”When you want something, all the universe
conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
As I was searching for a novel to read for this assignment in the library and scanning the shelves of books written in English, I instinctively felt a force pulling my hand towards Paulo Coelho’s copy of The Alchemist, published in originally in Portuguese in 1988 and later in English in 1993. I didn’t think much of it at first, I was simply glad that I had been able to find a book that seemed fairly interesting and not excessively long. But now after having read the novel I can honestly say that it made me reconsider so many things, having a profound effect on me and my view on life. So maybe it was destiny that made me reach for this book in the first place.
The Alchemist tells a story about a young shepherd named Santiago, who travels with his flock of sheep through Andalusia, Spain. The boy was supposed to become a priest, but his lust for traveling lead to him becoming a shepherd. After seeing the same dream twice, he heads to a gypsy woman to interpret what the boy had seen. The woman tells the boy about a treasure and that it is the boy’s fate to seek it. This leads to a chain of omens, events and encounters, all of which bring the boy closer to realizing his dreams. As the boy learns to understand the universal signs that guide him on his path, he also learns how to listen to his own heart and even how to harness the elements of nature.
The book asks many mysterious, philosophical questions, giving answers to some while leaving others to the reader to figure out on their own. It tells about the importance of dreaming and not being afraid to pursue your passions. There were countless bits in the book worth quoting, but what I feel captures this message the best was the following: ”There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
What I loved about the book was the overwhelming feeling of magic, consistent all through the story; the omens, the forces of nature, the pursuit of happiness and the attempt to understand the Soul of the World. At times I could almost hear the desert winds blowing in my ears and envision the glimmer of the stars shining upon the dunes. There were many recurring themes that were repeated throughout the book, giving it depth and working as lessons, making it a learning process for the reader as well as the young shepherd in search of his own destiny.
Even though the book was very brief, it taught me more than anything I’ve ever read before. It is in fact quite difficult to explain in words the impact it had on me. Reading The Alchemist felt like a spiritual journey, prompting me to seek out my own destiny, fulfill my dreams and find happiness, the greatest treasure known to man.