Once upon a time there was a wise man called Sidi Mehrez. He was very annoyed with the place where he lived, a beautiful town on the Mediterranean Sea where men and women lived in depraved fashion, and money was the only value that mattered. As Mehrez was also a saint and worked miracles, he decided to enfold Tunis in his long scarf and toss it into the ocean.
Buildings began to tumble, the ground rose up, the inhabitants started to panic on seeing that they were being hurled towards their death. In despair, they decided to ask for help from a friend of Mehrez, called Sidi Ben Arous. Ben Arous managed to convince the strict saint to interrupt the destruction, but ever since then the streets of Tunis have been rough and uneven.
I stroll through the bazaar of this African city, borne by the winds of this pilgrimage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of my first walk to Santiago in 1986. I am accompanied by Adam Fathi and Samir Benali, two local writers; fifteen kilometers away stand the ruins of Carthage, which in the remote past was capable of challenging powerful Rome. We discuss the epic of Hannibal, one of the city’s warriors: the Romans expected a sea battle (the two cities were separated only by a few hundred sea kilometers), but Hannibal braved the desert, crossed the straits of Gibraltar with an enormous army, marched through Spain and France, climbed the Alps with soldiers and elephants, and attacked the Empire from the North. He defeated all the enemies in his path and then suddenly, without anyone knowing exactly why, he stopped before Rome and did not attack it at the opportune moment. The result of this indecision was that Carthage was scored off the map by the Roman ships.
We pass by a beautiful building: in 1754, one brother murdered another and their father decided to erect this palace to house a school that would keep alive the memory of his murdered son. I comment that by doing so, the murdered son would also be remembered.
“That’s not quite true,” answers Samil. “In our culture, the criminal shares the blame with all those who allowed him to commit the crime. When a man is executed, the one who sold him the arm is also responsible before God. The only way for the father to correct what he considered a fault was by changing the tragedy into something that can help others: instead of vengeance limited to punishment, the school has enabled instruction and wisdom to be transmitted for over two centuries.”
On one of the doors of the old wall hangs a lantern. Fathi comments that I am a well-known writer, whereas he is still struggling for recognition:
“Here we have the origin of one of the most famous of Arab proverbs: “light only illuminates strangers.”
I reply that Jesus made the same comment: no-one is a prophet in his own country. We always tend to lend value to what comes from afar, without ever recognizing all the beauty that is around us.
We go into an old palace that has been transformed into a cultural center. My two friends begin to explain to me the story of the place, but my attention is completely distracted by the sound of a piano and I begin to follow it through the labyrinths of the building. I end up in a room where a man and a woman, apparently oblivious to the world, are playing the “Turkish March” for four hands. I remember that some years ago I saw something similar – a pianist in a shopping center, engrossed in his music, paying no attention at all to the people who passed by talking loud or with their radios turned on.
But here there are only the three of us and the two pianists. I can see the expression on both their faces: joy, sheer and utter joy. They are not there to impress an audience, but rather because they feel that this is the gift that God has given them to talk with their souls. Likewise, the souls of Adam, Samil and Paulo also end up talking to one another, and we all feel closer to the meaning of life.
We listened in silence for an hour. At the end we applauded, and when I returned to the hotel I thought for a while about that lantern.
Yes, it may be that it only shines on the stranger, but what difference does that make when we are possessed by this vast love for what we do?
The next text will be posted on the 23th of May.
P.S: Dear reader,
During this journey, that is filling my soul with very interesting experiences, one of the most magical moments comes every night when I read the comments posted on this blog. Even though I can’t answer all of you, I want you to know that it’s very important to me to know that I’m not alone on this path. Thank you so much for your support and for the words and ideas that are now engraved on my heart.
Paulo Coelho
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Everyone want you to visit everywhere, every year…
you should have a whole group of clones of yourself…
but -in a way you already have!
in your books! and in this blog ;-)
Hello Paulo!
I read almost all of your books and loved them all.
When are you coming to Slovania,again?
Please don’t come every 10 years…and here are some nice cities beneath Ljubljana to see.
Have a good walk,
Eva
Dear Paulo,
What can I say. In the most difiicult part of my life, at once you where there. Your book The Alchemist came into my hands (in connection with Sile of Ireland). I could recognise it at once, through my whole life.
