In the middle of the winter, Catharine the Great of Russia receives some boxes of freshly-picked oranges. A note says that they have come from a distant port, part of her Empire. “See what we are capable of; but we need your help to grow”. Impressed, the Empress of all the Russias sends an enormous amount of money so that this port can develop even more.
In fact the oranges had been brought from other countries across the Black Sea. Without telling any lies, the note to the Empress also did not tell the whole truth. But, as I came to understand as soon as I landed there, continuing the 90-day pilgrimage that I proposed to make without any fixed destination, the sentence one hears most often in the city is: “That’s Odessa!”
When I decided to take this journey, I knew that I would need to have at least one official commitment a week. That would help me to resist the temptation of interrupting the trip in the middle and returning to Brazil before the proper time. In this case, I accepted to come to Ukraine on the invitation of the government, to the forum held on the 20th anniversary of the atomic disaster in Chernobyl. The event was to last only one afternoon, and since the wind was carrying me to Ukraine I decided to stay there for another week. When they asked me what I wanted to do, I explained that I was arranging “surprise” meetings with my readers, normally giving them only two or three days’ notice. And where was the meeting to be?
“Odessa,” I answered.
Everyone seemed very surprised. Why Odessa? I answered that I had met Sergey Kostin, who had a project selected by the Schwab Foundation (I am on their Board of Directors). At the meetings held in Davos (the Foundation is connected to the World Economic Forum), I was impressed by that Ukrainian who, without speaking any English, managed to show his project and sensitize the businessmen who frequent Davos. Sergey insisted that I should come to visit his town; since I was being guided by impulses and signs, I felt that the time had come. Following a tradition that began in Puente la Reina, I asked the local book vendor to organize a book-signing party for 50 readers chosen by drawing lots.
A friend lent me his plane. When we landed, my representative in Russia asked to see the invitation to the party just to make sure everything was alright. I saw a look of fear in her eyes.
“But there’s no date, no place, no time!”
“That’s Odessa!” answered the book vendor. “Those who received the invitation will telephone 3 hours ahead for the necessary information. If they find out earlier than that, we will have many fake tickets.”
We feel that nobody will turn up, but I ask Natasha not to worry, we have no expectations, this is all part of the adventure. I visit the staircase where they filmed the strongest scene in Eisenstein’s “The Battleship Potemkin”. The party is a success, although, since “that’s Odessa!”, far more people turned up than was expected. The book vendor introduced me to a gigantic man who wanted to make a sculpture of me.
I have already received this kind of proposal. I have never accepted because I know that it means spending days posing, and I plan to go back to Kiev the next day. But the book vendor insists
“Just one hour. That’s Odessa!”
It’s the Orthodox Easter, an important day for Christianity. I feel that I should accept just to please him – I really could not stay for more than an hour, we had to get back to Kiev.
I go to his studio with some friends. Alexander Petrovich Tokarev, that is the sculptor’s name, says he spent the whole night praying in church (an Orthodox custom). Even though he has not slept, he begins to sculpt. I am a bit anxious: he will manage to do nothing in so little time. He is sweating profusely, his hands do not stop for a moment, yet his movements are precise, a sort of spiritual ballet. I look at his work all around the studio, his genius and talent. I understand his love and his capacity to accomplish things that seem impossible. There, once again I am reminded that when we want something, the whole Universe conspires in our favor.
At the end of the hour the sculpture is ready. But why should I be so surprised? That’s Odessa!
(*)The photos of the work can be seen by clicking on Photo Gallery
The next text will be posted on the 19th of May.
P.S: Dear reader,
During this journey, that is filling my soul with very interesting experiences, one of the most magical moments comes every night when I read the comments posted on this blog. Even though I can’t answer all of you, I want you to know that it’s very important to me to know that I’m not alone on this path. Thank you so much for your support and for the words and ideas that are now engraved on my heart.
Paulo Coelho
Dear Paulo,
Not feeling too well (the flue), so time for a necessary rest, I still feel great. In the meaning of: it’s great to be here. It’s great to read your stories and the stories from the other readers/pelgrims/warriors. I feel thankful.
