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First of all, I want to thank you for the conference I gave at Blogtalkradio a few weeks back: it ranked among the most popular shows of this portal.
Today I want to discuss a book written by Arthur Miller called “The Crucible”.
It is about a witch hunt that took place in Salem, Massachusetts. Girls were accused of witchcraft and were burnt at the stake. On a side note, I’ve been to Salem and saw little souvenir shops selling images of this horrible episode.
Yet what I want to discuss here is this : I have the feeling that we are coming back to the witch hunt.
Anyone who dares to be different or doesn’t follow the “manual of good behavior” is blamed as a witch, a fool or a crazy … And I believe this context inhibits people of following their personal legend.
I would like to know then your opinion about this.
(Of course that on the lung run this is bound to change and the world will open up againt to the hidden powers of individuals, but I would like to have your opinion on today’s context).
Nowdays you can be called witch just because you look or behave different just because you are individual people don t like you. For me it has allways been weird that nothing has changed since the witch hunt time. people are cruel they would do the same things if now it would not be lows justice people could kill just because you are not like them
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About witchhunt….
I have had a feeling whole my life,
that I should keep quiet about some things
(for example truedreams and such) because otherwise other people should think that I am strange, and I could be rejected & bullied.
But now I don´t care anymore, the people that think I´m strange should take a good look at themself ;-)
Like Jesus said to the women who had commited misconduct:
The ones without sin, should be the first ones to
throw their stones.
I live in Sweden (a liberated society in most cases) in year 2008, and still we are afraid to be diffrent from other people, even
though they may feel the same way.
What are we so afraid of ?
To be alone & rejected maybe?
But what I discovered when I have attended spiritual courses,
that there is a lot of people like me :-)
And now, I can speak to the most people about
spiritaul topics.
I think the world become more and more open to theese things,
even if there are forces that opposes that to.
I hope that we eventually can teach each other, and help each other, how we can go beyond fear and see the light within
each one of us.
And we have to be patience it doesn´t happen over one night ;-)
And you Paulo, is one of them ,who wake people up with your wonderful inspirational books :-)
Love Jessica
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I could not agree more.
I have just been “chased” of MySpace by a former friend that is convinced I am a witch. In the literal meaning of this word. And this person is right. I strongly believe every woman is a so called witch.
But that is still no reason to harras me like this person did. I did not leave out of fear, but because I think it is better to put my energy on things that are positively constructive.
And so the witch hunt continues…
Love
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When religion becomes the integral attribute an authorities, then and begins the hunt on witches.
THE PERSISTING witches and wizards are found ON THAT SIDE of the SCREEN TV.
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Today the witch most likely to get burned at the stake and to have all their goods escheted to the state are the pedophiles. Not to defend them, but today the “P” word is as freighted as the “W” used to be. In the 1700’s the age of consent was 10.
The threshold of witch, was distrust and square peg in the round hole. Most witchcraft trials historically (those not driven by greed) can be found near damp Rye grain fields. Ergot and LSD often led people to “Try to find the witch”. Now it is the fear of the child-killing Sex criminal. I sometimes think that the “Treatment Industry” and the hue and cry with which both victim and perp are both treated do more to damage victims than the act does, It AIN’t what happens that does the damage it’s the way we react to its having happened, altar boys would be better served by a day of getting to kick the crap out of the old priest, than the big $ settlements. As to treatment that didn’t stem from a power relationship, how does treatment “UNRING the Bell”. Now as to people with pictures of on their computers, most will never act on them.
I wait for some 18 year old girl with pictures taken when she was 14 by other 14 year olds to go to court and say that she has the right to sell copies of them if they are watermarked under the freedom of press and the Prior restraint clause. If the subject owns the images, can they be stopped from disseminating them. witchcraft 2000’s
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If we don’t look back into our baggage of knowledge at our learned definition of a “witch”, a “crazy” person or a “fool”, then those words don’t mean anything and we can live our truth without feeling different.
Also, in The Zahir, you described 2 firemen. One had a dirty smoky face, the other’s was clean. If we perceive others as judging us, then we will judge ourselves.
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Howdy, I am glad I pressed harder enough until I found rhapsody of fire magic of the wizards dream, because this post on inion On : Witch hunt at Paulo Coelho’s Blog was extremely helpful. Just last Saturday I was pondering on this quite a bit.
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if i don’t want to go on the way of the knowledge,if i don’t look for it,where everybody can go,if i let the doubt and the confusion let me believe that i couldn’t find it,sure i’ll go without knowing on another way, to a world of fear.