It all was together with my strugle for rights for people in Belgium, a capitalistic coutry, that does not take care of the rights of ‘simple’ people. I fight my own battle with the signs I surtenly folow, they are very clearly on the moment they appaer. Nevertheless, the (often short)time in between is not easy, when I only have to walk, go on without a sign. I opened the book The Alchemist a few days ago; there was written; You come to the end soon. Thank you for the message you send me; ‘follow your heart’, that evening I made an important decision and it felt right afterwards.
I should like to meat you in Belgium,
Katlijne
Hola Paulo,
Deseando todo vaya bien en tu jornada.
Que en cada paso que des y cada persona que encuentres en este viaje sea tocada con la luz, tranquilidad, animo y esperanza que tu nos brindas. El mundo es un lugar mejor porque hay gente como tu que lo ilumina. Nos hace recordar lo bueno de las cosas simples y sobre todo apreciar lo maravilloso que es estar vivo.
Camino contigo en espiritu.
Saludos,
Carol
Espero este bien, y que tenga un buen viaje. Gracias por compartir y vivir este Cadiz de vida con nosotros y que seamos una respuesta al llamdo de la vida.
José
Hi Paulo
Wonderful to see you doing this trip – I am very excited for you and you seem to be embracing other people’s culture with gusto and tremendous positivity – good on you.
Look forward to reading your book when you write up your journey!!!
Take care on the road and know that you are surrounded by love and warm wishes from all that have read your stuff.
Bridget. :-)
Hola, amigo!
I hope I can say so because I saw you, I talked with you and understand one thing – You are a real man. It was a great pleasure to be with you on this party, to speak with you, to sing with you.
I had a lot of questions to ask you but… There were always people near and I thought you were a little bit tired. May be the reason was that I was too shy… Now I hope to ask you them. But how?
May be…One day I will meet you again and ask. May be I will find the answer by myself. Hope…
Yours sincerely, Marina from Yekaterinburg
Dear Paulo,
Long time since we last talk, I hope that all Your dreams will come true since your magical journey.
I read all of these notes and I found them just like another novel.
I read your latest book that was relased in Poland on 1 May. It was great to got to know something more about You.
When I am reading this blog I feel happy beacuse I can feel that You are satisfied and You have a sense of fulfillment.
I’m wating for our next meeting and next cup of coffee.
With Love,
Anna
the president of Polish Fan Club
Dear Paulo,
You’ve inspired me in every which way possible, because of you i have found a sense of calmness in my life. Thank you.
With much love and respect,
Zain
Dear Paulo,
I have just learned of your trip and this blog. I am thankful for both. I am thankful that at the end of a long day, with my children finally in bed, I went to your site and was reminded of the many lessons children can teach us (from the Fifth Mountain quote). While I adore and am amazed by the blessing of my children each day, it is easy to become consumed by the mundane details and forget to appreciate the sacred in the tasks we complete in just caring for our children and making a home. They truly do teach us many things about how to live fully.
I look forward to tracking your journey.
In peace and love,
Beth
Hello form Chicago Illinois usa.. when are go coming to Chicago! We love to see and hear you!
Paulo,
Well done on another book. I wish that I was there in Germany to meet with you but I cant make it this time. Can you extend your trip to Ireland? I wrote to you a few weeks back..You replied with words from The Warrior Manual. Since then I have gone back to do a course in Hypnosis and have written half of a book.
It would be such a honor if you could make it over to us here. There are many amazing things to do here and to see, here in the West of Ireland. Hell, we even have a window you can climb through that can absolve all your sin (if you have any) in a church on an island. You could visit Knock, where the Virgin Mary appeared to some people a few years ago. Unlike Waterford with the statues!!
We could go for a few Guinness and I can show you Spanish Arch here in the city…a place where men would come with spices and gold form Spain and meet with the people of this town..and with boys on their quests..! There is a nice medieval arch there and also statues of a Lion and a Unicorn (which mean a lot to me), plus other ties to Spain like the Claddagh Ring.
If not thank you for reading my message..
You are always an inspiration and inspiration comes from the heart. It flows like a river to the soul where it collects into a lake…inspiration can get scared sometimes on its journey from the heart to the soul…the heart must be strong and the soul must accept for the journey to finish. Inspiration can then take form into a painting or into words..whatever the heart wishes.
