Amalia Marquez
Encyclopedia
Amalia Marquez, was born Amalia Monserrate Marquez Marin on April 4, 1955
in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After reading Carlos Castaneda
's books she moved to California where she became part of his inner circle of close associates. Under the name of Talia Bey, she was made the president of Cleargreen Incorporated
, a for-profit corporation that Castaneda created in 1995 to give workshops on Tensegrity
movements. Shortly after Castaneda’s death in April 1998 she disappeared and has not been heard from since.
.
How she actually met Castaneda is unknown. What is known is that she became one of his closest associates. The followers of Castaneda were encouraged to undergo the process of what he called “erasing personal history,” which often involved cutting all ties to their families and taking on new names. Amalia began going by the name of Talia Bey. When Castaneda started giving workshops on Tensegrity
, Amalia became a workshop organizer. In 1995, when Castaneda founded Cleargreen Incorporated
, Amalia, as Talia Bey, was made both a corporate director and president of the corporation. During a December 1995 interview for the Los Angeles Times
, Castaneda was asked if he and Talia Bey were a couple, which provides some indication of how close the two of them had become.
, Florinda Donner
, Taisha Abelar
, and Kylie Lundahl all had their phones disconnected on the same day and disappeared.
Castaneda’s death certificate states that he was cremated the day he died and the remains were given to Talia Bey. Among other bits of misinformation, the certificate also lists Talia as his niece.
Castaneda's will, executed three days before his death, leaves everything to an entity known as the Eagle's Trust. According to Richard Jennings, who obtained a copy of the trust agreement, the missing women, including Amalia, had a considerable amount of money due to them. For an interview published by Salon on April 12, 2007, Deborah Drooz, Castaneda's lawyer and the executor of his estate, said that she has had no contact with the women. She added that she believes they are still alive.
and Taisha Abelar
(and Carol Tiggs
, whose whereabouts are known) the Cleargreen website states: "For the moment they are not going to appear personally at the workshops because they want this dream to take wings."
, were found in the Death Valley desert in 2003, and three years later were positively identified using DNA testing.
It was only after Patritia Partin’s remains were identified in 2006 that the family was finally able to get a report filed with the LAPD. Cleargreen
continues to resist helping the Marquez family locate their sister. When Luis contacted them, all they would say was that his sister was “traveling.” Luis remains doubtful regarding the LAPD's efforts as well. In a Salon article published April 12, 2007, he said, "they still refuse to ask any questions or visit Cleargreen;" however, Detective Lydia Dillard, who was assigned to the Marquez case, said she couldn't comment on whether anyone from Cleargreen had been interviewed because this investigation was still open.
in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After reading Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
's books she moved to California where she became part of his inner circle of close associates. Under the name of Talia Bey, she was made the president of Cleargreen Incorporated
Cleargreen Incorporated
Cleargreen Incorporated is a for profit corporation founded by Carlos Castaneda in order to promote Tensegrity, a group of movements that he said had been passed down by 25 generations of Toltec shamans....
, a for-profit corporation that Castaneda created in 1995 to give workshops on Tensegrity
Tensegrity (Castaneda)
Tensegrity was a term used by Carlos Castaneda to refer to some movements called magical passes that he said were developed by Native American shamans who lived in Mexico in times prior to the Spanish conquest.-Cleargreen Inc and Tensegrity:Castaneda and the other students of Don Juan created...
movements. Shortly after Castaneda’s death in April 1998 she disappeared and has not been heard from since.
Life with Castaneda
When Amalia was still a young businesswoman, she moved from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles in order to follow Carlos CastanedaCarlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
.
How she actually met Castaneda is unknown. What is known is that she became one of his closest associates. The followers of Castaneda were encouraged to undergo the process of what he called “erasing personal history,” which often involved cutting all ties to their families and taking on new names. Amalia began going by the name of Talia Bey. When Castaneda started giving workshops on Tensegrity
Tensegrity (Castaneda)
Tensegrity was a term used by Carlos Castaneda to refer to some movements called magical passes that he said were developed by Native American shamans who lived in Mexico in times prior to the Spanish conquest.-Cleargreen Inc and Tensegrity:Castaneda and the other students of Don Juan created...
, Amalia became a workshop organizer. In 1995, when Castaneda founded Cleargreen Incorporated
Cleargreen Incorporated
Cleargreen Incorporated is a for profit corporation founded by Carlos Castaneda in order to promote Tensegrity, a group of movements that he said had been passed down by 25 generations of Toltec shamans....
, Amalia, as Talia Bey, was made both a corporate director and president of the corporation. During a December 1995 interview for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Castaneda was asked if he and Talia Bey were a couple, which provides some indication of how close the two of them had become.
