The Alchemist – Drops of Oil Parable

• What point does the old man make in the story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil? (Pages 30- 32) How might the old man’s story apply to us in our modern lives?

The old man makes the point that there needs to be a balance in life between focusing on our goals and enjoying the beauty of the everyday life around us.

• How does the King assist Santiago in recognizing omens? When does Santiago use this help? (Pages 33- 47)

The King assists Santiago by giving him Urim and Thummim. He uses these stones to help him when he has trouble reading the omens.

• How do Santiago’s thoughts and perceptions about himself and the world begin to change on pages 42- 44? Describe 3 things that Santiago sees now that he had never noticed before.

Santiago’s perceptions about himself change when he first meet the crystal shop owner. He notices that he is always applying the lessons he learned with his sheep in real life, that people talk about omens without knowing what they really mean, and that there is an unspoken language that all people of the world know.

 

When I tried the “Drops of Oil” method of living life, I noticed that it was hard to stay balanced between watching the oil, or working towards my goals, and exploring the castle, or enjoying the pleasures of everyday life. I’m a pretty focused person usually, and while I love the beauty of life, I can easily forget to look for it when going through the motions. As I forced myself to notice the beauty of the smallest things, it became harder to focus on the tasks at hand. For example, noticing the beauty of music and the delightful taste of a chocolate truffle took away quite some time from my homework. 🙂

Overall, I am glad I tried to live my life using this parable because I believe that balance is essential to living a fulfilling and successful life.

The Alchemist Dialectical Journals 5-6

“We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions or our property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand,” (Coelho 73).

This quote presents the idea that one should not be afraid because there is a force that is bigger than all that they could lose, or all that they could stand to gain. We see this principle in Santiago as he continuously (and often hesitantly) gives up his previous possessions to earn the change to get greater ones. Santiago finds comfort in the belief that the happenings of his life are not in his own hands, but in those of God, the “same hand” that writes the history of the world and our life stories simultaneously. I find it interesting that the people in the book share this idea, even though some believe the creator is Allah, and others the Christian God.

“And dreams are the language of God. When he speaks in our language, I can interpret what he has said. But if he speaks in the language of the soul, it is only you who can understand” (Coelho 12).

The psychic tells this to Santiago when he asks her to interpret his recurring dream. I think it is interesting that the woman has a belief in God when she is working in a profession considered sinful. This quote also holds Christian truths about God and his relationships with each person as an individual. In my belief, God has a separate and unique relationship with every person. People come to know Him in so many different ways, and it’s impossible to generalize this kind of divine relationship. This is why it is “only you who can understand” if He speaks to your soul.

The Alchemist Dialectical Journals 3-4

“It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the Master Work years ago. ow, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years” (94).

This quote is said by the Englishman in search of enlightenment and the ability to create the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher’s Stone. In reality, he just needs the validation that he could start trying to preform the Master Works. This can be applied to people following their dreams in general. However, the more important part of the Englishman’s revelation is his gratitude towards the situation. Most people, when hindered on the path to their dream, focus solely on the negatives in the situation – in this case, the fact that the Englishman could’ve started his work ten years earlier. However, the Englishman focuses on the fact that the wait could have been twenty years, or even longer, and is grateful to have started so soon. The lesson readers can learn from this is that even when the situation is not the best, people must remember to be grateful that it isn’t worse than it is.

“It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them” (14).

The gypsy that first tries to interpret Santiago’s recurrent dream also tells him that this interpretation is hard because she’s not very wise, like true alchemists. However, there is much more meaning in this quote than meets the eye. People often spend entire lifetimes trying to understand complicated ideas, such as religion and philosophy. They devote their entire world to searching for a deeper meaning in life. Wise men, however, would say that these men are fools. Wise people realize that it is the simplest experiences in life that have the most meaning. Sure, understanding ideologies and such is important, but that means nothing in life compared to a baby’s laugh, a flower that survives the snowstorm, or a smile from a stranger. The miracle of life is so far above human understanding that it is best to accept that, and enjoy life’s joys while we can.

The Alchemist Dialectical Journals 1-2

“He saw to it that all the sheep entered through the ruined gate, and then laid some planks across it to prevent the flock from wandering away during the night. There were no wolves in the region, but once an animal had strayed during the night, and the boy had had to spend the entire next day searching for it” (Coelho 1).

As one of the first passages in the book, this passage proves to be an interesting Biblical allusion, if one interprets it that way. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, in which he says, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home… ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:4-7). In the passage from the Alchemist, Santiago also has to find a sheep that is lost from his flock. Later in the book, we find out that Santiago used to be a very religious person and was attending seminary when he decided to become a shepherd. His explanation is that he wants to see the world, but I wonder if there could be any connection to that parable in Santiago’s dream job? On another note, could this be Coelho’s way of representing his main character as the Christ-figure in the story, or at least relating the two? 