I’m looking froward to hearing about your new book ( as I haven’t yet) and somebody might buy it for me as they always do…when it reaches the shops here.
Best wishes,
Kealan Moore
Dear, Paulo Coelho.
Adabz :) (Means Hello In Urdu Language)
Thank You for your soul touching words….. Always seeking the inner light :)
When I say Thank You to You… it means a whole world in this simple two words…. so Just simply. …Thank you and May Allah always bless you
Carry On and keep making difference
Warmest Regards,
Fatima Saeed Khan
Lahore
Pakistan
P.S: Dear Paulo Coelho still waiting for your response regarding coming over to Pakistan… A visit with a Vision and Mission…Hope to hear from you soon regarding this … told You Before That “Hope Has Always Dominated My Life” … so Do Not Take It Away from FSK…
“The Coelho Code. To put my name on it and to publish it… ¿A good idea? A best-seller, that’s for sure, and instant fame. No doubt about it. ”
Dear readers, and writters-wannabes-like-myself: emotions have some uses, emotions such as shame, also known as modesty or discretion or bashfulnes. We also have something like “empathy”. All these can be useful when it comes to not falling in disgrace when we try to make a living of “writting”.
And, as a friend of mine always says: “Love is a sport, so play it”.
¡¡¡Long life to rock and roll!!!
While I was reading your latest story, it suddenly made me think of the city of Atlantis, which had been swallowed by the sea. Strange thing was, I had the manual of the Warrior of light lying on my desk, still packed in a paper bag. When I opened it, the first story (seeing things like a child) was also about a drowned city!
When I came into contact with a friend, she recommended your books. We have become good friends and while we were both reading the 5th mountain, in our own languages, I wrote her a poem.
Later, when I read the Alchimist, my poem was almost written in your book. Wonderful, isn’t it?
That shows how much we are all part of something. Although we come from different parts of the world, we can speak the same language.
This year I am finally taking the plane, and I will see my dear friend. She cannot spend much time with me, but I am convinced it will be worthwile.
With kind regards
John
Dear Paulo,
I received an e-mail today about your weblog and it was like a birthday present somehow. Because today is my birthday. I would like to thank you again for your lovely books and for this weblog too. I hope you have a good time watching the World cup matches and I hope Brazil reaches final. Have a nice journey.
Best wishes,
Sheema
It’s very true that, the light we pass everyday does not illuminates us, but the question is why most of out miss out every time? What is stopping our senses?
It’s makes me think and also irritates me, its frustrating for me also.
I began a journey, a few years ago, reading the first of many of your books, and I cannot say it was only the books themselves that sparked the journey, but that they were a great help in a number of lessons I was to learn. They have brought me many happy tears and I have to believe that there is a reason I began reading them at the time I did. I find myself now, for the first time, embracing that path I was meant to be on instead of rejecting it. I have found a courage to believe in what I do, to not be afraid of the failure, and especially the success, that may come with this path. I have you and your writings to thank for so much of not only the courage, but the joy as well. I wish you the same joy on your pilgrimage!
God Bless and Thank You,
Emilee
Paolo,
I send my blessings to you as you revisit this path. Your previous journeys have found a way to fill my spirit and my mind with lessons I can only hope to discover again on my own. Your writings have influenced me in numerous ways but one of my favorites is the way that recommending your work creates deeper friendships in my life. Blessed be and Enjoy the moment as I am sure you will. I look forward to hearing of your travels. Until then…
Melissa
Dear Mr. Coelho:
I wanted to let you know that I am always inspired by what I read by you, even when it’s stuff I already know.
You can check out my latest blog entry to see what I mean: http://eighthsermon.blogspot.com/2006/05/paulo-coelho-blog.html
I wish you luck on your journeys, and thank you for sharing your walk with us. We can learn much from it, although we walk our own paths.
Escrever os traços… tao simples e mesmo assim tão especial… estou desconectada, apesar de buscar em todos os momentos. O que fazer quando se está doente? Tenho amor, tenho inteligencia, tenho meios, apenas não tenho o prazer de viver… continuar buscando…
Dear Paulo
This afternoon (06/22/06 1211hrs EST USA) I got an email about your pilgrimage.
The journey you emabarked somehow gives hope to many to move on, in their own journey. In reality what are these journeys’ but a expression of self in search of self.
