He met others on a similar path and was assured that “when you really want something, the universe conspires in helping you achieve it”. Santiago learnt early on his journey that “it’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting”. And as soon as he left his local neighbourhood and experienced a sense of freedom like he had never had before, he was happy.Īlthough he no longer had security, he was able to live out his dream. He wanted to see the fields, the countryside and the places where the women were more beautiful.

Santiago, the young whipper snapper he is, decided to go for it. In other words, he had this sense that going to the pyramids was the reason for his existence.īut how could you be so certain? He was comfortable at home but faced the choice: stay with the safe and certain life of a shepherd… or follow his heart and chase his dream?

He thought they were calling to him, trying to show him a path. Most of us would pass these dreams off as random, but Santiago thought they meant something more. He is content with his life, but at the same time, he constantly experiences dreams about the Egyptian Pyramids. He begins his (fictional) journey as a simple sheep herder, but also an ambitious explorer. Santiago is a young shepherd boy from Andalusia. However, alchemy in our world isn’t about discovering the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – it’s about walking along the said rainbow and enjoying the gradual process of our transformation. Santiago’s self-discovery tale teaches the wisdom of listening to our hearts, recognising opportunities and omens that we encounter on our life path, and ultimately, following our dreams.Īlthough The Alchemist is written with strong elements of magic and mysticism, the deeper meaning of this book resonates closely with our lives. Written by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist follows the mystical journey of an Andalusian shepherd boy Santiago. The Alchemist is a modern classic that has sold millions of copies and inspired countless readers around the world.

Meaning of the alchemist book