The love, the power I find here inspires me. Of course I will lit a fire for you. Your words are a big fire to me and for my husband.
And every time I think I’m with my back against the wall or I cannot find a way, there is always that moment that an unknown door opens. So even sometimes, when we cannot see, our hands can touch the wall finding a door, which we hope is there.
Finding the impossible. Doing the impossible. Creating the impossible. That what seemed impossible that is. I’m reminded every time too, when I find that door, when that door opens. Believing. And loving.
Finding belief again. Finding miracles. Finding life again.
Thank you. Love to all of you,
Mirjam, The Netherlands
Paulo I read the Alchemist for the fist time about 7 years ago and as I do with all the good books I read I gave away to a friend. Several month ago I heard you on Desert Island Discs on BBC 4 with Sue Lawley and how you talked about omens.
Whilst travelling to a meeting in London I picked up a new copy of the book and when I returned home and began redaing the book I found a white feather amongst the pages.
It’s amazing the way you are attentive to your readers. I think it’s so usual, when a writer achieving such a success as yours around the world gets satisfied and no more appreciates and values the love of his readers.
You know that so many people are interested in your Path, in your Life - they practically learn from you. And it’s so great that you always come up to their expectations writing in your blog on the impressions of the day.
Thank you so much for this!
Since I realised what is my dream, I’ve been thinking about becoming a writer all the time. I don’t know why, but there is an idea in my mind that I will be able to become a writer only after I cover a long journey alone.
Don’t know why, but I know it for sure, that my path - the path leading to my own heart - is the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage not only through countries, lands, cities, but the pilgrimage through lives of others and through my own fears, doubts, …
Where to go? In what direction? Deep inside I feel that the answer will be given very soon, I just feel it coming closer and closer.
To tell the truth, I read almost all of your books, because your stories and your images are so familiar and I like them all, the way you think and explain your thoughts. But I never was your ‘fan’. I knew nothing of your biography, of your life. Yesterday, reading your biography I was startled to find out the role of pilgrimage in YOUR life. Is it the way of every writer?;)
It may be so that you have no time to read the comments, and you maybe don’t answer them at all, but if you do, tell me, is leaving everything behind and starting on a journey a courage, or is it just running away?
Sincerely,
one of yor readers
Hi, dear Paulo! It has become a small habit for me when I start working on the computer. the first thing I do is I go to this site to read your comments, thoughts, opinions concerning the place you’ve just visited or you are in. I am looking forward to seeing you in Vladivostok ( Far East of Russia). I am told that you are expected to come there on the 30th of May.
Hope it’s true. Wish you all the best! Take care!
Your faithful reader from Russia.
The Sculptor of Odessa
Dear Magus, the sculpture is quite a masterpiece, I dare say…I subscribe to the point of view that art reflects a truth that the artist himself impresses on us with his talent and imagination. Enjoy your travels and all the wonderful people out there! I suggest you keep the sculpture!
I would like to comment more more about the country you are visiting. Such rich history, so many things to learn! Unfortunately, I have exam tomorrow and have to still figure out whether the Russian Formalists had a better definition of easthetics than the New Critics…aaaah, the joy of learning new things! Warmest greetings from Africa to you, Magus ,and blog-mates! May every day of your journey be filled with wonderful moments! Gabriela, Your Learning Warrior of the Light
My Grandma became a widow very young. She married a second time, but unfortunately her husband died too. “Is it a sign?”, wondered she. By the way, she had two young children already, which made the situation a bit … worse. So, in their village there lived a good lokking widower. She sent her relative to him with the proposal to get together. But when the guy heard, he exclaimed, “What! To marry the man-killer? No way!”
My Grandma was devastated. Just imagine - kids, housework, cattle, farmwork… etc. So, one moonless night she took on her best dress, took the knife of one of her late husbands, climbed on the roof of the guy’s house and jumped through the chimney. She fell just on the top of the stuborn fellow, put the knife on his throat and wispere, “Will you marry me or … yes?”
