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31 Responses to “Crystal Shop Merchant”
Comment Page 1 of 11
The merchant is a lovely character. I like him a lot. Maybe this is because I identify myseltf with him.
He is moody , good , and fair. He complies with the little he’s asked for from life.
Just imagining to live our dreams can be pretty attractive because you just feel joy , enthusiasm, excitement and little dissapointment.
All of us can be like that at a certain moment of our lives.
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Santiago’s encounter with the merchant reminds me of an experience that I once had working in a yoga studio. The owner of the studio had always dreamed of going to India to study under the great guru of that lineage. Many students and teachers came through the studio who did, in fact, fulfill this dream. They were always coming and going through the studio with tales of having spent a month, six-months, even a year, studying under this great teacher. After I had been there at the studio for about a year and become fully familiar with all aspects of running the business, I said to her, “This is your chance. You can go if you want to, because I can handle the studio while you are away.” She agreed, and she even took the time off, but she didn’t go. Though there was no need to, each day she still showed up at the studio. She explained this by saying that she felt the studio WAS her, and she was the studio.
Finally, several years later, she sold the studio, and then she went. My conclusion from this was that we cannot go to Mecca until it is our time to go. We have to really want it more than we want anything else, because we have to be able to let go of everything else in order to undertake that journey. As long as we are clinging to other dreams - as long as our sense of self is supported and defined by its connection with other ventures - we cannot undertake that journey to the center of the self.
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Alexandra Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Exactly. Your story is really a good example. Thanks.
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Hildegarde Reply:
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Thank you dear Savita,
to read your story now is a moment that I caress in my heart…
The experiences that Santiago and the Merchant shared together are encounters that gave both a possibility to learn from each other…and they did do this with an open heart. Their friendship grew day by day and while Santiago was cleaning the dust from the crystals that were laying in front of his nose,…the Merchant opened his eyes for the light.
I see the time in the Crystal Shop as a part of Santiago’s transformation on the path to his treasure (that is in front of his eyes, I ask myself if he did realise this when he was cleaning the crystals?)…as every chapter is a step that made him grow to find his sword.
Thank you for your conclusion Savita “we cannot go to Mecca until it is our time to go”…and I’m thankfull that Santiago did go on the right moment…and shared his journey with a masterpiece!
With love
Hildegarde
xxx
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Okay, so i just got finished reading the book for the first time, and i love it overall, but i find this character, the crystal merchant, to be one of the most confusing characters to understand. In the novel he talks about how he always wanted to go to Mecca, but is this his personal legend, or just something on his destiny? What is his specific personal legend, being a successful merchant or being a devoted religous person? I’ve looked at all the discussions and debates, but still I remain confused about him overall.
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When I think at Santiago arrival in the Crystal shop, it comes in my mind these words ” the wind of change”. Is a tittle from a song too, and seems it fits in this story. You also talk about a wind that made feel Santiago the desire to travel. The fresh air brought there by Santiago was good for the commerce, increasing the affair. That shows the fact that Santiago was skilled in doing many things, inventive, with lot of patience and imagination, not a dull character.
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I loved the aspect of the Merchant and Santiago helping each other in unexpected ways. Santiago, through what seemed like a mundane task, saw a bigger picture and what he learned there, helped him later. And the Merchant saw, through a young person’s enthusiasm, that his own life can change for the better. One time I worked in a senior’s home, in the housekeeping department. I fell in love with the residents there and before long, dusting endless curios became a labour of love. These little trinkets were their prized possessions, with long stories attached. The job was temporary but also, when leaving, felt sad as well as excited about the next adventure. Thank you Paulo, Love to All xo : )
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Once he understands that his Dream is not Mecca, but the Shop, he won’ t be afraid to go there anymore; because if so, he does not risk anything…
(of course leaving his shop for some time under the strict control of some trustworthy employees, who take care of the glass : ))) )
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Annie Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
i love that thought!!
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András Reply:
August 8th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Thank you Annie.
