The Eagle's Gift: Part SEP: Chapter SEP 3 - The Skimmings Are Made Sense Of By The First Ring Of Power.

The Eagle's Gift. ©1982 by Carlos Castaneda.

Part S.E.P.: Chapter S.E.P. 3 - The Skimmings Are Made Sense Of By The First Ring Of Power.

Don Juan used to say that the first ring of power is the force that stems from the Eagle's emanations to affect exclusively our first attention. He explained that it has been represented as a "ring " because of its dynamism; of its uninterrupted movement. It has been called ring "of power" due to, first, its compulsive character, and, second, because of its unique ability to stop its works; to change them or to reverse their direction.

The first ring of power's compulsive character is better shown in the fact that not only does it urge the first attention to build and perpetuate skimmings, but it also demands a consensus from all the participants. Of each one of us is demanded a complete agreement upon the faithful reproduction of skimmings since conformity to the first ring of power must be total.

It is precisely this conformity which gives us the certainty that skimmings are objects which exist as such; independent from our perception. Besides, the compulsiveness of the first ring of power does not cease after the initial agreement, but it demands that we continuously renovate the agreement. For example, during our whole life we must operate as if each one of our skimmings was perceptually the first one for each human being in spite of languages and cultures. Don Juan granted that even if all this is too serious to be taken jokingly, the urging character of the first ring of power is so intense that it forces us to believe that if the "mountain" could have an awareness of its own, it would consider itself as the skimming that we have learned how to build.

The most valuable feature that the first ring of power bears to a warrior is the singular capability of interrupting its flux of energy, or to totally suspend it. Don Juan said that this is a latent capability which exists within us all as a backup unit. In our narrow world of skimmings, there is no need to use it. Since we are so efficiently buttressed and shielded by the net of the first attention, we do not realize, not even vaguely, that we have hidden resources. However, if another alternative to follow would present itself to us, such as is the warrior's option to use the second attention, the latent capability of the first ring of power could start to function and could be used with spectacular results.

Don Juan underlined that the biggest feat of sorcerers is the process of activating this latent capability. He called it blocking the intent of the first ring of power. He explained to me that the Eagle's emanations, which have already been isolated by the first attention in order to build the everyday world, exert an unbending pressure upon the first attention. For this pressure to stop its activity, the intent must be displaced. Seers call this an obstruction; or an interruption of the first ring of power.