Well, the third one was her lucky, because he did survive longer.
Hope you laughed a bit.
ha ha - an enormous man? *grin*
I saw the photos earlier but had no idea your image was made during only one hour.
Now - ThaT is Enormous! *big smile*
Can you see the mirror?
I love this entry! Bravo Odessa! I sense The Trickster Spirit is alive in you.
I want to come to you and walk along your spine, pick stories from your bones and listen as ghosts whisper their songs! This morning Old Sydney Town is wraped in a autuminal blanket of grey yet your Spirit has seeped into me, stirred my creative Spirit and the sun is shining in my eyes.
Now Paulo along with you and Cristina I would also love to meet ‘Alexander the Master of Form’. The photo where focus is given to his hands captures your observation: ‘He is sweating profusely, his hands do not stop for a moment, yet his movements are precise, a sort of spiritual ballet.’
As a young child I was inspired by the bible story of God creating Adam from Earth and so I took water under our house and spent an afternoon building mud babies. I waited for them to open their eyes however time passed, darkness came and I left feeling sad as I realised I was not God. Then came more years of the harsh rituals of initiation of nuns and mantras assuring me that I was born in sin and would never get to Heaven and I knew the God of the nuns did not know me and school became a breathless void of lonliness….However… just now I have an image of a child in the Shamanic act of breathing life into form…..hmmmm maybe it is time to take water, find some Earth and begin again exploration of the pilgrimmage of Creation? AND now my skin prickles as I feel the connection between this mail and my delving back into the story of Olga Kharitidi: Entering the Circle…set in Altai Mountain of Siberia. Last night I opened her book at randam and read her account of a dream experience of recognising her psy. patient had held and used powers and now Olga was offered the same and she experienced resistance and fear.
This morning as I write I hear a radio broadcast on Depression. I’m now not sure where I’m going with this morning. I feel uncomfortable and reminded it is my life service to contribute to understanding what we diagnose and pathologise as Depression is wrong and limited until we include Spirituality as understood by Native traditions.
My experience of Depression is that of being Compressed untill we wake and listen to our Soul’s yearing for life and expression.
Years ago I heard of Lake Baikal. As the speaker related stories of the Lake it was easy to fly there and be in it’s beauty. Recently I learnt the Lake is dying and as I watched images of great boats lying and dying in a sea of deep, dry mud I felt part of myself deplete.
As usual after reading your blog and responding I am aroused to wander and allow whatever I have touched come to the surface.
I am also inspired to suggest a gathering so we can lead by Alexander and Cristina as “Mentors of Exploration into Mud and Form”!
Odessa is a perfect place for such as it allows the impromptu response of Creative Spirit guaranteeing we would all turn up at the exact right time and place.
Now aI close and feel like the dog who chases and catches bus and then has no idea what to do next!
I hold your words and await response from the universe…
“once again I am reminded that when we want something, the whole Universe conspires in our favor.”
Blessings to you Dearest Paulo…Man, Mentor and Magus.
walk gently Chrisitine
Dear Paolo!
Thank you for the great work your are doing!
You are like a doctore who is treating his blind patients.
I wish there were more such doctors in the world!
Actually I was not going to write anything until I saw a comment of Nastya.
I really liked her thoughts and I’ll apreciate if you give her my email. I’d like to discuss with her a possibility of a piligrimage, as I’m planning it for this summer and looking for a companion. Thank you!
Buen camino!
Dear Paulo Coelho
Adabz
( means Hello In Urdu language )
Thank you very much for sharing soulful words with us [:)]
Yes for sure …. “when we want something, the whole Universe conspires in our favor” .
in my pervious message i requested you to come to Pakistan … a visit with a mission and a vision….. in that regard i have done some working and have contacted the government of Pakistan also and things seems to get going in a very positive manner and that made my faith more stronger that when we want to something, the whole universe conspires in our favor.
Dear Paulo Coelho “See what we are capable of; but we need your help to grow”. So Please come to my part of the world also and I am very hopeful to hear from you soon regarding your visit to Pakistan and told u earlier that Hope has always Dominated my life so please do not take it away.
