What distinguishes normal people is that we share a metaphorical dagger; the concerns of our self - reflection. With this dagger, we cut ourselves and bleed; and the job of our chains of self - reflection is to give us the feeling that we are bleeding together, that we are sharing something wonderful; our humanity. But if we were to examine it, we would discover that we are bleeding alone; that we are not sharing anything; that all we are doing is toying with our manageable, unreal, man-made reflection. Sorcerers are no longer in the world of daily affairs, because they are no longer prey to their self - reflection.
In "The Power of Silence," Carlos Castaneda explores the idea that normal people engage in a shared experience of self-reflection, symbolized by a metaphorical dagger. This dagger represents the personal struggles and vulnerabilities that we all navigate, suggesting that through collective suffering, we find a sense of connection and shared humanity. However, Castaneda also points out that this sense of togetherness may be an illusion, as our reflections are often lonely and disconnected from genuine interaction.
The author argues that when we examine our inner lives more closely, we realize that we often experience our pain in isolation rather than in solidarity with others. This solitary nature of self-reflection can lead us to toy with a fragmented sense of identity, masking the truth that we are not sharing meaningful connections. The mystical figures, or sorcerers, are described as individuals who transcend this self-reflection, suggesting that true understanding and emotional freedom lie beyond the confines of our self-imposed boundaries.
