2006 Free copyright. To see this photo in a better resolution, click here
This is the first time I wrote a book in public (I mean, I wrote in private, but it was like many eyes were on me, because I was doing daily updates in Twitter about my emotional status while writing). I finished this Thursday, 11 March, at 2:00 AM.
In 2006 I was called to my 3rd sacred pilgrimage.
The first one, the Road to Santiago (1986) takes place in space , meaning that you have to cover a physical distance between two points. In my case, I walked from the border of France to O Cebreiro (Galicia), close to 600 kms. I wrote a book about it, “The pilgrimage”.
The second was in 1989, called Road to Rome, takes place in time. It is not a journey to Rome, but I needed to choose a place (in this case, the French Pyrenees) to stay for 70 days. I had to dream and follow the dream the next day, regardless how absurd it was (I remember dreaming with a bus stations, and I spent 3 hrs the next day in a bus station). It deals with the Feminine Energy, and I wrote “Brida” and “By the river Piedra I sat down and wept” while seeing my feminine side manifesting itself.
The 3rd sacred road Is called Road to Jerusalem. Again, you don’t need to go to Jerusalem, but you have to travel in space and time. The only task I was given was: stay away from home for the next 4 months.
I went to several countries, but the epiphany happened while crossing Asia in the Transiberian train ( 15 days, 7 different time zones, 9.2528 kms from Moscow to Vladivostok). I was travelling with a Turkish girl, Hilal (not her real name), for reasons that you are going to discover in the book. This point where time and space converge is called “The Aleph”(J.L.Borges has a wonderful short story about this point) . Therefore, this is the title of my new book: “The Aleph”.
Why did I take so long to write about this pilgrimage? Because it took me three full years to understand it.
It is not a travel guide. Of course I describe what does it mean such a long trip in a train, but the main goal is the long trip to my soul, past, present and future.
My friends in Facebook and Twitter are the first to know, besides a note today in Radar (Veja magazine)
The book will be released in Brasil very soon, and in the rest of the world in 2011. I wish it could be this year (a writer wants to see his/her soul unveiled the next day), but the publishing houses have a different schedule.
________________________________
PORTUGUES
Essa foi a primeira vez que escrevi um livro em publico (quer dizer, escrevi comigo mesmo, mas todo mundo sabia que eu estava escrevendo, porque fazia updates diarios no Twitter sobre meu estado emocional). Terminei nesta quinta, dia 11 de março, as 2:00 AM.
Em 2006 eu fui chamado para fazer minha terceira peregrinação sagrada.
A primeira foi O Caminho de Santiago (1986), uma viagem no espaço físico, cobrindo a distância entre dois pontos. No meu caso, andei da fronteira da França até O Cebreiro (Galícia), e foi tema do meu primeiro livro, “O diario de um mago”.
A segunda foi em 1989, é chamado Caminho de Roma, e se passa no tempo. Não era uma viagem para Roma: eu precisava escolher um lugar e ficar ali durante 70 dias. Escolhi os Pirineus. Tudo que precisava fazer era sonhar, e no dia seguinte transformar o sonho em algo real. Lembro-me de uma noite que sonhei com uma estação de ônibus, e fiquei 3 horas em uma. O caminho de Roma lida com a Energia Feminina; escrevi “Brida” e “Na margem do rio Piedra eu sentei e chorei” logo depois, enquanto essa energia despertava em mim.
A terceira peregrinação sagrada é chamada de O Caminho de Jerusalem. De novo, nao é necessário ir a Jerusalem, mas precisava viajar no espaço e tempo. A única tarefa que me foi dada: fique fora de casa durante 4 meses.
Visitei vários paises, mas a revelação aconteceu enquanto eu cruzava a Asia no trem Transiberiano (15 dias, 7 fusos horários diferentes, 9.258 kms entre Moscou e Vladivostok). Estava viajando com uma jovem turca, Hilal (nome falso) por razões que vocês irão descobrir no livro. O ponto onde o tempo e o espaço se encontram é chamado na tradiçao mágica de “Aleph” (J.L. Borges tem uma maravilhosa historia sobre este ponto) . Portanto, o título do meu novo livro é “O Aleph”.