Carry on and keep making difference.
Warmest regards,
Fatima Saeed khan
Lahore, Pakistan.
My mirror is a well - deep and dark, with crystal clear water, cold and glittery from the tears of the moon. Why does the moon cry, you’d ask? Because since the beginning of time she’s in love, but no matter how fast she runs or how long she waits him, she can never meet him - her flamehaired beloved. Destiny, as they say. Maktub.
Did I answer your question, NiKt?
Tonight there is a beautiful clear sky over old Sydney Town. To-day I was inspired by your report from Odessa and went walking to let myself settle.
As I live 8km from Sydney’s CBD I walked on black asphalt, 6 lanes of multi-coloured mental objects on spinning wheels whirled by, international planes thundered above my head as pilots negotiated the last minutes before landing and I wandered through a quiet park of Victoria style into the bustle of Norton Street and the richness of Italian cuisine and culture. Occasionally my eyes fellow walkers and we smiled, greeting one another with the single verbal salute, “Hello’, oh that wonderful word that acknowledges but does not invade privacy. “Greetings fellow walker, blessed be thy journey.”
The road I walked is built along a ridge and I could see the red roofs of suburban homes then clusters of modern monliths rising in magestic command but it was the sky that captured my sight. Heavy folds of white, grey and black clouds hung above and around me and this sight drew a sense of gratitude through me. I told the Angels, “I could be walking the Camino, wandering through Odessa, Lake Biakal or the Altai Mountains and this same sky could be waiting to inspire me.”
I spoke to a woman during the morning and she felt to give me the name of a Writer’s Centre. She wrote the name “Varuna” on a piece of paper and within the hour of returning home I’d registered to spend a day at the same centre in the Blue Mountains, only 3 hours west of Sydney.
Paulo please google Varuna Writer’s Centre Katoomba and explore this wonderful vortex of creativity.
It was the home of author, Elearnor Dark. Her plays were broadcast over radio when I was a child and such was/is her ability as a storyteller that she brought to my young ears an awareness of people, race and injustice yet through the voice of Spirituality and the Land. Her son has given his childhood home over to a Foundation and hence it is now a Writer’s Centre. I feel should/when you return to Sydney, Varuna would be a wonderful anchor and place for you to meet US!
The Blue Mountains is a great sprawing series of sandstone ridges and valleys. Inspirational for creative expression. It is also alive with encoded memory of ritual of the First People and is extraordinary as a place of inspiration.
Next week is Sydney Writer’s Festival and I am a volunteer as well as enrolled to spend a day with Australian author, Bryce Courtenay who will talk about storytelling and writing.
To-day while walking I realised a door has opened and for the first time in a long time the sense of being lonely and isolated is lifting. I feel I am walking in the direction of my Spirit Dreaming.
Since visiting ArrowTown on the South Island New Zealand four years ago I have wanted to return and live there. ArrowTown is near Queenstown, a wonderful ski resort town and an International Airport. My vision is to establish a Writer’s Retreat for National and International Writers but in the quiet, backwaters of tiny ArrowTown. To-day as I read the Varuna website I sense it is a template of my Dreaming and feel I will move to the mountains and become involved in the writing community.
I read this and smile as I do not know how I can achieve that financially then I remember the clouds, the sky and the truth and …”once again I am reminded that when we want something, the whole Universe conspires in our favor.”
So sweet Paulo now, just before the clock time of 9pm I am away to read and fold myself into the Dreamtime of Trust in knowing my dream of a writer’s retreat already exists and I can learn all I need about the practical logistic while I learn and indulge in my own creative writing.
