The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge describes the effects of three hallucinogenic drugs taken by a graduate student under the supervision of a Yaqui Indian shaman, first as a narrative of the experiences and then as a systematic, scholarly analysis.
Seeking information about peyote, Carlos Castaneda meets an expert Yaqui shaman, Don Juan Matus. After a year of growing friendship and a test that shows he has the backbone to meet "Mescalito", the anthropomorphism of the hallucinations caused by ingesting peyote buttons, face-to-face, Castaneda begins a "long and arduous" apprenticeship. During his first peyote experience, Castaneda convulses and feels suffocated, but cavorts with a glowing black dog, whom Matus assures him is Mescalito in a rare display of playfulness. Matus advises him to concentrate on his calling, rather than on his fear, and.....
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