While you have your magical moments and jot down your anecdotes I will be trying to jot down mine.
With Greetings and best wishes
Kartik
GWU, Washington DC
Dear Paulo,
Thankyou for your vision. You truly are an Earth Angel. Have loved your books for years. I still have your beautiful e-mails.
Blessed Be
Lisa
xx
Flap … for a funny Dodo bird landing !!!
*
The wave rave
The wave sprays its tears
To the rocks jutted out
With the taste of my fears
Palatalized by my fault
Meershaum of bitter feelings
Crying in the den of thieves
My heart will go on roaring
In a seagreen color unbelieved
Ideas on the flow of the stream
Icy and spicy forever
Rather than a sweet pretty dream
Sinking in a night together
The wind gives his force to the wave
Shying cry of the lost ghosts unknown
The sand spits its rocks from the cave
Where is sleeping the king of ocean bellow
*
busard
Dear Paulo,
it is great you are taking this journey throug Sibiria. good luck!
i recently came back from Egypt, where i started to read The Valkyres…
i think it is very powerfull book…you talked about angels… i think you are a messenger of angels…your books! By the River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept was,lets say, as if somebody was trying to say something to me at a moment of time, when i was down. it was as if that book opened my eyes from the day i started to read it.
since that day i let the Love come to my heart and to my life. since that day till now my spirit is high as it never has been before and Love is a giding light.
Paulo, i thank You and i thank God for giving you for so many of us…
wish you unforgetable experiences through your soul and body journey!
Love
Neringa
…NEVER ALONE…
Do you see, Paulo?
The people…we all love you…
We are the soul of the World.
…NEVER ALONE…
Thank you for coming to Tunis. It was a pleasure to meet you.
When you walked those old streets of Tunis (the bazaar) you were walking over my footprints, footprints that I made during my life’s journey.
I have lived in Tunis for many years and I have walked those streets many times. Also I lived in Kairouan for four years. Our paths have crossed, both literally and figuratively.
And we met for eleven seconds. Thank you and God bless you.
Dear Paulo,
I was introduced to your books by a Jesuit Priest who gave me a copy of the alchemist and then I had the chance to see you when you came to Egypt.
I quote to my friends a lot from the manual of the warior of the light and I want to thank you for allowing this blog to happen and allowing me to share and be exposed to your journey.
God Bless you.
Ramy
“There are people one meets in books or in life whom one does not merely observe, meet, or know. A deep resonance of one’s entire being is immediately set up with the entire being of the other (Cor ad cor loquitur –heart speaks to heart in the wholeness of the language of music; true friendship is a kind of singing.”
Thomas Merton, Conjectures of A Guilty Bystander. (New York: Image Books, 1968), p.188.
Dear Paulo, I guess this quote sums it up for me. I recall an article you wrote which was published in an Italian magazine, where you talk about a young girl who was praying in a mountain chapel. She prayed by using her guitar and her beautiful voice, and the effect this had on you at that moment. Music truly lifts the soul and calms the spirit. Certain books and certain authors (you, Merton et al.) have that same power. Thank you.
Maria
Good Morning, This blog is a rich reality! I read the voices of individuals from around this amazing planet and feel assured by the many similarities and co-incidence. I love experiencing much of the same as the many. (woops there be an echo of my Irish heritage!)
Yesterday was my first day of a one week of holiday. I am not used to having holidays and decided to flow with my instincts as to what to do.
I now begin my email days by reading “The Path’ and so yesterday after reading the story of Mehrez and Sidi Ben Arous and learning of a culture where criminals share the blame with all who have some connection to the crime, I left my place pondering the subjects of decision and justice and with memories of the timeless time I have witnessed ‘creative bliss’.
I headed to the Rocks area to attend a brief for volunteers for the Sydney Writer’s Festival which is the reason I am on holiday. I passed a hotel and remembered it was where my Great Grandfather had possibly been murdered. He had been in Sydney on business, disappeared from the hotel and his body was never found. I felt a pull between time and also felt if I stopped for even a second I would loose my way. I offered him my love and kept walking.
At the brief I listened with interest as people chatted about authors and books I do not know and felt a promise for what the festival holds in relation to my walking the ‘parallel Path of Camino Downunder.’
