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WHAT IS ELYSIUM?

"This I can declare: things that are in heaven are more real than things that are in the world." 

"Heaven is not located on high, but where the good of love is, and this resides within a person,
wherever he or she might be."

Quotes by philosopher/scientist/mystic; Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), who claimed to have visited the afterlife domain almost daily for close to thirty years.

 

Elysium is described by Homer, Hesiod, Virgil and many other poets as the mythological paradisiacal plains reserved for deceased heroes. The name may have its origins with the Greek verb eleuthô, meaning release for the souls of heroes and virtuous men.  Some traditions considered this a realm of the netherworld, others certain eastern islands in the Aegean Sea, and later, a place by the Black Sea.

Perhaps the best way to explain the meaning of Elysium within the context of the series is to include an excerpt from a chapter called CHAMP-ELYSÉES, which explains how this name came about in the novel and what it means:

‘By the way,’ I said, ‘what do you call this domain of yours? Shangri-La?’

‘The world has contrived many names to describe this state of being,’ Eli said, ‘Paradise, Heaven Beulah, Nirvana, Valhalla, Happy Hunting Grounds; the list goes on. Yet these are only names that can’t possibly reveal its prevailing state of total peace, happiness and contentment. As for me, my state of ecstasy needs no name so I just call it home. That's what it felt like the instant I arrived: the perfect fulfilment of my most inward desires.'

‘And that's why names don't matter,’ Mo said. ‘Call it whatever you wish; essentially it's your resting point, the only real one you can have where there is always a sense of belonging and union based on what you are within.’

‘Still, for purposes of discussion, I’d like to have a name since I can hardly call it home while my body remains bound to my earthly residence. But I’d prefer not to use the word heaven any more than hell.’

‘So why are you uncomfortable with that?’ he asked.

‘It sounds too ecclesiastical for my secular sensibilities and therefore not credible. Ever since a boy, I’ve thought of it as an affected Pollyannaish fantasy to bait the gullible and naïve masses into thinking and behaving in prudish ways that I could never relate to. And as I said before, I’ve always associated the name with pale effete angels and pudgy little cherubs we often see depicted in medieval and renaissance paintings. They were a big hit then, but I think the world moved beyond that otherworldly scene sometime back in the eighteenth century.’

‘You mean the otherworld where you now find yourself?’ Eli asked.

‘I’m not sure where I find myself,’ I said, ‘except perhaps somewhere between worlds, but at least I don’t see goofy things like that going on. Hmm, after being here with you two, maybe I should take that back.’

‘All I know is that in the past any notion of heaven seemed too pie in the sky for anyone with enough intellect to think for themselves. I’m a realist and the very idea of such a utopia has always seemed like wishful thinking. I don’t even like the sound of the word; to me, it sounds weak.’

‘So why not choose another name?’ Mo asked, ‘perhaps something without religious connotations. It really doesn't matter what you wish to call it, as long as it’s realized the meaning points beyond any earthly connotation. You need not get too creative since whatever description you ascribe to this domain could never even approach its true essence and transcendence.’

‘Sorry, but I haven’t the slightest idea what to call your new home. Like I said; until recently I’ve been sceptical about its very existence.’

‘Well maybe I can help you,’ Eli said. ‘Do you recall reading The Odyssey?’

‘Yes indeed; and by the way, thank you for leaving me a copy, I plan to read more of it tonight. Ever since I was a boy I’ve enjoyed Homer and Greek mythology.’

‘And why do you think that was?’ he asked.

‘I’m not exactly sure. I just know that when my father’s books found their way to me, I wanted to read them from cover to cover, even though there wasn’t much I understood back then. More than anything, the books scribed by Virgil and Homer held a sentimental value that somehow provided me with a vague connection to my deceased father, who I could hardly remember.

