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Dreaming Practices of the Ancient Mexicans The Toltec Secret (Paperback) - Common
Excellent Book
- GenresNonfiction
Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 5, 2018
Note: I am a lucid dreamer and have been for many years before reading this book.
I struggle with this book. The first half fascinated me, especially the oral history that was passed on, especially of the incidents in and around Mexico city. The writing/translation was readily readable and accessable. The organization of the book made sense and flowed easily.
I've read enough on dreaming and practiced my own dream work long enough to relate quickly with much of what was related. However, the author's somewhat frequent comments on how "the only way" or "one must" in relation to following the myths of the Toltecs sat uneasily. One cannot force oneself into another people's traditions and expect to them to have the same meaning. And I would argue, one should be careful of cultural appropriation. A crocodile will not mean the same for me that it does for someone who has grown up around them. As someone in the Pacific Northwest, I relate to a different topography of animals and natural landscapes. And to even be true to nature, I should work with those animals and concepts as symbolism, or my own Celtic heritage that I grew up learning about.
Reading with more flexibility than the text may state in itself, will offer a richer experience. For example, in my traditions, red eyes are usually negative. In this book, red eyes are consider positive. I view this as the difference between white being the color of funeral dress in East Asia while in the west, it is black.
Read and explore from your own perspective. Basically, I recommend judging for yourself.
I struggle with this book. The first half fascinated me, especially the oral history that was passed on, especially of the incidents in and around Mexico city. The writing/translation was readily readable and accessable. The organization of the book made sense and flowed easily.
I've read enough on dreaming and practiced my own dream work long enough to relate quickly with much of what was related. However, the author's somewhat frequent comments on how "the only way" or "one must" in relation to following the myths of the Toltecs sat uneasily. One cannot force oneself into another people's traditions and expect to them to have the same meaning. And I would argue, one should be careful of cultural appropriation. A crocodile will not mean the same for me that it does for someone who has grown up around them. As someone in the Pacific Northwest, I relate to a different topography of animals and natural landscapes. And to even be true to nature, I should work with those animals and concepts as symbolism, or my own Celtic heritage that I grew up learning about.
Reading with more flexibility than the text may state in itself, will offer a richer experience. For example, in my traditions, red eyes are usually negative. In this book, red eyes are consider positive. I view this as the difference between white being the color of funeral dress in East Asia while in the west, it is black.
Read and explore from your own perspective. Basically, I recommend judging for yourself.
July 12, 2017
(Copy Pasted from a facebook post I created)
So basically I've had this book "The Toltec Secret" by Sergio Magana
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try one of the techniques involving the awakening of the nahual of the snake via breathing techniqes, stating your intent, and dreaming your healing into existence. Although I did not follow the technique to the T, I found results still occured.
I've always had sensitive eyes so that 90% of the time, I have to where sunglasses when I'm out. I'm always squinting because of the sun. My eyes begin to tear up on windy days...both in spring, autumn, and winter. So I'd basically wear sunnies (australian term) all the time to avoid having to deal with those issues. Even looking up at the sky on a winter day with no sun would hurt my eyes. I don't know what it is, it just use to happen. Is it because I sprayed bug spray in my eyes when I was a child? xD I don't know, all I know is that I was recently thinking of getting fake see through glasses to avoid the problem.
I had also thought of being a energy healer one day as I used to do some form of healing in the past for friends and random strangers in the street, school, etc and found results but never found it worked to resolve my problem. I wasn't using any techniques at the time other than my faith, I'd just place my hand there...and people would feel a warmth, I'd feel it too but sometimes it didn't cut it. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't. And in the case of my eyes, It didn't.
So I thought of this idea one morning "Why would I want to be a healer if I can't even heal myself? That's ridiculous" ..I literally thought that as I was thinking of getting those glasses until I remembered the book my Sergio. I tried the technique meant to be used within dreaming (although I skipped the dreaming part for circumstantial issues/that's not to say I didn't "dream" it, just not in the ordinary sense).
Within the self same day, I found that my eyes had made a significant change. Maybe 90%. They weren't perfect but I could easily walk around without glasses...I walked out in the windy day with the sun out and it didn't affect me. I felt a cloak feeling come over my eyes...or energy...it felt like my eyes were now coated with something and anything like the sun/wind/whether could not affect it to the same degree as before. I believe much more healing will come over the next few months but I am very satisfied with the results. They do work.
