critical' reviewers call her a liar and a thief of other's ideas - none of them offering any examples for potential rebuttal. They claim to have read everything pertinent, though still not backing up any of their accusations. One of the more humorous comments starts out with the fellow complaining that he is dealing with two different individuals. I would imagine so, since Casteneda didn't ghost-write Tunneshende's books.]