‘Perhaps I wanted to bring something of him into my life by sharing the same thoughts he had when he read these books. I even memorized the lines he underlined as if they had special significance. Once I became very upset when I noticed he underlined the phrase, it is a wise child that knows his own father.[1] So what did that make me, I wondered? Wouldn’t it have been better if Homer said it’s a wise father that knows his son? I really wished he hadn’t underlined that because every time I read that it made me feel as though he was mocking me for not knowing him.’

‘That’s really sad to hear,’ Eli said. ‘I’m sure, he would never have wanted you to feel that way.’ 

‘And yet I did, at least until I got over it when I was older. Years later when I went to sea, I brought his leather bound copy of The Iliad with me to read just as I imagined him reading several years ago while sailing through the same Aegean islands.’

I paused, reflecting on these distant memories. Finally, I got up and said, ‘I have no idea why I just told you all that; what does any of this have to do with rebranding heaven?’

‘Perhaps more than you realize,’ Eli said. ‘Do you remember the term Homer used in the Odyssey to describe Paradise?’

‘Of course, Elysian Plains or, as the French say, Champs-Elysées. In fact, everything in Paris seems to be associated with that name; more than anywhere else, they made it famous, even if they don’t always recognize where the name came from or what it means.’

‘That certainly is true,’ Eli said, ‘Elysées has found several expressions in modern culture including Paris' famous Avenue des Champs-Elysées and Palais de l'Élysée of the French Republic. The name is even in their much beloved pop song, Aux Champs-Elysées. So wouldn’t you like to make the name famous for the rest of the world too?’ he asked.

‘But there already was a movie produced with that name not that long ago.’[2]

‘More reason for you to let the world know that Elysées is not a spaceship,’ he said. ‘Then you will be able to tell everyone how close you came to it while your body was resting in a coma. Also, considering how you sailed among these same mythical islands near Elysées. The name is superb for you. Who knows, perhaps even as you thought you sailed past it in your imagination, you were already searching for it.’

‘Okay then, why not,’ I said. ‘Let’s go with Elysées. Perhaps one day it will catch on, just as it did in the past.’

‘Ah, yes,’ Mo said, ‘the Elysian Fields. I like it; a most heavenly choice! As I’m sure you’re aware, Homer is considered to be among the first to have used the name in literature. The nomenclature possesses a refined and illustrious history. Poets throughout the ages have spoken of the Elysian Fields as an afterlife paradise, including Virgil, Plutarch, Dante, Blake, Keats, Shakespeare, and several modern poets such as W.B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, and Emily Dickinson.

‘So if we're all in agreement,’ I said, ‘we’ll hereinafter confer the name Champs-Elysées as your home, or alternatively Elysian Fields, being the Anglo version. Be sure to tell all the folks there.’

‘To keep things simple,’ Mo said, ‘let's drop the champs/fields and go with Elysées, Elysian or Elysium, as you prefer. For my part, I’ve always been more partial to Elysium, the more common Anglo version.’

‘Ever since I spent time in Paris several years ago,’ Eli said, ‘I grew accustomed to the French version, and so you may hear me sometimes pronounce it as Elysées. Some consider the name to be neo-pagan, which I suppose it is, having originated several thousand years ago in Greece.’

‘As venerated as the word has been through the ages,’ Mo said, ‘Homer's depiction was only a limited earthbound symbol that reflecting his times and environment. But, we may now expand that by thinking of Elysium as an ongoing higher vibratory state of expansion, rather than some locality beyond the blue. It seems very difficult for most humans to understand that. Still, the name carries an interesting pagan mystique that includes the seas and plains of earth and yet transcends the elements.’

‘Mystique; that’s what I want to hear more about, so tell me about these mysteries that lie within Elysium. Far beyond earth's seas and plains, what kinds of things do you amuse yourself with when you’re not confusing me here?’

[1] From Book 1 of The Odyssey
[2] Elysium, released in 2013, stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. The wealthy and powerful live on a gigantic space paradise called Elysium located in Earth's orbit.

