What is an alchemist in Coelho's The Alchemist?

Alchemy
within the context of this book is afor one's transformation as a human being, a kind of
transcendence from a "base" metal, the ordinary human person, to an elevated form, in
alchemy, gold, but metaphorically, for self-actualization, which is the state of being one's own
best self, using one's passion, talents, and experiences to their maximum.  Self-actualization
is what the alchemist is trying to help the young boy achieve.  As a metaphor this works on
another level as well, since there is a certain amount of serendipity involved in science (which
alchemy was considered once upon a time), and there is a certain amount of serendipity involved
in self-actualization, too.