DD69 – The Alchemist
There is a vast literature devoted to the business of ‘finding yourself’. One way is to overcome some demanding tests, to confront challenges to realise your key nature. This is the path of explorers and adventurers, people who push themselves to extremes, to achieve, but at the same time wanting to know themselves and their limits. There are others who see the path to knowing yourself is internal, that the truth that really matters is inside you, waiting to be uncovered and understood.
I recently wrote about Ernest Shackleton, one of the many amazing people whose adventures are one of the highlights in the so-called ‘age of exploration’, that ran from the middle of the 19th Century to the middle of the 20th. Shackleton’s expedition in 1914-17 was intended to be the first to cross the Antarctic but it faced huge and often almost overwhelming challenges at every stage. It began when the expedition’s ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice and eventually was crushed and sank. After camping on moving ice floes, and unable to march across to the mainland, the explorers launched three lifeboats for Elephant Island. Then Shackleton and five others set off in an open boat for South Georgia some 800 miles away. As if they hadn’t faced sufficient disasters, they reached the island only having to cross it on foot to reach a whaling station. Amazingly, some three years after the expedition began, he returned to collect the others without loss of life.
The polar regions acted as a magnet for explorers. Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was Norwegian, who began his career as a polar explorer as first mate on a Belgian Antarctic Expedition. From then, in 1903 to 1906, he led the first expedition to successfully traverse the Northwest Passage. As if that were not enough, he planned to reach the south pole in October and became the first to reach the South Pole on 14 December 1911. Next, he wanted to reach the North Pole, and after a first failed attempt, he began planning an aerial approach. On 12 May 1926, Amundsen and 15 other men in the airship Norge became the first to have reached the North Pole. .
The two poles have always drawn explorers! Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen, a Norwegian, led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, traversing the island on cross-country skis. He wasn’t just an explorer After 1896 his main scientific interest switched to oceanography, making scientific cruises, mainly in the North Atlantic, and then devoted himself primarily to the League of Nations, as its High Commissioner for Refugees from 1921-1930. He was determined. His crossing of Greenland was hampered by disasters, but he overcame them and later claimed a record for reaching the northernmost latitude in a North Pole expedition (1893–96).
If the Arctic and Antarctic were two key destinations for explores, they weren’t the only ones in this age of adventurers. David Livingstone was an African explorer. He was obsessed with finding the sources of the Nile, especially as he thought this might help him end the slave trade. His travels through central Africa proved to be the culmination of the European geographical discovery of Africa and the colonial penetration of the sub-continent. Livingstone was hailed in England with having “opened up” Africa, (although there was a long-established trans-regional network of trade routes, and Portuguese traders had reached the middle of the continent from both sides). However, the near-mythical status held by David Livingstone is not without merit. He’s probably best known for more than crossing the African continent (in 1852-56), he also navigated the Zambezi river (1858–64) and sought the source of the Nile (1866-73).
It wasn’t only men, of course. Isabella Bird left Britain in 1872 at the age of 41, first going to Australia and then Hawaii. Next, she moved to Colorado, travelling over 800 miles in the Rocky Mountains in 1873. In 1878 was travelling again, to Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaya. Nearly a decade later, in February 1889, Bird visited India, the borders of Tibet, Iran, Kurdistan and Turkey. A mere two years later she travelled through Baluchistan to Iran and. Armenia. Was that the end? No, in 1897, when she travelled up Yangtze and Han rivers in China, before she went to Morocco. Not bad for a 67 year old!
If we consider explorers from times other than the 19th Century, others equally famous preceded them. Captain James Cook was known for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 to the Pacific and Southern Oceans. He completed the first recorded circumnavigation of the main islands of New Zealand and was the first known European to visit the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. He mapped coastlines, islands and features from New Holland to Hawaii, on a scale not previously charted by Western explorers. He contacted numerous indigenous peoples and claimed various territories for Britain.
In the same way, and a little later the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was a United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country. President Jefferson had purchased the territory of Louisiana from France (for about 4 cents per acre). He needed the newly acquired land explored and mapped as well as fixing a route across the western half of the continent. Captain Lewis and Clark followed the Missouri river westwards, overcame rapids and hostile conditions, establishing (often tense) relations with indigenous populations as he went. They arrived at the Pacific Ocean in late 1805.
Time for Australia? The Burke and Wills expedition was organised by the Royal Society of Victoria in Australia in 1860–61. Initially comprising nineteen men led by Robert Burke, with Wills as a deputy commander, its objective was to cross of Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 2,000 miles. They left in winter, made slow progress, and only reached Cooper Creek at the beginning of summer, and never arrived at the northern coastline. The return journey was equally dreadful, and when Burke and Wills reached Cooper Creek, it had been abandoned just hours earlier: they died on or about 30 June 1861. Seven men died, and only one, John King, crossed the continent and returned alive to Melbourne.
Going back even further, Marco Polo the Venetian merchant, explorer and writer travelled through Asia along the Silk Road in the latter part of the 13th Century, with his father and his uncle. In an epic journey to Asia, he explored many places along the Silk Road until he reached ‘Cathay’. Later he went on many missions in Kublai empire and Southeast Asia, including journeys to present-day Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. He also travelled around China, living there for 17 years, and in doing so visited many places previously unknown to Europeans.
These are all examples of explorers travelling foreign, often dangerous and inhospitable regions, pushing back frontiers and discovering unfamiliar countries and civilisations. There’s another sense of travelling, where the issue is about a journey having an internal character. There are many such stories, and of these, one of the most famous has to be Paulo Coelho’s novel, The Alchemist.
The Alchemist concerns a shepherd boy, Santiago, who dreams of a treasure while in a ruined church. A Gypsy interprets his dream, telling him it’s a prophecy, and he will discover treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. On the way, he meets Melchizedek, the ‘king of Salem’, who tells him to sell his sheep to fund his travel to Egypt and accomplish what has become his ‘Personal Legend’. Arriving in Africa, he is robbed, and has to work for a merchant to earn enough to continue his journey. He joins up with an Englishman, who is searching for a famed alchemist, who can change any metal into gold. Next he meets and falls in love with an Arabian girl, Fatima, who promises to marry him only after he completes his journey. Frustrated, but he is beginning to learn some deep truths, that true love will not stop nor must one sacrifice one’s destiny to it. To do so robs it of truth.
As he continues, eventually meets the wise alchemist, who teaches him to realize his ‘true self’. Together, they take a journey through the territory of warring tribes, where Santiago is forced to demonstrate his oneness with the “Soul of the World” by turning himself into dust storm before he is allowed to proceed. When he reaches the pyramids and begins digging, he is robbed by thieves. They ask him what he is doing, and he explains his dream has led him to buried treasure. After laughing, their leader relates a dream he once had about treasure under a tree at a ruined church. On hearing this, Santiago realizes the treasure he sought was where he had his original dream all along.
The plot of The Alchemist draws on a traditional folktale. In the Arne-Thompson-Uther Index of folktales, this is an example of ‘Treasure at Home’: “A man dreams that if he goes to a distant city he will find treasure on a certain bridge. Finding no treasure, he tells his dream to a man who says that he too has dreamed of treasure at certain place. He describes the place, which is the first man’s home. When the latter returns home he finds the treasure.” (no. 1645). It’s a traditional tale, found both as a poem by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, and also in the ‘One Thousand and One Nights’, a collection of tales. As with these other examples, this is a story on the theme of finding one’s destiny. The advice given to Santiago that “when you really want something to happen, the whole universe will conspire so that your wish comes true” is the core of the novel’s thinking.
Ignoring for the moment the complexities in saying this, at one level it is reasonable to claim fiction and fact are different. Fact is the material of our shared world, drawing on empirical data. Fiction is invention, imaginative accounts that may or may not draw on some ‘facts’ to help the story along. However, such simplicity ignores some important subtleties. In particular, there is a category of what might be called ‘self-help’ books., and in these there is a common theme of ‘finding yourself. Kelly Nickels in her blog Wakeful Travel.com, commented on the issue and travel and finding oneself. Her commentary begins with a quote from by Emily Mcdowell:
“Finding yourself is not really how it works. You aren’t a ten dollar bill in last winter’s coat pocket. You are not lost. Your true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other people’s opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a kid that became your beliefs about who you are. Finding yourself is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering of who you were before the world got is hands on you.”
Santiago’s story is a great example of finding yourself. As Kelly Nickels goes on to comment, “Traveling can help you ‘find yourself’ by:
- Throwing you into the unknown, so the only known that remains is you
- Helping you realize traveling isn’t the answer, but rather a helpful ‘tool’
- Opening up new perspectives and ways of thinking
- A reminder to be grateful for what you have, adding “If we continue to externalize our search for love, we will not find lasting, satisfying love in this lifetime.”
If Coelho was writing a self-help book, a story to illustrate the importance of searching for happiness, success, or love outside of yourself, but the paradox is that you won’t find it until you internalize that search as well. You may find glimpses, but eventually all roads lead back to introspection. They lead back to yourself.
Traveling can help on this journey because until you do it, you may think that the reason you are unhappy is because you haven’t travelled enough. “Maybe if I see more of the world or move to a new city, then I’ll feel complete.” But you could talk to someone who has travelled from Nepal to Thailand and every other beautiful place you can think of, yet they still share that same restlessness. Jim Carrey once said, “I wish everyone could get rich and famous and everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that’s not the answer.” I think what he was getting at is that seeking fulfillment outside of yourself will never yield peace. If you had all the toys you’ve ever wanted, accomplished every goal or dream you’ve pined after, and travelled to every country on Earth, would you be satisfied? I don’t think so. Then why travel at all? Well, if you can find yourself anywhere, then you can find yourself anywhere. Might as well embrace your wanderlust! Go to Costa Rica, visit the Hobbit Holes of New Zealand, take that plane flight to South America. However, remember Coehlo’s one important insight; Finding yourself is internal work.
If The Alchemist isn’t entirely satisfying, there’s an army of therapists to give you more than Coehlo’s rather trite story. Back in 2023, John Kim, wrote a blog about finding yourself. While it is one among thousands, it does make good sense. He begins by proposing “finding yourself is important because it is the key to living … When you truly know yourself, you can make decisions that align with your values, passions, and purpose. It’s about understanding who you truly are, embracing your unique story, and living authentically.
Face value that seems rather simplistic, so let’s continue with his proposals. So, what does “finding yourself” really mean? “Your story is what makes you unique and powerful. Take the time to reflect on your life experiences, both positive and negative. What have you learned from them? How have they shaped you? Embracing your story means accepting every part of it, even the challenging moments. By doing so, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and what the universe has in store for you.”
Not sure about the universe’s role in this. However, he goes on to suggest “When you find yourself, you can live authentically, being true to who you are at your core. This means embracing your strengths, accepting your weaknesses, and showing up in the world as your genuine self. Living authentically allows you to attract people and experiences that align with your true essence. After noting there are though patterns that can hold you back, he goes on to observe: finding yourself helps you uncover your purpose in life. By understanding your values, passions, and unique gifts, you can identify the path that brings you the most fulfillment and meaning. Your purpose gives you a sense of direction and guides your decisions, leading to a more purposeful and satisfying life.”
But he isn’t satisfied with staying as you are. “Think about what new behaviors or thoughts can replace the old ones. This step requires conscious effort and practice. By consistently implementing these new thoughts and behaviors, you’ll start to see a shift in your life.” He adds: “when you know who you are, you develop a strong sense of self-confidence.”
One powerful way to find yourself is by shifting your focus from yourself to others. When we constantly worry about how we are perceived, our light can feel dimmed. Instead, focus on how you want to be remembered and the impact you want to have on others. By making it about others, you’ll feel a sense of purpose and invincibility. Finding yourself allows you to attract and cultivate meaningful relationships.
Finally he warns us “finding yourself is an ongoing process. Embrace change and growth as you navigate through life. Be open to new experiences, challenge yourself, and step out of your comfort zone. Remember, it’s in the moments of not knowing and feeling lost that our true potential emerges. Knowing yourself helps you make choices that align with your values and aspirations. You become more aware of what truly matters to you and can make decisions that support your personal growth and well-being. This leads to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in life. Finding yourself is a deeply personal and unique journey.”
He finishes: “Remember, finding yourself is a continuous journey of self-discovery. It’s about exploring, learning, and evolving as you navigate through life. Embrace the process, be patient with yourself, enjoy the adventure of uncovering your true self, and know that you’re not alone. We’re all trying to find ourselves.”
I guess we are. To be truly alive is keep questioning who you are and what you are seeking.
