Being-in-Dreaming: An Initiation into the Sorcerers' World – A Woman's Spiritual Journey of Self-Discovery in Present-Day Mexico

by Florinda Donner

"A woman's gripping tale of self-discovery in present-day Mexico."
OLIVER STONE

"Donner's tale casts a spell; it is a magic theater of holy actors, a dancing world of fierce angels all sweating their prayers. She offers us a brilliant taste of

Genres: Spirituality, Anthropology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion, New Age, Native American

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Dawn Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the concept of the book much more than the writing. I felt that the author had an idea she wanted to get across and focused on that, but fell short on building believable, consistent characters. Ultimately, this prevented me from being engrossed in the book. That being said, the idea that she was focusing on was very interesting and there was a lot to be taken away from it. It's like I was in class and the teacher was trying to tell a story to better illustrate a point she was making. Except it lasted longer.
Would have enjoyed it more if it was written in a style I'm more fond of, but definitely worth the read.

[Laura-marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, never read anything like it. I'm jonesing to be loaned the two other books I know of by the same writer. I want to be a sorcerer. I want to drive all night to the strange house in Mexico, sleep on a mat or in a hammock, and become a powerful dreamer with the other powerful dreamers, eating the foods they leave for me in the kitchen, talking with the mysterious caretaker. The whole thing. There's something irresistible about it! The whole phenomenon, I see why people are so emotional about it. I am too.

[Angela Mortimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that looked lost and lonely and out of place amongst the others sat in a reduced box made me look again. It interested me for the Carlos Castaneda recommendation, and any that have read his books would be intrigued, so of course I bought it. Like Castaneda's books it is intriguing and surreal. You wonder if indeed this is a real physical journey, or one of the spirit wandering without the body and how much is due to the results of peyote? It does however make you ask that very question. It is an old magic and for most of us a journey we wouldn't choose to take. It's worth a read and if you haven't read Castaneda you should, especially those who like to exercise their imagination...

[Ann M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supposedly nonfiction, but I have trouble buying that.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting story which kept me reading but poorly written.

[Andrew Herting]

I feel sure that everything related in this pseudo-memoir is invented, which is interesting in itself.

It's perverse that Donner, apparently an anthropologist, presents an account of folk "sorcery"... which actually has nothing at all to do with authentic indigenous Mexican magic. Also, after reading this, I found out that Donner and three other followers of Castaneda disappeared in 1998, apparently driving into the desert and abandoning their car. The remains of one of the other women was found in 2003, but Donner and her companions have still never been found.

Against this background, Being-in-Dreaming has an overheated fantasy quality that's compelling, apart from any claim to authenticity. Donner's admittedly clumsy and repetitive writing reveals a few fixed themes that recur obsessively. Most obviously, the other "sorcerers" constantly abandon her, leaving her lonely and afraid. They castigate her for her attachment to them, as apparently this is a spiritual flaw that blocks her development as a sorceress.

Is this story actually Donner's depiction of the mysterious way that powerful, confident individuals have come and gone in her life? Her passionate and lasting attachment to Castanada, and her disappearance (perhaps suicide pact) after his death, seem characteristic of an individual in need of an attachment that transcends the possibility of separation.

[D Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all of Castaneda's books, but I felt something missing for me because I was a woman. Florida Donner asserts that she was trained by Castaneda's mentors. I felt this book was excellent as a supplement to Castaneda's books.

[Aileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very frustrating to read. It profiles itself as empowering to women, but the women all follow a male leader!? Also, the behavior of the main character was so immature and aggressive that is vas very difficult to relate to her.
For the rest is was fascinating, and original.

[Jozie · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was an interesting idea for a book, but the writing was really repetitive, and not good..... I was expecting it to be a little more focused on her actual experiences, but it turned into some weird fantasy thing that I didn't like, and it became really pseudo intellectual and made me cringe. but it was fun to read like before bed, etc..

[CAYLA ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahh, to drive under a canopy of stars in the desert, to mingle with sorcerers and witches alike and to spend but moments under their tutelage — losing all sense of time yet being-in-dreaming in heightened awareness.

I found this to be a very fascinating read. It was imbued with mystical aspects that I wish to experience personally. This said, Being-In-Dreaming was a first-hand account of Florinda Donner as she sought to be initiated into the sorcerers’ world and its affiliates. It touched on topics of sex, womanhood, the subjugation of women, death, dreams, and of worlds beyond one’s perceptions. Superbly captivating and yet I have not met a more petulant character (bordering almost on a vexing, temperamental manner) that dampened the languid sequence of events of this account.