Disappearance and death
On April 27, 1998 Castaneda died of complications resulting from liver cancer. Shortly thereafter Amalia, along with Patricia PartinPatricia Partin
Patricia Partin, also known as Nury Alexander, was born Patricia Lee Partin on September 4, 1957. She was a member of the inner circle that formed the core of the group to which Carlos Castaneda was the leader...
, Florinda Donner
Florinda Donner
Florinda Donner is an American author and anthropologist. She disappeared in 1998....
, Taisha Abelar
Taisha Abelar
Taisha Abelar, born Maryann Simko, is an American author and anthropologist who was a close associate of Carlos Castaneda. She disappeared shortly after Castaneda's death in 1998...
, and Kylie Lundahl all had their phones disconnected on the same day and disappeared.
Castaneda’s death certificate states that he was cremated the day he died and the remains were given to Talia Bey. Among other bits of misinformation, the certificate also lists Talia as his niece.
Castaneda's will, executed three days before his death, leaves everything to an entity known as the Eagle's Trust. According to Richard Jennings, who obtained a copy of the trust agreement, the missing women, including Amalia, had a considerable amount of money due to them. For an interview published by Salon on April 12, 2007, Deborah Drooz, Castaneda's lawyer and the executor of his estate, said that she has had no contact with the women. She added that she believes they are still alive.
Cleargreen reaction
Castaneda’s death was not reported to the public for two months and it was only after the news became public that a statement was added to the Cleargreen website about Castaneda. Regarding the missing woman Cleargreen has offered no definitive statements. In a comment that addresses only Florinda DonnerFlorinda Donner
Florinda Donner is an American author and anthropologist. She disappeared in 1998....
and Taisha Abelar
Taisha Abelar
Taisha Abelar, born Maryann Simko, is an American author and anthropologist who was a close associate of Carlos Castaneda. She disappeared shortly after Castaneda's death in 1998...
(and Carol Tiggs
Carol Tiggs
Carol Tiggs, Elizabeth Austin, or Muni Alexander, born Kathleen Adair Pohlman , is one of the three women in the inner circle of guru Carlos Castaneda whom he referred to as "the Witches" and said were apprentices of Don Juan.Tiggs was the first child born to Harriet Witbeck Pohlman and Max Edward...
, whose whereabouts are known) the Cleargreen website states: "For the moment they are not going to appear personally at the workshops because they want this dream to take wings."
Further findings
The remains of one of the five missing women, Patricia PartinPatricia Partin
Patricia Partin, also known as Nury Alexander, was born Patricia Lee Partin on September 4, 1957. She was a member of the inner circle that formed the core of the group to which Carlos Castaneda was the leader...
, were found in the Death Valley desert in 2003, and three years later were positively identified using DNA testing.
Attempts to find Amalia
For years Amalia’s family tried to report her missing. Amalia's brother Luis first tried to file a missing person report with the Los Angeles Police department in 1999, but was repeatedly ignored. The next year Luis and his sister Carmen wrote a letter to the missing-persons unit, but they were again ignored. Luis convinced Richard Jennings, who created the Sustained Action website after Castaneda’s death, to post her picture and contact information on his website.It was only after Patritia Partin’s remains were identified in 2006 that the family was finally able to get a report filed with the LAPD. Cleargreen
Cleargreen Incorporated
Cleargreen Incorporated is a for profit corporation founded by Carlos Castaneda in order to promote Tensegrity, a group of movements that he said had been passed down by 25 generations of Toltec shamans....
continues to resist helping the Marquez family locate their sister. When Luis contacted them, all they would say was that his sister was “traveling.” Luis remains doubtful regarding the LAPD's efforts as well. In a Salon article published April 12, 2007, he said, "they still refuse to ask any questions or visit Cleargreen;" however, Detective Lydia Dillard, who was assigned to the Marquez case, said she couldn't comment on whether anyone from Cleargreen had been interviewed because this investigation was still open.
See also
- Carlos Castaneda bibliography
- Lucid dreamingLucid dreamingA lucid dream is a dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming. The term was coined by the Dutch psychiatrist and writer Frederik van Eeden . In a lucid dream, the dreamer can actively participate in and manipulate imaginary experiences in the dream environment. Lucid dreams can seem real and...
- NeoshamanismNeoshamanismNeoshamanism is a term signaling a "new" form or a revival of an old form of "shamanism", a system that comprises a range of beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world....
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- Recapitulation (Castaneda)Recapitulation (Castaneda)Recapitulation is a term used by Carlos Castaneda in his book, The Eagle’s Gift, published in 1982. In The Eagle's Gift, Florinda, one of don Juan's party of warriors, teaches Castaneda about the process and purpose of recapitulation...
- Toltec (Castaneda)Toltec (Castaneda)The term "Toltec" is used in the works of writer Carlos Castaneda to denote a person who was recruited into a band of sorcerors with a tradition that had its origin in the Native American culture of that name....