Later I wandered around the Harbor shore watching as colour met sound in a wonderful sense of fesitval. Voices of street artists and the instruments of buskers createf a vortex of sound and then suddenly within all the activity was an still vision of colour. It was Wesak and The Sydney Buddhist community had built an altar marked by four wonderful silk umbrellas and three enormous, brightly painted pillars of incense with spirals of perfume rising over the Quay. From the centre rose a tall gold image of Budda surrounded by a mountain of flowers. I ws drawn by a single voice holding a monotonous drone and suddenly around me people began to chant with him and I was filled with the beauty of people lost in the passion of their prayer. I am not sure how long it lasted but as I felt tiny splashes of rain on my hands very welcome rain begain to fall over the festival and I wandered away holding a sense of stillness and gratitude.
A wet afternoon is ideal time for a movie and I was supprised that I selected the DaVinci Code and later delighted as this decision lead to the day coming back to meet itself in the arena of decision and justice.
There is a question in the script that resonated through me. If I found myself identified as the last descendant of Jesus Christ what decision would I make in allowing that to become public? If I revealed the truth of my existence I most definetly would be charged by many and with multiple accusations. I would be a criminal and so would this reflect on the Catholic system as being the source responsible for creating a lie which has been passed generation to generation?
What would result in the lives of the genuine and gentle people as opposed to the political movement with religion.
There are so many ways to see life and live the mystery.
Paulo, if invited would you consider attending the Sydney Writer’s Fesitval or would you prefer and therefore consider a personal festival of celebrating your writing?
walk gently. Christine
Dear Paulo,
Never alone, although I know living so in touch with our souls and God can sometimes feel lonely. We are here to lead the way, you are our sheperd and we are your sheeps who then in turn become sheperds! All dreamers whose paths were and are enlightened by your words. The more I live my life and see the universe blowing the wind to take me to my treasure the more I think OH GOD WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE THIS IS and what a beautiful mission. I am witnessing, every minute, miracles all around me, the universe IS conspiring to help me… the dreamer!
Thank you my dearest alchemist, for having tought me the secrets of this art. Odysseus is coming back to Itaca very soon!
Genius recognizes genius, the light will always arrive when we are ready home or elsewhere ;-) Thank you for being that light.
With all my love and respect,
Carla
PS: Oh can’t wait to get your new book in my hands.
Dear Paulo,
Do you remember me? The boy front NDK in Bulgaria. (09.05.2006)
I want you to know that I thank you.For your blessing that you give me then.I told you that I write a book and you bless me…THAT GIVE ME POWERS NOW…power to write…and follow my dreams…Thank you…
I’m playing the Turkish March now with my wind-orchestra :-) so familiar, not that difficult, still to make it good it requires some practise ;-) ah, the joy of music! :-) but you do not play any instrument Paulo? you should, it is not about skill or talent – it’s all in the joy to play one tune after the other and hear the sound of it echoing between the walls…
I would lika to also say here that I find this blog a fantastic piece of work, publiziced in four different langauges! You wrote once about the Russian saint of translation and now and then I have to translate something myself and it is difficult to get some of the same beauty and rythm in another language than the original one. The translators of this blog deserves a warm applaud!
To all the seekers
The fact that we seek and search indicates awareness of our connections to each other and the whole world through a greater love. Thank you Paulo, for putting into your stories the seeking questions that our souls ask of us on a daily basis. Thank you for the tales of courageness and faith. These tales inspired in me a self belief and empowered me to divert from the wrong paths in my life. Our internal ‘hardware’ is that of love and we are all blessed with different talents and abilities which we can use to channel this love. If you love what you do it becomes your unique and beautiful contribution to the world. The most important step in my journey was learning to love myself. It was a long time before I loved myself enough to have faith in my own path. Paulo enjoy your experience on the Santiago path. Thank you so much for all you have done for. Love to all.
Dear Paul,
Your certainly not alone on the path, I would like to meet you and to explain what light you have brought to my life. About 10 years ago I was in psychatrie and my life had no sense, I was ready to leave the world, I didn’t understood myself and thought I was mad.
I read your first book and suddenly light came into my soul, somebody was writing what I was feeling so many time ! You became a light in the darkness and yes you were a stranger, but not for me. I recognised every word of your soulbook. We are now 10 years and many books farther, every new book of you made something open in my soul, everytime a new passage in my life.
