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The desert sand was whipped into the air as the boy began to converse with the forces of nature and the universe itself. His goal was simple, yet seemingly impossible; to turn himself into the wind. First, he spoke with the desert, who told him that it could not turn him into the wind. Next, he talked to the wind, who told him the same, and then referred him to the Sun, who was thought to be the wisest. However, the Sun told him that it too could not turn him into the wind. Finally, the boy spoke with the hand that wrote all, God himself. In that moment, the boy felt a connection with the universe that he had never felt before, and that few people ever get to feel. He also gained a new understanding for the soul of the universe and the soul of God, and he saw that these were also his own soul, and that all things were one.
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From a distance, the tribesman watched this extraordinary boy converse with God. The wind blew in their faces and brought chaos to their camp, but they still watched, waiting. Some men ran in fear, denouncing the boy, however, it was the chief who stayed and simply smiled, watching this wonderful disciple of Allah. The alchemist also watched and smiled. As he watched the sand fly into the air and the dust blow all around them, he knew that the boy had achieved his goal. It was in this moment that the wind began to move and fly over the camp, and the alchemist and the tribesman saw that the boy was now on the far side of the camp. He had turned himself into the wind.
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Santiago had been risen to become a priest. It was in pursuit of this goal that he had become educated and developed into a voracious reader. However, priesthood was his parents’ dream for him, not his own. Instead, Santiago looked out to the world from his small town and felt a yearning to travel. He came to his father and told him this just before he was to leave to become a priest. His father explained to Santiago that the only ones who traveled where they lived were the shepherds. Santiago then expressed his desire to become a shepherd, and without much reluctance, his father gave his blessing and enough money to buy a herd.
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So, Santiago traveled the countryside with his sheep for two years, living simply and meeting many different people from many different towns. It was not a difficult life, and he was happy enough. Then, he began to have a strange recurring dream of a treasure lying hidden at the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Mainly out of curiosity, Santiago decided to consult a gypsy woman who could supposedly interpret dreams. She told him that there was a great treasure waiting for him at the Pyramids and that should he find it, he would have to give her one tenth of whatever he found. Santiago shook off his meeting with the lady as ridiculous and left her with the decision that he would not believe in dreams anymore. Then, Santiago encountered an old man who claimed to be the King of Salem. The king told Santiago of Personal Legends, the destinies that each and every person has, yet few achieve. He told Santiago that his dreams are of his Personal Legend at that he must go to the Pyramids. The king then gave Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, and told him that in order to find his treasure and reach his Personal Legend, Santiago must follow the omens set forth by the universe. Santiago then gave a tenth of his flock to the king and sold the rest. The following day, he sailed on a boat to Africa.
Santiago’s conversation helped him along much of his journey to the Pyramids. It was through this encounter that he first began to understand Personal Legends, which ultimately led him to better understand the language of the universe. The words of the old king echoed through Santiago’s mind throughout much of his journey, as he came to recognize omens and felt himself becoming more and more at one with the world. The stones that the old king had given Santiago also helped him along his journey as they gave him a new sense of purpose when he felt lost and alone in Africa. During Santiago’s entire journey, his encounter with the old king will serve as a reference point that he thinks of often as he attempts to unravel the language and soul of the world.
Santiago’s conversation helped him along much of his journey to the Pyramids. It was through this encounter that he first began to understand Personal Legends, which ultimately led him to better understand the language of the universe. The words of the old king echoed through Santiago’s mind throughout much of his journey, as he came to recognize omens and felt himself becoming more and more at one with the world. The stones that the old king had given Santiago also helped him along his journey as they gave him a new sense of purpose when he felt lost and alone in Africa. During Santiago’s entire journey, his encounter with the old king will serve as a reference point that he thinks of often as he attempts to unravel the language and soul of the world.
In Africa, Santiago initially feels very alone among all of the new faces and the language that he does not speak. When a young boy robs him of all of the money he had, he begins to breakdown and loses all sense of purpose, feeling that he had made a massive mistake. It was then that Urim and Thummim fell from his pouch and he suddenly felt a rejuvenated sense of purpose. After this, Santiago explored the African city in search of food and eventually stumbled upon a crystal merchant who gave him food for work. Santiago would then go on to work for the crystal merchant for most of the next year. While doing this, his ideas helped turned the crystal shop into a booming business, earning himself and the merchant much money. Santiago also learned much of the crystal merchant and discovered that his Personal Legend was to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, however, he was scared to do so and now felt that he never would. Although Santiago had intended to return to Spain, learning of the crystal merchant’s failure to fulfill his Personal Legend gave him a sense of determination to fulfill his own.