______________________________

We renewed our discussion on Elysium in Chapter Five, Book Three, Quantum Leaps. 

In you is all of heaven. Every leaf that falls is given life in you. Each bird that ever sang will sing again in you. And every flower that ever bloomed has saved its perfume and its loveliness for you.[1]                                                                                       A Course in Miracles

As I became more reconciled with my new reality, I had more questions than ever about what might await me in the celestial world if I didn’t make it back home. Although we had discussed this before, the afterlife had taken on new relevance after our visit to London. It was not just a matter of curiosity; this was about my impending destiny, possibly in the not-too-distant future.

After witnessing the fall guy’s condition, I wasn’t sure he would make it, so I was naturally concerned about where I might end up. The more I thought about it, the more questions arose, such as what my purpose on earth might be and what this could mean for my new life elsewhere.

I became deeply interested in understanding the metaphysical relationship between the physical plane and the spiritual planes, and what the fundamental difference might be. Was this just a matter of different vibratory densities existing in separate octaves, as my friends suggested, or was there more to it that I didn’t understand? I kept thinking of what Mathew Arnold wrote in a poem about wandering between two worlds, one dead, the other powerless to be born.[2]

It still perplexed me how I had become stuck between the two worlds I found myself… the mortal and the immortal. Not that I was complaining; in some ways, it was like being treated to the gracious hospitality of my two companions from Elysium… never had I known better friends.

Though I was confident that life would carry on quite nicely in either sphere of existence, with or without me, I didn’t know which one I tilted towards more.

In some ways, it didn’t seem like I belonged to either sphere, where my fall guy remained firmly rooted on the earth plane while I was off teleporting somewhere in another dimension.

By now, it was sometime in April, and winter was beginning to set in. Today, as the snow was falling, I felt like I’d stay in the lodge to read certain books that had been placed on the shelf for my perusal. Interestingly, these were classics I meant to read but had never quite got around to.

With my newfound ability to read quickly, even when concentrating intensely, I could read lengthy books in a day or two. Yesterday, I finished Tolstoy’s War and Peace and most of Proust’s Swann’s Way. That was wonderful, yet for some reason I was feeling isolated, longing for human civilisation. Fortunately, my friends arrived the next day to play a few rounds of Putt.

‘So, what’s on your mind today?’ Eli asked. ‘It seems our time in London might have inspired you with more questions.’

‘Most prescient of you, Eli. After being alone for the last few days, I’ve given more consideration to what might lie ahead for me and where I might end up. Although my fate depends on the fall guy, I’d still like to be prepared for whatever happens. That’s why I’m more curious than ever about what goes on in what’s called the afterlife, which has taken on considerably more relevance after visiting the fall guy. I know you both seem confident he will recover, but from what he appeared, I’m not so sure. Perhaps it might not be much longer before I, too, will be calling Elysium home.’ 

 ‘We’ve been through this before,’ Mo said, ‘so what more would you like to know? As I think you realise, there’s not much we can say about Elysium without projecting your world’s limitations upon it. In fact, there’s far more than even we can know… so I guess you’ll just have to experience it for yourself when the time comes.’

‘Okay, I understand, but at least tell me how intimate relationships are experienced differently in Elysium from the mortal world.’

‘The topic is inexhaustible,’ Eli said, ‘since there are countless expressions of intimacy, but before we say too much, you need to be more specific.’ 

‘I’m sure you know what’s on my mind. As I’ve said, I keep thinking about Julianne, and now, more than ever, I’d like to know how sex is experienced in the celestial realms.’

‘What makes you think there’s any such thing as sex in Elysium, at least as you might conceive it?’

‘Obviously, you’re not the person to ask, perhaps because you don’t know that much about this subject. So, Mo, can you help explain how sex works there, and be sure to go slow for Eli.’

Mo shrugged and laughed. ‘Whatever you’re thinking now would likely be misleading. Perhaps we can discuss this another time when you’re more capable of understanding this great mystery.’