I have started a competely new life, my friend i met in this time started to study psychiatry due to what we learned and to help really persons with psychiatric problems at a differend way. This year he finished his study.
There is hope for everybody, we are no victim of our past but the creator of our futur. I started to fight for myself and what i feel in this life.
We are marrying on the first of July and I would like to invite you. We have such a strong belief in the path that there is for everybody.
If we are marrying this year, it is certainly our work but a bic part is thanks to your work. I would like to meet you to express all these new lifeforms and work we are doing. To show you what a litte stone can change in a river, a life. I am so greatfull and wish you new people on jour path. Who can challenge your person and learn again and again.
Thank you also for writing on sexuality, its such an important energy in every life.
Your not a stranger and I enyou your light
Marion
Dear Paulo:
I can only echo the sentiments written above. You are an inspiration.
it is amazing that technology affords us these avenues to reach out to one another! i am a recent convert to your work,haven read only the alchemist before now although i am currently mesmerised by the pilgrimage. it was in its (the pilgrimage) pages that i was struck by your reference to an intellectual belief in God: a stage i find myself in in my practise of roman catholicism. i would want God to be more than a concept that answers controversal scientific dilemmas in my life. do you have any suggestions that might facilitate the growth of my faith? are the exercises in the pilgrimage really for everyone?
Mr. Coelho,
Hello, I hope you are having a great day. I e-mailed you I think last month, thank you for replying. I want you to know that I just finished reading the Zahir. :)
I just discovered your blog today (May 20) …and it is so cool you posted this on my 21st birthday, May 19, 2006. I don’t know why but it made me smile. Thank you for that.
I guess it is quite true that sometimes we appreciate things far from us never realizing beautiful things with us. The grass is always greener on the other side. But realizing the beauty with us requires understanding oneself, if we realize our dreams and who we are, then we know which are the most valuable things for us and not look for things that we think are beautiful because other people think so. So I guess when one discovers himself/herself, he or she will also discover that he/she is beautiful (because everybody is beautiful) and will find that we are the one who really allow things to be beautiful in our lives. :)
:) God Bless you Mr. Coelho in everything you do.
I’m so glad you have a blog now :)
~katrina
PS
I hope I will be able to walk through that road someday. :)
A Universal blessing and thank you for Brother Paulo, from the Netherlands, no means to publish~
I visited the Sacred Circle Church in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, it is across my shelter, Today, I found there another book. It is about the young Jesus. Before his 30th birthday. I assume it is profound. It is somewhat older. And written by a Christian reformer, I forget his name~
L
LLL
L
The Rodopean song that travels in the Cosmos
Long ago, during the Turk rule, high in the mountain of Rodopi lived the brave rebel Deliu, who protected poor people. But there lived also the rich widow Gulsuma – the most beautiful woman of the mountain, who made red roses feel ashamed of their plain looks and white roses turn red from envy… And somehow it became obvious that Gulsuma loved the rebel. “What a shame!”, exclaimed the noblemen of the Golden city. “A muslim woman to fall in love with an infidel!” And they found a magician, who made a charmed silver bullet, and they hired a shooter, a young guy, still craving for fame and money, to kill the rebel.
But Gulsuma heard about the scham and sent Deliu a message: “Behold, Deliu, beware – they’ve found you silver bullet.” Deliu however went to church in the night of Easter together with the other Christians. And suddenly a bulled extinguished the flame of the candle and his heart.
The same night the shooter knocked on Gulsuma’se door – the noblemen have promised him that she would be his. The old servant let him in and served him rakia. On the morning they found him there – smiling and dead, as if he had seen the hourias of Heaven.
Later the next day all the noblemen paid a visit to Gulsuma – because such a beautiful and wealthy woman shoudn’t be alone. And she broke the rule and served them rakia herself – in small cups made from bullets. The noblemen lost their minds – she entered clothed and half-naked in the same time, waring a veil, but with her hair let loose, looking at them through her long lashes. Oh, what a rakia it was – hot and exiting as spring wind. And somehow no one of the noblemen managed to reach his house – one fell badly from the back of his horse, a black bird bit another one in the heart, the third drowned in the full river.
And Gulsuma set down to the window, to knit stockings and wait.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Take a look around yourself without issuing a sound
Pretend as if there is nothing you can hear
Save the voice within your immortal soul.
