2. What is Perception?

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We necessarily begin with a discussion of perception and awareness, since these are central to the seer's goals. It is essential to establish a detailed definition of perception and to identify its fundamental processes because the methods and practices advocated by New Seers are purported to enhance perception and thereby expand awareness into an area of greater possibilities. Briefly, we define perception as the interpretation of the energy at large, and awareness as the subjective ability to experience or feel. Perception is then, the avenue through which awareness experiences the energy at large. Therefore, when the ability to interpret the energy at large is enhanced, the scope of awareness is expanded. And while perception is typically regarded as a psychological process, it also has physical correlates, particularly neural correlates. A detailed examination of perception is required, since the literature search contained in our book will specifically seek to identify any effects the shamanic practices may contribute to enhancing perception. 

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Awareness, or consciousness as it is sometimes called, is the foundation of Castaneda’s work, giving purpose to the practices he advocated and forming the essence of the philosophical rationales he described. The clearly stated goal of the methods and practices promoted by Castaneda (1 p. 27) and his associates, Abelar (2 p. xii) (2 p. xiii) and Donner (3 p. i), is to enhance and expand the scope of individual perception and awareness. 

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scientists define perception as a process that organisms use to organize, identify and interpret sensation in order to create representations of the surrounding environment. 

 

 Perception is the process by which organisms interpret and organize sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world.

 

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Perception is the organization, identification and interpretation of a sensation in order to form a mental representation.

 

Castaneda (1 p. 73) used a definition of perception that is entirely consistent with these scientific descriptions.

 

Human beings apprehend energy at large and turn it into sensory data. Then they interpret these sensory data into the world of everyday life. This interpretation is what we call perception.

 

These definitions of perception are particularly important since the stated goal of the shamanic practices, advocated by Castaneda and his cohorts, is to enhance perception and expand awareness. Therefore, the processes involved in perception are key to assessing the ability of the practices to enhance the practitioner’s perceptual ability.

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Figure 1 is a simplified diagram which highlights three central process-abilities associated with perception: memory, attention and volition. In essence, energy from the environment (internal and external) is rendered into sensation. Sensations activate memory and together they provide the data and the reference framework for identification and association. Sensations and memories, guided by the selectivity of attention, are emphasized, or not, and become the focus of awareness, or not. Finally, volition weighs the value of each perceptual possibility, consequently directing attention to allocate preference in accordance with interest, importance and value. Choice is enabled by the variety of sensations and the various possibilities for combination, interpretation and resultant behavior. Also, represented in the diagram is a feedback path from volition, which feeds-back “interest, importance and value” to influence and direct memory and attention. However, keep in mind that this is only a simplified description which is being used to illustrate important process-abilities associated with perception.

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As the research presented in our book shows, the methods and practices advocated by the New Seers and described by Castaneda, can improve memory, attention and volition (the essential process-abilities of perception) through sustained practice. The enhancement of perception is the first step to expanding awareness and opening the seer's portal.

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1. Castaneda, Carlos. Magical Passes: The Practical Wisdom of the Shamans of Ancient Mexico. New York, NY, USA : HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1998.

2. Abelar, Taisha. The Sorcerers' Crossing: A Woman's Journey. New York, NY, USA : Penguin Books USA Inc., 1992.

3. Donner, Florinda. Being-In-Dreraming: An Initiation into the the Sorcerer's World. New York, NY, USA : HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1991.

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