“The next day, he gave his son a pouch that held three ancient Spanish gold coins. ‘I found these one day in the fields. I wanted them to be a part of your inheritance. But use them to buy your flock. Take to the fields’… And he gave the boy his blessing” (Coelho 9).

Similarly to the last entry, this passage gives another interesting Biblical allusion. In this retelling of how Santiago went from being in seminary and learning to become a priest to becoming a shepherd, I am reminded of another parable of Jesus. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, one of two sons of a wealthy farmer asks for his inheritance in advance and goes to spend it impulsively on a lavish lifestyle. That is short-lived, however, as the son quickly runs out of money and is forced to work feeding pigs in a land he doesn’t know that well. He finally returns home and begs his father’s forgiveness, telling him that he’ll work for every penny to pay him back. The father, however, is so overjoyed as seeing his son that he is willing to forget the impulsiveness of his son and celebrate his return. In the same way, Santiago’s father willingly gives up his dream for his son, priesthood, and gives him some of his inheritance early so that he can take a chance on his own dream. This connection makes me wonder if Santiago will ever return home, and what his parents’ reactions will be, depending on his well-being at that point.

The Alchemist Interview

This interview is based on the introduction of Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist”. In it, Coelho describes the four kinds of obstacles we face when we reach for our dreams. In this interview, I ask my mother, Kathleen, about her experiences with these obstacles after she read the introduction herself.

R: Let’s take the first obstacle: the fact that we are told from childhood that achieving our dreams is truly impossible. What are your experiences with this specific obstacle?

K: This isn’t a childhood example, but I was told I could never have children because my Fallopian tubes did not connect to my uterus. I thought, “Ok, that’s good to know, let’s see what we can do about it.” I wanted to have kids, so while that news was sad, I knew I could still achieve my dream.

R: What do you think about the second obstacle: loving those around us so much that we find it hard to drop everything for the dream?

K: I would argue that people don’t have to drop everything to pursue their dreams. In the case of me getting pregnant, I didn’t have opposition or guilt through love; I had support  and community. I also didn’t have to drop everything to make that happen.

R: How about the “fears we meet along the path,” as Paulho Coelho says, to achieving our dreams?

K: There was a lot of fear in trying different methods of conception. There was fear that nothing would work and I would never have kids… that’s all I got.

R: What do you think about the last obstacle, which is the fear of experiencing our dreams because of the guilt that comes along with realizing that not everyone gets to experience their dreams?

K: I did not experience that at all with having kids, I was just grateful for the miracle. I think that way of thinking is pretty self-centered, actually. Dreams would never be realized if we all felt bad that not everyone gets to experience that, it’s just a part of life.

A Crisp Autumn Evening

The familiar feeling of serenity washes over you like a wave as you begin your daily evening walk on this previously abandoned path. Though the scenery is similar to that you might find in a book, no one seems to have noticed the presence of this beauty nor the trail that snakes between it. You prefer it that way, though – you are grateful for the quiet of nature untouched by civilization.

As you look around, you notice how much the trees have changed. Since you found this path a year ago, you’ve watched these trees through all of their stages of life. Like watching your children through their development, you’ve seen these trees resurrect from their wintery graves into bright green celebrations of life; in the summer, their leaves make shapeless shadows dance across the path; in fall, they become alive with fire, turning crisp reds, deep purples, and blinding yellows. Then, as the cold arrives like an unwelcome visitor, the leaves fall to the ground and crunch under your feet as snow glistens from every branch. It feels nice to focus on the unimportant and beautiful change of the colors, because at home there is far too much ugly to focus on otherwise.

At home, bills must be paid, children must be fed, work must be done, the house must be cleaned. At home, your husband needs reassurance that next time, dear, they’ll hire you, dear, it’s not your fault they laid you off, dear. At home, your mother is sick and your father is in the ground and without two jobs to pay for everything, she goes without treatment. At home, no one stops to think about you, how is she feeling today. No, you are overlooked because you do all of the work. I should take a vacation, you think bitterly, and then they would all see how much I do for them. But that’s the job of a mother, you realize – to go unrecognized for your sacrifice because you love your children, and your husband, and your parents much more than you love yourself.

You shake these disruptive thoughts out of your head and focus on a bird singing on one of the branches hanging over the path. The whole reason to come out here in the first place was to get away from it all, so you might as well not think about what you’re getting away from, you scold yourself. You take a deep, nourishing breath and get on with your walk. The sun is starting to set, and the sky matches the trees in its yellows and oranges and pinks. It’s a good think you brought a coat, and even so you shiver slightly as the wind rustles the leaves in the trees like a sweet whisper. Here, in the heart of the abandoned forest, the serenity is sedating and you feel as though if you could just stand here, in this one spot, for long enough, the world would just go on without you.

