Part One, Stopping The World: Chapter 14, The Gait Of Power Summary and Analysis

On April 8, 1962 the two are together again, and Castaneda inquires if death is a "personage." Don Juan responds that a man of knowledge "sees" or perceives death witnessing. He has seen his own death watching him and has "danced to it as though I were dying." Death did not point at him, thus his time was not up. He explains that death is not a person but a presence. Further discussing death, Castaneda wants to know if death is reflected by a person's culture. Don Juan contends that upbringing doesn't play into it and that only personal power determines how one sees death. Personal power is a feeling, such as "feeling lucky" or a mood. It is acquired despite one's origin. The hard...