Paulo Coelho

Dear Readers,

you can already see two videos on CNN Spirit Site “Modern Day StoryTellers” and “MultiMedia Storytelling” here

The CNN program will be broadcasted at the following the dates and time:
Saturday 9 August 1300 and 1700 (GMT) or 15:00 and 19:00 (Paris)
Sunday 10 August 0800 (GMT) or 10:00 (Paris)
www.cnn.com/spirit

Love
Paulo

By Paulo Coelho

Jewish tradition tells the story of a shepherd who always said to the Lord: “Master of the Universe, if You have a flock, I shall look after it for free, for I love You.”

One day a wise man heard this strange prayer. Worried that it might offend God, he taught the shepherd the prayers he knew. But as soon as they were parted, the shepherd forgot the prayers; however, fearful of offending God by offering to tend to his flocks, he decided to abandon completely all conversations with Him.

That same night the wise man had a dream: “Who guards the Lord’s flocks?” said an angel. “The shepherd prayed with his heart, and you taught him to pray with his mouth.”

The following day the wise man returned, asked the shepherd to forgive him, and included the Prayer of the Flock in his book of psalms.

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By Paulo Coelho

Angels are love in motion. They never rest, they struggle to grow, and they are beyond good and evil. Love that consumes all, that destroys all, that forgives all. Angels are made of that love, and are at the same time its messengers.
(The Valkyries)

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Your books usually are on similar subjects of alchemy, spirituality, witchcraft, magic, sexuality, still what is it that differentiates them?

When I start a new book, I try to approach myself from a different angle. In The Alchemist, for example, I was trying to explain to myself what writing meant to me. The way I found to do this was through a metaphor.

In Eleven Minutes, I started with the question of why sexuality is considered one of the major issues in life. But I had my doubts. And that’s why the hero asks if it’s true that the world could revolve around 11 minutes. I talked a lot about sexual relations in the novel, but in the end I doubt if the world really revolves around sex.

In The Zahir, on the other hand, there is a kind of a snapshot of my present moment as a famous writer. The novel is full of comments on what it means to be rich and famous, on the nature of marriage and the responsibilities of the writer.

In The Witch of Portobello I wanted to explore the feminine side of divinity, I wanted to plunge into the heart of the Great Mother.

In Brida, a book that I wrote in 1990, I plunge into the life of a woman that is trying to understand love and that has to go through many traditions, many paths of knowledge before finding her own.

All these stories, characters bare the seal of my personality, but each has its own path, its own identity.

By Paulo Coelho

Three very well-dressed gentlemen came to my hotel in Tokyo.

– Yesterday you gave a conference at the Dentsu Gallery – said one of them. – I entered by chance, just as you were saying that no encounter takes place by chance. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves.

I didn’t ask how they had found out which hotel I was staying in, I didn’t ask anything; if people are capably of overcoming such difficulties, they deserve every respect. One of the three men handed me some books in Japanese. My interpreter was excited: this man was Kazuhito Aida, the son of the great Japanese poet, of whom I had never heard.

And it was precisely the mysterious synchronicity of these encounters which enabled me to discover, read and now share with the readers of this column, a little of the magnificent work of Mitsuo Aida (1924-1998), the calligrapher and poet, whose writings remind us of the importance of innocence:

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Because it has lived life intensely
the dry grass grabs the passer-by’s attention
Flowers merely blossom,
and do so as best they can.
The white lily of the valley, which no one sees
explains itself to no one;
it only lives for beauty.
Men, however, cannot live with “only”.

********************************************************

If tomatoes wish to be melons
they will become a farce.
I am amazed
that so many people are busy
wanting to be what they are not;
why become a farce?

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You need not pretend you are strong
should not always prove that all is well,
must not worry about what others think
cry if necessary
it is good to cry until no tears are left
(for only then will you smile again)

********************************************************

Sometimes I watch the openings of tunnels and bridges on TV. This is what usually happens: many celebrities and local politicians line up, with the host minister or governor in the middle. Then, a ribbon is cut, and when the directors of the works return to their offices, they receive many letters of recognition and admiration.

Those who gave their sweat and work, who held the pick and spade, who exhausted themselves working in the summer, or were made to bear the harsh winter in order to finish the job, are never seen; it seems that the best part belongs to those whose faces never sweat at all.

I always want to be someone capable of seeing the faces which are not seen – those who seek neither fame not glory, who silently play the part destined for them by life.

I want to be capable of this, for the most important things in existence are those which build us, never showing their faces.

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By Paulo Coelho

What are the three conditions for conversing with one’s angel? “Break a pact. Accept forgiveness. And make a bet.” And, in addition to those three things, courage is needed. A woman’s courage, not a man’s.
(The Valkyries)

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Why did you choose a subject like magic and witchcraft first in Witch of Portobello and now in Brida? Do you believe in things like magic and witchcraft?

Of course I do. Unfortunately the word “witch” has still many prejudices. To me, a witch is a woman that is capable of letting her intuition take hold of her actions, that communes with her environment, that isn’t afraid of facing challenges. In Brida I dive into the life of a woman that has this awareness and insatiable desire for more knowledge, more understanding of her place in this world. In The Witch of Portobello I decided to focus more on the prejudice that modern witches face in modern society.

Of course, nothing happened as we expected. Probably the moon may take long to reach the Seventh House, and Jupiter will wait for ages to aligns with Mars. But it was so good to have a dream!