Last week was my birthday, then came Mother’s Day and I could not find myself in the Heart of either, so last night I decided dates did not matter and choose to change everything and begin my life again as of 3pm 15th May….I made a good decision.
how many sleeps until the Soccer Game?
walk gently
Dear Paulo,
as others… again i thank you for your words today, and also all the comments you receive, we are pilgrims and to think how strange that we could all pass in the street totally unaware of our link through you, i realise we dont REALLY know eachother on these pages but it feels so, i get goose bumps reading some like my guardian angel joining me.
friends waiting to hear news on another friends journey… postcards to us all.
quienes viven de amor viven de eternidad…
Marian
A humble word of wisdom to those Warriors of The Light out there: you’ve suddenly realised what your dream is, and it’s wonderful! But it’s not enough! You have to do what is needed to get there now, when you have the energy to do so! Do not postpone for tomorrow. Today is tomorrow!
Dearest Magus,
I thank you today, once again, for your encouragement. My dream is taking shape, every day. I have to sleep less, and work more. I have to dig deep down sometimes, but the rewards are exhilarating! I had my second exam today on Theory of Literature and know that I did well again. For the first time in my life, things are just the way I want them to be. Where does all this energy come from, I wonder? I feed on my successes and work towards my next goal. You, dearest Mentor, gave me the first taste of what it’s like to be on top of the World! Thank you, for blessing me with your enthusiasm for life and for new beginnings. I will never stop searching for new challenges. Great things are happening to me all the time. Sometimes I cannot contain my joy, and excitement. I do believe that the Universe is conspiring, not for me, but with me.
I look forward to your next entry,and follow you every step of the way. Warmest regards to you and your lovely wife, from sunny Africa and Gabriela (not Ilala!)
Dear Paulo
Your life, writings are an inspiration to me which i encapsulate in the poem by Rumi:
“All religions are in substance one and the same.
In the adorations and benedictions of righteous men
The praises of all the prophets are kneaded togehter.
All their praises are mingled into one stream,
All the vessels are emptied into one ewer.
Because He that is praised is, in fact, only One,
In this respect all religions are only one religion.
Thank you for feeding our Souls and may you have a Blessed journey
Namaste, Gail (South africa)
Dear friend Paulo,
I am a student, 15 years old from Greece. I have recently learnt about you and have already read four of your books. I was really delighted when I read them and also learnt some things about yourself because your beliefs about life are very close to mine and I am very happy that I have learnt at last that I am not the only one who has such thoughts.
I used to say, “I do not know whether I am crazy or gifted. What I know is that I am not like the rest and I am really grateful for that” and this because people either thought that I am a weird person or a gifted boy when they read my articles some articles I write. Now I feel better that I know many other people talk the same as they used in the older times.
But, I stopped sharing them with people I know because of what they would think, and I begun publishing them in my blog (www.elduril.blogspot.com). In those articles I talk about life and other facts that has to do with it. Unfortunately so far, those who have read them, have understood nothing. Alas, people have learnt how to achieve many things in life but they have not yet learnt the most important: How to live.
I am really happy that these few words can be read at last by you and other people here who are not ‘blinded’ like the rest (I was excited to see that your blog had almost 32.000 visitors. I hope that they will get more.
I really wished that I could write some more but I do not want this to get annoying.
May God help you enjoy as best as you can the wonderful gift He gave us, Life, because it is simply a gift and its purpose is to enjoy it,
Steve
PS. Please forgive me for any grammatical or other mistakes you may notice. Unfortunately, I have not reached the profisient level in English, yet.
I am now reading the book pilgrimage, after reading all you newer books, I am skakened.and moved into a new world. I am currently travelling to PanAsia: Singapore, Thailand, China and Korea because of my work, but…..
without the books you have written, I have read them all, finaly a got the PILGRIMAGE on the airport in Frankfurtt, I would have been just another…..¨
Thanks, and thanks again, Paolo, you have filled my life with new blood which I need to manage the next hurdles…..
please continue your warrior of light, It helps us seeing the light and doing the same. Let’s fight the warrior of light togheter, I cannot see why you should do this alone….
Sigurd, Norway
Dear Paolo,
You are a warrior of light, and I try to follow… but your challenges are tough to catch up with up on a daily basis. It’s hard to fail and feel miserable.
All peoplelifes are different, but in my mind we only take different path to love and God.