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I agree that the witch hint continues to exist, that is has existed for centuries…for a few reasons. Obviously, the growth and predominance of male values in religion, and in cultures across the planet, have led to an imbalance of our knowledge of the importance of the feminine within ourselves, our families, our cultures and our planet. With the domination of male values, we have lost our connection to our groundedness, our earthiness, and eros….. our ultimate connection to one another, and to our Source. We have instead placed importance on competition and money and material things. I have always believed that the United States, a culture based on pioneerism and extroversion, was a society that was in the most trouble in this regard. But, perhaps, other cultures now follow this modern lead and are in danger of losing their introversion and inner connection in favor of materialism and male competition and power.
Extreme extraversion and materialism are also cutting us off from our Source because we no longer take the time to go inward to regain our connection. We look outward to others, to the masses to find a connection and a feeling of safety. We even look to our religions, an outer building, a church, a temple, for what is ultimately inside each of us. We look outward to find Love and nurturing. This becomes a never-ending, empty, soulless search that yields poor results. I believe that it takes a tremendously courageous person today who does not follow this outer path, more courageous than ever, because this path goes against the tide. I believe that people who see someone on this inner journey become afraid and either they run in the other direction, or they gather together with others to run the inward pioneer out. On some level, they must know this is the true path, but they are frightened and would rather not look inward into the mirror of the soul where they will discover their own journey and fulfillment. Who wouldn’t rather seek spirit in alcohol (that’s why they call them spirits!), shopping, sex. These certainly feel better than the inward journey! (except later during the hangover…). The inward journey is a journey one must take alone. The path is often dark and frightening…and most of the time it can seem as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel…At certain times the inward pioneer is nailed to a stake, unable to move between the opposites of the person they are and the person they must become.
But I am hopeful. Life seeks balance. Look at was has happened in the past few weeks to so many of our symbols of power. Many of them are crumbling…Wall Street, a materialistic Republican administration. And don’t forget the crumbling a few years ago of the Twin Towers and Enron…two archetypal symbols of power. I believe that we inward pioneers have a responsibility (and the precious gift) to spread the seeds of what we have learned to those around us who will listen. And I believe that people are listening. If not, your books would not be so well received across the globe.
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I would not speak to a new wall about erosion unless it were obvious. I would not speak to frost melt about fishes, or to the sky about rocks. But I would speak to birds about flowers, plants about worms and trees about dappled light. I would not speak to a stick about a stone but I would consider conversing with a limb of light weight and strong fiber. You see people become addicted to pride and greed as both are part of the brains reward system. These are folks who have much but have lived very little. At times pride from a sense of accomplishment washes out greed while at other times pride goes down and full greed takes over. Pride and greed are what damages society when they are not at least in balance. Being proud because one is not greedy is no real accomplishment and likewise turning to greed when one has lost his sense of pride is no form of rebuttal. Both are damaging and deceiving. Then there is jealousy, probably by far the most deceptive of all negative energies. Jealousy is based on something that a person is missing and so how can he know what it is or where it comes from. Pride turns into jealousy when a sense of accomplishment is stripped away by the perception that anything worth having is easy or free. Greed also turns into jealousy with the perception that it should be easy to attain more of something that is worth having. The difficulty always has to do with perception, when perception is interpreted properly and well founded ideas are formed then yes everything else is a detail and can be worked out with seemingly little effort, but the effort always comes before. The only way to find the right way of looking at things is for this cycle to occur of greed and pride, eventually someone steps off of the roller coaster and begins to walk in a new direction, those who stay behind are stuck until there is a comfortable landing site, but the cycle will always continue. To each his own. Some get off at the top, others when it is moving too fast and still others get tired and wake up in time to step off like nothing happened at all. Those later folks have weathered the storm.
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Dear Paulo,
I think I agree with you. Those who do not follow the norms of the society, or the “social deviants”, do get treated differently. They do suffer. hey are automatically labeled differently, not just as “crazy” “fool” or “freaks”, but other hurtful things too, and even if they weren’t labeled or even if there weren’t any witch hunts, being different in itself hurts from within.
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What you are asking is very tricky in the sense that you feel damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
This is not about boasting - simply just an experience-
The experience is just like the one you describe in the Third Cardinal Virtue : Love For Science - “Scientists concluded that the zones affected by the sentiment are far smaller than they had imagined and are the same as those activated by stimuli of euphoria as those taking cocaine.”
You have made a plan, agreeing that Plan A doesnt work any longer you opt for Plan B. It looks good on paper, - easier said than done -
You are in a euphoric state, You know you are not on drugs, never have been.It feels like it though. You have observed and witnessed those symptoms at close range before.
You know that you are out of your depths. You are conscious that you have reached a dangerous point - perhaps one of no return -
You know that you are thrown out of your comfort zone. You know you are stripped-naked.
You feel stoned out of your mind - barely able to function, walk.
You then realised that you have been able to work out what it is all about intellectually but have not gone through the experience.
You feel like an idiot, a fool, insignificant, a moron. You know nothing.
You blame everybody - You go through the “Wy-O-Mi (ng)’s business.
