The Alchemist: pgs:71-104 The desert and the oasis

Every time I see the word desert (sand) I think of dessert (sweets) the way you can tell the difference is that dessert (sweets) has more S's in it... and you always want more dessert!

Anyway... onto the reading. 

First lesson about the desert is that disobedience=death.  Funny how this applies to all aspects of life.  One of the hardest things to learn is obedience.  But the leader of the caravan seems to be a wise leader.  He doesn't force the people to believe as he does... just to follow him because he is experienced... he allows them to "swear to whatever god" they believe in.

On page 72 Santiago teaches us "The closer one gets to realizing his Personal Legend, the more that Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being, thought the boy."  I think this is true for all of us.  We may not go through life each day wondering "what is the meaning of life?"  But I am sure at one point or another every person has wondered it.  This is teaching us that once we discover what that meaning is.... it becomes a part of us.... it becomes everything we live for.

I love how deep the author can take us into the characters sometimes and I think he does that by making us look deep within ourselves.  Because he talks about the boy thinking things... and I think to myself.... "I have felt that same way.  Whenever he saw the sea, or a fire, he fell silent, impressed by their elemental force."  That really is the best way to describe it.... I can look into a campfire in silence for a long time.... even in the presence of my peers... a lot longer than if we were all just looking at some other object in the middle of us.

Santiago is wise because he chooses to learn from each life experience.  "I've learned things from the sheep, and I've learned things from the crystal, he though.  I can learn something from the desert, too.  It seems old and wise."  Sometimes I wonder why something is happening or why I am doing something or learning something, sometimes it doesn't make any sense.  But then when that learning suddenly becomes useful.... it all makes sense.  Everything happens for a reason.... I am not saying that everything is fate.... I am saying that if omens are followed .... You can see the way they build on each other.

Maktub- It is written

Not this kind of 6th sense.

I think a book could be written on the subject of Maktub.... well... I bet there have been hundreds of books written on the subject.  "...intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are abler to know everything, because it's all written there."  This reminds me of a weird theory I used to have about the way things work ...and being able to see without eyes... or ears.... anyway... I tried writing out an explanation of it... but it made little sense in just one paragraph.... so I deleted it :D  Essentially it is knowing things with a 6th sense.

We all have a different way of learning.  For the Englishman it was books... and for Santiago it was life experience.  Santiago told the man the things he learned from the caravan... and the Englishman told Santiago how much his books were like the Caravan.  I love when they gain a respect for one another and the Englishman says "I'd better pay more attention to the caravan" and Santiago says "And I'd better read your books"  And yet in the end it seems like Santiago is the only one who gains true understanding.  As the Englishman tells him the secrets from all the books he has read Santiago is able to understand him because he is able to relate it to his life.  But when Santiago tries to convey some things to the Englishman.... that the secrets of life are found in simplicity.... the Englishman just brushes him off and ignores him.... pridefully thinking that if things were so simple he would have figured them out long ago.

"I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things.  I learned that many alchemists realized their Personal Legends, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Elixir of life."
"But, above all, I learned that these things are all so simple that they could be written on the surface of an emerald."

"His should must be too primitive to understand those things" thought the Englishman.  It's funny.... we have so much trust in books and in information.  I believe discoveries should be recorded and documented so that we can learn and progress.... but when we get so advanced we can't forget where the ideas originated and how they apply to life.  Doing that completely removes the foundation of understanding and causes us to say that we believe merely because it was something that a book taught us rather than something we had truly learned.

In Alchemy there is a "Master Work" it consists of 2 parts. 

1 Liquid- The elixir of life, cures illness and cures old age, the fountain of youth?
2 Solid- The philosopher's stone, the thing that can turn lead or anything to gold

The Englishman speaks or recites things with such wisdom that he doesn't even really understand what he is saying.  He says that Alchemists "....spent so much time close to the fire that they gave up the vanities of the world.  They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves."  So right there he is saying that the Alchemists eventually give up the vanities of the world (even though they start by searching how to turn everything to gold) and they achieve their master work through purification of themselves.  Santiago is wise by saying this can be done by anyone who will follow the omens.... but the Englishman just thinks he doesn't understand.

Santiago has a chat with the camel driver and the camel driver teaches him something.  It has probably taken him most of his life to realize this but now that he has, it has become something he lives by and that is to "live in the present"  he says when he is eating he thinks about eating and when he is marching he thinks about marching.  "If I have to fight, it will be just as good a day to die as any other." (pg 85)  While I somewhat agree with this I don't fully support it.  To focus only on the present is to forget the "Personal Legend" which is the place you are aiming for in the future.  Learn from the past, live in the present, but live for the future.  To have a lack of concern for the future would take away any guilt or remorse for any present actions.  While this may be a great mindset for a soldier or a camel driver it is no mindset for someone set on greatness who seeks their Personal Legend.  It's about balance and perspective.... to be too extreme always causes unhappiness in the end.  In respect of only living for the future we learn from a book or play "The music man" they say it best: "Live only for tomorrow, and you will have a lot of empty yesterdays today."  I love when Santiago says "Some day this morning would just be a memory."

