Why "Alchemist in Training?"

A few years ago, I came across a book called The Alchemist by Brazilian writer, Paulo Coelho. I have to admit that before picking up the book, I had heard of the book's title and the writer's name synonymously tossed around in Brooklyn poetry circles, aligned with the words "genius" and "spiritual" and "breathtaking" and "transforming." Instead of being inspired to go find this "life changing" book, I was intimidated. I had just begun to make my way through NYC's poetry scene as a burgeoning poet, hungry for words, for knowledge, for absolute change. Everyone around me was smart -- somewhat -- and seemed to understand life in years beyond their actual. I didn't want to begin reading a book, only to have to put it down because the context was way over my head; I didn't want to appear dumb.

A few weeks after beginning my first temp job as a marketing assistant at Pressman Toy, in the Flatiron District, I stopped by Strand bookstore to pick up something -- anything really. "18 miles" of books -- rows and rows of novelists, essayists, poets...on and on...it was impossible, as a reader in NYC, not to know Strand and not to have visited its towering shelves. It was here that I found The Alchemist. Unemployed...living on crumbs and poetry...begging for change...It was time to start reading this book.

I won't go into how this book changed me or why you should read it now. However, what I found is that the book is stylistically simple, yet philosophically profound. The motifs that continue to stick to me and drive me in its subterranean way is the author's dialogue regarding dreams and alchemy.  "It is the possibility of having dreams come true that makes life interesting," (11). The question is how do we go about realizing those dreams?

One of the goals of an Alchemist is to understand wo/man's relation to the universe; understanding the will of God by understanding the world. One cannot understand without be compassionate towards that which s/he is trying mentally grasp. One cannot be compassionate without loving. I believe the realization of dreams stems from a love of the self, the world and God. The day-by-day belief that one can be changed, transformed, refined can only be realized through the consistent acts of love towards the self, toward others, towards God.

Daily, I am trying to understand myself, my fellow man, God. I am trying to love stronger, more consistently and more faithfully. I am an Alchemist in Training and I know that in this chosen trade, I am not alone.

Looking forward to meeting more of you...