‘For your information, Mo, I’m over eighteen and highly accomplished in such endeavours.’

‘That’s what we’re concerned about,’ Eli said. ‘There’s much for you to unlearn before you can understand what’s of significance.’

‘Okay, sure, that’s fine, but just tell me what to expect. Is that too much to ask, and why do you say it might not be what I’m thinking? If not, don’t be coy; tell me what I’m supposed to think. It can’t be that complicated… unless you make it that way.’ 

‘Then let me put this in terms you might be able to relate to, and hopefully, you will understand a bit about the spiritual essence of love’s influx; whatever you’ve thought about sex is little more than a biological approach to intimacy. Just remember, cause and effect are one.’

‘Perhaps we could discuss the cosmological implications later, since there’s no need to get so philosophical about this right now. All I want to know is whether there’s sex in Elysium and, if so, how it’s experienced differently from that on Earth. If biological procreation is only for this world, then what would be the purpose of sex? That’s what really has me concerned.’   

‘Do you remember,’ Eli asked, ‘when we told you how all sensations on earth are mere shadows of the love that emanates from above? Whatever sensual delight that’s experienced on earth has its origins in far more exquisite realms. Once again: as above, so below.’   

‘You mean even with sex?’

‘With or without, union is experienced far beyond anything you could imagine on earth and, therefore, is timeless. It can only be experienced as the eternal unfolding of love’s inward essence.’

‘Jolly; whatever that’s supposed to mean. It seems like you’re trying to platonise sex as some upper-storey, mystical exercise. I was hoping for something a bit more... ah, let's say visceral.’  

‘As Mo already indicated, Elysium is not to be explained, only experienced. There can be no limitations when the mind fully unites with the heart. Without this union, there are only shadows. Without the heart, love cannot exist.’

‘That doesn’t sound much like sex, at least as I’ve experienced and  understand it.’ 

‘You’re right; it’s not the way at all.’

‘Then what is it?’  

‘There’s much in our realm that’s too rarefied  to be understood by words formulated in the limited physical experiences of earth’s third dimension.’ 

‘Before you get too confused,’ Mo said, ‘read what Swedenborg had to say about sexual expression in the higher realms. He wrote extensively on this topic in the early eighteenth century, presenting his findings from his astral visits to Elysium.

‘It’s crucial, however, that you don’t jump to conclusions, as the concepts are often nuanced with spiritual meaning that you may not yet grasp. I’ll see if I can find a copy of this book for you. After you’ve read it, we might be able to discuss this topic more intelligibly. I suspect you might appreciate what Swedenborg has to say about...’ 

[1] A Course in Miracles; Chapter 25, The Light You Bring. 
[2] Stanzas from the Grande Chartreuse

__________________________________

Later in Chapter Five, they get back on topic: 

‘So how about Elysium,’ I asked, ‘how do they think there?’ 

‘As we have often mentioned,’ Mo said, ‘the higher cosmic realms are aggregations of rarefied truths that manifest within the specific octave of their holons, and, therefore, there is a great variety of perspectives based on their qualitative calibration. In principle, the Earth is no different; only that thoughts are experienced within the dense limitations of the third dimension, making it less easy to discern light from darkness, truth from falsehood. In contrast, thoughts in Elysium are enlightened by love, not fear.

‘That explains why all realms in the multiverse are patterned after their respective states of consciousness. As I’m sure you’re aware, whatever is perceived is a projection of one’s reality, be it dense or rarefied. Esse est perceipti.’[1]

‘Okay, that’s lovely, so give me an example of a rarefied thought in Elysium, perhaps something I’m familiar with.’ 

‘In your earlier student days, you said you enjoyed reading William Blake. He is among the esteemed poets, such as Rumi, who exquisitely captured intimations of enlightenment in their poetry. You might recall:      

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.’[2]

 

‘That sounds splendid, but what does it mean?’  

