The Path of the Best

In her book "The Sorcerer's Crossing: A Woman's Journey," Taisha Abelar, a warrior woman from Castaneda's party, writes the following about the need for an academic education for sorcerers:

Academic studies became an integral part of my preparation for the magical transition. The leader of the group of sorcerers to which I belong, or nagual, as we call him, is a person who takes a keen interest in formal scientific knowledge.

As a result, all his protégés had to master abstract thinking, which is taught nowadays only in universities...

In addition, the development of the intellect is a clever magical trick. By consciously occupying the mind with reflection and analysis, sorcerers gain the opportunity to freely explore other spheres of perception. In other words, while the rational side is engaged in formal academic sciences, the energetic or irrational side, which sorcerers call the "double," devotes itself to the performance of magical actions. At the same time, the distrustful rational mind does not often interfere with the processes occurring at the irrational level, and often simply does not notice them.

That is why my studies in science went hand in hand with the expansion of consciousness and the acquisition of extraordinary qualities of perception: these two aspects of activity develop our entire being.

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A Man of Knowledge or a magician is a man of common sense and reason, broad-minded and erudition, with eyes full of the fire of reason and inspiration. A Man of Knowledge does not reject either science or philosophy. A magician knows that his entire world, his entire being must work to increase his awareness and clarity of perception. Therefore, a magician is a realist and a pragmatist who does not run away from everyday life, but acts precisely, calmly and judiciously, seeking Power and hunting for Power.

A magician is impeccable not because Knowledge made him so, but because he came impeccable to meet Knowledge. Knowledge is not given as a bouquet of flowers, but as a developed intellect, education and high morality.

This is the path of the Best.