Não é um guia de viagem (assim como “O diario de um mago” tampouco foi). Claro que explico um pouco o que é a longa viagem de trem, mas apenas para localizar o leitor. O livro é minha viagem ao encontro da minha alma, no passado, no presente, e no futuro.
Por que demorei tanto tempo para escrever sobre esta peregrinação? Porque demorei muito tempo, quase tres anos, para entende-la.
Meus amigos no Twitter e Facebook são os primeiros a saber, além da nota dada hoje no Radar (Veja)
Será lançado no Brasil no final de julho.
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I was excited to hear that you are working very hard1 you are a workaholic! hope that the day comes when I will have a chance to read all of your books!
Can’t wait to read it! I am definitely taking my soul on that trip right now. I love your books they have taken me to go back and follow my childhood dreams and I know this one will help me understand a lot of what I am going through right now. I bit your quote on thursday ( None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us.Close the door,change the record,clean the house. Stop being who you were, become who you are now) has to do with what you learned on that trip :)
Thanks for letting us into your world, you are an awesome writer!
I wish your book could be publishe today, also. I love reading your writing ! Thanks also for putting so much online free to download ! You make me think. This is a good thing ! (:
Hi Paulo Coelho,
My friends in college used to call me, The Grandson of Coelho. Because I talked a lot about you. Anyways, what is the central theme of this new book? I am excited about it. I really can’t wait. But I still need to read your latest book (The Winner Stands Alone). I lose touch with your books for awhile because of some changes in my life. However, I just finished reading Brida.
Thanks for always rekindling my heart to dream and see life in a different perspective. I hope you could also visit the Philippines. We got plenty of wonderful places especially beaches.
Learner,
Darwin Paul
The Aleph
by Jorge Luis Borges
http://www.phinnweb.org/links/literature/borges/aleph.html
I had to read the short story and learn what the Aleph is.
I am in awe and impressed by the whole ‘sacred’ procedure of the creation of the new book, by you, my dear Paulo Coelho. It is the diving into your own soul and effort to put into LOGOS your deepest thoughts. I am sure that your hand is guided and the Revelation took place in … ALEPH. The microcosmos into the macrocosmos. The ‘sound’ of the Universe. A tradition says that in Jerusalem at the point of the Crucifixion, the Omphalos, one can “hear the cries” of the Sons and Daughters of ADAM & EVE.
I feel blessed, dear Paulo Coelho, to have been by your side, in spirit – as all the other Warriors – all this time. Blessings and my best wishes.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Genial Paulo, esperare ese libro ansiosamente ya que todos tus libros son una gran enseñanza a mi vida. Un gran abrazo desde Salt Lake City, Utah.
Wait the book of the favourite author the whole year, knowing that it is already written! Paulo, you train patience of the readers :) Or it is time to learn the Portuguese :)
Parabéns Paulo!!!
Seus livros me inspiram e me ajudam a percorrer esta fantastica viagem chamada vida…
Estou ansiosamente esperando o lançamento deste novo livro…
Best of luck with the new book.
So excited! Can’t wait!!!
Thanks a lot dear Paulo Coelho…I have read all your previous releases..I just can’t wait it to be made available in india…..
that is really the book i would be looking forward to!!!More power Paulo!!!God bless!!I salute you……
Love,
Arvin Mendoza
Philippines
Recently, I’ve been discovering the works of Joseph Campbell and only became aware your book “The Alchemist” a couple of years ago. At nearly 50 years old, it seems I’ve missed a great deal, but I don’t believe I would have been able to truly grasp the concepts or more importantly, allow my consciousness to incorporate the powerful messages into my life before now. Yes, I have a lot of catching up to do!
