Don Miguel Ruiz was born in rural Mexico to a family of healers. His grandfather was a nagual (shaman) of the Eagle Knight lineage, and his mother was a curandera (healer). Miguel initially pursued a conventional path, attending medical school and becoming a surgeon in the 1970s. After a near-fatal car accident, he abandoned his medical practice to explore the traditional Toltec wisdom he had learned from his family.

Miguel studied under a nagual in the Mexican desert, immersing himself in ancient Toltec teachings. After completing this apprenticeship, he began sharing these philosophies with others, adapting Indigenous concepts into accessible practices for contemporary audiences. His background in both modern medicine and traditional healing informed his approach to spiritual teachings.

Don Jose Ruiz, Miguel’s son, was exposed to Toltec wisdom from childhood. Unlike his father, Jose did not pursue conventional education before becoming a spiritual teacher. Instead, he apprenticed directly to his father, learning through immersion and practice rather than academic study. This direct transmission from father to son continues the traditional lineage system they describe in their works. Jose began working alongside his father as a teacher in his twenties, developing his own interpretations of Toltec principles.

Don Miguel first gained international recognition with The Four Agreements, published in 1997.