Brida

What is now proved was once only imagin'd.
William Blake

Through the years I have read many books with spiritual themes. Many have been non-fiction but some of my favorites are fiction where the story is a vehicle to illustrate and teach spiritual messages. Celestine Prophecy is a prime example but there are many others. One of my favorites is The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo which I had written about [here].

Although I knew he had written many other books, the one I had wanted to find was Brida, his third book, which addressed a subject of interest to me-- soul mates as a part of finding life purpose. When the paperback version showed up at Costco, I bought it and then let it wait for the right time for reading. That came this spring.

Coelho's writing, influenced by mystical experiences in his own life, is a mix of Christian teaching and magic. He uses many traditions to express ideas he clearly believes are important. His stories are simple ones which convey what is needed to leave the reader an enjoyable reading experience as well as ideas to consider.

Brida's basic story is that of a young woman who is seeking to learn magic and looks for teachers to help her find the way. First she finds The Magus, a man living as a spiritual hermit, who for reasons he does not tell her, agrees to help her learn the Traditions of the Sun. This experience proves too challenging to Brida, and she turns to another teacher, one she has found through books, Wicca, who teaches the Tradition of the Moon.

Each of these traditions has a reason for being and draws to it those who are ready for the truths they will learn and hopefully incorporate into their lives. Brida's experiences wend through both traditions, the rituals, and her own life experiences. When she comes to terms with her past lives, she will find her current purpose.

As an example of Coelho's writing, the insights he teaches, here is a passage I particularly liked:

"Right now while we're here eating, ninety-nine percent of the people on this planet are, in their own way, struggling with that very question. Why are we here? Many think they've found the answer in religion or in materialism. Others despair and spend their lives and their money trying to grasp the meaning of it all. A few let the question go unanswered and live for the moment, regardless of the results of the consequences.

"Only the brave and those who understand the Traditions of the Sun and the Moon are aware that the only possible answer to the question is I DON'T KNOW.

"This might at first seem frightening, leaving us terribly vulnerable in our dealings with the world, with the things of the world, and with our own sense of our existence. Once we've got over that initial fear, however, we gradually become accustomed to the only possible solution: to follow our dreams. Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the only way of showing we trust in God."

I will definitely reread Brida and think again on the paths which Coehlo describes. For me, at this point in my life, there is much to consider. For instance, there is his concept of what a soul mate is, why it matters, how it will impact our lives to find that person. It might not be what you expect. Despite all my reading on the topic, there were some new thoughts for me.

When I read Brida again, I will do so with a highlighter but that will not be for awhile. It will be when it comes back to my mind and the time is right. The likelihood then is that I will see things in it that didn't register with me this time. It is that kind of book.