But your phone buzzes from your pocket and you’re jolted back to reality. It’s time to make dinner, so you turn around and walk back to the life you often complain about. These walks through the trees, you realize, have made you more grateful for that life.

Finishing Strong – Some Tips for the 12 Days Ahead

Guys, we have two more weeks as freshmen – and not even that, if you don’t count finals week. Can you believe it? Middle school seems so long ago, and yet it feels like we just started high school (which, in a way, we did, but you know what I mean). At this time of the school year, it seems super easy to slack off, procrastinate, and not work as hard as you would if it were January. I get it. We’re tired mentally and physically, the days are getting longer, classes just aren’t as interesting anymore, and summer couldn’t seem closer. But it is so important to finish strong and really earn that summer break.

When my cousin got married in August (see my first blog post – that’s a lot of scrolling you’ll have to do though!), we were talking about hopes, fears, and overall feelings of going into high school. I remember he told me that the one thing he regretted was not working as hard as he could have freshman year. “It really came back to bite me when I applied for college,” he told me. If it’s too late for you to take that advice, umm… sorry? But the point of me telling that story is that it’s the same way with finishing strong. Don’t just settle for the easy grade that isn’t bad necessarily, but reflects the fact that you could’ve done better with a little more effort.

Sometimes it’s hard to self-motivate to get this kind of stuff done, so here’s some tips that really help me to finish strong. Let me know if you do any of these or have any more ideas in the comments! I’m always curious to see what other people do to stay motivated.

1. Do your homework. At this point in the semester, it’s easy to see homework as a burden that won’t even affect your grade much in the end. However, homework is much more about relearning and applying the content you’ll need on finals than it is about the grade. Think of homework as (required) extra studying for finals.
2. Stay ahead of the game. It’s so much easier to study for finals and know what you need to work on if you “study” the material well as it’s introduced to you. I find that taking “pretty” notes with fun colors or even just taking five minutes to go over each lesson at the end of the day helps prevent the need for cramming when finals week creeps up on you.
3. Move around. Taking a walk outside, running, working out, or even, say, playing volleyball 😉 gets blood flowing more quickly to the brain, makes you feel healthier and happier, and actually increases productivity. There’s a reason we do brain breaks, you guys!
4. Take care of yourself. You are a human, not a robot on a study-till-you-drop schedule (although it may feel like it sometimes). It will make a world of a difference to your mood and your test-taking ability to get enough sleep, eat well, drink plenty of water, spend time with friends and family, and take care of your personal hygiene.
5. Prioritize. Similarly to #4, it is so important to prioritize your needs. If you are struggling in a certain subject, spend more time studying that subject than one that you understand better. Another aspect of prioritizing is not over-stressing every little thing about finals. If you have a strong A in a class, maybe let the reins go a little looser on that subject and make more time for that final that you really need to ace.
6. If you’re able, spend time around animals (specifically dogs). I have two labradors and I always find myself happier if I spend a few minutes scratching them behind the ears or just snuggling them at the end of the day. Dogs don’t judge and they always think that you’re the best thing since sliced bread. (I wrote this one after one of my dogs walked by my chair and let me rub them for a minute. It made me really happy, so there’s proof that this one works!)
7. Use your planner. Writing down homework, scheduling study times, and counting down the days until summer are all useful things you can do with a planner that will really motivate you (especially that last one!) and it’s proven that you remember things better if you write them down.
8. Buy new pencils. Random, I know, but you’re probably stuck with three pencils that have no eraser and barely any led… oh wait, there’s a fourth one, it’s just at the bottom of your locker… and is that gum on it? Oh boy. I was in this kind of situation last week and it made me so ridiculously happy to get a cheap pack of new pencils. For whatever reason, that has really motivated me. Is that just me?
9. Do what you love. Through all of the studying and chaos, still make time for drawing, writing (for fun), singing, baking, acting, playing an instrument, or, say, volleyball. That will make this crazy week feel a little more normal.
10. DON’T PROCRASTINATE. If you’re wondering why this blog post is so long, it’s because I still have math homework to finish and Romeo and Juliet to read. Unfortunately, there’s also a great collection of cookie recipes posted on Ceili and Paige’s blogs this week. Basically, don’t be me.
11. Remember that it’s summer in less than two weeks! Similarly, rewarding yourself is also a really good technique for motivation.
12. Thank your teachers. It doesn’t have to be Teacher Appreciation Week for you to show gratitude for all that your teachers do. Finding time to write heartfelt notes to your teachers makes both of you feel awesome inside (also this is great when you need extra credit!*).
13. Dress well, (not just) test well. It sounds stupid, but it works. If the only thing you’ve got going for you that day is that you feel confident in how you look, then so be it.
14. Go to Peer Tutoring. I cannot stress this enough – if you’re confused about something, you need not be embarrassed to ask for help, whether it be from peer tutors or a teacher. It shows character to admit that you have struggles – and we all do. We don’t judge at peer tutoring 😉

*JUST KIDDING. Don’t expect extra credit for doing what you should do anyway.

