The Celestine Prophecy

Mountains are traditional symbols of strength and durability. They also play an important role in the world’s religious traditions, representing the point on earth that is closest to God or higher consciousness. For example, Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and Jesus went up into the mountains to be close to his Father in prayer. Mohammad received his first revelation from Allah in a cave on Mount Hira. Similarly, in the religious traditions of India, which are an influential source for the New Age ideas presented in the novel, mountains play a prominent role as objects of veneration and places for spiritual retreat. It is significant, therefore, that the narrator experiences a mystical experience while at the peak of a mountain in Chapter 5.

But mountains have a dual function as well. They serve as places of opportunity and access to God, but they are also symbols of obstacles to be overcome. In his quest across Peru, the narrator must navigate treacherous mountain roads, as when Father Sanchez is driving and “concentrated again on avoiding the fatal drop-offs” (126). When the narrator is climbing the mountain to escape the soldiers, he notes that the “ridge grew constantly more rugged and rocky and began to incline dramatically upwards” (96). The payoff, of course, is that the view (i.e., the spiritual clarity) is worth the challenge. Once he achieves “the highest peak of the mountain,” the narrator sees that “[o]ther ridges and cliffs fell away from this point, leaving me with a panoramic view in all directions” (96).

Roads are a frequent symbol in literature, representing both the overarching journey of life and the specific options that people face. Much of the plot in The Celestine Prophecy is constructed around roads and the options they imply. The specific direction one must take in life is not always clear, and crossroads symbolize this process of determining one’s path. The spiritual journey is like this, and the narrator, along with his mentors, reenacts this symbolism throughout the story. The clearest example occurs in Chapter 7 when the narrator is traveling to Iquitos by himself: “After making good time for over three hours, I now sat at a crossroads, unable to decide between two particular routes” (157). The options are described as “possibilities,” and the narrator feels compelled “to make the right decision” (157), even though both routes would take him to the same village.

Even after a road is selected, its path remains unpredictable; it may present unexpected obstacles, dangers, and consequences. Sometimes, the right road seems to turn out wrong, as when the narrator is arrested shortly after turning left at the crossroads. Ultimately, his choice turns out for the best, as the narrator grows in his spiritual knowledge by facing the obstacles on his path. The ultimate symbolism of the road is that choices have consequences; therefore, one must choose wisely, even when forced to do so without complete knowledge of what lies ahead.