The Alchemist is about Presence

Russ dropped an album called Santiago which inspired me to re-read The Alchemist. Here’s what I think the book is about.

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Your Personal Legend is not personal.

It’s not about what you want from life, but what Life wants from you.?

Life will lead you towards your Personal Legend with omens.

To see the omens, you must be present.

To be present, you must listen to your heart without expressing it, suppressing it, or trying to change it.

As you listen to your heart, and follow the omens, your path will become clear.

Your presence power will grow progressively.

And at the end of your path you will find your treasure, which is the presence power you have accumulated by following the path.

An Alchemist is someone who's followed their Personal Legend all the way to the end, achieving a permanent state of presence.

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Santiago has to let go of Fatima because he recognizes that following his Personal Legend is more important than getting what he wants.

He is able to become The Wind because he lets go of fear.

This letting go creates the space for a miracle.

Santiago’s treasure is buried where he started, but he has to go on the journey to see this.

I think he ends up with Fatima in the end as a reward for placing his Personal Legend over his personal preferences.

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Go listen to Tunnel Vision on Russ's Santiago.