“The life of a warrior cannot possibly be cold and lonely and without feelings, because it is based on his affection, his devotion, his dedication to his beloved… The Earth knows that he loves it, and it bestows on him its care. That’s why his life is filled to the brim and his state, wherever he’ll be, will be plentiful. He roams on the paths of his love… This Earth… Only if one loves this Earth with unbending passion, can one release one’s sadness. A warrior is always joyful, because his love is unalterable and his beloved, the Earth, embraces him and bestows upon him inconceivable gifts. The sadness belongs only to those who hate the very thing that gives shelter to their beings. This lovely Being, which is alive to its last recesses and understands every feeling, soothed me, it cured me of my pains, and finally when I had fully understood my love for it, it taught me freedom. Only the love for this splendorous Being can give freedom to a warrior’s spirit; and freedom is joy, efficiency, and abandon in the face of any odds.”

Tales of Power Carlos Castenada

This is the fourth book in the series and was published in 1974. Carlos Castaneda was a mystic and the content and style of his descriptions of Don Juan’s teachings in no way detract from the value of his ideas.  We tend to like those ideas that fall in line with our present beliefs.  His stories about Don Juan and the experiences he describes hold great value to me.  After all, who decides what truth

 

I also think it is safe to say that Carlos was not influenced by Lovelock and Margulis.  At the time of Castaneda’s 4th book preparation, the Gaia Hypothesis had not been published.  Even if it had, Lovelock and Margulis did not describe Gaia as “a living Being”  They spoke of the Earth as, I paraphrase, acting as if it was a living organism.  I suspect they were not game to venture that far from mainstream science.  I do respect their desire to publish within the confines of what would be interpreted as “sound science”.