“The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho” is one of those books of “esoteric” feelings that make you feel that life is vivid again.
He certainly plays with the feeling that “there is something else” that he forgot and with the idea that he is part of a bigger plan.
When you follow Santiago, the shepherd boy, on your adventure, you will automatically question your own adventure in life; Are you fulfilling your highest purpose? Why did you forget your way? What remains to be done? Did you betray what you were meant to do with your life?
Asking questions like that … feeling the feelings that accompany those questions … really is a wonderful way to live. During the short time you read this book, you will feel more alive. You will feel more in tune with “the universe”. You will feel that wonderful feeling of looking out the window in the morning and listening to the wind … that is … unless you don’t know how it is.
Santiago follows his dreams, which take him from Spain to Morocco and then to Egypt, all in search of a special treasure. During his travels, he learns lessons from messengers who seem to be on his way at the right time, just when he needs them.
The author Paulo Coelho is a beloved Brazilian writer. I heard that Madonna loves you. I read a lot of his books, but I think this is the best one. He has produced a few more books in recent years that I have not yet read, so it is certainly possible that he has surpassed The Alchemist. I’ll check.
Some of his books are not fictional and talk about his own life. As far as I can reconstruct, Paul is a member of a little-known mystical Catholic sect that seeks spiritual growth. They assign international mentors hitherto unknown to their members … older men who have achieved a high degree of spiritual power (and success in the world?). I’m not even going to go into the bizarre things they do, but if you want an idea, get “The Pilgrimage”, also by Coelho.
But read The Alchemist; it’s such a good book. This will definitely give you a touch of wisdom … or an “esoteric buzz”.
Today I read an interview with Paulo, in which he spoke of being aware of “omens” in your life that only you will recognize. It is a language by which the “Universe” speaks to you … like coincidences, songs, feelings, synchronicities. This is a topic he definitely talks about in The Alchemist.
Some people complain that the book is too simplistic, that it would be stupid to believe that there is some “plan” for his life that he should have followed; that he must wake up, raise his head from the clouds of “sensitive feelings” and get back to work.
If you are prone to these thoughts, this book may not be for you. However, if you like to wake up your soul from time to time, there is no better place to do that than in the clouds.
