Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Harper Thorsons (2015), Edition: Thorsons Classics edition, 320 pages
Description
Step inside this captivating account of Paulo Coehlo's pilgrimage along the road to Santiago. This fascinating parable explores the need to find one's own path. In the end, we discover that the extraordinary is always found in the ordinary and simple ways of everyday people. Part adventure story, part guide to self-discovery, this compelling tale delivers the perfect combination of enchantment and insight.
Media reviews
Chiunque abbia familiarità con questo scrittore, sarà perfettamente preparato all’alto contenuto sia spirituale che mistico che troverà nel libro, fattore di non facile comprensione ma proprio grazie a questo, capace di trasportare e affascinare il lettore.
Paulo Coelho ne “Il Cammino di
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Santiago” descrive una parabola sul bisogno di ognuno di trovare la propria strada nella vita e conferirle un significato autentico, risultato che è possibile raggiungere solo attraverso il superamento di alcune prove e la progressione lungo il nostro personale percorso di crescita interiore.
Nonostante le recensioni talvolta negative, a questo libro si deve almeno in parte il merito di aver contribuito a ridare popolarità al Cammino di Santiago. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member tandah
Mystical rubbish! I'm more cross with myself for wasting time reading it than with the book itself. If you're looking for answers or insight into some of life's questions, this self-indulgent ramble isn't it.
LibraryThing member adam.carlson
first, this book isn't about El Camino de Santiago at all. it takes a HUGE back seat to Coelho's narcissism.
second, this was nothing more than a bunch of new age, humanist, mumbo-jumbo. when he started talking about invoking your personal devil to help you i put it down.
maybe i just don't "get
second, this was nothing more than a bunch of new age, humanist, mumbo-jumbo. when he started talking about invoking your personal devil to help you i put it down.
maybe i just don't "get
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it". but "The Alchemist" i did get, and enjoyed immensely. when Coelho sticks to universal human truths he shines. when he starts talking about the sacred "Order of RAM" he loses me. Show Less
LibraryThing member ElOsoBlanco
I really like Paulo Coelho, and that's why this book disappointed me. The story just kind of drags on and on, and the whole narrative feels a little thin.
LibraryThing member hippietrail
This was a gift from somebody who mistook my collecting The Alchemist in different languages for a fanatical love of all things Paulo Coelho. Sadly it doesn't have the qualities that give the other book appeal outside the New Age movement of which I am not a part.
LibraryThing member LadyBlossom
This book is has been such an inspiration to me that I am now planning to do this Pilgimage myself. Beautiful and poetic.
LibraryThing member jrbeach
I just couldn't get into it, mysticism just isn't for me, i guess.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Interesting spiritual journey, to be read again.
LibraryThing member co_coyote
I enjoyed Coelho's book, The Alchemist, quite a lot. And I have been thinking of making the spiritual pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago for some time now. So I was looking forward to reading this (non-fiction?) book about his own journey on this well-know path . But I was mostly disappointed
The notes in the back of my book point out that Coelho spent much of his youth following in the footsteps of Carlos Castaneda, and there was something of that kind of mystical journey in this book. I've had a fascination with Castaneda, too, and have read all of his books more than once. But those books, even when they are totally weird, ring true to me. And this one didn't. So much so that I am not even certain this book is non-fiction.
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in the book. The notes in the back of my book point out that Coelho spent much of his youth following in the footsteps of Carlos Castaneda, and there was something of that kind of mystical journey in this book. I've had a fascination with Castaneda, too, and have read all of his books more than once. But those books, even when they are totally weird, ring true to me. And this one didn't. So much so that I am not even certain this book is non-fiction.
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LibraryThing member kakadoo202
audio book, i think the oleft parts out and the book has more content. Just order the book to compare. I liked the German version of this CD with the background noises. I felt I am right there with him. Made me google map the trial. Whish I could go. Great atmosphere on the Cdl.
LibraryThing member MomsterBookworm
Much to contemplate upon, as the 'language' is universal, although each person's journey is personal. Always something new to unearth.
LibraryThing member CarinaRodrigues
I've read a lot of Paulo Coelho over the years, but I had never read "The Pilgrimage" in its entirety. Last week, after watching a special about the Portuguese road to Santiago, I decided to read this book and was both pleasantly surprised and slightly disappointed (if that's even possible).
I was
This being said, I loved the way this experience clearly inspired Coelho's many books. The shepherd Santiago is obviously named after the Saint, of course, but he is also inspired by the shepherd who appears here to Coelho during his pilgrimage. The ruined castle is a scene that comes up again and again in Coelho's stories--not just in "The Alchemist" but also in "Veronika Decides to Die" and other books.
