The Alchemist takes us on a journey
of self-discovery while revealing five of the world*s most profound spiritual
principles. With its clear language and not-so-subtle messages regarding the
deeper truths of human life, this little book is worth a read for anyone
looking to improve the overall quality of their existence.
Short and to the point, you can
transform your life by applying the same principles as the Andalusian shepherd
boy named Santiago whose dream is to travel to far away places in pursuit of
material treasure. What he learned, and what we can all learn, is that the
process of self-discovery is the real treasure.
The following spiritual lessons have
been taught throughout history, yet their truth and ability to transform your
life are still relevant today:
1. Listen to your heart and follow
your dreams. We are each seeded with a
calling, a longing or a passion towards certain people and places and have a
desire to experience particular things in our lives.
Following your heart means listening
and yielding to its call as opposed to second-guessing or blocking ourselves
with the mind.
2. Live in the present moment. Dwelling on past events which cannot be changed and
worrying about future events that have not occurred removes all of our power
and enjoyment in life. Certainly, we can and hopefully do learn from past
experiences, but regret and guilt are emotions which weight us down and cause
suffering.
The present moment is all that
matters; by focusing our attention on what is happening in the here and now, we
have the ability to transform our own life and the lives of many others whom we
encounter.
3. Watch for the signs that the
Universe is always sending us.
The Universe is always trying to
help us on our journey with little signs (and sometimes big ones!) to help
choose the best path or confirm that we're headed in a positive direction.
Watching for and expecting these signs is a way of cooperating with forces
unseen and displays a willingness to trust in your spiritual guides.
How do you know if it's a sign?
Perhaps something has meaning to you at a deep level or is a physical
expression of something you were recently thinking about. Synchronicities
are typically highly personalized and can only be determined by the person for
whom they were intended.
4. Life's real treasures are not
always material, but lessons learned during the
journey are priceless.
Obtaining material wealth may or may
not be part of your life'[s purpose, but regardless of the end-result, the
journey is the real destination. Every experience, no matter how large or small
or whether we perceive it as positive or negative, comes with an opportunity
for personal learning and growth.
Once we accept that growth helps us
transform into the fullest version of ourselves, then we can more fully embrace
all of the lessons revealed in our path, no matter how unpleasant they may
initially appear.
5. We all have a purpose in life. Every person has come to this world with a lifetime
goal we hope to achieve. This is not the type of goal we set for the month or
year but rather is something that was born within us as part of the framework
in which we enter into the experience of this life.
It is our reason for existence, it
is our true calling. Something we must achieve before we leave this world. Our
path to realizing this goal should be in balance with the world. It is only by
working in harmony with the rest of the world that we can fulfill our true
purpose.
The
Alchemist takes us on the journey of one young man who is learning the above
five principles and is presented in an easy to read and enjoyable format.
Anyone looking to take the next step in their life or wishing to share a
special gift with a loved one should consider this little book; it's well worth
the read
