16/10/2025
The Alchemist
(Paulo Coelho)
No matter how renowned the author, let me admit that this is my first ever Paulo Coelho read. Although always sitting on a shelf in every book store I get in, it never interests me or if I did desire it, I would always postpone getting a copy. A year ago, it was again suggested to me, but found myself with so much more to be read piled on my shelf. So again, I had the excuse to let it go.
A few weeks ago, I received random gifts and one of them includes a copy of the Alchemist. January, being the busiest of my year, took so much of my time working my job and sleeping to rest the day. But sleep doesn’t come to me just as easily as I want it all the time, thus a book might help, I thought.
The alchemist was supposed to be my sleeping pill but it started so strong that even when sleep has arrived, I have to fight against it and read some more. Later, it dawned on me that this short novel is actually self-help. If I had to count all the beautiful and deep phrases used such as “...the concept of love as distinct from possession, and couldn’t separate them.” and “You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say.” as well as straight to the point practical words such as “...when we strive to be better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” and “...in money, there is magic.”, then I would have to retell the whole story without a skipped page.
There are truths to what Paulo Coellho wrote in this book. Mostly, encouraging words for one to go after his “Personal Legend” or dreams and aspirations. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” However, although this may be true for some, it is not always and will never be true for others. I personally believe that the universe listens, and the power of manifestation is achievable. But it is not as simple as just muttering mantras or perceiving things as hard as you can in your mind. Being arrogant in fulfilling your dreams comes with the responsibility of working your way towards it.
The author also could have reconsidered that not everyone is set to achieve everything he has set to fulfill in life. That it is actually okay to let go of one dream or aspiration in order to gain something far better. I know somebody who left his aspirations to serve in the medical field so he shifted to become an accountant where he achieved great things. Later, he settled on his hobby of being a photographer where he now is one of the best in his final chosen field.
MInd over matter is also not for everyone, especially not for those who are more challenged in fulfilling their dreams. Not all who are born to poverty will ever have a rugs to riches story. I recently came across a social media post about a student borrowing a ten-peso money from a teacher just to fill an empty stomach. Who knows since when that stomach was left empty just because there really is nothing on their table to eat. The Alchemist story revolves more around leaving one’s responsibilities in the quest for a Personal Legend. Santiago, our main protagonist, left the seminary to become a shepherd. Sold his herd to look for his treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt. Went back to where he started to find his ultimate goal. How true is leaving one’s responsibilities to fulfill dreams if these responsibilities are your aging parents, or unemancipated minor siblings who cannot fend for themselves?
Just like Santiago, how many of us are given by our parents some sort of gift which enables us to buy sheep? Or have sheep to sell in order to travel to distant lands? Or have a piece of lead turned to gold in order to go back to where we started in the first place? Not all of us for sure. The Alchemist story of Santiago, although faced with hardships and challenges, was still close to perfect.
Inspiring as it is, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist sort of became outdated especially for those who never fail to dream but left stagnant dreaming because there are no means to take a step in fulfilling them.
-admin Myrrh Meizun
