When I saw from the cover that this book is about a brave and strong woman, I was surprised by its title. If it’s about a brave woman, then why is it called “The Witch of the Portobello”?
It is written by the popular Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. It is an inspirational and powerful book. It talks about the divine energy of a woman who is both strong and brave, so it also feels spiritual. The story is mainly about a mysterious woman named Athena, who discovers the truth while trying to find herself.
There was a couple in Beirut. They had no children. They tried many ways to have a child but nothing worked. So, they adopted a little baby girl who was just three months old. They named her Athena.
Athena was a bit different from other children. At a very young age, she had seen a woman dressed in white, like the Virgin Mary. She had already sensed the war that was going to become dangerous. Their city (Beirut) was taken over by others, so they moved to London.
Athena started going to college. She was doing well in her studies. She knew she was adopted, and by the age of 19, she wanted to get married and have a child. So, she married her senior, who was 20 years old. She gave birth to a baby boy and named him Viorel. Sadly, their relationship didn’t last, and they divorced because of many problems and misunderstandings.
Athena worked at a bank and earned a lot of money—enough to live for more than three years without doing anything. She became independent. However, she still felt empty and restless. She believed she had a purpose in life. So, she started a journey of finding herself and learning new things.
She learned calligraphy from a man in the desert and discovered that even the blank spaces held deep meaning. Later, she began searching for her birth mother and finally met her in Transylvania. She found out that she was the daughter of a gypsy. After returning home, she worked in a theatre. There, a divine voice—The Great Mother—started speaking through her. She began telling people what was happening in their lives, and those things turned out to be true.
People started coming to meet Hagia Sofia (Athena). Some even began calling her “The Witch of Portobello.” She often spoke about love, truth, freedom, and femininity. She was very brave and fearless because she believed what she was doing was right. She loved to dance. She taught others how to dance and live fully in the moment.
Now, I think I’ve got my answer. In my opinion, she was a goddess. She broke the rules set by society. She followed her own principles, her own way of living. Even the way she celebrated life was different. She taught people about sacred powers that connect us to the Earth. But since society often doesn’t accept what is different—especially in women—she was called “The Witch of Portobello” instead of “Goddess.”
It is a very interesting book. I truly love it. Maybe you enjoyed the summary too. If you read this book, you will learn more about the meaning of life and how to live it fully.
There are many quotes in this book that can inspire you to take action and enjoy the present. Here are some of my favorites:
People who are on spiritual quest don’t think, they simply want results.
An encounter with the superior energy is open to anyone but remains far from those who shift responsibility onto others.
Our time on earth is sacred and we should celebrate every moment.
Everything moves and everything moves to a rhythm. And everything that moves to a rhythm creates a sound.
When we step out of our normal world and leave behind us all the usual barriers and prejudice, we tend to become more adventurous.
Re-program yourself every minute of each day with thoughts that make you grow. When you’re feeling irritated or confused, try to laugh yourself. Laugh at your worries and insecurities.