The dream is still alive, of course. Not the dream we had when we were hippies, but a different kind of dream: now we know that, regardless on how the planets behave, we can make a lot of difference. As Harriet du Autremont said: “No vision and you perish; No Ideal, and you’re lost. Your heart must ever cherish some faith at any cost. Some hope, some dream to cling to, some rainbow in the sky, some melody to sing to, Some service that is high.”

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golding living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revalation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golding living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revalation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Read the new issues from “Warrior of the Light Online” :

When angels talk

Quando os anjos falam

Cuando los ángeles hablan

Quand les anges parlent

Quando gli angeli parlano

By Paulo Coelho

The disciple of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov went to him:

“I cannot talk to God.”

“This often happens,” said Nachman. “We feel that our lips are sealed, or that the words do not come. However, the simple fact that effort is needed to overcome the situation, is a beneficial attitude.”

“But it is not enough,” insisted the disciple.

“You are right. At such times, what you must do is look up and say: “My God, I am far from You and cannot believe in my voice.”

“For, in truth, God listens and always answers. It is only we who cannot speak, fearful that He is not paying attention.”

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By Paulo Coelho

And each man kills the thing he loves,
By all let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword.
(The Valkyries)

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What inspires the characterization of the protagonist especially in case of female protagonists? How much of that inspiration comes from real life?

I only allow myself to write every two years because I feel that I’ve gathered enough emotional energy to come up with a story. I never know, before sitting at my desk, if I’m going to have a female or a male voice.

All is very unpredictable. As in life, there is not always a rational explanation for certain choices. My literature is much more the result of a paradox than that of an implacable logic. The paradox is the tension that exists in my soul. Like in archery, the paradox is the bow that can be both tense and relaxed. I know that it’s important to have values in life, but I’ve always been more drawn to incoherence, because life is not static but rather like the tides, coming and going.

Real events, memories, longings, other stories – all fuse when I embark in a new story.

Quando gli angeli parlano

Nessuno è coraggioso sempre. L’ignoto è una sfida costante, e la paura fa parte del viaggio.

Che fare? Conversa con te stesso. Parla da solo. Conversa con te, anche se gli altri potrebbero pensare che sei diventato matto. Via via che parliamo, una forza interiore ci dí  sicurezza per superare gli ostacoli che bisogna vincere. Impariamo le lezioni dalle sconfitte che – inevitabilmente – subiremo. E ci prepariamo alle tante vittorie che faranno parte della nostra vita.

E, detto fra noi, coloro che hanno questa abitudine (fra i quali includo me stesso) sanno che non parlano mai da soli: c’è un angelo custode, che ascolta e ci aiuta a riflettere. Ecco, di seguito, alcune storie sugli angeli.

La conversazione nel cielo

Abd Mubarak si stava recando alla Mecca, quando sogní² una notte di trovarsi nel cielo. Lí¬, potè udire due angeli che conversavano.

“Quanti pellegrini sono venuti quest’anno nella cittí  sacra?” domandí² uno dei due.

“Seicento mila”, rispose l’altro.

“E, fra tutti questi, di quanti di loro è stato accettato il pellegrinaggio?”

“Di nessuno. Invece, esiste a Baghdad un ciabattino di nome Ali Mufiq, che non ha mai fatto la camminata, ma il suo pellegrinaggio è stato accettato e le sue grazie hanno beneficiato i 600 mila pellegrini”.

Quando si sveglií², Abd Mubarak si recí² alla bottega del ciabattino Mufiq, e gli raccontí² il sogno.

“A costo di grandi sacrifici, avevo raccolto infine 350 monete”, disse, piangendo, il ciabattino. “Tuttavia, quando ero pronto per proseguire per la Mecca, ho scoperto che i miei vicini avevano fame. Ho distribuito il denaro fra loro, sacrificando il mio pellegrinaggio”.

Il mendicante e il monaco

Un monaco meditava nel deserto, quando si avviciní² un mendicante:

“Ho bisogno di mangiare”.

Il monaco – che era quasi in sintonia perfetta con il mondo spirituale – non rispose.

“Ho bisogno di mangiare”, insistette il mendicante.

“Va’ in cittí  e chiedi agli altri. Non vedi che mi stai ostacolando? Sto tentando di entrare in comunicazione con gli angeli”.

“Dio si pose al di sotto dell’uomo, laví² i suoi piedi, diede la propria vita, e nessuno lo riconobbe”, rispose il mendicante. “Colui che dice di amare Dio – che non vede – e dimentica il proprio fratello – che vede -, sta mentendo”.

E il mendicante si trasformí² in un angelo.

“Che peccato, c’eri quasi riuscito”, affermí² prima di andarsene.

Condannando il fratello

L’abbate Isaac de Tebas stava pregando nel patio del monastero quando vide uno dei monaci commettere un peccato. Infuriato, interruppe l’orazione e condanní² il peccatore.

Quella sera, gli fu impedito di tornare nella propria cella da un angelo, che gli disse: “tu hai condannato il tuo fratello, ma non hai detto che castigo dobbiamo applicare: le pene dell’inferno? Una malattia terribile ancora in questa vita? Qualche tormento nella sua famiglia?”

Isaac s’inginocchií² e chiese perdono: “lo lanciato le parole nell’aria, e un angelo le ha udite. Ho peccato per mancanza di responsabilití  in cií² che dico. Dimentica la mia ira, Signore, e fa’ che io adotti maggiore cautela nel giudicare il mio prossimo”.