Day 7 First day of UK Lockdown
The Alchemist: How will you re -act?
THE HERO sets forth from the ordinary world - he will face obstacles and trials along his way and the greatest of these is fear.
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In Paulo Coelho’s classic ‘Rights of Passage’ tale we are told the story of Santiago, a simple shepherd boy from Andalucía in the south of South of Spain. We hear of his dream to travel to Egypt in quest of treasure – and how he sets off on a boat to Tangier in Morocco, full of youthful hope and courage.
But very soon – as happens upon such adventures – he faces an obstacle that threatens everything - for not long after he has arrived in Northern Africa – he is tricked by a boy who offers friendship and guidance – but robs him of all the money he got from selling his sheep.
Santiago then wishes he had never set forth.
***
In Paulo Coelho’s classic ‘Rights of Passage’ tale we are told the story of Santiago, a simple shepherd boy from Andalucía in the south of South of Spain. We hear of his dream to travel to Egypt in quest of treasure – and how he sets off on a boat to Tangier in Morocco, full of youthful hope and courage.
But very soon – as happens upon such adventures – he faces an obstacle that threatens everything - for not long after he has arrived in Northern Africa – he is tricked by a boy who offers friendship and guidance – but robs him of all the money he got from selling his sheep.
Santiago then wishes he had never set forth.
"He wept because God was unfair, and because this was the way God repaid those who believed in their dreams.
I’m going to become bitter and distrustful of people because one person betrayed me. I’m going to hate those who have found their treasure because I never found mine. And I’m going to hold on to what little I have, because I’m too insignificant to conquer the world.
Fear is so dangerous because amongst other things - it leads to despondency - to giving up before we have properly begun. So many perfectly promising adventures stop here.
Santiago had been so afraid of letting go of his sheep – of everything he knew – his security and all the rest – he had doubted himself – his capacity for his quest – even the validity of his dream but he had gone for it anyway – now he felt like a fool, a stranger in a strange land where he couldn’t even speak the language – and he was very afraid. And for a while he gave into it, slumping in a dejected heap at the wayside.
Santiago had been so afraid of letting go of his sheep – of everything he knew – his security and all the rest – he had doubted himself – his capacity for his quest – even the validity of his dream but he had gone for it anyway – now he felt like a fool, a stranger in a strange land where he couldn’t even speak the language – and he was very afraid. And for a while he gave into it, slumping in a dejected heap at the wayside.
"When I had my sheep, I was happy, and I made those around me happy. People saw me coming and welcomed me, he thought. But now I'm sad and alone. I'm going to become bitter and distrustful of people because one person betrayed me. I'm going to hate those who have found their treasure because I never found mine. "
Many of us are afraid right now! For no one knows how our global crisis will pan out - if we will suffer personal loss - if we will have enough food, enough money and crucially, we do not know how we will collectively behave if times get really hard? Yet Coelho in his wisdom counsels us never to give in to our fears. For if we do, he writes,
“... you won't be able to talk to your heart.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Right now as I look around my world I see the vast majority of people holding on - amidst all the suffering and uncertainty - of not collapsing into fear. I see that something wonderful is being born right in front of our eyes - people are embracing each other - opening up and being kind, so much more then even a week ago.
Love
“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Some people have even started to say - they don’t want the old world back - they want to go on, like Santiago eventually does, to risk the upset and all that that involves in the hope of arriving at someplace new - some place hitherto undreamed of - where there might be more of this openness, this kindness and generosity of heart.
No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
A long path lay ahead for Santiago with many twists & turns - as well it might be for us -
Yet in following his heart he finds his true love – a beautiful, wise girl called Fatima & eventually too - the treasure he has sought, curiously beneath his feet - right back where he started in Andalucía where the story began.
Yet in following his heart he finds his true love – a beautiful, wise girl called Fatima & eventually too - the treasure he has sought, curiously beneath his feet - right back where he started in Andalucía where the story began.
And in so doing he - " knows the place for the first time."
So often we have to go away from what we know don't we? Often we are forced by circumstance as we are right now. Other times we respond as Santiago did. We just know it’s time to change – in order to learn what really counts.
Much Love
Anne Maria
x x x
So often we have to go away from what we know don't we? Often we are forced by circumstance as we are right now. Other times we respond as Santiago did. We just know it’s time to change – in order to learn what really counts.
Much Love
Anne Maria
x x x
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More fairy-stories, myths, legends and books by Anne Maria Clarke http://www.archivepublishing.co.uk/T... Books - Transpersonal Psychology. Understanding the Soul - Expanding Consciousness www.annemariaclarke.net http://www.annemariaclarke.net/blog