Reading Paulo Coelho is always rewarding in some way because by reading his books you learn about yourself. This, Coelho's first book, is no exception. Reading Paulo Coelho is more rewarding, of course, the more you read Paulo Coelho. I am glad I did not read "The Pilgrimage" before "The Alchemist" or before "Veronika" because I do not know that I would have kept reading and seeking. I had been in a Coelho slump recently, but this has motivated me to pull another of his novels off the shelf.
I was
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surprised by how much this book made me want to travel the road and learn about myself and the history of those who have traveled it. (I'm going to look into the Portuguese road and all that it has to offer. I have been to Santiago de Compostela, but walking the road is really what I find most intriguing.) I was disappointed in the "supernatural" aspect of the book, all the things I consider impossible to the majority of the population. We cannot all have these magical powers that Coelho claims to have. We do not all have the sage knight Petrus to guide us on the road. This is perhaps why I find the story of "The Alchemist" so much more appealing to the population at large. The shepherd Santiago can be anyone, while the pilgrim Paulo Coelho is always Paulo Coelho. This being said, I loved the way this experience clearly inspired Coelho's many books. The shepherd Santiago is obviously named after the Saint, of course, but he is also inspired by the shepherd who appears here to Coelho during his pilgrimage. The ruined castle is a scene that comes up again and again in Coelho's stories--not just in "The Alchemist" but also in "Veronika Decides to Die" and other books.
Reading Paulo Coelho is always rewarding in some way because by reading his books you learn about yourself. This, Coelho's first book, is no exception. Reading Paulo Coelho is more rewarding, of course, the more you read Paulo Coelho. I am glad I did not read "The Pilgrimage" before "The Alchemist" or before "Veronika" because I do not know that I would have kept reading and seeking. I had been in a Coelho slump recently, but this has motivated me to pull another of his novels off the shelf.
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LibraryThing member IonaS
This is the story of a journey on the Road to Santiago, which we nowadays generally term the “Camino”.
The protagonist and storyteller is called Paulo, like the author, so perhaps this tale is authentic and autobiographical, perhaps not.
Paulo is a member of some sort of esoteric organization
Paulo´s wife has been entrusted with the sword instead of him. The two fly to Barjados; she has been told what she has to do with the sword, while he must go to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and be guided along the Road to Santiago.
He arrives there and seeks out a Mme Lourdes, as he has been instructed to. He undergoes a ceremony during which he is told “may you obey the one who is your guide, even though he may issue an order that is homicidal, blasphemous, or senseless”. The guide would be waiting for him two kilometres outside of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
He is almost tricked by a gypsy to take him as a guide but is saved by the arrival of the correct guide, Petrus. (The gypsy had in fact been the devil.)
Petrus tells him he will meet a devil somewhere along the Road.
During the pilgrimage Petrus teaches Paulo several spiritual exercises with which the reader is also presented, e.g. the seed exercise, the Messenger Ritual, the arousal of intuition (the water exercise), and the Buried Alive exercise.
Petrus has Paulo perform these exercises several times during the pilgrimage.
Here is the speed exercise:
Walk for twenty minutes at half the speed at which you normally walk. Pay attention to the details, people, and surroundings. The best time to do this is after lunch.
Repeat the exercise for seven days.
Petrus explains that he is not guiding Paulo to his sword; it is the latter´s job, solely and exclusively to find it. He is here to lead him along the Road to Santiago and to teach him the RAM practices.
“When you travel, you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly --- You begin to attach much more importance to the things around you because your survival depends upon them. You begin to be more accessible to others because they may be able to help you in difficult situations.”
In the Messenger Ritual, Paulo learns the name of his messenger, which must remain secret. He must accept the messenger as a friend, listen to his advice, ask for help when necessary, but never allow him to dictate the rules of the game.
They go to a house where they have been told there is a curse, and there encounter an old woman and a dog. Paulo speaks strange words and the dog attacks them. He is permeated by feelings of love, agape. He apparently has exorcised the old woman´s demons.
The agape he experiences is a higher form of love. The strange language is divine grace and is one of the RAM practices for the Road to Rome (another pilgrimage). What Paulo has experienced is the gift of tongues which is related to direct communication with the Holy Ghost.
Eros is “the feeling of love that exists between two people”, philos is love in the form of friendship, while agape is “a feeling that suffuses, that fills every space in us and turns our aggression to dust”. “Agape is total love. It is the love that consumes the person that experiences it. Whoever knows and experiences agape learns that nothing else in the world is important – just love.”
Petrus forces Paulo to climb a dangerous waterfall, which he does not feel capable of, but manages,
Paulo encounters the dog again and has to fight it, The dog contains various demons, hence its name, Legion. With the aid of agape, Paolo wins the battle though his leg is bleeding badly.
