Cosmic journey

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The best experiences usually arise out  of the unexpected. Reading The Alchemist is one such twist of fate I stumbled upon after a blogger recommended it as a good read.  Something led me to find Paulo Coelho’s book in my local library. Naively oblivious to the  notoriety and hype surrounding The Alchemist I had no expectations. My only thought was it might be a welcome change to read something outside of my usual preferred genre of Asian history stories.

Right from the first page  a feeling of calm enveloped my body as I connected with the simple prose and captivating story. As the tale unfolded I traveled to a new level of consciousness, a feeling I’ve never experienced before except perhaps briefly during guided meditation. I was floating on a magic carpet and wanted to hold on to this  euphoric  feeling forever.

Since finishing the book I’ve read other readers’ comments saying they draw personal meaning from The Alchemist. Many people discuss the clear message received to follow their dreams. My experience was more simplistic; I felt peaceful, at peace with my own uniqueness and comfortable knowing that every person in this world needs to walk their own path, from beginning to end. It reinvigorated my self-belief. This book made me see  that no person’s life is any more significant than any other person’s life. It’s amazing how something as innocuous as a fable could finally break down my insecurities.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the same hand, and we have the same soul.
~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth.
~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.
~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

 

 

 

26 thoughts on “Cosmic journey”

  2. Thanks for sharing this, Jenna. I have heard of Coelho & The Alchemist but haven’t read it. I think I will have to now. Love the quotes you shared – it’s just the way I feel and think!

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  7. I’m glad you found it! I just finished reading “Brida”, a novel by the same author. The theme is similar with basically the same message but in a different context, so I highly recommend that one, too. I haven’t read any other of his books besides “Brida” and “The Alchemist”, but I plan to add them all to my to-be-read list.

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  9. I’ve always loved quotes credited to Paulo Coelho, but haven’t read the book though many have recommended it. Maybe, it’s time.
    It’s wonderful when something makes you feel that way.Those are the types of book I read again and again through the years.

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      1. I downloaded it to my kindle today and started reading it…love it! Thank you for writing about it. I’ve been hearing about it for ages, but just hadn’t gotten around to it.

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  10. It is so funny that you posted this, because after a friend of mine recently posted a number of quotes from Paulo Coelho, I have been thinking of buying this book! I have been meaning to reading for years, and after reading your post, I think that it is high time that I do so. Thank you!

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