Brida is Paulo Coelho's third novel written in 1990, although only recently translated into English and just released in Australia. It tells the story of Brida, a young Irish woman on a quest for knowledge and fulfilment following the path of magic. She seeks out two teachers. The first, a man named Magus teaches the "Tradition of the Sun' and helps her to face her fears. He recognises Brida is his "Soulmate', the other half of his soul. The second teacher is Wicca, a woman who teaches the rituals and knowledge of the "Tradition of the Moon'. Brida carefully practices the rituals, studying tarot cards, keeping a candle burning, and dancing to the "sound of the world". She has visions and begins to understand that she is a witch.
Paulo Coelho is a respected author and his books The Alchemist and The Witch of Portobello are bestsellers, however, Brida is a disappointment. The storyline is frustrating with not much happening, the book mostly consisting of conversations between the various characters and Brida. When Brida has a vision of a previous life as a woman prepared to die with the Cathars in the fortress of Monsegur in thirteenth century France, I thought, "Here we go, finally something's happening," but then she's woken by Wicca and it's back to rituals and chat.
The character of Brida is unsympathetic. She is incredibly self-absorbed, using those around her to achieve her desires. Wicca's character is also difficult to warm to, with similar selfish traits. Magus is a more interesting character and the parts of the book written from his perspective are the most successful. The fourth main character, Lorens, Brida's long-suffering boyfriend although likeable enough does not have any depth.
Of course, the main focus of the book is the world of pagan spirituality that Brida embraces. The ideas Coelho expresses are an "all roads lead to Rome" view of spirituality. Basically the worldview is pagan with a sprinkling of Roman Catholicism. There are many references to God and Jesus in the book, as well as quotes from the Bible. These are mostly taken out of context and used to lend authority to the statements being made, which certainly do not conform to the Christianity we know. We are told for instance "God had been a woman before he became a man", and that "it was impossible that [Jesus] had not also known the love of a woman, which is why he sweated blood on the Mount of Olives." Coelho's confused idea of Christianity is most significantly displayed where Brida, contemplating the crucifix in a church concludes that on the cross,
"[Jesus] had played his part, and shown to the world that, if everyone played their part, no one else would have to suffer, because he had suffered for all those who'd had the courage to fight for their dreams."
Throughout the book the emphasis is on Brida and what she has to do or understand to achieve the enlightened state of a witch. It is very much a works-based path to "God". Interesting, on the frontispiece of the book, the parable of the woman and the lost coin is quoted from Luke 15:8-9,
"What woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'"
In the context of the book, it appears that Brida is like this woman in her search. However, the next verse says,
"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
So it is God who searches for us! This is the crucial difference between Christianity and all other religions and philosophies. It is God who seeks, God who finds, and God who rescues us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
