Carol Tiggs
Encyclopedia
Carol Tiggs, Elizabeth Austin, or Muni Alexander, born Kathleen Adair Pohlman (November 24, 1947 in Hollywood, CA), 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 Pohlman at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. It is not clear when she first met Castaneda, but on October 3, 1972, as Kathleen Adair Pohlman, Tiggs filed paperwork for a change of name to Elizabeth Austin. All of the women close to Castaneda had their names legally changed at least once. Tiggs purportedly first encountered Don Juan
in Mexico City sometime in either late 1966 or 1967 at age 19. This account differs from that given in Castaneda's book The Eagle's Gift. In 1973 Carol supposedly left either with or shortly after Don Juan
: The events vary according to which book one reads, The Eagle's Gift, or The Art of Dreaming
).
Richard Jennings, who was invited to attend Castaneda's private Sunday sessions and was deeply involved in the group from 1995 through 1998, believes that Castaneda's group of close associates during the late 1970s and early 1980s likely numbered less than two dozen. Carol Tiggs's defection was a reportedly pivotal event at the time: Shortly after joining the group she tried to break away. Tiggs attended California Acupuncture College, married a fellow student and lived in Pacific Palisades.
Carol was reunited with Castaneda most likely in the fall of 1985 at a lecture at a Phoenix Bookstore in Santa Monica
. On April 5, 1988, as Elizabeth Austin Carol, Tiggs again filed for a change of name, this time to "Muni Alexander," effective May 20 of that year. In 1993 Castaneda's The Art of Dreaming
was published by HarperCollins
. Tiggs was said to be the Nagual Woman, an important figure in Castaneda's literature who first appeared in The Eagle's Gift published in 1981.
The Nagual woman also figured prominently in this 1993 work, reportedly rescuing Castaneda from the "foggy, yellowish world" where he had supposedly gone to rescue the Blue Scout (said to be Patricia Partin
.) On September 29, 1993 Carlos "Aranha" married "Carol Muni Tiggs Alexander" in Las Vegas
. The marriage license lists this as Tiggs's first marriage, her date of birth as November 24, 1957 in Arizona
, and her parents as John Michael Alexander and Carol Tiggs of Arizona. Just two days prior Carlos Castaneda had married Florinda Donner
in Las Vegas.
Carlos Castaneda's death certificate was signed on April 27, 1998. It reported that his death occurred at 3 AM on that date, but the death was kept secret until June 19, 1998 when the Los Angeles Times obituary reporting Castaneda's death appeared on the front page. The following day an obituary in the New York Times reported that Castaneda's adopted son, C. J. Castaneda, was responsible for making the death public. On August 2, 1998 Carol spoke at the Ontario Intensive Workshop at the Ontario Convention Center. Carol has not been seen in public since.
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
whom he referred to as "the Witches" and said were apprentices of Don Juan
Don Juan Matus
Don Juan Matus is a major figure in the series of books on Nagual 'Sorcery' by Carlos Castaneda.Matus is described as a Yaqui Indian to whom Castaneda was first introduced at a bus depot in Yuma, Arizona in the early 1960s. He turns out to be a 'Man of Knowledge' who imparts much of his wisdom and...
.
Tiggs was the first child born to Harriet Witbeck Pohlman and Max Edward Pohlman at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. It is not clear when she first met Castaneda, but on October 3, 1972, as Kathleen Adair Pohlman, Tiggs filed paperwork for a change of name to Elizabeth Austin. All of the women close to Castaneda had their names legally changed at least once. Tiggs purportedly first encountered Don Juan
Don Juan Matus
Don Juan Matus is a major figure in the series of books on Nagual 'Sorcery' by Carlos Castaneda.Matus is described as a Yaqui Indian to whom Castaneda was first introduced at a bus depot in Yuma, Arizona in the early 1960s. He turns out to be a 'Man of Knowledge' who imparts much of his wisdom and...
in Mexico City sometime in either late 1966 or 1967 at age 19. This account differs from that given in Castaneda's book The Eagle's Gift. In 1973 Carol supposedly left either with or shortly after Don Juan
Don Juan Matus
Don Juan Matus is a major figure in the series of books on Nagual 'Sorcery' by Carlos Castaneda.Matus is described as a Yaqui Indian to whom Castaneda was first introduced at a bus depot in Yuma, Arizona in the early 1960s. He turns out to be a 'Man of Knowledge' who imparts much of his wisdom and...
