This tension between chance and destiny sits at the heart of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. For Coelho, dreams are the language of God, the means by which our deepest desires are revealed. And yet, amid the pursuit of dreams, Coelho reminds us not to forget the beauty of the journey itself. The women of the desert, like Fatima, are expected to remain at home and wait while the men pursue their dreams. Whether you call it coincidence or destiny, Coelho suggests that the universe is constantly moving with us, if only we are brave enough to notice.