Taisha Abelar
Encyclopedia
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
Abelar met Castaneda when she was 19 years old and a student at UCLA where she eventually earned her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Anthropology. In 1973 Castaneda purchased a compound on Pandora Avenue in Westwood LA and soon after Abelar (she was still known as Maryann Simko at this time), along with Regine Thal, and Kathleen Pohlman, who would come to be known collectively as “the witches,” moved in. In 1974 Samurai-magazine publishes rare photos of Regine Thal doing karate exercises. In the article Abelar is called "Anna Marie Carter."
In keeping with Castaneda’s philosophy of "erasing personal history," the witches maintained a tight veil of secrecy. They used numerous aliases and generally did not allow themselves to be photographed. Not long after moving into Castaneda’s compound Maryann Simko changed her name to Taisha Abelar. Likewise Regine Thal changed her name to Florinda Donner
and Kathleen Pohlman hers to Carol Tiggs
.
Abelar claimed to have been one of Don Juan
’s four students and says she spent a year in his “magical house” in Mexico. In 1992 her book The Sorcerer’s Crossing: A Woman’s Journey, which purportedly documents the training she received from the female members of don Juan’s group, was published by Penguin books.
Through the 1990s Abelar and the other witches started giving workshops in Tensegrity
for Cleargreen Incorporated
, a company formed by Castaneda for that purpose.
After Castaneda’s death in 1998 Abelar left Los Angeles and has not been heard from since.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
who was a close associate of Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
. She disappeared shortly after Castaneda's death in 1998
Abelar met Castaneda when she was 19 years old and a student at UCLA where she eventually earned her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Anthropology. In 1973 Castaneda purchased a compound on Pandora Avenue in Westwood LA and soon after Abelar (she was still known as Maryann Simko at this time), along with Regine Thal, and Kathleen Pohlman, who would come to be known collectively as “the witches,” moved in. In 1974 Samurai-magazine publishes rare photos of Regine Thal doing karate exercises. In the article Abelar is called "Anna Marie Carter."
In keeping with Castaneda’s philosophy of "erasing personal history," the witches maintained a tight veil of secrecy. They used numerous aliases and generally did not allow themselves to be photographed. Not long after moving into Castaneda’s compound Maryann Simko changed her name to Taisha Abelar. Likewise Regine Thal changed her name to Florinda Donner
Florinda Donner
Florinda Donner is an American author and anthropologist. She disappeared in 1998....
and Kathleen Pohlman hers to 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...
.
Abelar claimed to have been one 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...
’s four students and says she spent a year in his “magical house” in Mexico. In 1992 her book The Sorcerer’s Crossing: A Woman’s Journey, which purportedly documents the training she received from the female members of don Juan’s group, was published by Penguin books.
Through the 1990s Abelar and the other witches started giving workshops in 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...
for 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 company formed by Castaneda for that purpose.
After Castaneda’s death in 1998 Abelar left Los Angeles and has not been heard from since.