WHY IT’S CONSCIOUS: Movement of our bodies can change our whole energy.
A little bit controversial … I know. And this isn’t backed by any facts other than my own twisted fantasy, most likely fan fiction – but if you’re into The OA and Murder at the End of the World and have read any of Carlos Castaneda’s books, you might want to come with me on this journey.
When The OA first came out, I lived on a property that was rumored to have once been the home of Carlos Castaneda. “He finished The Teachings of Don Juan on that rock,” the property owner said. I’d already signed the lease, and this piece of information only fortified why I wanted to move to Topanga in the first place—I was home.
Carlos Castaneda was an American author and anthropologist. He made waves with his series of books unpacking the teachings of a Yaqui shaman named Don Juan Matus. His debut, “The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge,” hit the shelves in 1968, becoming a sensation. However, let’s address the elephant in the room – the authenticity of Castaneda’s accounts and whether Don Juan Matus was real or a figment of imagination. It’s still a heavily debated topic for those who care in both academic circles and the spiritual community, adding a layer of complexity to Castaneda’s legacy. Despite the debates, his work left an indelible mark on the New Age movement and popular culture, even if some folks are still raising an eyebrow.
As I sunk into my Topanga abode, I went down the rabbit hole of Castaneda and his books, coming across “Magical Passes: The Practical Wisdom of the Shamans of Ancient Mexico.” In “Magical Passes,” Castaneda delves into the concept of bodily movements, or “passes,” as a means to achieve heightened states of awareness and access different realms of perception.
The book describes a series of physical movements and exercises that Castaneda attributes to the teachings of his alleged mentor, Don Juan Matus. These movements, according to Castaneda, are believed to have a transformative effect on consciousness and energy. Later, he transformed these teachings under the name ‘Tensegrity’ – tension + integrity. Of course, I had to YouTube people doing the movements, but the photos in the book are also just as entertaining.
At the time of my Magical Passes discovery, The OA came out. I wasn’t just a little in love with that show; it was a full-blown love affair. There I was, living alone on a mountain in what was apparently Carlos Castaneda’s old house, watching a creep of a doctor testing his prisoner subjects. But as the show began to develop – well, I’m sure if you’ve read this far, you know where I’m going. THE MOVEMENTS. Sure, they are not THE movements (I sort of checked), but they were movements opening portals to new dimensions (or the rings of Saturn :P)… The movements soothed me through all the creepy parts. When I found this clip to show you, I still cried 7 years later. Were Brit and Zal inspired by Magical Passes and Tensegrity?
This was noted in my brain and left there until now—the Brit Marling, or was it Zal, or maybe it was both of them into Castaneda note. So, this next part is maybe much more reaching, but I’m always re-working a question, so… bear with me.
After I watched the masterpiece, Murder at the End of the World, which Brit also made with Zal Batmanglij, I went back on my Carlos > Brit > Zal connection journey. I googled—but couldn’t find any references, probably because there aren’t any.
What I happened to come across was this deep rabbit hole article and YouTube share/research about Carlos’ three main followers who were known as ‘The Witches of Westwood.’ They all mysteriously went missing after his death. This discovery led me to a cold case missing people profile site (only one of the three missing women was actively investigated) called The Charley Project. Did an interest in Castaneda lead them to investigate the mysterious disappearances of his ‘Witches of Westwood’ which led them to The Charley Project ? Did this exploration inspire the idea of it becoming the perfect online meet-cute and kooky passion for Darby & Bill to fall in love?
Maybe, but most likely not. I can dream. But can someone please make a documentary or inspired by fiction of The Witches of Westwood and Castaneda ? Brit / Zal …. I can pour you some tea, DM me.
P.S I also loved the 2 second cameo from Moxxie Marlinspike (founder of Signal, the privacy focused messaging app) in Murder at the End of the World. That’s the kind of tech nerd stuff I also scream in happiness and inquiry about. That will be chapter two of this investigation.
Written by Mel Nahas, co-founder of Conscious City Guide