A Favorite quote of mine from the Alchemist: "Maybe God created the desert so that man could appreciate the trees."  (pg 87)

There is a part on page 87 where the Alchemist explains that he does not no why but that God's "secrets" "have to be transmitted this way (by word of mouth) because they were made up from the pure life, and this kind of life cannot be captured in pictures or words."  I love when things in books parallel things from the scriptures.  Sometimes prophets were commanded not to write some things because they were to be shown and known by only the people who first show proper faith.  I think this is later shown when the Englishman begs the Alchemist for his secret and all he says is "try it" because the Englishman was not ready for the greater knowledge.

The closer Santiago gets to his Personal Legend the harder it gets.  He no longer has "beginners luck" and the Soul of the World wants to test him now rather than encourage him.  It doesn't want to discourage him... but just like a bird must eventually leave the nest and learn to fly.... So must Santiago learn to press forward himself.  I had a wise man tell me once that "everything works out in the end..... As long as you don't force the ending"  Santiago conveys something similar on page 89 "... in his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage.  So he could not be hasty, nor impatient.  If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path"

So suddenly Santiago is romantic.  I know we could say he was romantic before.... because he thought so much about the girl with the raven hair (the merchant’s daughter) but suddenly this girl from the desert has made him forget her.  He used to say that he saw many women but none that were ever better than the merchants daughter... and now suddenly "time stood still" (pg 92) when he sees this girl from the desert.  I won't lie to you... this part in the book used to bother me... I think it's cause I couldn't understand it.  I was so connected to that merchants daughter and not giving up on that first love.... that I looked at the girl from the desert... I dunno... when I first read this book I pictured her like a refugee.... very homely for some reason.... she is a different girl now that I read the book again :)  I guess that’s cause I'm a different person now too.  The boy instantly describes it as love.  And he knows it is love because it is confirmed to him by the unspoken language.  "What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life."  The book tells us that she recognizes the same.  I guess this part is still a little hard for me... because I don't believe in love at first sight or that every person has a "twin soul" or soul mate.  But nonetheless Santiago is committed he seals it by saying "Maktub" 

One thing that I do believe in.... (since I told you I don't believe in love at first sight) is something that he brings up on page 94 "...remembering that one day in Tarifa the levanter had brought to him the perfume of that woman, and realizing that he had loved her before he even knew she existed.  He knew that his love for her would enable him to discover every treasure in the world." 

We realize very quickly how important Fatima (the desert girl) is to Santiago because he says that she is more important than his treasure.  Now if she had let him believe that.... then I would not have liked Fatima.... she may be more important in the end... but that does not mean that she Trumps the treasure.  Fatima shows her wisdom... (Something I missed the first time I read) when she says:

"I have been waiting for you here at this oasis for a long time.  I have forgotten about my past, about my traditions, and the way in which men of the desert expect women to behave.  Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed that the desert would bring me a wonderful present.  Now, my present has arrive, and it's you."
"You have told me about your dreams, about the old king and your treasure.  And you've told me about omens.  So now, I fear nothing, because it was those omens that brought you to me.  And I am a part of your dream, a part of your Personal Legend, as you call it."
"That's why I want you to continue toward your goal.  If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait.  But if you have to go before them, go on in pursuit of your dream.  The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes.  That’s the way it will be with our love for each other."
"Maktub"
"If I am really part of your dream, you'll come back one day."

Fatima doesn't completely do away with her upbringing though... she keeps some strength from it... saying that she is a woman from the desert and as such is accustomed to a man leaving without knowing if he will return.  "I'm a desert woman, and I'm proud of that.  I want my husband to wander as free as the wind that shapes the dunes.  And, if I have to, I will accept the fact that he has become a part of the clouds, and the animals, and the water of the desert."

It's easy for me to point out the parts of the book that are meaningful to me... it is harder to explain why they are so meaningful to me.  I guess some of it I will just leave for the reader’s interpretation.  My reviewing this book is not just to reveal things about myself... its also me just trying to say "don't miss out on this part!"

Santiago says "everything makes sense when you're in love"  I go back and forth on this idea.  Sometimes people do the dumbest things "for love" but then you have to wonder whether or not it is really love, or lust, or infatuation.  Maybe when you really love someone and someone really loves you back.... the world does make sense.  I know that is something that takes up a lot of my mind every day.... maybe when you know who you love and know who loves you... you have more time to make sense of the world.....  Who knows?  I'll let you know if I ever get there. :D

Last but not least the man who throws the sticks.  I actually really like this guy.  I usually really dislike fortune tellers and palm readers because they are a lot like the gypsy woman at the start of the book.  She just wouldn't stop about "how hard" it was to do what she does.  But the guy who throws the sticks says this "When people consult me, it's not that I'm reading the future; I am guessing at the future. The future belongs to God, and it is only he who reveals it, under extraordinary circumstances.  How do I guess at the future?  Based on the omens of the present.  The secret is here in the present.  If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it.  And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better."  Anyway... he says more... but what I am getting at is that when I listen to the man who throws the sticks it sounds like truth just pours out of him.  And if I had to choose between him and the gypsy woman.. I would choose him every time.