Nahwe Imbwisk

Nagualism

The Philosophy of the Ancient Toltec is called Nagualism. That knowledge comes primarily through the research of Carlos Castaneda. On the Path of Knowledge, as Nagualism is called, there are Four Natural Enemies: Fear, Clarity, Power and Old Age. In order to overcome these the Shamans of Ancient Mexico utilized Stalking, Dreaming and Intent. This essay is an exposition of these three disciplines and aims of making the philosophical attempt of increasing the sophistication of awareness.

Stalking

            Stalking was first developed as a hunting skill. It refers to the concept of At-one-ment or empathy. Primitive man, so it is argued, intended to appear to his game as its equal. Thus when hunting the rabbit, one must act like a rabbit, one must be a rabbit. By projecting the behavior of a certain animal or human, it was hoped that one could appear as that animal.

While the word stalking has a negative connotation of creeping up on someone, in the Toltec tradition, it has far greater implications. Stalking, in its purest sense, is the ability to empathize, to feel like someone else does, carried to the extreme to become that person. Toltec Stalking, however is not without its ethical boundaries. It is practiced in order to benefit both, the stalker and the stalked. There occurs something exceptionally magical, once one is able to see oneself as someone else. The illusion of separateness is eliminated on the basic level. "When two become One, then for some time the barriers are lifted".

Recapitulation, the systematic remembrance of one's life, is the stalker's forte. By remembering our lives, we gain in luminosity and in spirit, and that quite literally. Then we must erase personal history, that is we must change the effect the past has on us. Finally we are able to recapitulate the form or mood of other beings. Recapitulation is a cure against nightmares.

The final implication of the concept of Stalking is the ability to turn one's aura from the customary egg shape into a long, stalk-like string. We find parallels to this insight in the Tibetan Buddhist Practice of Tummo, or Yoga to Produce Psychic Heat and also in modernity in String Theory.

            Stalking is not possible without a thorough recapitulation. It is a sign of the awakening of the Second Attention. Stalking is composed of three distinct sorcerer abilities. These are: the ability to deceive, the ability to empathize and the ability to turn the energy body from its customary egg-shape into a stalk-like string that stretches into infinity.

Dreaming

            Dreaming, in the Toltec context, is the act of perceiving. The Toltec perspective of perception is that "Perception is a consequence of the alignment of Intent". Dreaming is the act of displacing the assemblage point from its customary position and thus perceiving in alternate ways. "Dreaming is the way by which sorcerers say goodbye to the world" and is utilized as a means to Enlightenment. There are seven gates, or obstacles of awareness that must be overcome in order to fully appreciate the act of dreaming. When Toltec Dreaming has been mastered, reality itself becomes dream-like and miracles happen.

            Castaneda, in The Art of Dreaming, discusses Four Gates of Dreaming. The First Gate of Dreaming is arrived at when one looks at ones hands while dreaming. It is crossed when the dreamer is able to shift the view between dream objects and the hands, back and forth a few times. That has the effect that one is able to induce a state of comfortable darkness, relaxation and increased weight just before falling asleep.

The Second Gate of Dreaming is arrived at when a dream object turns into something else. It is crossed when that something else turns into a Bubble of Awareness. This is a valid way of inviting Spirits into one's life. One must always keep an attitude of friendliness and empowerment and not get lost in detail and the little miracles of perception.

The Third Gate of Dreaming is arrived at when one isolates a scout from the realm of the inorganic beings. It is crossed when the scout is followed to its origin and it has the effect that one starts hearing voices while in waking. It takes time to get used to the Dreaming Emissary, but if one does not give in to the Trickery of the Spirit, one can find out anything about anyone.

The Fourth Gate of Dreaming is arrived at when one finds oneself in a dream, looking at somebody sleeping and that someone turns out to be oneself. It is crossed when one falls asleep in the dream in the same position as one fell asleep after going to bed. It has the effect of increasing energy and finally burning with the Fire from Within

            Without significant effort, one cannot hope to make progress on the Path of Dreaming. If the effort to obtain control over one's dreams is made, the rewards follow. Three hour long dreams are normal for the Toltec Dreamer and in them he lives a life so rich and full that waking pales in comparison.

Intent

            Intent is Psychic Energy. Like the electricity that makes the computer work, so intent controls the personal and collective reality on a subconscious level. Intent is a force that flows throughout the universe and resembles string-like emanations from and indefinite source and their basic property is awareness. In a way our consciousness is like that of the mushroom.

            When two mycelia meet a mushroom is born. Similarly when two neuron-generated impulses meet a thought, feeling or perception is the result. The fact that mushrooms grow in circles bears tribute to the concept of Magic Circle, a symbol of protection and power. The cow is a sacred animal to the Hindus. Guess what grows on cow dung? Magic Mushrooms. The myth of Santa Claus is closely associated with Reindeer, whose favorite food is the Amanita Muscaria mushroom, which is also a psychedelic mushrooms. Why not make friends with the good mushrooms? Maybe the Archetype of the Wise Old Man can indeed turn into the God of Love, if we use this sacrament. By amplifying our awareness, we must intend goodness of heart and love of wisdom, unless we want to be defeated by the confused projections of our subconscious.

            Most people are slaves of Intent. There are a few who are its friends and even fewer who have mastered it. Awareness has a magical property, which is called perception. By manipulating our perception, we set free our awareness, which becomes one with the Great Spirit of the Universe, and in a way we achieve immortality.

Conclusion

Nagualism is a potent philosophy. It is a way of life that fulfills the seeker and helps him do the humanly impossible. After the initiatory crisis, often manifesting as temporary schizophrenia, one sees the world in a different light. We must always strive toward sobriety and goodwill, if we want to be happy and whole. The Art of Stalking gives us the guidelines on how to deal with the world, while the Art of Dreaming allows us to perceive wonderful new realities. Once we have that magical energy of awareness, our dreams come true. We realize that Total Awareness equals Total Freedom.