At the center of the book is a new and formidable figure， dona Soledad， a woman whose powers are turned against Castaneda in a struggle that almost consumes him. Dona Soledad has been taught by don Juan， transformed by his teachings from a bent and gray-haired old woman into a sensual， lithe， deeply sexual figure of awesome and mysterious power， a sorceress whose mission is to test Castaneda by a series of terrifying tricks. Castaneda s combat with her， his gradual realization that she not only derives her power from don Juan but is fulfilling his plans， is all a prelude to an astonishing discovery. Castaneda unfolds a sorcerer s party ，a small closed society in which the teachings of don Juan have become a way of life.