You cry a lot - Your soul is craving for love and attention - the whole world is against you or with you - depending on the mood.
You go for the Conspiracy’s theory - the type “You poisoned my water”. You refuse to answer the phone.
You are unable to sleep for months. Adrenaline is pumping and your energy level is at its peak. It is like you are suffering from jet-lag after a very long flight on a plane.
You know that things will never be the same.
You rant and you scream, you hiss like a snake and spit your venom.
You know that what you are feeling does not make any sense, it is so out of bound, so illogical, magnify 10,000 times.
You are thrown out of balance, trying to make sense of it all, constantly asking “What is this all about?”
You don’;t want to go out and meet people.
You sift through your pain and slowly disentagle your past. You know you have to rid off your shady past, even so..you resist it.
Suddenly, you find yourself under a strict military regime. It is torture.
You are following orders. Because you are so thick, you retaliate and find yourself even more in trouble. You are now doing time in “the cell”. You get such a pounding- you cannot believe this is happening to you -.
By then, you get a glimpse of what “reality” is all about.
You watch the person opposite you, shake your head in disbelief.
You are like a puppy dog in training.
You are so scared.
You are constantly being branded “mad” and “out of your mind”.
You still dont know where this is going to lead you.
You have reprieves.
During these, you start paying more attention to the small things - like taking a shower in silence, listening to the water, the rythm of the clock next to your bedside-table, the early wake-up call from the birds , eating slowly.
You know then, that no matter what, you are going to benefit from that experience.
Self-discipline has never been one of your “forte”, following instructions not part of your vocabulary either.
You need a pinch of humour to continue on that path.
You know that you are a bit odd -
You are starving yourself of “human contact’.
You find yourself kissing the “Dry-CLeaning Lady for no reason, or so you thought - When she tells you she is from Lebanon - you make the connection straight away - she knows a thing or two about war too.
You play a game of “Solitaire’. You learn about patience. It finally sinks in “You realise the benefit of knowing “how to play games”. You have been running with a bit of a handicap in that department.
You have an issue with fruit juice.
what drives you?
People from all walk saying “Courage” - sometimes you even go to the extra length - thinking someone in high places might even want you to get there -
Following signs, notwithstanding sheer determination and stubborness as well.
What soothes you?
Listening to music and dancing.
Looking at the sky and the clouds, leaning on a tree, getting in touch with nature, talking to yourself.
What have you learned so far?
Your physical being is of the most importance.
You can improve your health by doing simple things such as :
- ensuring that you eat your five vegies and fruit a day, drink plenty of water, follow the Mediterranean Diet (shading a few kilos), take your Vitamins supplement of Omega 3 - as recommended by D. Servan-Schreiber), multi-vitamins and Gingko Biloba, walking and good sleeping patterns, learning to breathe properly is primordial too.
You learn that you dont have to justify anything anymore.
You have been given a second chance and you dont want to loose it.
You are grateful for the experience and know that if you have a good relationship with yourself then good relationships ensue with others and you will be able to focus on your creativity.
that the feeling of achieving genuine happiness is to my mind priceless. You get glimpses of what might be coming your way.
It is not easy and it is ongoing for you.
It is the biggest slap in the face you have ever received and also the biggest lesson and gift.
You would not have been able to achieve it without the other person, You are so so grateful.
Lastly, before you go to sleep, you make sure that you consult with Mr Sandman and ask him to “give you a dream” and wish the very best to everybody on their quest for searching the light.
….you ask for it, remember? :.)
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hello teacher!
I personally don’t believe that we live in a world where those who dare to be different is charged as a pretty crazy … I think most of us young people don’t have creativity, imagination, or want to do and discover new things, so we live under manual of good behavior because that is what we were taught and we are not able to modify it or to go against what it says.
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Dear Will, I think that you underestimate yourself. Every flower in God’s Garden has its beauty and fulfills its destiny. Even the fact, that you are ‘here’ with us and Paulo Coelho, shows that you have a goal. You are a Warrior of the Light.
LOVE,
THELMA
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hello Paulo!
this is my first entry on your blog although it’s been a while since i fell under the spell of your books…
I agree with you: there is a sort of witch hunt going on and it is difficult to follow one’s personal legend especially when “our calling” is something society will consider unusual, not practical,something that will not give us financial security…etc.
I also believe there is a light in the tunnel and one dayour indyviduality will be cherished and encuraged by all.
My question is: what should we do about present situation?Should we fight our good fight against all in order to win ourselves?Ithink the answer is yes,but let’s not fight alone.Why not talk to our friends even those who think we’ve lost it;)(who knows maybe their as scared and full of doubts as we are?).ask them about their dreams,doubts and so on.Let’s focus on their fight as much as on our own,help ourselves by helping others,like in the book by my favourite writer;) i’m currently reading- by restoring somebody’s house a man resolves his own personal problems.It doesn’t have to make sense and we still know it is the right way.I’m having kind of feeling I’m having when reading your books Paulo.I know i have my own personal legend and good fight to fight and that I need other people around me(to let me love them ,to love me ),that sometimes we make mistakes but still we should keep pushing forward…It’s only that sometimes we/I forget about all of this and Your books bring me back to what’s important,bring me back home and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Yours
Pawel Malyszek
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En la biblia dice : Dios nos creo a su imagen y semejanza.