3 stars! *

[Anya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I first discovered this book in a hostel in Nicaragua and in the first few pages was hooked.

When I got back and remembered this book I couldn't wait to get it.

Unfortunately after reading it I've seen how repetitive it is...there are moments that had me really excited, the similarities in the feelings of when one is dreaming and when things are unclear before becoming lucid.

But overall I didn't get along with the central character and I never warmed to her. Just disappointed really.

[David Linsday · Rating 5 out of 5]

The read was compelling from the start and I had difficulty putting the book down each time. The text was well edited and although following the underlying theme may not be easy for those expecting clear, rational elucidations, I found Donner's descrptions of the sorcerers' predilections and characteristics to be spot on.

[Monika Radclyffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a little fuzzy, giving a sneak peak into sorcerers' world without giving away too much. I wanted to read it after Taisha Abelar's 'The Sorcerers Crossing' as I craved more but it hasn't really given much insights.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was as good as her first book

[Laura Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was interesting, I guess. it kinda made my head hurt. by supposed wife of carlos castenada

[Cicely · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago, and remember the story was very compelling!

[adeksha (Gergana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas... poorly written

[Yana Ishkova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Interesting thoughts on feminine spiritual side.

[Louise MacAllister · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist discovers new kinds of dream states in which other realities exist and can be accessed. She often gets angry while learning various things about this dream sorcery universe. The other characters laugh at her a lot. There is a weird hierarchy and a lot of biological determinism.
There are some reasonably enjoyable and imaginative parts especially around the character of the caretaker.
Only it is claimed to be autobiographical. Reading more about her I realised she was in fact groomed by Carlos Castenada, and what this book actually is, is either an account of his narcissistic lies he insisted were real to the point reality became warped and/or a drug induced hallucination.
Florinda Donner went missing the day after Carlos Castenada died, her body was never found. https://integral-options.blogspot.com...

[Seajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating and helpful too. It was fun to see another side of Carlos, masterful and playful rather than forever complaining as he did in most of his books, which I loved. The way Florinda/author describes her adventures is highly engaging. She's a piece of work- and I could identify with her temperament quite well. Her descriptions of the house in Mexico, the costumes, food and so on, added a human dimension to the body of Castaneda's work.

Pretty sure she must have found him after the book concluded.

[Zornitsa Tomova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride. Very engaging and easy to read, I loved her style and the way her work connects with that of Castaneda to paint a another perspective of the Sorcerer’s world. It was also beautiful to see the feminine approach to that world. It was mesmerizing to follow Florinda through the fluid stream of interweaving realities, feeling her confusion, but also growing in wisdom, insight and wonder with her.

[Hailey Van Dyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it really difficult to read this book, perhaps because it was the English translation. I found the writing choppy and she jumped around too much. She spent a lot of time focusing on descriptions of characters and places, instead of spending more time focusing on the ideas. The concept of the book is really cool but it just didn’t deliver for me.

[Jovana Ivanac Milijanović · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main ideas of the book are interesting, and that is the only thing that kept me reading. When it comes to the writer's literary skills, they are weak, oh so very weak. It's written the way an average teenager would write her diary.

[David Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished "Being in Dreaming" by Florinda Donner Grau.
Interesting reading the female view of Carlos Castaneda's books.

[Anna Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

nighttime lucid dreaming reading

[Saif47 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

her other book is one of my favorite books of all time so maybe my hopes were too high going into it. also i think i may have enjoyed it more if i was a woman.

[Etgoma Etgoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books that is capable of bringing life upside down and then, gently, putting the reader firmly on their feet on solid ground. It's a phantasmagoric way of self-discovery that took me so deep into the rabbit hole of how this world really works and who I am in it that when I emerged back to the daylight of reality, everything was different.

Florinda Donner has the power to grip our attention with sincere, simple words, stolen as if from our own mouths, to show us more than meets the eye about human relationships, about our vision of ourselves, about powers that rule lives, about illusions that haunt us, these pink and black glasses we all wear to see the world bright or gloomy... But even more than that, she tells us what we can do about it. What strength we possess, hidden and neglected. This book is not just an adventure story of one woman; it's a map for all women who are tracing their own way to freedom and stumble upon one stone or another.

Like the wind whispers in the ear, she tells her story in an echo of millions of those who made the same way we are going now...

[Cristian de Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ótimo livro para se pensar e se inteirar de práticas místicas ancestrais americanas- que em boa parte foram infelizmente massacradas pela colonização e outros fatores. Além de ser uma boa história que mistura fantasia(magia) e realidade, é uma leitura que entrete e faz o leitor ir longe.