God has a prepared path for us to follow. We just have to read the omens he has left for us.

Love is a trap. When it appears, we see only its light, not its shadows.

We learn in the past, but we are not the result of that. We suffered in the past, loved in the past, cried and laughed in the past, but that's of no use to the present. The present has its challenges, its good and bad side. We can neither blame nor be grateful to the past for what is happening now. Each new experience of love has nothing whatsoever to do with past experiences. It's always new.

We must never forget that spiritual experience is above all a practical experience of love. And with love, there are no rules.

Finally, the Witch justifies her existence by going in search of complete and limitless pleasure.

This is for you,' he (the Alchemist) said, holding one of the parts (of gold) out to the monk. 'It's for your generosity to the pilgrims.' 'But this payment goes well beyond my generosity,' the monk responded. 'Don't say that again. Life might be listening, and give you less the next time.

Most of my young years were spent under the boots of the military.