I’m not very active on Twitter, but I’ve been following you on the recommendation of a great and dear friend that knows me very, very well. The timing (for me) is perfect, so although your new book will not be released until next year, I’m grateful to know that I’m given those months to continue on my own journey with a greater depth of understanding.
Thank you, Paulo Coelho.
Tina
Very happy for you, me and all of us :)
i simply would like to say, that i thanked God for you this morning Paulo.
Hi,
Looking forward to reading it……. I am not a habitual reader but I was given Alchemist by my instructor to read and get enlightened….. I have developed an interest now and would be tracking your brilliant work from now onwards….
You Rock Mate !!!!
Thanx for writing such incredible books. I want to go my personal way. My life is similar. I fell in love with a girl in holydays in Italy, the place is called Celle, like were I was born in Germany. Back in Celle/Germany I had grief und was very sad, I could not see her again. I came in psychiatry many times. Then I found her on youtube in Octobre. In April I go to Milan and see her in theatre.
Greets
Lars
Since reading the Pilgrimage, I have been wondering if you ever did the road to Rome and the road to Jerusalem. Thank you for explaining how these tasks can be solved. My favorite titles of your books so far, was ‘Zahir’ & now I might have to change my mind; ‘Aleph’ is a very catching and enticing title. I love words with deep universal meaning, like this one. A word almost given us by the Divine. A word with positive and negative implications. I find it interesting to see Aleph is the name of a Jewish Renewal, almost like the word Zionism. From beginning to the end, with a goal of partnership with the Divine. I recently told a Zionist on Twitter I’d like to travel the Transiberian route once in my lifetime. He is of Russian origin, but have returned to the fatherland, Israel. Well, now at least I’ll get to share in your journey into this holy land, we all can find in our hearts.
Olá Paulo
Que Julho chegue logo, hehehe.
Aleph
Aleph inicia o sábio
encontro universal
do tempo e do espaço
numa visão transcedental.
Aleph contém o universo
porque contém princípios.
é o retorno cabalístico
do primeiro início.
Na cabala, no universo,
na morada de sua alma,
Aleph é o que lhe impulsiona
numa viagem interna.
Mas no final e meio
Aleph é parada global,
tempo e espaço parados
no contemplo de uma alma.
Krda
14/03/2010
find serbia belgrade in this card and come here we love you to much dear paolo
I don’t want to wait till 2011!
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Love
Olta
Congratulation for finishing your Book. How do you feel when you finishing a Book?
I never ended a novel I’m writing on so I don’t know how you feel. I can only imagine.
Greetings from Switzerland.
Petra
Awaiting with anticipation and acceptance.
Your inspiration is always inspiring Paulo, and for this we thank you infinitely
Mr Paulo, I wish that you will have a wonderful journey. Also, I was looking what aleph means and it means the beginning and the end all concentrated in a point. I’m curious to read the book.
Love
Eugenia
Grande Paulo
mas um passo dado, mas um caminho percorrido.
Parabéns ¡¡¡
Que St Joseph te guie sempre e nos bendiga em nosso dia a dia
Amén
Acacio & Orietta
Bem estou muito curiosa com o seu próximo livro.
Mas como sempre fui muito ansiosa fiz a minha lição do esperar.
Lição de esperar.
Primeiro a curiosidade
Em seguida a ânsia
O pulsar do coração
Bater acelarado e duvidas muitas duvidas
Será que? onde? Como?Poquê?
E de repente como se rompe-se da alma vem a tranquilidade
Do saber
Pois o esperar é o querer do não querer
O Ver e não olhar
Para algo tão precioso
Que alguém tem para nos ofertar.
Assim farei com com o seu livro.
A verdadeé que por vezes eu tb tenho sonhos que depois acabam por acontecer contudo outoros são mais complexos e temos que estar mais atentos pois por vezes são apenas sinais!!!!
Um bem haja duma admiradora sua deste cantinho do mundo que é Portugal
Long Live PAULO !!! Waiting !!
I am looking forwart to read your new book.
Follow your dream next day? That would not work for me. My dreams are mostly too surrealistic, you can’t live them in reality. What had you to do in such a case?
