Paulo Coelho
explored this
idea more
philosophically in
his famous novel
The Alchemist,
which encourages
all individuals
to pursue their
“personal legends”
and dreams.
Alchemy is a
chemical process
which involves
coaxing metal to
achieve its own
personal legend to
turn into gold. In
the story, Alchemy
signifies that
no matter what,
“when you want
something, all the
universe conspires
in helping you to
achieve it.” Coelho
actually wrote The
Alchemist in only
two weeks. He
explained that as
he wrote, the story
materialised so
fast because it was
“already written
in [his] soul.”