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going to be self-knowledge, spiritual purification, and then the discovering of Philosopher‟s Stone. The very first step in the sequence of the achievement of
Philosopher‟s Stone is having self-knowledge. Then, the preparation of Antimony in the language of Alchemy is the purification of Santiago‟s soul in the story. To
purify his soul during the journey to the pyramids, contemplation upon nature is the way has to be conducted by Santiago to immerse himself in the desert, as
suggested by the Alchemist, because the desert can substitutes the laboratory of Alchemy.
Once the purification of the soul is fulfilled, it will result on the unifying of
Santiago‟s soul to the Soul of the World through the awakening his heart. Thus, only after all those stages are fulfilled, Santiago would attain the philosopher
stone, which can transform him into the perfection, in which he will achieve his „gold‟. However, above all those steps mentioned, the very first introduction of
Santiago toward this philosophy is one important stage which will be firstly discussed in this chapter before the following parts regarding the spiritual
transformation itself that reveals the philosophical teaching of Alchemy tradition.
1. Self-Knowledge
a. Santiago is introduced to the teachings
They journey primarily starts when Santiago decides to sell all his sheep and use the money to travel to Egypt because of recurrent dream he had about a
hidden treasure in Pyramids of Egypt. In pursuing the hidden treasure, he has been encouraged by the Gypsy lady to realize his dream because his dream is language
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of God, as she said, and also by the King of Salem named Melchizedek, who tells him that Santiago has succeeded in discovering his Personal Legend 5-9.
Although, at the moment Santiago does not know what Personal Legend was. It is shown her, that since the very first meeting, the king has acquainted Santiago to
the very first stage of Alchemy teaching, about self-knowledge. As stated in the of terms in the chapter one, based on the King‟s brief explanation, Personal Legend
is what people have always wanted to accomplish, and in addition, realizing ones Personal Legend is a ones only real obligation.
Second important things the King tells Santiago is that all things are one, and when Santiago wants something, the entire universe conspires in helping him
to achieve it p.10. None of the king says makes sense for him at the moment, but later on, during his journey to Pyramids, everything the King has told him will be
really valuable for him. . The importance of understanding the omen, as one of the form of the
language of the world, is also being told by the King, as seen when just before Santiago leaves Spain, he gives one-tenth of his sheep to the king as he has
promised the day before for his contribution by telling Santiago how to find the hidden treasure, and in addition the king gives him a pair of stones, called urim
and tummim, to help him making decision in case he is not able to read the omens, since in order to find the treasure, Santiago will have to follow the omens.
The king further says, God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. Santiago just has to read the omens that He left for him pp.8-15. In summarizing
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Santiago‟s brief acquaintance toward the philosophy, the King has told him as follows,
“Dont forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else. And dont forget the language of omens. And, above all, dont forget
to follow your Personal Legend through to its conclusion.” P.14
b. Discovering personal legend
