Castaneda attended the University of California in Los Angeles where he earned his B.A. in anthropology in 1962 and his Ph.D. In 1973. During his time at UCLA, Castaneda worked as an apprentice with a traditional shaman, or "Man of Knowledge", by the name of Don Juan Matus from Northern Mexico. It was this apprenticeship that became the focus for his first books entitlted The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge, A Separate Reality and Journey to Ixtlan. These books helped him achieve his degrees at UCLA.

After the publication of his books, Castaneda appeared for one article for Time in 1973, after which he became very private and disappeared from public view. He continued to write, however, and published Tales of Power in 1974. His works ignited discussions amongst both supporters and critics and Castaneda amassed a large following if individuals who believed in both his philosophies and his books. He continued to promote the ideas of shamans and alternate states of perception and reality through books, pamphlets, and a strong network of individuals who dedicated their lives to promoting his work.
Carlos Castaneda was born on December 25, 1925 in Cajamarca, Peru to Susana Castaneda Navoa and Cesar Arana Burungaray. He spent his childhood in Peru and moved to the United States in the 1950s. Castaneda became a naturalized citizen in 1957 and married Margaret Runyan in 1960. Although they were legally married until 1973, Castaneda and Runyan only lived together for a short time in the early 1960s.

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