Just ask one question which you have to keep
In the corridors and labyrinths of your sound mind.
Why am I here? What is the meaning of all this life?
And the answer isn’t likely to appear
Since you will understand it only by looking in the mirror
When you see the fitst wrinkles on your face.
And then you’ll say I wish I had… but now it’s too late.
So live your life and treasure every moment which you have.
And don’t forget that God is always in your heart
No matter where you live and who you are.
Hi, dear Paulo! I don’t know why but these words have just come into my head first before I commenced to write this message. I hope you are in good state of mind as travelling always is tiresome though very interesting and full of unexpected things. Now I know for sure that you will be in Vladivostok on May 30th. It will be a sort of an incredible present for me as my birthday falls on 24th of May. I am looking forward to seeing you there. Your books bring into the world of simple people something to follow their dreams, aims and remind us again that we are all the same on this planet in spite of nationality, race etc. God lives within every human being. So let’s make this world a better place to live. It depends on each of us!!!
Your faithful reader from Russia. Vitalya
Dear Paulo!
I be with you! Have a nice trip, pilgrim! :-)
When I read about the two wise men, a thought comes to me. Let destiny to make my decision and show me the right answer, I opend your book “pilgrimage” at any side.
… and I read about that to rose and grow up to be a god. And that makes me asking, does it make a difference when we say:
“Thy will be done on Earth, as it is in heaven.”
Love,
Hubert
Dear Paulo,
First of all I am always inchanted of your play of words. And read your writings with joy.
You are sertainly true one is not a prohet in his/her own country, I have also read the critisism about you in Brasil.
I myself am guilty of seaking far away for answer, being fond and interested by Indian culture, Tibetan culture, South American culture since a very young age.
It is but recently (by help of a friend) that I have learned of the rich mysticism culture in Europe and of course because of your book The Alchemist I have learned of Sufi practice.
Even more recently I learned that I have been in the possesion of a French version of the Alchemist since my puberty and also being in the possesion of the book “Pelgrim in life” by Lucette Verboven, featuring an interview with you and many other interesting people.Wich at the time I tossed aside ,because I was seaking my answers far away.
Mabye the reason why we can’t find answer is because they are so close to our noses we simply don’t see them.
Good luck on your further path!
Dear Paulo,
Having read your books over many years I have finally made it to spain, am living a dream of mine, and will walk from Leon to Santiago in two weeks once my leg mends! Thank you for the spark
David, Ireland
Paolo, I saw you on the photographers. You were in black…
The black is the defending color. Becouse, in night only black will survive. This is mean that you are losing all your power. Only Hope is with you.
If this true, than don’t give up!!! I am walking in the dark two. And I want to find the way.
Today I saw a boy with lighting eyes. He walked with girl. The first thing I thought was “He is fool.” And the second – “But I want to be like him.” Than I laughed of myself.
Andrew, fool.
Russia, Cheboksary.
To feel, experience and be ourselves….
in love… to everybody and every moment. Each person is the magical lantern.
May God Bless You, Paulo
love,
Dasha B.
Dear Magician,
Each time it is magical to find oneself absorbed by the sensations and visions of Your journey, as they seem to carry me out of my reality and open the soul of the whole universe. Reading Your texts i hear the sound of Your steps.
YOU are that lantern from the wise parable of Your own life, the beacon of light for the whole world, bringing light to the corners of the heart that experience rushes.
Life is mystical in all its expressions, but it is probbaly important to remember that we all, being alive form the light of the love coming from God’ heart… no matter how often do we fall or how many challenges we experience, and how unstraight or dark is the way sometimes.
After everything, it all makes the heart only stronger and finally lets one feel the right way.
There is nothing to regret about, because after all, in EACH moment of life we find our personal lanterns to shine for us and guide and warm us, and therefore life is not only joyful, but endless in its generousity and depth of emotions to experience and wonders to explore around us.
I thank You from the bottom of my heart, dearest Magician, for always being the guiding light in my life. Light that led me far to the lands i never thought of exploring, and its radiance continues to let me discover more and more each day. Life itself is a pilgrimage and we are all free on our ways, that’s why everything that appears on our way is very symbolical and lets you discover exactly what you was meant to. Nothing that happens is accidental and i thank God for everything.