Dear Paolo, don’t forget that all people can’t live the magic life you live, still our magic lifes takes a different perspective. I am 41 and I am still living my dream with 4 children with the same wife… love has been given to me in a way I would never dream of….
Your books and guidance of God, have made a significant change in our lifes. Please continue your good work, and let’ pray for the world….
Sigurd, A warrior of light up in Norway….
Dear Paulo,
Greetings from the U.S. (south Texas)! I have just finished reading The Alchemist (again). I read it the first time three years ago when it was given to me by one of my friends from Puerto Rico. She gave it to me as a gift with the inscription “Follow your heart and you will find wisdom and happiness.” Well, as I look around at the growth of our world, I can’t help but think -as one of the most important books-turned-into-a-movie opens this weekend (The DaVinci Code)- that our earth is on the cusp of a great spiritual awakening! It is a time when we must begin to question and research our belief systems and find our own gnostic absolutes! For those of us who’ve already been on this journey/quest for spiritual knowledge, your books have helped us in realizing that as long as we are committed to the journey itself, we are doing what we are supposed to be doing in life! It IS all about the experience of life!
THANKYOU so much for your philosophy and for having the courage to continue your life’s calling. As our Oprah (Winfrey) says, “You can either have your Life Calling be your career or you can use your career to fund and allow you to do your Life Calling. Either way, you must never exclude your life calling altogether because you will be unhappy and discontent.”
Paulo, my vision for our world is that we must embrace those who are hurting, to feed those who are hungry, to love every living thing that our Creator has created, and to always be in pursuit of our own spiritual truths.
My prayers will be with you in your world travels!
~Sallie~
From south Texas,
U.S.A.
I want to tell you how excited i was when i first knew you were going on the road of Santiago again. I hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoy reading about the first time. I hope you see and experience new things, its like when we read a book when we are 16 and then read it at 22 its completelly different and yet familiar. I hope you have a wounderfull journey and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for some lines you mailed me once, and that have turnes into a motto for me “Que el amor sea siempre tu guia”
thanks
i send you all the blessings in the world and the best of luck for your journey
Irene
Dear Paulo May I address Steve, the student from Greece.
I applaud you for your clarity and courage!
I was born in the late 40’s of the last century and as that is now also the last millenium I realise I can now be classed as very old!
Your writing echoes my own live and I want to encourage you to continue to ‘listen to yourself while you walk the Path of life.’ Sometimes my desire to share my writing has lead me to read to family and friends. I wanted to share the joy of my inner world and something beyond everyday conversation and the feedback or lack of feedback always resulted in me feeling null, void and I returned to silence and the mundae.
Recently in tears and feeling numb with defeat I destroyed many of my stories and then realised that was necessary to clear the way for maturity and clarity to germinate and grow within.
I feel people of our ’soul family/destiny/purpose’ are born to totally live, burn, die and renew in every aspect of the journey so we may come to knowledge and then we who have a particular talent i.e. writing and art can express such and we who have not continue to walk within our wisdoms.
More than believe, I know, as we do so we effect the entire ecology around us..trees, birds and domestic animals know this and love to be near us while people who do not want to change resist and move away yet if what we hold touches one person in an entire city in one day then our work and purpose have been achieved.
Like you when I found Paulo’s writing I felt my own story unfold and felt acknowledged within. His writing brings me home to myself and I am encouraged to write again! Keep Writing Steve and do not believe the voice that whispers ‘annoying’… weather it be from your own early childhood or an ancestors voice asking for release… release it and feed it potent and positive affirmations… keep reading Paulo’s wisdom and you will find your affirmation.
I want to close with a ‘Paulo wisdom’ however as the very last positive word I read is from Australian writer Bryce Courtenay, with respect to Paulo, I quote Mr Courtenay: “Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal functions, as either a storyteller or as a cross legged listener to tales of wonder, love and daring. When we cease to tell or listen, then we no longer exist as people. Dead men tell no tales.”
