Paulo Coelho’s sword has found a new owner!

… and yes, it’s me! After an intense journey and bit of struggle, both physically and emotionally, I’m taking the sword home with me to Puerto Rico, a US Commonwealth in the Caribbean.

When Paulo Coelho posted the enigma on his website early January, asking for 12 tests to be solved, which lead to locations in France and Spain along the Way of St. James, he thought it would take a long time to solve all challenges and travel there.

I read about it on January 15^th immediately had the feeling that this sword is for me. The thought that shot into my head was that the sword wants to come back to me and maybe Paulo put it there to see whether I would follow it’s call and if the universe had really written our connection somewhere. It was me, who gifted the sword to Paul on his 60th birthday in 2007  as a sign of my deep appreciation for his writings. Especially “The Alchemist” helped me out of a personal low phase of my life.

I am an entrepreneur and have always been a writer about non-fiction topics, technology, economy and related. And when asked what I would like to be, when I grow up (if!?), I’d always say ‘a writer’.

I immediately started discussing with my wife and a friend, started solving the riddles and once I was sure, my initial idea was to wait until the weather gets warmer in Europe and then do a real pilgrimage. On second thought, I realized, that this was about another challenge, not a pilgrimage and focussed on solving it the quickest way possible. I made arrangements, reserved my flights and then learned that one Guardian was only available from February 6 or 7 on, so I had to change my reservations and adapt my plans – not for the last time, as you will read! In my heart and in my head, I was on this journey from the day I read about it and enthusiasticly worked on all aspects of it.

I arrived from San Juan in Barcelona only Sunday a week ago, rented a car and went on my way to locations I figured out over the internet. About that, I will write shortly, first an overview and then location by location about how I felt and about all the things that happened.

In short: there were so many little things that happened, that I could not possibly have planned what was necessary to get all proofs and arrive first; for me a clear sign that truly the universe conspired to lead me back to my sword and to focussing more on writing than my business projects.

I am filled with ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm, to finally compose the many different manuscripts I have written and gathered in my drawers over the years into “Santiago’s Dream” – the magical novel, that starts where “The Alchemist” ended and is closely connected to the Paulo Coelho Challenge.

I would really love, if the other Knights of the Light who I got to know on this quest, would contribute with their insights and emotions to this blog and to the books. You know how to reach me, I don’t want to impose, but I think this is a great platform to display what you have experience and learned going on the quest.

My heart ached when Paul from Austria, whom I got to know in various occasions during the challenge, arrived only 20 or 30 minutes after me at the 12th location and had to see me walking out with the sword. Paul, please accept my respect for you setting out on this trip, respect that I have for all who came.

But at the end, I believe what happened, was written: Maktub!

The sword is a replica of Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. It was manufactured in India, I received it in PR and prepared it for 5 weeks with the help of the elements before I sent it to France as a gift for Paulo.

My name is H.A. Freeman, I am an entrepreneur and aspiring writer, of German descent and I live with my wife, son and dog in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean. One of the for me most important books I ever read, was The Alchemist, the best-selling novel of Paulo. It was the novel’s main character, Santiago, eagerly following his dreams, accepting that the whole universe conspires and helps, if one does so, who motivated me to pursue mz own dreams without ever stopping and limitless perseverance.

The motto of my life is: “Everything is possible, just do it.”

Thanks for all the good wishes and congratulations I already received. I hope you all and many more do continue to follow my journey that really just begun.

All the very best,

H.A. Freeman

Tags: Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Category: Quest of the Sword