He realizes that he cannot find his sword until he discovers why he wants to find it and what he needs it for. That was the secret of his sword.
Paulo becomes his own Master and learns to communicate with the Universe, He is filled with agape and transforms himself into a Master. The Road to Santiago begins to “walk him”.
With his new insights and transformation he is guided by a lamb to his sword.
The author´s style (or perhaps the style of the English translator) is clear, simple and direct. The book is thus exceedingly readable; it is filled with wisdom and provides us, as stated, with valuable, practical, spiritual exercises.
This book is thus yet another masterpiece from the pen of this author, and I highly recommend that you read it. It will in fact warrant several reads.
The protagonist and storyteller is called Paulo, like the author, so perhaps this tale is authentic and autobiographical, perhaps not.
Paulo is a member of some sort of esoteric organization
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called RAM and he describes in the book´s Prologue his ordination as a master of the Order of RAM, when he receives a new sword from his own Master. But he should have refused the sword; since he didn`t he will have to begin his quest for it all over again.Paulo´s wife has been entrusted with the sword instead of him. The two fly to Barjados; she has been told what she has to do with the sword, while he must go to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and be guided along the Road to Santiago.
He arrives there and seeks out a Mme Lourdes, as he has been instructed to. He undergoes a ceremony during which he is told “may you obey the one who is your guide, even though he may issue an order that is homicidal, blasphemous, or senseless”. The guide would be waiting for him two kilometres outside of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
He is almost tricked by a gypsy to take him as a guide but is saved by the arrival of the correct guide, Petrus. (The gypsy had in fact been the devil.)
Petrus tells him he will meet a devil somewhere along the Road.
During the pilgrimage Petrus teaches Paulo several spiritual exercises with which the reader is also presented, e.g. the seed exercise, the Messenger Ritual, the arousal of intuition (the water exercise), and the Buried Alive exercise.
Petrus has Paulo perform these exercises several times during the pilgrimage.
Here is the speed exercise:
Walk for twenty minutes at half the speed at which you normally walk. Pay attention to the details, people, and surroundings. The best time to do this is after lunch.
Repeat the exercise for seven days.
Petrus explains that he is not guiding Paulo to his sword; it is the latter´s job, solely and exclusively to find it. He is here to lead him along the Road to Santiago and to teach him the RAM practices.
“When you travel, you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly --- You begin to attach much more importance to the things around you because your survival depends upon them. You begin to be more accessible to others because they may be able to help you in difficult situations.”
In the Messenger Ritual, Paulo learns the name of his messenger, which must remain secret. He must accept the messenger as a friend, listen to his advice, ask for help when necessary, but never allow him to dictate the rules of the game.
They go to a house where they have been told there is a curse, and there encounter an old woman and a dog. Paulo speaks strange words and the dog attacks them. He is permeated by feelings of love, agape. He apparently has exorcised the old woman´s demons.
The agape he experiences is a higher form of love. The strange language is divine grace and is one of the RAM practices for the Road to Rome (another pilgrimage). What Paulo has experienced is the gift of tongues which is related to direct communication with the Holy Ghost.
Eros is “the feeling of love that exists between two people”, philos is love in the form of friendship, while agape is “a feeling that suffuses, that fills every space in us and turns our aggression to dust”. “Agape is total love. It is the love that consumes the person that experiences it. Whoever knows and experiences agape learns that nothing else in the world is important – just love.”
Petrus forces Paulo to climb a dangerous waterfall, which he does not feel capable of, but manages,
Paulo encounters the dog again and has to fight it, The dog contains various demons, hence its name, Legion. With the aid of agape, Paolo wins the battle though his leg is bleeding badly.
He realizes that he cannot find his sword until he discovers why he wants to find it and what he needs it for. That was the secret of his sword.
Paulo becomes his own Master and learns to communicate with the Universe, He is filled with agape and transforms himself into a Master. The Road to Santiago begins to “walk him”.
With his new insights and transformation he is guided by a lamb to his sword.
The author´s style (or perhaps the style of the English translator) is clear, simple and direct. The book is thus exceedingly readable; it is filled with wisdom and provides us, as stated, with valuable, practical, spiritual exercises.
This book is thus yet another masterpiece from the pen of this author, and I highly recommend that you read it. It will in fact warrant several reads.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Alphawoman
Thoughtful. The section about death truly reached out to me.
LibraryThing member KittyCunningham
This is the only book by Coelho I have tried to read and I don't intend to finish it. It is far too Carlos Casteneda for me.
Subjects
Language
Original language
Portuguese
Original publication date
1987
Physical description
320 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
0722534876 / 9780722534878