Term Papers on A Mythical Analysis Of A Yaqui Way Of Knowledge

Term Paper Title	A Mythical Analysis Of A Yaqui Way Of Knowledge
# of Words	549
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	2.2

A Mythical Analysis of A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

4-11-95

In the summer of 1960, Carlos Casteneda, a UCLA anthropology student traveled to
the southwest to do research on medicinal plants.  While at a bus station, he
met an extraordinary man.  His name was don Juan Mateus, but I will refer to him
as don Juan.  Don Juan, a Yaqui "brujo" or shaman, decides to teach Carlos the
"Yaqui way of knowledge."  It is not known if these stories are fiction or non-
fiction and many critics still debate over his writings.  I interpret his books
as modern mythological stories for several reasons.  The "Heroic Journey
Archetype" and shamanistic ideologies, and also the general moral, explainative,
and philosophical content of his writings indicate that these stories can be
viewed as "modern myth".

Throughout Casteneda's stories you can see the "Heroic Journey Archetype".
Carlos goes through a restless stage and breaks ties with his studies and
professors at school.  He moves forward with the help of don Juan, whose
shamanic wisdom enlightens and guides Carlos along his spiritual path.  He also
faces death many times in his quest to become a warrior.  Finally, after many
years, he "passes through".  This mythological archetype is one of the main
reasons I believe his stories are mythical in nature.

There are also many shamanistic idealogies that run throughout his stories.
Views of the natural world including plant life, animal life, and elements are
all personified.  Everything is embodied with spirit.  Concepts of reality are
altered through drug induced states.  Mushrooms and peyote are mainly used in
rituals that don Juan uses to teach Carlos his way of knowledge: Mescalito, the
"spirit" of the peyote plant, indicated to don Juan that Carlos was the "chosen"
one, the person to whom don Juan should pass on his k...

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