PS Steve I am reading Bryce as next week I will spend a day, listening as he speaks on storytelling and writing and I encourage you to find local authors and indulge yourself in their presence. Attend Writer’s Festival and go into shop and enter the joy of a booklaunch.
Keep writing…and consider inviting Paulo to visit your town and organise a gathering?
walk gently Christine
Steve, you are so fine. Dont be afraid. We are with you. I wish all we know so much more about you, soon. I am latinamerican and I believe that the whole world needs your joy for living.
I have only just heard about this blog and had to read immediately to see what experiences and adventures you are now enjoying….
As an avid admirer of all your writing it feels to me almost a secret joy to be welcomed as an unknown friend to take the walk with you, to be told in such a personal way what it is you are seeing, feeling, hearing - making it real to us even though we are not by your side, physically at least!!
In spirit, know that I am there with you, enjoying each step and where it is leading although I have no idea where. And that I too am feeling the loneliness and uncertainty that sometimes creeps in to reveal our humanity and fragility again.
I am yet again inspired by you!! Captivated, intrigued and awakened. I only hope that I too can create for others through my song what you give to me, to us all. If my music can touch even one heart/soul the way your artistry touches mine then I will indeed have achieved something remarkable.
May you always be blessed.
With love, respect and admiration
Deborah
Dear Paulo Coelho
Its been now 7 years that i am reading your books and i admire you with all my respect and you are always giving me the power i need to continue my path.
My dream of meeting you one day finally came true when i met you in London last June, since that day i am moving on very well i would like to Thank you one’s more and i hope one day you are going to visit Cyprus so i can show you this wonderful island.
Please keep writing …
With all my love and with all all my respect
my self (and all the readers) are with you we need you we need you books we need you thoughts
Mikaella from Cyprus
Hi, Paulo! This time I determined not to write my name in the section where the name is required. And I’ve merely put Enigma ( it’s one of my favourite music).
Once in my life I realized that I had fallen in love. But not with a woman but a man. Then everything changed within me. This world has turned into a hell where hate, contempt, disgust for myself gave birth. I tried to commit suicide as I didn’t want to accept myself as I was. But something iside my heart said - Stop! And now when I look back on the past I say to myself - you had to go through this to understand one thing - Sometimes in order to live one needs more courage that to die. I wrote a poem which I would like to place here for the people to read. I am aware that there are so many questions in our life. And the simplest one is Why? I still keep asking myself that question but haven’t found an answer yet.
The walls of the lonely room surround me,
I hear no sound but the voice inside of me.
It haunts me like a ghost
Wandering in the castle of my soul.
Sometimes I hear it whisper something in my dreams
But the meaning of the words aren’t still revealed.
I hope I understand one day why it has to be this way.
The walls of the lonely room surround me,
I see no soul but the man in front of me.
He’s standing still, no single word is spoken
And only bitter tears are slowly running down his cheeks
As if they want to tell me something.
I have to summon up my courage
To take a look into his penetrating eyes
Where the feelings of despair and sadness
Seem hidden from the other eyes.
I know I’ve met this man before
But when and where I can barely recall.
Suddenly the reigning silence is broken in the air
And a whisper of the familiar voice comes from everywhere.
«Don’t be afraid of me my dear friend,
I’m just a reflection in your looking –glass.
You’ve been searching for the answer to the meaning of the life
Since the day you fell in love with man
Who changed your whole outlook on life.
Who gave you hope and faith to hold on to
And who mean a lot to you.
I understand the way you feel inside
Sometimes you want to take your own life.
But your profound love for him will never disappear.
Have no fear! Just tell him how much you need him here!
We both know he is the one you are living for,
The time has come my dear friend
To reveal the truth about yourself»
I slowly open up my eyes
And take a look around.
Everything seems in its place
Except for the looking glass.
Where someone’s hand has scribbled
«Does my love have the right to be alive?»
Hellow, everybody!!!
I speak English a little. The warrior of light - how can I knew that I am one of them? And what kind of war I should begin? Answers, answers … I am waiting… And where is God? I don’t know…
I am just listening the silence of my heart.
