Yes I followed the same process - the interest in alchemy. I suppose it comes from a health questioning of his work. I picked up quite a good book on Alchemy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philosophers-Stone-Que st-Secrets-Alchemy/dp/0330489100/ref=sr_1_4?ie =UTF8&s=books&qid=1217407237&sr=1-4
It is a very heavy subject however and even historians are unsure as to the exact process's the alchemists followed as the instructions are very often hidden in art i.e poetry or paintings. Although it doesn't give you any answers or practical ideas on Coelho's alchemy it is a very interesting read.
I may give his new book a try, is it any good? I think the last one i read of his was Eleven Minutes which was good if a little different from his previous work.
Yes i'm sure someone with his success would find it easier to search for self. With the hectic life most of us lead it is almost impossible to take two minutes to reflect on our day let alone meditate or climb waterfalls lol
Did you ever read 'The Celestine Prohecy' ?? Again this was a spiritual enlightment/journey story that sounds incredible but its practical implications are often obscure, it does have some very good ideas on how conflicts are won/lost depedning on a persons upbringing though.