May God bless YOU, Paulo and may Your days and ways be lightfull and keeping the magical wonders for You. Life is to be lived in love, soaring and creating what you believe is true.
Finally, i found my way of light too and all that i have experienced or felt knowing You, i know now, just opened to me myself, opened my heart and eyes :) Thank You.
You lead the world that follows You, Paulo. But what is most magical, You lead EACH soul personally to finding its place in this universe, and from my point of view this is the most precious that may ever be.
Walk in light and love. this is the way. the rest is something that doesn’t live in the hearts long.
Be the lantern, Paulo as You ARE, and i am happy to be able to express my gratitude writing these words coming from my heart to Yours. The alive moment of present is precious…when the journey ends the light may shine either brighter or not shine at all, i don’t know, so may just everybody enjoy this journey of life while we are all here to FEEL and experience.
Love,
Dasha B.
Dear Paulo
For you i have to thank for the realisation of a dream
but first i was blessed to be introduced to your writing, by an Australian girl visiting Ireland who brought a copy of The Alchemist , which i loved and made sense of the way i was going through life. After that i read ‘By the River Piedra I sat down and Wept ‘ and found this your most beautiful book .
Later that year i wrote you and you graciously replied and since then our paths have crossed at special times. My dream was to make a book – a photographic fable – and i ended up coming home to make perfume and combining my storytelling through pictures words and scent -the universal language -and as result the book has become something far more and less than ever i imagined
You once wrote me ‘If you have a sword, you must use it’
The Magic of Light ‘ was mentioned in public for the first time
20th/21st May 1998 – just before the first perfume was launched – at the American College in Merrion Square in Dublin – and coincidentally you were a stone’s throw away looking at the statue of Oscar Wilde ….
Later you wrote to me
“May we continue to walk ahead, facing the challenges”
September 2001 I bump into you at The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin
and meet you for the first time -4 days before September 11th and i show you The Magic of Light
late 2002 another perfume launched and early 2003 more encouragement from you.
11 Minutes is so good
late November 2003 i make it to Tarifa with my wife and 2 children
and see statue of ‘the good King’ surrounded by red and pink roses and green
early 2004 i send you a photograph from Monet’s Garden in Giverny
all this time ‘The Magic of Light’ becomes clearer and more of a reality
late 2005 i take it to Frankfurt Book Fair and realise i have to publish / print it myself
April / May 2006 another perfume i have been working on for last 2 and half years is starting to come to fruition and ‘The Magic of Light’ is ready to be printed
when the time is right….
All this time i have been following the signs and i am lucky to have you as a teacher and think of what you say and write – it is not arriving at your destination /destiny that is important but what happens along the way and learning from all the experiences and that it is that love that makes one whole and being at one with ourselves , each other and the beautiful world we all inhabit is what makes sense
May God bless your path for showing the way!
Much
Love and Energy
Peter
Always Alone, Never Alone…
Was yesterday at that cafe under the St-Jacques tower in Paris where you signed the pilgrim book for me, sending you many blessings for the all the beauty and magic you radiate along the path you’re walking…and until we meet again, may you find on this pilgrimage all that we all find in you…
Dear Paulo,
you must be on your way to Novosibirsk now. Siberia is very warm these days, and our city is waiting for you with the open arms. :)
I want to at least see you – your kind smiling eyes – Soul is sparkling through them – pure and fresh – as the air on the peak of a mountain after a long climbing up. Have you climbed your peak? Or there is another peak higher?
They say, in the life of every person there must be a teacher, from whom he could learn, whom he could follow.
I have no aquaintance with any writer, and don’t know a lot of things, and there isn’t anyone who can give me a wise piece of advice. Your blog is becoming such an adviser, but still it’s not enough.
Did you have any teacher in your life? And how did it happen that you decided to change everything in your life all at once? Were there a person that influenced your decisions?
There are so many questions I dream to ask you, and not just on the internet, which will possibly be left without your answer – asking, I dream of seeing the eyes of the one who answers.
But, to my inexpressible disappointment, your tickets are all sold…(((
I only hope to meet you on the street by chance…
Anyway, I wish you all the best in our Novosibirsk. It’s a nice city, and there are so many good people in here, with warm eyes and kind souls (as everywhere in the world, actually :) ).
Sincerely,
Anastasiya
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