Now I do feel the confidence in one day becoming a healer if that is what Life has in store for me.
Note: Many of the techniques are meant to be used by lucid dreamers but apparently people have received results even though they don't ever remember dreaming any of the dreams. Results may vary and I don't know if this will work for you. I also was not asked by Sergio or anyone connected to him to post this, I'm simply reciprocating his act of kindness to share these techniques which have been kept as a secret by many shamans/healers of mexico for thousands of years.
Thank you Sergio, I appreciate your hard work in helping all of us come to Toltec knowledge to help better our lives.
I also found the recapitulation techniques helpful in detaching myself from my past situations and acting less from the perspective of the ego. I'm not perfect and nothing "dramatic" has happened but much pain and sorrow has been let go. Great to be practiced alongside Castanda's technique of Recapitulation.
So basically I've had this book "The Toltec Secret" by Sergio Magana
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try one of the techniques involving the awakening of the nahual of the snake via breathing techniqes, stating your intent, and dreaming your healing into existence. Although I did not follow the technique to the T, I found results still occured.
I've always had sensitive eyes so that 90% of the time, I have to where sunglasses when I'm out. I'm always squinting because of the sun. My eyes begin to tear up on windy days...both in spring, autumn, and winter. So I'd basically wear sunnies (australian term) all the time to avoid having to deal with those issues. Even looking up at the sky on a winter day with no sun would hurt my eyes. I don't know what it is, it just use to happen. Is it because I sprayed bug spray in my eyes when I was a child? xD I don't know, all I know is that I was recently thinking of getting fake see through glasses to avoid the problem.
I had also thought of being a energy healer one day as I used to do some form of healing in the past for friends and random strangers in the street, school, etc and found results but never found it worked to resolve my problem. I wasn't using any techniques at the time other than my faith, I'd just place my hand there...and people would feel a warmth, I'd feel it too but sometimes it didn't cut it. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't. And in the case of my eyes, It didn't.
So I thought of this idea one morning "Why would I want to be a healer if I can't even heal myself? That's ridiculous" ..I literally thought that as I was thinking of getting those glasses until I remembered the book my Sergio. I tried the technique meant to be used within dreaming (although I skipped the dreaming part for circumstantial issues/that's not to say I didn't "dream" it, just not in the ordinary sense).
Within the self same day, I found that my eyes had made a significant change. Maybe 90%. They weren't perfect but I could easily walk around without glasses...I walked out in the windy day with the sun out and it didn't affect me. I felt a cloak feeling come over my eyes...or energy...it felt like my eyes were now coated with something and anything like the sun/wind/whether could not affect it to the same degree as before. I believe much more healing will come over the next few months but I am very satisfied with the results. They do work.
Now I do feel the confidence in one day becoming a healer if that is what Life has in store for me.
Note: Many of the techniques are meant to be used by lucid dreamers but apparently people have received results even though they don't ever remember dreaming any of the dreams. Results may vary and I don't know if this will work for you. I also was not asked by Sergio or anyone connected to him to post this, I'm simply reciprocating his act of kindness to share these techniques which have been kept as a secret by many shamans/healers of mexico for thousands of years.
Thank you Sergio, I appreciate your hard work in helping all of us come to Toltec knowledge to help better our lives.
I also found the recapitulation techniques helpful in detaching myself from my past situations and acting less from the perspective of the ego. I'm not perfect and nothing "dramatic" has happened but much pain and sorrow has been let go. Great to be practiced alongside Castanda's technique of Recapitulation.
January 13, 2025
As someone whose spiritually developed through dreams 💭this book is a must. It was an honor to have the teachings of my my ancestors accesible in a book. I look forward to put into practice some (if not all) the techniques taught in this book.
August 27, 2021
Didn’t finish. Maybe one day I’ll pick it up again. Magaña teaches a lot but is also kind of a tease - mentions certain secret techniques and then doesn’t elaborate on them. It’s an interesting history and primer of Toltec history but I didn’t personally get much from it. I don’t think I’d recommend it.
May 28, 2022
For those who have experienced any of the things Sergio has described in this book, this is like unlocking something that was dormant yet ready to be released. A highly recommended read if you come from any culture or family where dreams, ancestral connections, and ancient wisdoms have been present growing up.
November 1, 2018
¿Cuánto sabes de los toltecas?
