The Alchemist

The Alchemist

13 September 2015

‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, has been one of my favourite books since I was younger. 

With millions of copies sold, and translated into more than 80 languages, it is a really inspitrational book.

‘The Alchemist’ is about a boy’s journey of self-discovery, his quest to find who he is, and what he is looking for. And learning the power of following your dreams.

This enriching and mind-broadening book has been recommended in the recently popular song ‘Growing up’ by Macklemore, Ryan Williams, & Ed Sheeran. 

While it contains many many inspirational passages, quotes, and themes, here is just one little piece taken from a part of the book:

“The alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus.

The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who knelt daily beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus.

But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.

He said that when Narcissus died, the goddesses of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.

‘Why do you weep?’ the goddesses asked.

‘I weep for Narcissus,” the lake replied.

‘Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus,’ they said, ‘for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand.’

‘But… was Narcissus beautiful?’ the lake asked.  

‘Who better than you to know that?’ the goddesses asked in wonder. ‘After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!’  

The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said:    

‘I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.’  

‘What a lovely story,’ the alchemist thought.”

– Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist    

It is lovely, isn’t it? I suggest that if you haven’t read it, The Alchemist should quickly find it’s way to the top  of your reading list 🙂 

               Did you know? 

The daffodil belongs to the genus of plants called Narcissus.

There are many different colours and varieties, all of them beautiful.