It is the calm that I feel in his word “Maktub”, that makes me think that the Crystal Shop Merchant’s real Dream is the shop (Mekka being “just” a motivating factor for him to make his shop more prosperous). Because I don t think it is possible to feel real, deep calm if you do not realise your Dream.
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Is he a coward?
Is he a man who is afraid to live up to his dream?
No, he isn’t.
He is a man who is ALREADY, instinctively, living his dream – but like so many warriors he is blocked somewhere in his quest and he is confused in his fantaisies.
He needs to meet a young man in order to progress in his path, to learn what he needs to learn on how to make business.
And he needs to understand the difference between the fantasies about Mecca and the Dream of his life. He needs to realise who he is, what he has achieved - and that the “Mecca” he imagined was just a fantasy to give him the drive to accomplish his real dream: to flourish his shop on the hill. Because he is a Merchant. He needs to recognise how his fantasies helped him realise his dream, even when he did not notice it. He needs to understand the difference between a fantasy and a dream. The latter is your true responsability - the former is just like smoke of his hookah-pipe, that can help him during the day, but that is not the same as a dream.
Realising that since his youth he was always accomplishing his dream, his self-esteem will come back; and then he won t be frightened anymore to sacrifice the smoke of a fantasy onto the truth of an obligation. And he will be ready to fulfill his fifth obligation.
The warrior of light knows the difference between a fantasy and a Dream.
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Shaima Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
The crystal shop merchant reminded me by ME yes sometimes i am asking myselef I am a coward or not !!! As you said he is blocked and I am Blocked also somewhere :)))but I am not Coward I am doing all my best to change every things
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“When I was young, all I wanted to do was put together enough money to start this shop. I thought that someday I’d be rich, and could go to Mecca.”
The Crystal Shop Merchant’s real Dream is not Mecca, but to have a crystal shop.
The moment he will understand this, he won t be afraid to go to Mecca - the real one, not the one of his fantaisies.
The “Mecca” of his imagination is not his Dream - but only a fantasy that motivated him to earn more money with the shop, to make business, that is, to realise his real Dream: to make the shop prosper; because he is a Merchant.
In this “Mecca” of his fantasies, he will not go indeed, because that is not part of his destiny.
Meeting the young shepherd was a gift on his way, for him to learn what he needed to learn in order to be an even better Merchant.
Cleaning the glass, putting crystal out in the display and selling tea - these are excellent PR ideas, that he needed to learn from a young man - but for all these ideas you needed the shop on the hill. The other shops opened that imitated the idea to serve tea in crystal had little business. You needed a shop on the hill - you needed the solidly rooted heart of the Merchant who instinctively kept his shop in his life.
His “Mecca” was not a real Dream for him - but a fantasy to help him accomplish his Destiny, his real Dream.
The moment he will understand this, he will go to the real Mecca, not the one of his fantasies but the real one - because he is a devout man, a true Muslim, who will fulfill the fifth obligation.
Maktub.
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Carolena Sabah Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Well, just because it is an obligation of his religion, it does not make it his Dream. It is like you say a fantasy.
If on the other hand it is a Dream, then he reminds me of the frog who is slowly cooking in the boiling water.
If it is a fantasy, then his Dream is probably awaiting him in his shop!
A very calm and sincere character, sometimes seemed lifeless.
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“When I was young, all I wanted to do was put together enough money to start this shop. I thought that someday I’d be rich, and could go to Mecca.”
The Crystal Shop Merchant’s real Dream is not Mecca, but to have a crystal shop.
The “Mecca” of his imagination is not his Dream - but only a fantasy that motivated him to make business, that is, to realise his real Dream: to make the shop prosper; because he is a Merchant.
In this “Mecca” of his fantasies, he will not go indeed, because that is not part of his destiny.
Meeting the young shepherd was a gift on his way, for him to learn what he needed to learn in order to be an even better Merchant.
Cleaning the glass, putting crystal out in the display and selling tea - these are excellent PR ideas, that he needed to learn from a young man - but for all these ideas you needed the shop on the hill. The other shops opened that imitated the idea to serve tea in crystal had little business. You needed a shop on the hill - you needed the solidly rooted heart of the Merchant who instinctively kept his shop in his life.