Quedé fascinada con la filósofia de crecimiento personal que se tenía desde aquellos tiempos,
Como nuestras culturas nos orientaban a descubrirnos a nosotros mismos, a meditar, a conectarnos
con nuestro espiritu y con la naturaleza.
Quedé fascinada con la filósofia de crecimiento personal que se tenía desde aquellos tiempos,
Como nuestras culturas nos orientaban a descubrirnos a nosotros mismos, a meditar, a conectarnos
con nuestro espiritu y con la naturaleza.
October 10, 2018
Not What I expected, (I'm a Don Miguel Ruiz avid reader), the author Sergio is more focused about his personal life experience surrounding the Toltec Knowledge and Magic I stopped reading this book which I normally dislike on doing that, Anyone with interest on this topic Will find it very useful, he explains the importance and meaning of the dreams.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2018
I like learning about dreaming culture around the world and this really drew me in! Plus in includes practical exercises. It is interesting the parallels between Toltec dreaming practice as described in this book and Tibetan Buddhist dreaming practice.
June 7, 2021
If you main audience is white New Age fools and confused lost people of color then you know it's yet another fraud selling "noble mystic native" nonsense so he can buy a house. Magana is a fraud, a liar, and a deceiver.
December 9, 2023
This is got to be the worst audio book ever :D Okay, maybe in bottom 10, i have forgot about the rest. Skipped and skipped and it just got worse and worse. Gets me chills. Should NOT be with a 3.97 rating, wtf. If You'd ever want to torture me, put me in a room with this audio book playing.
September 22, 2018
Extraño pero entretenido. Una cultura y tradición muy antigua.
November 17, 2020
More than a bit rambly and gets really into personal experience. The exercises leave a lot to be questioned by anyone new to the subject matter.
October 5, 2021
Excelente libro y analisis de las costumbres de la cultura Mexicana
December 16, 2024
Alucinante, mucho conocimiento entre sus páginas
January 15, 2025
New to the idea of lucid dreaming. Found interesting. I have never been directed to demand anything from myself / source the universe so still mulling on that.
July 1, 2020
I will admit I tried the basic dreaming exercises (breathing and concentration) and though the dream was not lucid, it was precisely the dream I asked for. have not tried since, but plan to.
November 29, 2016
**I purchased a copy of this book for my own enjoyment**
I feel very strongly drawn to the Toltec teachings. I have all of Ruiz’s Toltec wisdom books, and when I stumbled upon The Toltec Secret by Sergio Magana, I was very excited. This book focused on the shamanic aspects, learning to travel the dream realms. There are several chapters, guiding the prospective student through basic exercises to learn lucid dreaming, balanced with specific Toltec cosmology.
I found the notion of the universe and various realms as a flower to be poetically beautiful. Lucid dreaming is called blossom dreaming, and if you can learn to blossom dream, and facilitate changes there, then the dreams we sow will manifest in the material realm. We can also learn to recognise dreams sown long ago, that do not serve us and how to negate them. This is very much in keeping with the essence of both shamanism, and spiritual alchemy (because really, it's all different ways of expressing the same thing), and with one of my favourite Buddhist phrases- “ If you meet your father, kill your father, if you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. Free from all things, bound by nothing, live the life given you.” I've started incorporating the tools and techniques learned within, blending them into my own worldview.
I feel very strongly drawn to the Toltec teachings. I have all of Ruiz’s Toltec wisdom books, and when I stumbled upon The Toltec Secret by Sergio Magana, I was very excited. This book focused on the shamanic aspects, learning to travel the dream realms. There are several chapters, guiding the prospective student through basic exercises to learn lucid dreaming, balanced with specific Toltec cosmology.
I found the notion of the universe and various realms as a flower to be poetically beautiful. Lucid dreaming is called blossom dreaming, and if you can learn to blossom dream, and facilitate changes there, then the dreams we sow will manifest in the material realm. We can also learn to recognise dreams sown long ago, that do not serve us and how to negate them. This is very much in keeping with the essence of both shamanism, and spiritual alchemy (because really, it's all different ways of expressing the same thing), and with one of my favourite Buddhist phrases- “ If you meet your father, kill your father, if you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. Free from all things, bound by nothing, live the life given you.” I've started incorporating the tools and techniques learned within, blending them into my own worldview.
August 31, 2015
Heard the guy on a podcast back in May so picked up book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews