The Alchemist

Direct link to video in case of error: https://vimeo.com/66924027

Video Transcript:

The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy from Spain who experiences what is know as “The Hero's Journey”. This is a series of steps that transform a person. It begins with a call to adventure, and ends with the characters return to the known.

The Call to Adventure: The first step is the Call to Adventure. In The Alchemist, this is where Santiago has his dream. In this dream Santiago is taken to a treasure. This dream is what propels him to start his journey.



Refusal of the Call: What could possibly come after the Call to Adventure but the Refusal of the Call? Santiago debates that he cannot begin to seek this treasure. His sheep need him to care for them, and so many others have failed trying to achieve their dream. Why should Santiago pursue his?


The Beginning of the Adventure/ Threshold: Santiago meets Melchizedek, who claims to be the King of Salem. Melchizedek explains that everyone has their own “Personal Legend” to fulfill. This is the first step on Santiago's journey.


Supernatural Aid / Mentor: Both Melchizedek and the Gypsy were Supernatural Aids. The Gypsy with her power to interpret dreams, and Melchizedek with the donation of Urim and Thummin. These are two stones that were given to Santiago to help him on his journey by helping him read omens.



INITIATION



The Road of Trials: Throughout his mission, Santiago dealt with many tests and trials. It began in Tangier. Santiago was robbed and left with nothing but his stones. He asks these stones if he should return home and give up on his journey, but ultimately decides that it is his decision, and elects to stay.

Santiago then has to deal with the trial of working. He works for a crystal merchant. He is told that it will take him over a year to raise the money he needed, which discourages him. However, he continues to push through this setback.

After becoming wealthy from his work at the Crystal Merchant's, Santiago debates returning home to go back to his shepherd lifestyle. He again decides that he must continue on his expedition, and boards a desert caravan headed to Al-Fayoum. This is a dangerous trip. There are strict rules on the caravan; it is not a leisurely ride. Eventually Santiago arrives at Al-Fayoum. Unfortunately a war has just broken out.

Despite all this, Santiago continues on, and continues to face more trials. In Al-Fayoum he meets the alchemist, who puts Santiago through a series of tests and missions. Hr also has the temptation of Fatima, a girl with whom he falls in love with.



The Experience with Unconditional Love / Temptress: Speaking of Fatima, the next initiation is the experience with unconditional love. Fatima serves as a temptress. Santiago debates letting go of the treasure to stay with Fatima, the love of his life. He is told that he must keep going, and if they are meant to be together, they will be.

The Ultimate Boon: The Ultimate Boon occurs when Santiago transforms into the wind. This is the final and most important test, for it proves that Santiago has what it takes to be an alchemist, and to complete his Personal Legend.

RETURN



Refusal of the Return: After finally reaching the Pyramids, Santiago realized that the treasure has been under the sycamore tree all along, as must return home, though he is reluctant to do so.

Rescue from Without: The Leader at the pyramids tells Santiago of his dream, which let Santiago know that the treasure was under the sycamore tree all along, leading him to the realization that he needs to go back, and returns home.

The Crossing or Return Threshold / Master of Two Worlds: Santiago returns home and collects the treasure. He realizes that he has completed his Personal Legend, and sets out to meet with Fatima. A voice in the wind tells Santiago that God wanted him to see the Pyramid's beauty, and he feels Fatima's kiss on his lips. He is now a new, wiser man.

Mandalas

Emily's Mandala

My mandala is based on my ambitions, hobbies, dreams, past, and future. The first block holds both the NHL and the Olympic logos. Sport are very important to me, and help shape who I am. They have helped me realize how passionate I can truly be. This may seem silly but this brings me to another block. On the left there is a block with a hospital H and the symbol for healthcare. In March of 2012 I was admitted into the hospital for severe depression and anxiety. I could not feel emotions anymore. I had been feeling low for years, but it progressively had gotten worse. Eventually I spent my time and I still continue to work every day. Going back to the sports for a moment, it was important that I finally found passion and emotion for something. Sports helped bring me back to who I am now.
There is a colourful box filled with symbol's from the Mylo Xyloto album by Coldplay. Coldplay is one of my favourite bands, and has gotten me through thick and thin times. The bright colours represent the life their music has given me when I did not feel very alive or well.

Next to that box is a drawing of an apple, a chalkboard and math equations. I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. It has always been my ambition, or what I have believed to be my “Personal Legend”.

Accompanying these blocks is a block with two houses connected by a road with two ways to go. Throughout my life I have always taken the alternative route. This road is to remind me that you can still get from point A to point B by taking a different path. Sometimes taking the road less travelled by is the right choice for you.

The most important part of my mandala is the heart in the middle. On the Chinese symbol for “father” is written. My father is my everything. He has taught me everything I have every known, and has raised me into who I am today. Without him nothing would be possible. It is in the middle because it is the glue that holds me together.

Santiago's Mandala

On Santiago's mandala there are six blocks. The one in the middle represents the most significant aspect of Santiago's journey. Going clockwise, the first item is the Pyramids. This is what Santiago believes he is on on his journey to find, for his treasure will be with the Pyramids. The Pyramids also represent the sand and desert Santiago had to trek through. The next item is a crystal ball. This represents two things; the dream interpreter, and the Crystal Merchant. The dream interpreter is significant because she is what propels Santiago on his journey. The Crystal Merchant is important because he provides Santiago with a job which aids with his journey. The next block hold the sheep. The sheep help Santiago realize that not everyone will fulfill their Personal Legend, as some live blindly. Next comes a heart with Fatima's name written in it. This is to represent Santiago's love for Fatima, as she is an important factor in his life and helps to lead to the completion of his Personal Legend. The last of the outer blocks is a visual representation of the precious stones, Urim and Thummim. The last, and most important block is the block in the centre of the mandala. I do not have the artistic skills to draw a sacristy or a church, so I drew a cross instead. The giant sycamore tree where the sacristy was both the question and answer to Santiago's Personal Legend.

and He

He held my hand

and He told me I was beautiful

He laid his frozen fragile hand

upon mine

allowing the melancholia

to crumble

He became my shelter

my safety,

my whole

He became my soundness,

my wisdom,

my home

and He came to guide my frame

causing my eyelids

to shut

and He told me we'd do this together

two taps

from a single silver spear

to each wrist was applied

He helped me

to make my truth

fade away

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I wrote this poem with the inspiration of Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson. In her poem, Dickinson personifies Death, as did I. She also explains how death is a journey. In my poem, Death is a person and takes the writers hand to aid them on their voyage to death. As in Dickinson's poem, Death is also cold, yet a comforting and kind. There are elements of depression in this poem, largely displayed in the end when the cause of death is revealed. When “to make my truth fade away” is written, that is when the author is referencing immortality. Whether immortality is real or not is unknown to her, but the writers knows that the true life she was living has now ended forever.

Books are Home

"Books are the plane, and the train, and the road.  They are the destination, and the journey.  They are home." ~ Anna Quindlen

Life is a highway, and also a book. In Anna Quindlen's quote, she makes the notion that books are everything. Books are travel, knowledge, and most of all, home. When you read a book, you are taught. You learn, and that becomes knowledge. Novels, manuals and encyclopedias take us places, whether real or fictional, and help us to experience life. Travel involves fresh experiences, as does reading.

Books and words and stories are home, and home equals comfort. In order to become comfortable with ourselves and life, we must become cultivated. To become knowledgable, we must explore. As we explore, we are taught lessons. After being taught, we finally reach a certain level of wisdom. A sense of comfort accompanies this comprehension, which become goals.

This quote reminds me of the Tom Cochrane song, Life is a Highway. The lyrics describe life as full of twists and turns, and how life is about the travel to find yourself and your home, as Quindlen's quote does.

In relation to English, this course will prepare me for university, which is a large step in my journey that is life. Textbooks, novels and newspapers will help me get through that chapter of my life, which at the end of it, will become a goal – all with the help of books. Reading helps me to become a better, brighter person with confidence and adeptness. Books change lives. Not only do they help people figure out who they are, but they aid them in finding ease with the conclusion to that issue. Books are truly home.