Connected friends,
I want to welcome myself back to The Frakenjuice. I say myself because it was I, not you, who seemed to temporarily abandon my duties to preach the word of the Flabbinzeus and speak about his Frakenjuice ways. So, I thank you for continually coming back to my site (hit count currently around 1,140!). In addition, I want to give you my word that I will post Frakenjuice stories, occurrences, products, and people on a relatively regular schedule.
Since leaving the wonderful state of Maryland and settling in Hollywood, I have had a slew of experiences that have been funny, depressing, weird, awkward, (insert any adjective your Grey matter can perceive).
To jump right back into the mix of The Frakenjuice. I present you with The Frakenjuice Man of the Week.
Paulo Coelho
The other day, someone who shall remain nameless (unless you [inspiring person] want the recognition?), said something to me that was so obvious and apparent that I should cut and paste my brain into Photoshop to try to find the neural block that would cause me to miss such a blatant connection. "Paulo Coelho is worthy of The Frakenjuice."
Fellow mature gametes, not only is this man worthy of such an honor but you have to bring up the question: Is this man the Flabbinzeus, himself? Bruce Lee, you now have some competition.
Let's examine a bit about this extraordinary man.
Paulo Coelho, arguably the most acclaimed and beloved Brazilian writer that has ever lived, is a renaissance man. Even though, Coelho could have been a fantastic Billy Joel impersonator, he decided to devote his life to other endeavors (many others).
In 1947, Paulo Coelho emerged from his mother's womb in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro. Coelho grew up under a strict Jesuit education. The confines and "depressing and brutal" imagery in Christianity actually turned him away from religious faith and in search of something else. When he was 17 years old, he told his mother that he had wanted to become a professional writer. Shocked and horrified that her son had turned to an impractical and "hostile" way of life, Coelho's family had him committed to the state mental hospital. On three different occasions between 1966-68, each for an extended period of time, Coelho was forced into the state institution. Coelho writes that, "I was locked up for months and fed with tranquilizers. The therapy merely consisted of giving me electroshocks. They were intended to clear the uppermost layer of my memory in order to bring peace to my head" (Coelho's Blog, 11/23/07). Coelho later writes about his hospital experiences in his metaphorical novel, Veronika Decides to Die.
Also during the 60's, Coelho became deeply involved in the "Hippie" movement and became more and more attracted to Buddhist traditions and socialist ideals.
In the early 70's, Coelho decided to take a more "practical" approach to life and decided to enroll in law school. Although, after a while, Coelho decided that law was not his thing and decided to travel. He traveled all over the world and became deeply interested in secret societies, eastern religions, and mysticism. Also, when he came back from his travels, Coelho was thrown in prison by the dictatorship in Brazil for "subversive activities." While in prison, he was extensively tortured and speaks about his experiences in the book, Confessions of a Pilgrim by Juan Arias.
In addition to his imprisonment, Coelho had began a prosperous career in song writing on his return to Brazil from traveling. He wrote songs for many famous Brazilian artists which included Rita Lee, Elis Regina, and Raul Seixas. Overall, he wrote about 60 different songs with some considerable success. When he was 24, he wrote his first big hit song and earned enough money to buy himself a car.
In the early 80's, Coelho began writing novels. His first novel, was published in '82 but failed to receive any sort of acclaim or notice. However (this is where the Frakenjuice really gets ingrained in this man) in 1986, Coelho took part in the pilgrimage to Saint James (aka The Road to Santiago in Northern Spain) and had a life changing experience which he documented in his book, The Pilgrimage (highly recommend it!).
One year after his journey on The Road to Santiago, Coelho wrote a fictional narrative which was strongly inspired by the experiences and wisdom he gained from that 500 mile trek across Northern Spain.
The Alchemist, is about a Spanish boy who feels a strong inner urge to travel and gain new experiences. So, instead of working in the industry his father wanted him to work in, the boy becomes a shepherd so that he can travel all over his land. One day, the boy has a dream that indicates that he should go to Egyptian Pyramids where he will discover a hidden treasure. To paraphrase the rest while not giving too much away, the story is about discovering and following one's own unique and "Personal Legend."
Essentially, the book strongly urges everyone to follow, no matter what the circumstances may be, the positive feelings and intuitive urges that everyone owns. Coelho writes that there WILL be harsh and trying times during the journey. Yet, he reasons that it is during these times that we find our true selves and discover the unlimited potential that we can unleash upon the earth.
Drawing from his own journey on The Road to Santiago, Coelho explains that there are clues and omens, that are put in place by the universe, that speak to us and let us know which direction to take and what sort of experiences may be in store for the future. This is the exact same knowledge that I was imparted with when the Flabbinzeus decided to revel himself to me!
I was literally blown out of my 95$ Craigslist laz-e-boy couch when I read this novel and felt the strong similarities between his wisdom and the Flabbinzeus'.
Overall, the novel is about unity. Coelho gives us the wisdom that "The Soul of the World" is one collective consciousness. When we feel like we are being positively pulled toward certain endeavors, it is our duty to fulfill the calling. We can contribute to strengthening the "The Soul of the World" and making the world a more positive place if we only follow that inner voice. In order to accomplish this, we must learn to trust and be in tune with what our intuition tells us. This book harnesses the crap out of the Frakenjuice and you should read it.
Although Coelho himself is technically a Christian, The Alchemist is a book that draws elements from many different religions and spiritual faiths.
To date, The Alchemist, has sold over 40 million copies around the world and is considered one of the best selling books in history. The book has been translated in 66 languages and has inspired millions to pursue their own Frakenjuice/path/good feelings/personal journey, NO MATTER WHAT MAY STAND IN YOUR WAY....sorry for the caps, but this message is very relevant to me, right now.
Sources: www.paulocoelho.com
Ladies and Gents, Paulo Coelho.
The Beginning is the best.
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