"Joy and sorrow are inseparable... together they come, and when one sits alone with you... remember that the other is asleep upon your bed."
I had never heard of Kahlil Gibran until 2022, when I traveled to Lebanon. One of the most memorable parts of that trip was a day visit to his home near the Sacred Valley in northern Lebanon. Walking through the spaces he once lived and created in—years after his passing—felt incredibly special and intimate.
It was a day filled with inspiration, peace, and profound connection. I even brought home a small reproduction of one of his paintings that now rests near my altar. Every time I see it, it moves something deep inside me, taking me right back to that joyful day.
Kahlil Gibran’s beginnings were humble. Born in 1883 in the mountain village of Bsharri, Lebanon, he was shaped by the beauty of nature, the spiritual traditions of Maronite Christianity, and ancient Middle Eastern wisdom. At age 12, he emigrated to Boston with his family, bridging two worlds—the mysticism of the East and the intellectual freedom of the West.
Although English was not his first language, he fell in love with its expressive beauty, blending it with his artistic soul to write simple yet deeply emotional truths. His life itself feels like a mirror of the Venture Beyond ethos we celebrate here at Seekers Circle: crossing boundaries, embracing duality, living between worlds, and creating bridges of wisdom and love.
When The Prophet was published in 1923, Gibran was about 40 years old. He considered it his life’s great masterpiece. The book wasn’t an instant success, but over time, it became one of the most translated and beloved spiritual works of all time—passed hand to hand by those whose hearts it touched.
Today, as I revisit The Prophet, I feel the same awe. His writing—so rich with longing, beauty, and soulful depth—uplifts me still. His reflections on love, sorrow, joy, and the journey of life are timeless. One of my favorite lines:
"Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
Or this one, speaking to the interconnectedness of all things:
"All things in creation exist within you, and all things in you exist in creation. There is no border between you and the closest things, and no distance between you and the farthest things. All exist within you."
It’s hard to pick a favorite passage because each section is a meditation in itself. His prose feels like a prayer—gentle, sorrowful at times, but always luminous.
About The Prophet
A series of poetic sermons shared by a wise man named Almustafa, The Prophet explores life’s most profound themes: love, joy and sorrow, work, freedom, pain, friendship, and death. Each chapter distills universal truths into language that speaks to the soul. It reminds us that no experience stands alone; all emotions and seasons of life are sacred parts of our journey.
Key Themes:
Love and vulnerability
Joy and sorrow as companions
Work as love made visible
Freedom through responsibility
Unity with the greater whole
Reflection Questions for Book Club Circle:
Which passage or theme resonated most deeply with you?
How does Gibran’s view of joy and sorrow shift your own understanding of life's seasons?
What does it mean to you that “all things exist within you”?
Where in your life are you being called to embrace both beauty and pain as sacred?
As I write this, I can still feel the warmth and wonder of that trip.I feel compelled to share some of the photos I took that day in 2022 at Gibran’s home—pictures that captured not just a beautiful place, but a feeling I carry in my heart.
I hope you enjoy them.
They certainly bring back very special memories for me.
With love and remembrance,
Daniela.