His “Mecca” was not a real Dream for him - but a fantasy to help him accomplish his Destiny, his real Dream.
The moment he will understand this, he will go to the real Mecca, not the one of his fantasies but the real one - because he is a devout man, a true Muslim, who will fulfill the fifth obligation.
Maktub.
[Reply]
“When I was young, all I wanted to do was put together enough money to start this shop. I thought that someday I’d be rich, and could go to Mecca.”
The Crystal Shop Merchant’s real Dream is not Mecca, but to have a crystal shop.
The “Mecca” of his imagination is not his Dream - but only a fantasy for that helped him to realise his real Dream: to make the shop prosper; because he is a Merchant.
In this “Mecca” of his fantasies, he will not go indeed, because that is not part of his destiny.
Meeting the young shepherd was a gift on his way, for him to learn what he needed to learn in order to be an even better Merchant.
Cleaning the glass, putting crystal out in the display and selling tea - these are excellent PR ideas, that he needed to learn from a young man - but for all these ideas you needed the shop on the hill. The other shops opened that imitated the idea to serve tea in crystal had little business. You needed a shop on the hill - you needed the solidly rooted heart of the Merchant who instinctively kept his shop in his life.
His “Mecca” was not a real Dream for him - but a fantasy to help him accomplish his Destiny, his real Dream.
The moment he will understand this, he will go to the real Mecca, not the one of his fantasies but the real one - because he is a devout man, a true Muslim, who will fulfill the fifth obligation.
Maktub.
[Reply]
The crystal shop merchant reminded me of the people who surround me. He saw life as following his duty to family and society. Santiago stay at the crystal store was interesting. I really thought Santiago was going to change the crystal shop merchant life - he was going to go to Mecca.
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This man was one of my favourite characters in the book. He, for me is like both a father figure and a true friend. He is nervous of change but embraces it in what Santiago suggests. He is honest and even though he cant follow his own dream he doesnt deter Santiago from following his. I think there is a strong bond between them…It was very moving when Santiago left to continue…
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I admired the crystal shop merchant’s honesty. He freely admitted his fears and shortcomings. He seemed content in a way to not go to Mecca but help Santiago in this journey. In a way that’s being very brave without envy. There are those who stall your progress. And it’s not like the merchant was not gifted in his own way. He knew at the beginning and before Santiago took leave of him that the boy was onto something really profound , more meaningful- not just a simple case of gathering money, or about sheep and horses. That’s why he says- Maktub-It is Written.He was able to read the signs early on.
I really liked it when he says he will have nothing to look forward to in life if he were to go to Mecca as every faithful should according to his station in life.What remains after the Dream is fulfilled?!He was ready to learn too, allowed Santiago the freedom to make changes in his shop.And shared his wealth with him.
All destiny, alive and potent. Beautiful.
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Paulo Coelho Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Indeed dear Sheela,
the Crystal Merchant doesn’t try to kill Santiago’s dream. On the contrary he respects that and it is very honorable of him to enable Santiago to prosper under his roof and to understand that the boy had to leave also.
He is a true friend to the boy.
Much love
Paulo
[Reply]
Sheela nandini Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
The hardest for me is when people leave! Wish I had the maturity of Fatima,dearest Paulo.But am learning.
Thank you so much for responding.
Will come back to share my thoughts on the other themes.