I can learn a lot from my dreams if I interpret them right. I am trained to remember my dreams each night. Sometimes I have lucid dreams – I can influence and change the story.
you are “guru”, i adore you….
For zerofield user?
..ok agora li o resto… final de julho….
e quando sai o livro paulo?
hi mr.coelho.ur books r always oweosome. i m really luking forward 2 read ur blog.thnx for being such a cool writer.
O! The alchemist’s blog -)
I really looking forward a new book in Russian
super :D
Can you just give us a hint about the meaning of the title, “The Aleph”?
i hope i can someday be a great and inspiring writer as you are Sir Paulo… More power to you and may you continue touching lives of people from different races, from the different corners of the globe… =D
Hello,
Dear I read your two or three books but I transcribe your book named Alchemist in my mother language SINDHI, Good wishes for your newly book. I am fan of your way of writing.
Paulo….you mentioned before that by the end of this year (O Dom Supremo) will be published in English. Will it be available then in the US? I am looking forward to it.
I continue reading “The Greatest Thing in the World” and my life has gotten so complicated since the very first time.
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful news, I was so happy to know soon I will be able to delight my soul again with your writing. And is interesting that voyages inspires you, I know you pay much attention to details, so you find soon inspiration. Nonetheless one year to wait is bit long time…
Glad to see you in piture.
Wish you the best
Love
Alexandra
I am so excited!!!! you are so fascinating to me Paulo….and I have so much to learn….are you an indigo child? it sounds like your childhood was that of an indigo child…..a child who brings a different meaning to the world….I can wait to read your new book and discover the new adventures of your soul….
Love
Monica
I was just thinking recently; when will his new book be finished? And here it is! thx brother
with love and peace,
Margie
I am waiting for The Aleph. (First Alphabet of URDU and Arabic)
hey Paulo! am so excited to read your new book. i’ve been a fan since i got hold of one of your books and i was hooked. it’s been more than a decade now and your books are my crutch. thank you sooooooooo much for sharing your gift to the world and for inspiring millions. i know i will meet you someday (this is on top of my wish list actually). I am a better me partly because of my learnings from your books.
Keep it up Paulo and thank you so much! and thank you too for your daily updates on twitter and facebook. they’re the first things i read when i open my page. =)
Dear Paulo,
I’m happy to know about this new book.I love what you wrote, It helped me in my greatest despair.Your words are my inspiration.When I’m down and confused I just recall those inspiring stories.It is full of love.I discovered that true love was real because of you.When I’m reading, my soul travels in different dimensions.Only you have done that.Dear Paulo, I wish you all the love and happiness in the world.Someday, I will see you if God permits.
Maraming salamat! Hugs and kisses for you!
Regarding your phrase “I had to dream and follow the dream the next day, regardless how absurd it was.” This is interesting. Salvador Dali was doing something similar to you. He held a silver spoon while sitting comfortably in his rocking chair, so once he would fall asleep the spoon would fall on the floor with “Ding!”, which was a wake-up call to take a brush and make a masterpiece of what he had in his dream!!!
Can’t wait to get my hands on the aleph. Currently reading “the winnr stands alone”.
on the first note , Mr Paulo.. i feel like indebted to you for your amazing works ..
albeit i m not a great reader but your books kind of glue me to themselves right from the first to the last page…n its real enlightening to learn the intricacies of life from your works ..
to express my eagerness in few words ..’as of now 2011 looks far far away ..to wait for your work ..’
Regards .
This is so amazing how people from other parts of the world enjoying train rides on Trans-Siberian.
I had to ride a train just because I was poor and had to travel from The Urals to Moscow. It was cheapest carriage with six shelves in very little space. I was very pregnant by then and had to climb top shelf. It is like a bunk-bed. People were rude, carriages were old and dirty. The only good thing about ride is a view outside. Tremendous beauty of not so civilized provincial Russia! I’m looking forward to read Your book!!!
I can wait to read it!!
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