Paulo Coelho

Stories & Reflections

Association of the Week: The Bridge

Author: Paulo Coelho

The bridge is a symbol of passage – symbolically connecting our world with the afterworld.

In Ancient cultures, including Ancient Rome, the constructions of bridges were considered as sacred and usually would be accompanied by rituals in order to secure the passage. Priests then were responsible for the bridges and from this emerged the term “Pontiff” – that until this day is used by the Pope.

Rainbows as well as the Milky Way are also considered as bridges towards other levels of existence.

But bridges are not only connections between two worlds; they also represent a passage towards a new form of existence. In Ancient China, virtuous men would be able to walk over a bridge that was a thick as a hair, while corrupted people would fall into the abyss.

So now you take the floor: what do you associate with the bridge?

Subscribe to Blog

Join 17K other subscribers

Stories & Reflections

Social

Paulo Coelho Foundation

Gifts, keepsakes and other souvenirs

Souvenirs