This essay is from paraquem
Published on October 7, 2001

George Lucas & Carlos Castaneda in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

• Introduction
• A definite influence
• Basic commonalities, clear differences
• Yoda, the shaman
• Mystical initiation
• "Do or do not ... there is no try"
• "Remember your failure at the tree"
• Gaining an ally, and the Trials
• "Luminous beings are we ... not this crude matter"
• Fortuitous meetings in the Star Wars saga
• Disappearing Jedi (and the relevance of lineage)
• Jar Jar Binks, vegetation spirits and re:birth
• Summary

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Summary

Hopefully, the preceding morass will have put some extra flesh on the bones of some of the more esoteric aspects of the Star Wars films. Some of the comparisons I have made may seem as though they are stretching credulity a bit, and in some instances they may well be. However, it’s a near-impossible task to accurately capture the essence of Castaneda’s books over the course of little over a dozen pages (for me anyway). I have only really scratched the surface here - we are dealing in a rich vein. It is a near certainty, also, that I will have omitted avenues of comparison, and perhaps not dealt fully enough with others.

However, if this piece has piqued anyone’s interest to delve further I would like to suggest that the following Castaneda books as a good starting point -

1. A Separate Reality
2. Journey To Ixtlan
3. Tales Of Power

And finally, a big thank you for reading this piece.

  Feedback welcome

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