Paolo, you so close and so far…
Andrew, student, 20 y.o., Russia, Cheboksary.
Bonjour M. Coelho,
Big ups to your new quest.
Here is pilgramm Idea . . .
A walk from Compostelle to Roma to Jerusalem
All around the Sea for months with good running shoes of course!
Get there and claim the land since Jesus lived there, it should belong to us aswell no?. I mean just to wake up people and create intelligent reactions.
Thus maybe stopping this plaigue in peaceful manners.
Idealisticly speaking of course.
You may say i am a dreamer but I am not the one. haha
All the best in your journey.
peace out!
s.maze
MTL -Quebec
Mr Coelho,
Thank you for continuing to share your journey, it is an honour to be a part of it.
I am a HUGE fan of The Alchemist and have purchased about 60 copies to give out as gifts to friends and strangers.
The last perosn I gave the book to was my orthodontist. He recently told me that he had a conference in the US. A colleauge was expressing his terrible loss of a relationship. My ortho bought him a copy of The Alchemist.
The colleague called my orthodontist 3 days later and said thank you, you saved my life. My ortho asked him how…the colleaugue responded, “I was going to take my life the day you bought me the book. I arrived home, began reading the book, cried at the gesture of love you showed me by caring enough to buy me this book, demonstrating courage, love, trust and determination” and for this, I didnt take my life…Thank you.
Mr Coelho, you are a brilliant and beautiful soul…thank you for inspiring and for demonstrating so much passion for life…
Dear Mr. Coehlo,
I hope you’re still fine and I’m glad to read that this journey is as wonderfull an surprising as you’d hoped it would be.
I’ve been travelling myself for many years, working as a stewardess. I know the feeling of absence from home can become a magical opportunity to meditation. Being alone brings rest and clears the mind and sharpens the feelings. Yet the magic of unexpected encounters in places on different continents only lead to a richer and more human life. The bright colours and unknown smells sharpen your senses and linger on for ever…
Before I started flying I studied Russian language and literature (which was very uncommon in Belgium at that time) and became addicted to philosophy and great writing. Many years later I discovered your books and I must say that they guide me and reassure me whenever I’m in doubt. I have found power and strenght in the warm and delicate way you tell stories about the struggle of strong people with respect for their weeknesses and with love for every character.
Thank you, mister Coehlo, and God bless you on your journey. Na zdarovie!
and may Brasil win the World Cup (as Belgium is not competing)!
Greets
Martine
Leuven, Belgium
Dear Paulo,
On Behalf of all Indians, I request you to visit India, a land of rich culture and heritage.
Cheers,
Sriraman Tirumalai
Wow…I love having those experiences! Thank you for sharing Mr. Coelho
“There, once again I am reminded that when we want something, the whole Universe conspires in our favor.”
~katrina
For Enigma
My brother killed himself because he had fallen in love with a man. He didn’t think that we, his family would have accepted, but he was wrong! The void he has left is unbearable, whereas the initial surprise we would have felt would have been easily overcome.
Desperation can deprive the world of its most beautiful people. It’s been ten years and he will never be forgotten. But I would much rather have him around today, to share joys and sorrows, and have a laugh every so often like only he knew how to do.
Life is worth living, no matter what! You have the courage it takes to live!
Maria
Dear Mr. Coelho,
This is Hande from Turkey. I am very happy because I am doing my best to accompany you during your jurney. I was in Ukraine from the 19th to 22nd of May. I wished to be there at the same date when you were, but I unfortunately could not manage. The spring was warm and friendly in Ukraine. It was a wonderfful pleasure for me to touch the chestnut flowers in kiev. Then I went to a village near Kiev. Wow! I could not help thinking that all tulips, chestnut flowers and trees were waiting for you to bloom. Even if we could not meet in Ukraine, I sincerely feel that we will be together some day in Turkey or somewhere else we both do not know yet. In fact, we are always together and it is you who brought me up ın terms of religious belief or personality. I hope you will always be with us. We have so much to learn from your wisdom, we have so much to share together. love from Turkey.
Hande
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