I hope this helped! Happy last-two-weeks everybody!

What’s in a Name?

Rachel Kate Bigler. 

Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? But then again, I’m kinda biased…

Anyways, instead of telling you plainly what my name means, I’m going to take you on the wild ride that is the naming process of not just one, but THREE babies at the same time. Wow, right? Bless my dear parents.

My mom and dad wanted to include all of the sides of their families in the names of their triplets (my mom says that was a dumb idea). My mom’s two sides were the Stewarts (my grandfather) and the McDaniels (my grandmother), and my dad’s two sides were the Cody’s (my other grandmother) and the Biglers (my other grandfather). Claire Savannah Bigler was decided first, and her middle name came from my great great grandmother’s middle name (Mom says that’s how far she had to go down the line to get a name she could use!).

Confused yet? Here’s a curveball for you: John and Rachel were not the original names of the other two babies.

Next it was decided that the boy was to be named William Dale Bigler. William from my dad, my grandfather, my uncle, and many more from both sides of the family, and Dale from my mom’s father’s name (who died when my mom was nine). So the Stewarts, Biglers, and McDaniels were all covered. I was originally Elianna Sue Bigler. Isn’t that just so southern? Unfortunately, those two names only covered the McDaniel side again. So what of the Cody’s?

Turns out that problem never needed to be solved, because two weeks before I was born, my dad’s grandfather, John Bigler died (right before 9/11). My parents decided to honor him, and so now the boy was to be named John. Then, it seemed fitting to name him after both of his grandfathers on my dad’s side (covering both the Cody’s and the Biglers). So John Max Bigler was finalized.

John Max and Claire Savannah covered the Cody’s, McDaniels, and Biglers. My middle name comes from my cousin and my great-great aunt on mom’s side. Most of all, according to my mom, Kathleen, I was named after her, but more indirectly, because Kate was her nickname as a child. All the bases were covered! Yay!

When my mom was in the hospital two weeks before I was born, my name was finally decided. There’s no way for me to describe it except in her own words:

We were struggling with your name. Elianna just didn’t seem to fit this squirmy child turning circles at the bottom of my stomach… we had Kate as a middle name, that was for certain… I remember saying, “What about Rachel?” It just seemed right. It was a good Biblical name, and it just fit… Rachel Kate Bigler. That was it!

My name literally means “Lamb of God”. Kate also means “Pure”. I love my name and I can’t see myself with any other. Sorry if you were confused about that all… I find it really interesting!

A Letter to the Brokenhearted

Another rendition of the above quote is that broken trust is like shattered glass because most times it’s best to move on from it rather than hurt yourself while trying to fix it. You get that. It’s just common sense, right?

So why do you keep trying to fix it? 

I get that you’re stuck in the “shoulds” and the “coulds”. He should  be everything a good man is, even when work is stressful and the days are long. He could be the guy you love again – he’s been your hero, your rock, your defender before. What’s stopping him from showing that side of himself again?

That’s just the problem.

Those “shoulds” and “coulds” turn into ones like: you could’ve  done more to make him happy. You should be a better person so he doesn’t get mad at you as often. But what you need to realize is that you are not responsible for his actions. It. Is. Not. Your. Fault. Please don’t blame yourself for the things he says when he blows up in sudden rage or try to make yourself “better” for fear of these explosions. You are strong enough, good enough, pretty enough, smart enough. You are enough without his approval.

It’s healthy to take time to grieve, but remember that it’s healthier to move on. Surround yourself with people that love and support you. Don’t keep your thoughts, feelings, or tears bottled up inside you – let them go. Talk to someone. Let yourself cry. And if moving on means setting new boundaries, building up the trust in your relationship from square one, and giving that person another chance, don’t expect everything to be the same. Don’t be completely open – you must guard your heart, because you are giving that person another opportunity to hurt you again, and by now they know just how to shatter you beyond repair.

And when you just don’t know what to do, turn your eyes to God. “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Hopefully this helps. Know that I love you and nothing that you go through will change that fact. You will come out of this so much stronger than you are now.

 

Rachel

An Easter Sunday Sonnet

He rode into the town that sunny day

“Hosanna, Son of God!” the people prais’d,

and laid their coats down for Him on the clay

but Jesus knew he soon would be betrayed.

 “this bread is my body, broken for you,

this wine is my blood, poured out for your sake.”

priests made the sign reading “King of the Jews”

with His last breath the earth began to shake.

Mary ran to tomb as the sun rose

and cried when her dead son was not there found

she sat among the empty burial clothes

a word from the “gard’ner” made her turn round

my Savior carried my cross for me

so I’ll proclaim “He is risen indeed!”