Thee Alchemist
The Alchemist Book taken by Breshay Warnsley
Recently, I finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I finished it weeks ago but just came across the conseus of what the story meant. First, the book came to me by complete surprise. I always heard great things about it being a “must-read”, but no one could never get me hyped enough to dive in. I recently started dating someone and he surprised me with the book along with a beautiful, gold metal bookmark. The fox shape bookmark is accented with orange, teal, and white colors attached to a symbol I can’t make out but, trust me when I say it’s beautiful. Along with a lavender notebook with the cutest little squishy frog. I adored the gifts which made me excited to read this book I’ve heard so much about.
When I open the book, I was immediately captivatived by the story the author was telling. The book took me on a journey of genuine love, admiration, purpose, and patience. It told the story of a little shepherd boys journey to finding his treasure. It spiked a deep thought within myself, I wanted to receive what the author meant to tell readers in it’s totality, not just in pieces. It took me a while to get to the point of understanding the book. Though, I found it brilliant, spiritually symbolic, and entertaining, but sometimes we are quick to make revelations about something we didn’t take time to think about. So I took my time dissected it, and now I believe I have a well thought out and considerate thoughts towards the book. Let me tell you about it.
The author started the story with telling readers of a little shepherd boy by the name of Santiago. He was an ambitious boy with a desire to find his treasure he received through his dreams. Through his journey, obstacles occurred that lead him to understand his true treasure was never about material things but about spiritual growth and self- discovery. While on the journey to finding his treasure, Santiago learned from the people he came in contact with. Everyone he spoke to had a story, their own journey, and helped the little boy where there may have been confusion. King of Salem taught him that his personal legend is one’s purpose in life, the english man he met got him curious about finding the secret of alchemy, and the alchemist he encounters guides him further by teaching him to listen to his heart and to understand the language of the world, which is full of omens.
Throughout the novel, Coelho explores themes of destiny, the pursuit of dreams, and the importance of following one’s heart. The story is deeply symbolic and offers a message about the interconnectedness of all things and the idea that the journey is as important as the destination. Santiago’s path reveals that when you pursue your Personal Legend, the universe conspires to help you along the way.
Or I would like to say, will reveal that “everything is working out for me”. The story is a tale for people who may find themselves at a pause in life to determining what’s next and what’s “expected” from them in a world that has no true guidance or structure. To me, the book is to inform readers of the challenges we have as humans. It shows that if we don’t go after the things that lights a fire and desire under us, how would we give the same fire and desire to the world? our communities? our families?
The Alchemist demonstrated the importance of being true to oneself and, that is, the journey to spiritual awakeness. Spiritual awakeness reveals confidence and that is self empowerment. This found self empowerment is what centers us to be present and become vessels to the environments and communities that we serve. When we are empowered and know how to empower ourselves, it becomes easier to empower the people around us.
Through my own spiritual journey, I’ve learned that the way back to ourselves from being disconnected for long periods of time is through self-empowerment and confidence. Getting back to “ourselves” is the healing that we need to transform our selves, families, and future generations. I say that to say, being the alchemist in your life is the anchor between who you are and who you help. Using your God given magic to transform or create something is your birthright. It’s the thing that keeps us balanced and allows phrases like “everything is working out for me” and “ all things happen for my good” to resonate deeply within us.
We set the tone for how things unrevil in our lives. We are the yayers or nay sayers. We invite in our capabilities or what we cause ourselves to be and have. This present work on self is never for us but for generations to come. Though, this story has deep rooted symbols and spiritual enlightment, the deepest consenus I recieved was the spiritual journeys we are on is never for us but for the people that are supposed to learn form us. When we are souled out in our purpose the people who are supposed to reach us and be reached only appear when we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing in the exact moment we are supposed to be doing it.
Be on your destined journey and be so intentional about it that you are in awe of how things are created and transformed. You are thee alchemist, unleash your magic.
I love you so much. Thank you for reading.
