In 1968, Carlos Castaneda published 'The Teachings of Don Juan,' a controversial work that detailed his experiences with Yaqui shaman Don Juan and the use of psychoactive substances like peyote and datura for spiritual exploration. This book not only popularized shamanism and Indigenous knowledge but also sparked a broader interest in alternative spiritual practices during the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Castaneda's work raised questions about the nature of reality and the intersection of Western and Indigenous philosophies.

The publication of Carlos Castaneda's 'The Teachings of Don Juan' in 1968 inspired a wave of psychedelic and visionary poetry within the counterculture. Writers began blending narrative with ecstatic exploration, shaping a new genre that sought to understand consciousness and reality.