...Personal Alchemy is "The adventurous journey in which we alter our mind-set and practices for personal betterment. We achieve this through education, discipline, perseverance, commitment, and sacrifice. This self-transmutation results in a lasting impact on the world and an enlightened self." Although Personal Alchemy and Personal Legend are similar by definition, Alchemy is focus on your personal journey and Legend is focused on your personal destination. My individual definition of Personal Legend is your life's spiritual principle. As the King of Salem, Melchizedek, stated in the Alchemist: "But, as time passes, a mysterious [negative] force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend". In this passageway, Melchizedek explains to Santiago that the universe wants individuals to accomplish their unique destines. A negative force can drag you in the opposing direction only if you let it. It up to your dedication to your Personal Legend to stay true to your destination....
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...Egypt. Early into his journey, he meets an old king, whose name was Melchizedek, who tells him to sell his sheep to travel to Egypt and introduces the idea of a Personal Legend (which is always capitalized in the book). Your Personal Legend "is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is."[3] He adds that "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." This is the core theme of the book. Along the way, Santiago meets an Englishman who has come in search of an Alchemist and continues his travels with him. They travel through the Sahara desert and during his journey, Santiago meets and falls in love with a beautiful Arabian woman named Fatima, who resides with her clan near around the desert Oasis. He asks Fatima to marry him, but she says she will only marry him after he completes his journey and finds his treasures. He is perplexed by this, but later learns that true love will not stop nor plead to sacrifice one's Personal Legend, and if it does, it is not true love. Santiago then encounters a lone alchemist who also teaches him about Personal Legends. He says that people want to find only the treasure of their Personal Legends but not the Personal Legend itself. Santiago feels unsure about himself as he listens to the alchemist's teachings. The alchemist states, "Those who don't understand their Personal Legends will fail to comprehend their teachings." It is also stated that...
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...1. Main Characters: Santiago the shepherd (is the protagonist and demonstrates the seeker and dreamer in everyone), Melchizedek, the king of Salem (the person that explained a personal legend to Santiago and tells him to follow his own legend), the crystal merchant (hires Santiago to work for him and talks about how he could never make a pilgrimage to Mecca and is a character who characterizes another by contrast), the Englishman (hopes to become an alchemist and he stands for the limits of knowledge from books), camel driver (represents living in the moment and obtaining wisdom from unlikely sources), the alchemist ( assists Santiago get to the pyramids), and Fatima (represents true love, selflessness and unconditional.) 2. In the novel the...
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...only having dreams, but also actually pursuing them. Santiago’s trust in his mentors gives him the knowledge and ability to chase after his aspirations and fulfill his Personal Legend. King Melchizedek tells Santiago that the world’s greatest lie is “that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate” (18). Santiago could have disagreed with the king and believed in the ideas of his book, but instead he trusts King Melchizedek. By doing so, Santiago learns that he must struggle to meet his goals instead of sitting back and allowing fate to control his life. He realizes that he can’t stay in his comfort zone of books and sheep, and must go out and explore the world. When the stranger in Tangier asks him if he has enough money to cross the Sahara desert, Santiago thinks that this is a strange question, but “he trusted in [King Melchizedek], who had said that, when you really want something, the universe always conspires in your favor” (36). Despite the fact that he lost all his money to the thief, Santiago’s trust in King Melchizedek taught him to be smarter and to view the world in terms of what actually happens, not what he would like to see happen. After this minor setback, Santiago becomes even more focused on fulfilling his Personal Legend, because he trusts that the universe will not allow him to fail. Similarly, The Alchemist offers guidance to help Santiago on his journey. When Santiago nearly decides...
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...Characters: Santiago Shepherd boy, the protagonist of The Alchemist. He travels from Andalusia in southern Spain to the Egyptian pyramids in search of hidden treasure, learning life lessons along the way. Santiago is a dreamer and a seeker, and he stands for the dreamer and seeker in all of us. Old Woman A fortune teller, and possibly a gypsy, she interprets Santiago's recurring dream, but in a manner so straightforward that he finds it suspect and disappointing. Melchizedek/King of Salem An anonymous old man who is in fact a powerful figure from the Old Testament, he explains to Santiago what a Personal Legend is and urges the shepherd boy to follow his dream. Aside from Santiago himself, Melchizedek is the most important character in The Alchemist. Crystal Merchant A middle-aged resident of Tangier, he hires Santiago to work in his shop. The crystal merchant's Personal Legend is to make a pilgrimage (or haj) to Mecca, but he knows he will never fulfill this dream. He is Santiago's foil, a character who characterizes another by contrast. Englishman A bookish pedant obsessed with alchemy who hopes to learn the fabled craft from a famous alchemist rumored to live at the Al-Fayoum oasis that lies between Tangier and the pyramids. In The Alchemist, the Englishman stands for the limits of book learning. Camel Herder Once a prosperous farmer, his valuable orchards were wiped out by a flood, forcing him into a new line of work. He teaches Santiago the importance of living in the...
