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@ REVIEWS the other is about jealousy, self-obsession Knowledge, about the Q'ero tribe of the B oO oO K Ss and hypocrisy. Writing it was her way of Peruvian Andes (see review in 6/03). 7 settling the past and moving on in her life. Her introduction to plants with psychedelic Reviewed by Ruth Parnell Wallace realised an important lesson that qualities came in the USA in 3000, ‘when SORCERER'S APPRENTICE: is applicable to us all: be true to our own she imbibed ayahuasca tea under ritual con- My Life with Carlos Castaneda power, and don't put others up on a pedestal _ ditions. The protocols in the week leading by Amy Wallace and then submit to their manipulations. up ° the val were strict tor good reasons, F i and included eating a very plain vegetarian ISBN O-SSSL OTC OTe RO 2003 AYAHUASCA: The Visionary & diet and abstaining from Sex. What Joan Availability: North Atlantic Books, Healing Powers of the Vine of the Soul ¢xPerienced with this "entheogen" was not http:/www.northatlanticbooks.com by Joan Parisi Wilcox just literally gut-wrenching but mind-blow- ing, to say the least. Ultimately, through this and other subsequent experiences in Amazonia, she got to the core of her deepest being, dispelling illusions and becoming one lhe spiritual teachings of Yaqui Indian Park Street Press, USA, 2003 sorcerer don Juan, as told by his appren- ISBN 0-89281 -131-5 (229pp tpb) tice Carlos Castaneda, captured the attention Availability: Inner Traditions website, of a generation of people who wanted to http://www. innertraditions.com with the Vine of the Soul.-a plant that is. in explore life's magic and mysteries. It didn't xperiencing the sacred Amazonian plant reality, a hishly sentient beine ” seem to matter too much whether don Juan brew, ayahuasca, has become a popular Wilon's hook is a record OF her and her actually existed or whether he was the fig- pursuit among "underground" spiritual seek- tio. travellers! visionary journeys and ment of Castaneda's lively imagination. ers, and this ancient sacred practice is indeed jv ichts. The shamans Wot tones that if Author Amy Wallace (daughter of best- legal in its native Amazonia. This powerful, sigats. : : one is privileged enough to be able to tap into hidden experiential knowledge, there is a responsibility to share it around. Wilcox selling novelist Irving Wallace) was among _ visionary concoction is not something that the adoring fans, and met Castaneda through _ should be taken lightly; emetic episodes are her father in 1973 when she was seventeen. often part of ingesting this potent biochemi- : os . Their acquaintanceship continued over the cal drug, compounded by the effects of a has fulfilled her mission admirably. years until she was finally drawn into the DMT-rich catalyst plant that acts like a light inner circle of his devotees in the early to the power of ayahuasca. 1990s and became one of his lovers until a Author Joan Parisi Wilcox warns this tea year before his death in 1998. should only be ingested under strict ritual Sorcerer's Apprentice is Wallace's roller- conditions, overseen by an ayahuasquero, or coaster memoir of her life with (and after) healing master, who sings/plays the sacred Castaneda and the "witches" who made up songs, icaros, during the process. Anyone his coterie, and it's not quite the tale of contemplating exploring this route must be "impeccability" and "enlightenment" that sure of his/her intentions and not get stuck might be expected. It's a warts-and-all on psychic phenomena that may be part of account that takes the reader through the the process. When experimenting with such heights and depths of being in an unequal a mind-expanding psychedelic as this, the power relationship with a brilliant but explorer still needs to be grounded. flawed guru/philosopher who could be cruel A former English literature academic and a and kind, abusive and loving, fraudulent and _ professional writer, she is no stranger to brutally frank. It's a morality tale that on the — shamanic traditions. Readers may remem- one hand is about the spiritual quest but on ber her book, Keepers of the Ancient the other is about jealousy, self-obsession and hypocrisy. Writing it was her way of settling the past and moving on in her life. Wallace realised an important lesson that is applicable to us all: be true to our own power, and don't put others up on a pedestal and then submit to their manipulations. Knowledge, about the Q'ero tribe of the Peruvian Andes (see review in 6/03). Her introduction to plants with psychedelic qualities came in the USA in 2000, when she imbibed ayahuasca tea under ritual con- ditions. The protocols in the week leading up to the ritual were strict for good reasons, and included eating a very plain vegetarian diet and abstaining from sex. What Joan experienced with this "entheogen" was not just literally gut-wrenching but mind-blow- ing, to say the least. Ultimately, through this and other subsequent experiences in Amazonia, she got to the core of her deepest being, dispelling illusions and becoming one with the Vine of the Soul—a plant that is, in reality, a highly sentient being. Wilcox's book is a record of her and her fellow travellers’ visionary journeys and insights. The shamans would concur that if one is privileged enough to be able to tap into hidden experiential knowledge, there is a responsibility to share it around. Wilcox has fulfilled her mission admirably. NEXUS = 69 AUGUST —- SEPTEMBER 2004 www.nexusmagazine.com