The crystal merchant was an extremely important aspect of Santiago’s journey. When he met the merchant, he wanted to just cut his losses and return to Spain, hoping to forget all about the treasure and his Personal Legend, but as the year wore on and he learned more and more about the merchant, he realized that he never wished to end up like the merchant; forever wishing he had fulfilled his Personal Legend. This interaction gave Santiago a sense of determination once more, and helped give him motivation for his long journey across the desert.
As Santiago crossed the desert, he was fueled not only by his desire to achieve his Personal Legend, but also by a growing wish to better understand the language of the world and all of the things in it. It was on this part of the journey that Santiago met the Englishmen and learned of alchemy and the alchemist who lived at the oasis. Hearing of alchemy, Santiago’s curiosity expanded as he became more and more enthralled with how everything was connected in the universe.
The crystal merchant was an extremely important aspect of Santiago’s journey. When he met the merchant, he wanted to just cut his losses and return to Spain, hoping to forget all about the treasure and his Personal Legend, but as the year wore on and he learned more and more about the merchant, he realized that he never wished to end up like the merchant; forever wishing he had fulfilled his Personal Legend. This interaction gave Santiago a sense of determination once more, and helped give him motivation for his long journey across the desert.
As Santiago crossed the desert, he was fueled not only by his desire to achieve his Personal Legend, but also by a growing wish to better understand the language of the world and all of the things in it. It was on this part of the journey that Santiago met the Englishmen and learned of alchemy and the alchemist who lived at the oasis. Hearing of alchemy, Santiago’s curiosity expanded as he became more and more enthralled with how everything was connected in the universe.
Once he reached the oasis, Santiago yearned to continue on his journey, but due to tribal wars, he could not move on. Accepting that he would be there for some time, Santiago settled down in the oasis. One day, while there, he traveled to a fountain and met a gorgeous girl named Fatima. Almost instantly, Santiago fell in love with Fatima, and the very next day, he confessed this love to her and asked her to be his wife. After several days, Fatima told Santiago that she loved him as well. After meeting Fatima, Santiago felt a strong desire to never leave the oasis and just stay and be married to her forever. He felt his sense of purpose shift, and suddenly he was unsure if he was meant to find the treasure and fulfill his Personal Legend. Then, he saw an omen in the sky predicting an attack on the oasis. After warning the clansmen and successfully preventing the attack, Santiago was offered a very coveted position at the oasis, causing him to further question his true purpose.
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It was then that Santiago meets the alchemist. The alchemist explains to Santiago that should he stay in the oasis, he would find a temporary happiness but would eventually live in regret and sadness. Fatima then assures Santiago that she would always wait for him to return, and that he must go find his treasure. Deciding that they were right, Santiago felt a greater determination and sense of purpose than he had ever felt before, and he and the alchemist began to travel to the Pyramids.
On this journey, the alchemist taught Santiago many things, and he began to develop a greater and greater understanding of the universe. Then the tribesman stop Santiago and the alchemist and the alchemist tells them that Santiago will turn himself into the wind, or they will offer their lives. When the time came, Santiago felt more connected to the world than ever before and using all that he had learned as well as a great determination, he was able to transform into the wind. After this, he made his way to the Pyramids and ultimately to his buried treasure back in Spain. He had found his treasure and fulfilled his Personal Legend. |
Throughout his journey, Santiago felt his sense of purpose and his determination to continue shift many times. Whether it was being robbed in Africa, meeting Fatima, or being offered the position at the oasis, Santiago faced many obstacles that made him question his purpose and often times deterred him from his Personal Legend. Ultimately though, his sense of purpose at fulfilling his Personal Legend outshined all other things, and gave him the necessary motivation to continue on his journey.
All people will encounter shifts in their purpose. They may discover new opportunities or meet new people that make them question their life journey. However, it is the sense of purpose that drives all people forward, and it is what helps people ultimately complete their journeys. Without this sense of purpose, people would never complete their journeys and would never fulfill their Personal Legends.
All people will encounter shifts in their purpose. They may discover new opportunities or meet new people that make them question their life journey. However, it is the sense of purpose that drives all people forward, and it is what helps people ultimately complete their journeys. Without this sense of purpose, people would never complete their journeys and would never fulfill their Personal Legends.