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...Part 1 - Othniel Margalith - "The Riddle of Genesis 14 and Melchizedek." Othniel Margalith offers a simplistic answer to the identity of Melchizedek. He states that Melchizedek was possibly a local priest of a local deity who welcomed a returning hero. However, he was “not a king, and not of Jerusalem, contrary to this widely accepted identification.” Margalith argues that name Melchizedek is a name constructed from Ugaritic divinities Melech and Zedek. He states that Melchizedek was no more important than the other figures in the story, but has grown into great speculation because of the difficulty of designating him a locality and function. Margalith argues that the entire chapter is in the “nature of a hero-story or legend” that is “a...
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...An Exchange of Dreams A book review of “The Alchemist” Czarina Nadine M. Sanchez Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” -Melchizedek Have you experienced holding on to a dream, a dream that serves as your passageway to achieving your Personal Legend? Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist focused on the concatenation of a boy’s journey in life that began as an unfinished dream which led shepherd Santiago, the boy, to his own Personal Legend. However in the first part of the story, it somehow did not correlate with the novel’s title. For it was only focused on the boys travel together with his flock of sheep. But then on the latter part of the novel, the essence of the title was revealed, for it introduced an important character in the novel who is the Alchemist. Aside from the title the author also used several instruments to abdicate the boy’s personal legend. And the most important instrument that he used is the boy’s dream. The boy’s dream inside an abandoned church where there was an enormous sycamore that grew where the sacristy was. The boy’s revelation of his dream to the interpreter goes like this: “I had the same dream twice; I was in the field with my sheep, when a child appeared and began to play with the animals. I don’t like people to do that, because the sheep are afraid of strangers. But children always seem to be able to play without frightening them. The child continued...
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...book, The Pilgrimage. It was his second book, The Alchemist, which made him famous. He’s sold 35 million copies and now writes about one book every two years. While sleeping near a sycamore tree in the sacristy of an abandoned church, Santiago, a shepherd boy, has a recurring dream about a child who tells him that he will find a hidden treasure if he travels to the Egyptian pyramids. An old woman tells Santiago that this dream is prophetic and that he must follow its instructions. Santiago is uncertain, however, since he enjoys the life of a shepherd. Next Santiago meets a mysterious old man who seems able to read his mind. This man introduces himself as Melchizedek, or the King of Salem. He tells Santiago about good and bad omens and says that it is the shepherd boy's duty to pursue his Personal Legend. Melchizedek then gives Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, with which to interpret omens. Santiago wavers briefly before selling his flock and purchasing a ticket to Tangier, in northern Africa, to which he travels by boat. Shortly after he arrives there, a thief steals all of Santiago's money, so the shepherd boy decides to look for a way to make enough money to return home. He finds work in the shop of a crystal merchant, where Santiago makes improvements that reap considerable financial rewards. After eleven months of working in the shop, Santiago is unsure of how to proceed. Should he return to Andalusia a rich man and buy more sheep? Or should he cross the vast...
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...As I’m almost finishing with my college education, I have never really thought about what helped me chose my major. For a better question would be if, I’m I happy with my decision. I have never thought about that and it’s actually very important. How did I get these questions into my mind, well I was reading the novel called The Alchemist written by Paulo Coelho, it mentioned people are unable to choose their own “Personal Legends”. By Personal legends it mean’s our purpose in life and how we go after it which leads to our destiny in life. One of the first things Melchizedek mentions to Santiago about the book that “It describes people’s inability to choose their own Personal Legends” which I totally disagree for many reasons. For an example, when it came down to my education and choosing a major I didn’t just know exactly what I liked or wanted to do. I had the support from my teacher to look at different fields to see what I was interested in. I wasn’t never forced into pursuing something I never liked or thought it wasn’t interesting. Overall I had all the support...
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...The King gives Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, which represent “yes” or “no” to help guide him. Even when the King is not physically present, the stones give Santiago hope that helps him remain focused on his Personal Legend. After his meeting with the King, Santiago sets out to fulfill his Personal Legend (a dream each person has of accomplishing their great desire). Santiago travels through Spain into Tangier, which is the gateway to Africa. In Tangier, Santiago meets a crystal merchant, who is portrayed as someone who gave up on pursuing their Personal Legend and serves as a danger of an unfulfilled life. The crystal merchant is a gentleman who is sincerely religious. He owns a crystal shop, which was once very successful. In the novel, his fate is portrayed as one to avoid. The crystal merchant is kind enough to allow Santiago to work at his shop, which will allow Santiago to earn money to go to the pyramids. He is a real life example to Santiago of one who has not accomplished their dreams and inspires Santiago to pursue his Personal Legend. Charles E. May says, “In additional to old gypsy women, mysterious merchants, and noble kings, the characters the young Santiago meets along the...
