The warrior’s final challenge is to balance all the attributes of his path. Once he does that, his purpose becomes inflexible. He is no longer moved by a desperate desire for gain. He is the owner of his will, and can put it to his personal service. When he arrives at that point, the warrior has learned how to be impeccable. And for him to continue being impeccable depends totally on the energy he has accumulated. ~ Carlos Castaneda, Encounters with the Nagual

Carlos goes on to say that impeccability is born of a delicate balance between our internal being and the forces of the external world. It is an achievement that requires effort, time, dedication, and being permanently attentive to the objective, so that the final purpose is never lost from sight. Like a lot of the nomenclature used by Castaneda, the word impeccability takes on a different meaning than the standard dictionary definition. In the dictionary impeccability is defined as the absence of sin, faultless; flawless; irreproachable. Don Juan says; impeccability is nothing else but the proper use of energy.

Suffice it to say that it is very difficult to put into words some of the meaning surrounding the sorcerer’s concepts and I’m sure that Carlos was doing the best he could possibly do in attempting to relate his complex, energetic understanding into comprehensible terms. As a warrior friend recently reminded me, don Juan told Carlos to turn his writing from an act of writing into an act of sorcery. It becomes an endeavor in stalking.

The way that I understand impeccability is kind of like utter humility backed by integrity and more. It is aligning oneself with all forces, internal, external and the force of intent so that the forces of pressure are equalized everywhere and the warrior is buoyant, fluid and flexible. I suppose that this can be known as the dictionary definition of the absence of sin, faultless; flawless; irreproachable and yet, it’s so much more on an energetic level.

Impeccability for a sorcerer is composure, equanimity and poise. It is the ability to maintain centeredness and balance in all situations. It is the ability to not lose energy to anyone, anything or any situation and to leave no perceptible impact. It’s taking full responsibility for every act, even the most trivial of acts and to not let anything affect the warrior’s mood. The warrior realizes that everything is ephemeral and as such proceeds impeccably through life. Is this a challenge? Yes. Is it possible? Yes. How then does one become an impeccable warrior? Through practice.

Impeccability begins with a single act that has to be deliberate, precise and sustained. If that act is repeated long enough, one acquires a sense of unbending intent, which can be applied to anything else. If that is accomplished the road is clear. One thing will lead to another until the warrior realizes his full potential. ~ The Fire From Within

The bottom line to impeccability consists of, but is not limited to, humility, gratitude, appreciation, awe, responsibility, integrity, acceptance… An impeccable warrior recognizes that every person in the world is capable of realizing their own potential and this is not something that can be taught, it can only be experienced and cultivated through a commitment of unbending intent. And the impeccable warrior is a witness to others as they come into their own power in the way that best serves them through the choices they make and the personal experience that they, personally, acquire. There is no other way. I leave you with these quotes on impeccability to ponder.

The aspect of impeccability which particularly concerns our daily lives is knowing how exercising our freedom affects others, and avoiding the resulting friction at any cost. Occasionally, our relationships with others will generate friction and expectations. A fighting sorcerer pays close attention to his contacts, and becomes a hunter of signs. If there are no signs, he doesn’t interact with people; he is content to wait because, although he doesn’t have time, he has all the patience in the world. He knows that too much is at stake, and won’t risk ruining everything by one false move. ~ Carlos Castaneda, Encounters with the Nagual

The spirit of a warrior is not geared to indulging and complaining, nor is it geared to winning or losing. The spirit of a warrior is geared only to struggle, and every struggle is a warrior’s last battle on earth. Thus the outcome matters very little to him. In his last battle on earth a warrior lets his spirit flow free and clear. And as he wages his battle, knowing that his intent is impeccable, a warrior laughs and laughs. ~ A Separate Reality

A warrior acknowledges his pain but he doesn’t indulge in it. The mood of the warrior who enters into the unknown is not one of sadness; on the contrary, he’s joyful because he feels humbled by his great fortune, confident that his spirit is impeccable, and above all, fully aware of his efficiency. A warrior’s joyfulness comes from having accepted his fate, and from having truthfully assessed what lies ahead of him.~ Tales of Power

The self-confidence of the warrior is not the self-confidence of the average man. The average man seeks certainty in the eyes of the onlooker and calls that self-confidence. The warrior seeks impeccability in his own eyes and calls that humbleness. The average man is hooked to his fellow men, while the warrior is hooked only to infinity. ~ Tales of Power

A warrior is never under siege. To be under siege implies that one has personal possessions that could be blockaded. A warrior has nothing in the world except his impeccability, and impeccability cannot be threatened. ~ The Eagle’s Gift

The only freedom warriors have is to behave impeccably. Not only is impeccability freedom; it is the only way to straighten out the human form. ~ The Second Ring of Power

~Keep dancing!