MaryJo Briggs-Austin is an author, writer and speaker. She writes a monthly inspirational column for the Chronicle

Have you ever read a book that made you feel you were in it? That’s what Paulo Coelho’s 3rd novel “Brida” did to me from the very beginning.

A tale about love, mystery, passion and spirituality, Brida is a 21 year old Irish woman on a quest for her soulmate. This story is mesmerizing.

It opens with Brida in search of a teacher. She finds the Magus. He asks her one question.

“Would you give everything you’ve learned up till now for love?” If she gets it right he will be her teacher.

When she tells the truth he begins by giving her 1st lesson.

She must stay the night alone in the forest. Dizzy with fear her mind gets away from her. She wants to cry out for help but knows she must pass this test to progress.

Worried for her safety she wishes her grandmother could be with her. Instantly she senses her protective presence and knows that faith is essential. Faith in God and in guardian angels

Filled with metaphors, the forest scene is an example o a dark night of the soul. An uncomfortable experience where we can only make our way out by trusting.

Faith is trust in action over time.

The concepts in this book and the characters are all great teachers. The Magus talks about how the Universe speaks to us. He also mentions the language of the human heart: Magic.

This made me stop and wonder. “What is this guy talking about?” When he explains that magic is simply a bridge that allows us to walk from the visible to the invisible world to learn the lessons we need, I knew what he was really referring to.

Miracles! He simply refers to them as magic.

The story flows with Brida trying to find her soulmate. She looks for the “light” in the eyes of both her lover and her teacher. She is confused throughout the story, and the plot helps us to understand how to choose.

I discovered some unexpected things by reading this book. I think you will, too.

One powerful experience with a soulmate can change our lives forever. Humans are all intertwined.

There are different paths to making life choices. For example, the path of wisdom is about not being afraid to make mistakes. This is how we become wise after all.

Brida is a novel with powerful life lessons no matter your age, gender or religion. It weaves information about different spiritual traditions and helps us to understand the world and our relationship to others and to ourselves.

I know you will truly love this book. Life and the way it is lived through Brida is an adventure.

She learns and trusts to not be afraid to go beyond limitations. Especially during covid-19, it is essential that we choose to live differently. To do this we must change.

Maybe every day is really a dark night for some of us. What we need is faith. A faith that can’t be explained. A touch of magic, lots of miracles, and an understanding of the will and plan of God.