: The events vary according to which book one reads, The Eagle's Gift, or The Art of Dreaming
The Art of Dreaming
The Art of Dreaming is an allegedly non-fictional book written by author/anthropologist Carlos Castaneda and published in 1993. The book reportedly describes the events that took place during an apprenticeship he claimed to have served with a self-proclaimed Yaqui Indian Sorcerer, don Juan Matus,...
).
Richard Jennings, who was invited to attend Castaneda's private Sunday sessions and was deeply involved in the group from 1995 through 1998, believes that Castaneda's group of close associates during the late 1970s and early 1980s likely numbered less than two dozen. Carol Tiggs's defection was a reportedly pivotal event at the time: Shortly after joining the group she tried to break away. Tiggs attended California Acupuncture College, married a fellow student and lived in Pacific Palisades.
Carol was reunited with Castaneda most likely in the fall of 1985 at a lecture at a Phoenix Bookstore in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
. On April 5, 1988, as Elizabeth Austin Carol, Tiggs again filed for a change of name, this time to "Muni Alexander," effective May 20 of that year. In 1993 Castaneda's The Art of Dreaming
The Art of Dreaming
The Art of Dreaming is an allegedly non-fictional book written by author/anthropologist Carlos Castaneda and published in 1993. The book reportedly describes the events that took place during an apprenticeship he claimed to have served with a self-proclaimed Yaqui Indian Sorcerer, don Juan Matus,...
was published by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
. Tiggs was said to be the Nagual Woman, an important figure in Castaneda's literature who first appeared in The Eagle's Gift published in 1981.
The Nagual woman also figured prominently in this 1993 work, reportedly rescuing Castaneda from the "foggy, yellowish world" where he had supposedly gone to rescue the Blue Scout (said to be Patricia Partin
Patricia 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...
.) On September 29, 1993 Carlos "Aranha" married "Carol Muni Tiggs Alexander" in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
. The marriage license lists this as Tiggs's first marriage, her date of birth as November 24, 1957 in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and her parents as John Michael Alexander and Carol Tiggs of Arizona. Just two days prior Carlos Castaneda had married Florinda Donner
Florinda Donner
Florinda Donner is an American author and anthropologist. She disappeared in 1998....
in Las Vegas.
Carlos Castaneda's death certificate was signed on April 27, 1998. It reported that his death occurred at 3 AM on that date, but the death was kept secret until June 19, 1998 when the Los Angeles Times obituary reporting Castaneda's death appeared on the front page. The following day an obituary in the New York Times reported that Castaneda's adopted son, C. J. Castaneda, was responsible for making the death public. On August 2, 1998 Carol spoke at the Ontario Intensive Workshop at the Ontario Convention Center. Carol has not been seen in public since.
See also
- Bruce WagnerBruce WagnerBruce Alan Wagner is an American novelist, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director based in Los Angeles known for his acerbic view of the Hollywood entertainment industry.-Personal life:...
- Taisha AbelarTaisha AbelarTaisha 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...
- Florinda DonnerFlorinda DonnerFlorinda Donner is an American author and anthropologist. She disappeared in 1998....
- Lucid Dream
- Amalia MarquezAmalia MarquezAmalia Marquez, was born Amalia Monserrate Marquez Marin on April 4, 1955in 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...
- 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....
- New AgeNew AgeThe New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
- Patricia PartinPatricia PartinPatricia 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...
- RecapitulationRecapitulation (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...
- TensegrityTensegrity (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...
- 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....