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...Coelho states, “...There is one great truth on this planet: 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" (Coelho 22). Amid the introduction, of the novel, the author progresses to tell us that we all need to be aware of our personal calling, like Santiago. Coelho refers to our personal calling as God’s gift; he believes that it is the path that God has chosen for us. Throughout the novel, we read of Santiago’s strive on reaching his destiny. Without the hope and willpower needed to accomplish our dreams, we could never persevere in following our fate. This is why our pure hope, our dreams, and the path to enduring our true fate, are key themes in unveiling the plot....
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...By the end of this book, Santiago uncovers real treasure, himself. Through this novel, I understood exactly what the author was intending for the readers, to put ourselves in Santiago's shoes, and see his quest as our own. Santiago has an uncontrollable hunger for travel, when forced with the decision to follow his father's plan for him, or his own; he decides to leave the mainstream and become a shepherd so that he can travel. His life takes a detour when he starts having a recurring dream about treasure hidden in the pyramids, believing this to be prophetic, he travels to a fortune teller who tells him to go to the pyramids. Believing in his own fate, and his desire to travel, he takes off to find his personal treasure. Along the way the boy meets an old king, Melchizedek, who encourages him to sell his sheep to pursue his treasure and gives him two magical stones, Urim and Thummim, which represent yes, or no. The old king explains to Santiago that these stones will help guide him along his journey During this conversation, the king tells Santiago, “when you want something, the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it” (Coelho 22). This idea will follow Santiago on his journey and be his inspiration for carrying on. This idea of following your treasure, whatever it is, can be found in all of our lives. It is the story of us, we are the protagonist of our own journey. When Santiago takes off, he is faced with the decision to sell his sheep (everything he owns) and have...
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...History, as we currently "know" it, is a revised edition, revisionist reconfiguring of linear events to a pre-determined destination and thus is a pre-determined mind set for the largely unthinking mass consciousness as we observe it today. Upon closer scrutiny, when real thinking and inquiry is applied to this revisionist text, we must first discard all the usual signposts that we have been "taught" to view history through and within. One of these signposts that we take as "normal," but is really just another revisionist trick of the magicians and spin-doctors, is the linear nature of history and of time itself. Time is not linear, it is spherical and holographic. History, therefore, is not linear, and the revised editions are not only written forward towards a pre-determined destination, it is also written backwards, revised from the back end, starting from the pre-determined conclusion and being filled in accordingly all the way to the beginning. The real question we must then ask is why and how did the spin-doctors know the destination in the first place from which to spin their tale both forwards and backwards? The answer is quite simple, and when considered objectively and without the mind-set of the spin, is painfully obvious. The answer is simply that the destination was inherent in the inception. There was a known and specified constant that guided the so-called "great work of the ages" towards its goal from the beginning. The question then to be asked is what...
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...DIVINATION SYSTEMS Written by Nicole Yalsovac Additional sections contributed by Sean Michael Smith and Christine Breese, D.D. Ph.D. Introduction Nichole Yalsovac Prophetic revelation, or Divination, dates back to the earliest known times of human existence. The oldest of all Chinese texts, the I Ching, is a divination system older than recorded history. James Legge says in his translation of I Ching: Book Of Changes (1996), “The desire to seek answers and to predict the future is as old as civilization itself.” Mankind has always had a desire to know what the future holds. Evidence shows that methods of divination, also known as fortune telling, were used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Babylonians and the Sumerians (who resided in what is now Iraq) as early as six‐thousand years ago. Divination was originally a device of royalty and has often been an essential part of religion and medicine. Significant leaders and royalty often employed priests, doctors, soothsayers and astrologers as advisers and consultants on what the future held. Every civilization has held a belief in at least some type of divination. The point of divination in the ancient world was to ascertain the will of the gods. In fact, divination is so called because it is assumed to be a gift of the divine, a gift from the gods. This gift of obtaining knowledge of the unknown uses a wide range of tools and an enormous variety of ...
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...The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Translated by Alan R. Clarke. Published 1992. ISBN 0-7225-3293-8. PART ONE The boy's name was Santiago. Dusk was falling as the boy arrived with his herd at an abandoned church. The roof had fallen in long ago, and an enormous sycamore had grown on the spot where the sacristy had once stood. He decided to spend the night there. He saw to it that all the sheep entered through the ruined gate, and then laid some planks across it to prevent the flock from wandering away during the night. There were no wolves in the region, but once an animal had strayed during the night, and the boy had had to spend the entire next day searching for it. He swept the floor with his jacket and lay down, using the book he had just finished reading as a pillow. He told himself that he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted longer, and made more comfortable pillows. It was still dark when he awoke, and, looking up, he could see the stars through the halfdestroyed roof. I wanted to sleep a little longer, he thought. He had had the same dream that night as a week ago, and once again he had awakened before it ended. He arose and, taking up his crook, began to awaken the sheep that still slept. He had noticed that, as soon as he awoke, most of his animals also began to stir. It was as if some mysterious energy bound his life to that of the sheep, with whom he had spent the past two years, leading them through the countryside in search of food and water. "They...
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