Hugs,
Sheela
[Reply]
Biombo Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 am
I think one of the reasons that Fatima is so strong is because when she lets people leave, she knows in her heart that they will one day return. And when they return they will return different, they will return better and stronger, because they have traveled and listened to the soul of the world.
sido66 Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
yes The finest gift that we can do to somebody that we love is to make him his freedom [ in fact it is his desire for freedom (To achieve its path , in agreement with "the soul of the world" and the confidence of the love )
which is more important that our desire to maintain near itself = the love of the other ; even if it is difficult ]
Love , accompany , accept , love
thus , we can say :”I took you left from because I love you and my soul accompanies you on your way of life , because the return is great, and the LOVE is great ”
Amen
this is when 2 rivers come across one another..Santiago and the crystal shop merchant..and though from the first month, Santiago realised that this job didnt make him happy, he stayed..there was a reason..to learn and to teach ..
for a while they flow in a parallel kind of way, but they are merging at some places, when the one is ‘helping’ the other .Santiago has managed to change the merchant’s life, he is a true Alchemist..he made him realize his potential, he made him see that his dreams are not so out of place and he could make them true.
But the merchant was afraid of change..he is the best character to resemble anyone that has dreams, and is dreaming, but doesnt act for their fulfillment , so he prefers to dream and stay where he is..he prefers comfort than a struggle to make his dream come true..though that struggle is a joyous one.it ‘d be a journey that would give him joy and not pain , as now his heart is suffering because he wont try to make his dream come true
Love and Graditude
Annie
[Reply]
Paulo Coelho Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Dear Annie,
really beautiful image : two rivers coming across.
Much love
Paulo
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If I remember, his dream was arriving to Mekka…But never fulfilled. Is the opposite of Santiago. Still, Santiago was there to work for one year…Sometimes we stop for no reason, or maybe he have something to learn from that occasion?
[Reply]
Paulo Coelho Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Sometimes we need to stop in the path of our dreams in order to gain strength and focus. It is a very delicate moment : because there is always the risk of abandoning our quest for the security of what we know.
[Reply]
Annie Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Risk here , risk there..Everywhere there is risk..a risk of getting hurt, a risk of not recovering from something that we tried and failed, or from someone who broke our heart, but also a risk of succeeding, a risk of bouncing back, a risk of achieving what you ve always dreamt..
But why is that most people see one side of the coin? why most people are guided from fear? and why should risks always have to do with fear? fear of abandonment, fear of failure, fear of disappointment, fear of loneliness, fear of dying..
most people dont take the leap..because the deer that leaps highest is very likely to get wounded..
Life is all about gambling then? then one should need Luck? Then , I am asking ,Is there such a thing? Luck? and if there is such a thing,luck, does Fate not exist? DO we throw dice with our lives?
(maybe this post should be on Fate vs Destiny)I dont know… Thoughts are flooding my mind
Love and Graditude
Annie
[Reply]
Heart Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:02 am
Santiago’s risk management wouldn’t have been easy without all his helpers. He had his dream to travel. His father advised the boy to become a shepherd. He sold all his sheep, and the Gypsy and King Melchizedek helped Santiago start his journey. The risks were great. All his money were stolen. And the Crystal Merchant lets Santiago work for him. As the story continues, Santiago all the time trust the universe to provide for him, keeps searching, and doesn’t give up when he is out of luck. The thought of going back to Andalusia occurred to him when he lost all his money. Why didn’t he? Because he is a brave, strong go-getter and not a quitter. He continued till he reached his goal. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, as we live to be on the road, not to reach our destiny. The Destiny will show up when He/She is ready.
Alexandra Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
Dear Annie, you are really smart and mature in thinking. Thats were my fears too, so many times, even today… I am not sure 100% of anything. Sometimes I need security, than I hate risks, but not for long… My nature love adventure too much, so I forget fears, and only act. Life is a continuous surprise.
Love
Alexandra
Annie Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Dearest Heart, yes the risks taken by Santiago were huge. YOu are right. But the difference among other people was that he believed in his dream and MADE THE EFFORT. And beside his faith, it was also because of the people he met - that through them the ANgels spoke - that he made it come true
Dearest Alexandra, I believe noone can be sure 100% for anything..Maybe life is always a risk .there is always some percentage that you cannot be sure for something..but people who make the difference are the ones that dont give much notice on the percentage of fear, but rather on the percentage of Love (i believe it is the opposite of fear) when we overcome fear, it is because our Love for our dream prevails!
Love and Graditude
Annie
Love and Graditude
Annie