La pregunta ahora es: hasta que tan semejante podermos ser a Dios .
No es que queramos ser Dios pero, Jesus dijo : tan solo basta la fe del tamaño de un grano de mostaza y podras mover montañas.
Nosotros los seres humanos somos capaces de hacer cosas maravillosas , para muchos es magia o brujeria , pero simplemente es ese don maravilloso que todo hombre guarda en su Alma.
El Alma todo lo puede, todo lo vence , de él emana la Vida y por eso es eterna.
El don de hacer cosas que parecen imposibles para otros, esta allí tan solo ahi que dejar que fluya y dejarte llevar por ella . Y convertirte en el dueño de tu leyenda personal.
William Henley dijo : Soy el amo de mi destino. Soy el capitan de mi alma.
Gracias, Paulo
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Hoje eu até acho meio estranho não ser estranho.As pessoas só não se dão conta de seus sentimentos e pressentimentos.
Ano passado eu perdi uma pessoa muitíssimo amada.Ela foi embora deste mundo de uma maneira tragica e triste.Tinha apenas 18 anos e 2 meses.Eu ainda sofro muito com essa perda,me faço milhões de perguntas todos os dia, noites e madrugadas.Mas eu senti que ia perde-la muito antes que ela fosse levada de mim.Vivi meses de angustia e pressentimento ruim até que aconteceu o inevitável.O curiso sr.Paulo é que mesmo antes dessa pessoa(que á minha filha)começar a se envolver com as drogas que causaram sua morte eu tinha certeza de que ela teria um fim tragico e infeliz, era como se eu soubesse o tempo todo o que estava por vir.Asim como tantas coisas que se passaram comigo e eu tenho a nítida impressão de já havia acontecido ou que eu já vivi aquele espaço de tempo.Não acho que isso seja algum tipo de premunição mas sim a forma que todos temos
de nos previnir da dor eminente, mas acho que isso só acontece com quem é muito atento aos seus sentimentos.
Sei que fugi do assunto abordado mas queria muito saber do senhor se eu estou certa na minha forma de pensar.
Obrigada por sua atenção e um grande abraço.
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Paulo, do you believe that there may be people out there in the world which simply have no personal legend at all? I mean… some people who are “hollow” or empty inside… empty souls with no goals or destiny at all? I’m almost 40 and have done anythng in my life. No gifts, no skills, no tastes… hollow as and old tree useless down on a forest. Did Gos forgot some souls or it was we ourselves that made some kind of a deal with the “god of failure”?
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Hello Paulo.
I don’t think the witch hunt has ever stopped, the way that people challenge the “witch” has just changed. Some members of my family, and apparent friends from my past have labled me both a fool and crazy many times during my short life so far, I mearly follow where my path takes me, which many had feared could also be self-destruction. But I was causing no harm to others, I was trying to follow my path, one with good and bad times, which has really botheresd people who seem not to understand. But hey, i’m doing well now! : )
My mother has told me, from an early age, that we are witches. My Mum, a successfull business woman who works long hours and has 5 children, can now see how I need to follow the path life is taking me on, however different it has been to hers, otherwise I grow stagnant, which manifests in illness. Me and my Mum have never chanted spells or made potions, but I always understood what she meant and this never scared me.
I feel that some would still like to burn those of us they believe to be witches, but the law wont allow them, so instead they use aspects of media and mind games to make those who hold the wisdom of the mother believe they are mentally ill, or that they should ignore these feelings or behaviours to act “normal,” whatever that may be?!
Thank you Paulo for your writings, which helped me feel understood at I time I needed that support.
Many people seem to not accept, and often ridicule or attack what they don not understand, this is how I view the modern witch hunts.
Thanks for writing your books, they have helped me to feel understood.
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Yes,it is terrible that humanbeens are sentence everyone who is diferent than the most of the group.Also is terribel that all cristians like me too ,we lern from childhood to venerate the cucifics,even Jessus was tortured on it (or not) and many other humanbeens!It is terribel wenn peopel are dealing with such souvenirs !I was allready burned in other life because I didn`t want to accept a prist to be his wife and to gave him a sun ,and i know how much fight it needs to stabilize this deficiency in a new life!It meens for me that it is necesary for whole humanity to stop this destructive way to act and to strugle to be just autenticly to Ourself and Colective and Huomos Luminuosu (a new Generation )will apear on our Mother Erth.
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