I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho about 30 years ago, but could never figure out why people raved about it as a spiritual classic, because I remember feeling underwhelmed by the story. Recently, I came across a copy on my bookshelf and thought I would give it another go.
A wee synopsis, it is about a boy who has a recurring dream where he is told to go to the Pyramids, dig at a certain spot and there he will find treasure. The setting is Southern Spain and North Africa. The themes are Searching for God, following one’s Heart, Alchemy, longing, fear, regret and of course, love.
Alchemy is the medieval practice of turning lead into gold and many have searched for the practical means of how to perform this magic. However, with everything related to Alchemy the meaning is related to a spiritual awakening. What the Alchemists were doing was turning the lead which represents the ego, the negativity that we carry within, into the gold of the Soul or Spirit.
The protagonist is Santiago, and what I didn’t know when I first read it was that consideration to the names of characters may give a deeper understanding of what the author is trying to convey. Santiago is Spanish for Saint James. James was a disciple of Jesus who went on to become a martyr and it is believed his bones were taken to the Church in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The Camino (Path) to Santiago has been a draw for pilgrims for centuries. The author has given him the name of Santiago for a reason, which is to let us know he is a religious pilgrim, a searcher of the Path.
Another aspect is Santiago’s job is as a shepherd. One of the great trades of those in gathering souls, but the sheep in this novel seem to represent the part of humanity that has no spiritual yearning, or questions about the human existence, because the sheep are happy, ‘eating the grass, ’ and living their mundane life, which does not change from day-to-day. Santiago decides to give up that life, sell his sheep to go on a search for his treasure.
He begins by doing the thing that many people consider when they begin to make changes in their life, which is to consult those whom they think hold special powers, in this case he asks a clairvoyant to decipher his dreams. He is confused and at this point he does not know that he can look within for the answers, so, he is looking to others to answer his questions.
The book continues with Santiago, being guided by the words of a King, who sends him on his path, which sees him being taking advantage of by unscrupulous people who enter his path with seemingly kind acts, but who rob him of his money. Here Coelho is warning the seeker of the Path not to be too gullible, or too trusting because there is always someone willing to take the money from a pilgrim, and a trap that those searching for enlightenment fall into, whereby, they give up all semblance of common sense and believe they are exempt from these happenings.
A theme of the book is the reading of omens. Santiago is looking for signs to help him move to the next level of unlocking consciousness. Looking for omens (coincidences) is a way to become aware of this Universal guiding force that puts people and situations in the way of the searcher as a way to open up new ways of thinking and acting. This happens through the searcher listening to their own heart, turning inward to try and connect with their intuition, and listen to what Coelho calls the ‘Soul of the World’.
Another symbol used is the desert. Santiago has to cross the desert to reach his treasure, and by considering the connotations of a desert we can identify the symbolism of the desert. Deserts are dry, hot, no roads, easily lost, no water, thirsty. Using the desert mirrors Santiago’s internal state, because he has many doubts because the path is not clear, and he is thirsty for this knowledge, but is unable to drink from the fountain of knowledge. Many times he wants to give up and return to his sheep (a normal life) but he knows he must go on. This involves finding and giving up love for his quest.
It is a good read and it has to be savoured to be enjoyed.