‘Go within and ask your intuition.’

‘Give me a hint; remember, I’m a philosopher, not a poet.’ 

‘To be appreciated, rarefied thoughts must be understood from within the heart, not just by the mind, and so what images you create and entertain within is what you will outwardly experience.

‘Jolly, but what else?’

‘You’re the professor, you tell me.’

‘I don’t know; maybe it means that if heaven's kingdom resides within you, then, even in a wildflower, you will see heaven.’

‘Not bad; what do you think, Mo?’

‘James is showing signs of promise,' he chuckled. 'Indeed, it seems what Blake was expressing in his inimitable way is that everything in life is a projection of what we inwardly constitute for ourselves. You may also say that this principle applies to all levels, from the heavens to the delusions of hell.’

‘What do you mean by delusions of hell?’

‘In the varying states of low consciousness,’ he said, ‘souls project a most unfortunate confluence of monstrous spectres within their being. Of course, these are just delusions, and yet all this becomes their reality if that’s where souls choose to dwell.’

‘Should this be the case,’ I said, ‘Dante may not have been far off with the insights he expressed in the metaphor of his epic Inferno.[3] I must say, he certainly was adept in creating some very intriguing characterisations about this abject state of illusory existence.’

‘And not just Dante,’ Eli said, ‘Emanuel Swedenborg also wrote of similar phantoms of grotesque darkness. The difference is that he claimed not just to have imagined them but to have observed these unfortunate spectres, understanding such forms were expressions of spiritual depravity subsiding in a hellish state of distorted consciousness. Swedenborg could perceive these manifestations of depravity because nothing can remain hidden in the spiritual dimension.

‘As Mo suggested, those who dwell in the light of the Spirit perceive things for what they truly are; however, those who deliberately distance themselves from the Light, whether consciously or unconsciously, project their reality from their soul's state of inner darkness, which manifests as distorted thought forms. These are distorted and insane illusions they have harboured on earth.

‘It’s unlikely, however, that anyone abiding in these low domains would perceive themselves as monstrous distortions of natural form. And yet, that’s what they have become, expressions of the hellish affections they willfully embraced. In other words, whatever form they might exhibit is a natural extension, or we may say, correspondence, to their internal state of being. 

‘Yet, even in this condition, no soul is beyond redemption since divine Love remains unconditional through all the domains and strata of the Infiniverse, even those of darkness, since a spark of divinity prevails within all creation.’ 

‘Personally speaking,’ I smirked, ‘I much prefer being acclimatised to a cooler atmosphere with plenty of sunlight.’ 

‘That explains why you had to get your arse out of the oppressive bogs in the Flatlands so you might rise above the low-hanging clouds that held you in the stifling air.

‘Even while you remained an agnostic, you were being prepared to ascend higher through your inward visions of this cool resort and, might I say, even cooler companions.’

‘Along with a cool pint of bitter,’ I said… ‘if you don’t mind fetching us a few out of the cellar.’

‘Make mine a Pilsner,’ Mo said. ‘You know, we all have within us the ability to create whatever splendours we wish to manifest, more stupendous than any of these views here. This joy continues without end as we expand our capacity to appreciate the essence of love, beauty and truth – all souls in Elysium project images that emanate from love and light.’

‘Splendid, but what happens if you don’t want to be there? What value would it have?’

‘If, after arriving, the soul has no appreciation for Elysium’s splendours, it would be because it has taken a deep dive into a lifetime of lower-order frequencies. The soul can only feel resonance with who and what it has consociated with.’  

‘Do you remember what Mo and I keep quoting all the time?’ Eli asked as he handed me a pint of ale. ‘You know, the one by Aquinas.’

‘Of course, it’s your favourite: All things perceived are perceived according to the nature of the recipient.’

‘That’s it; I hope you will take it with you when you go home – it’s a good one.’

‘If I remember, so what’s your take on it?’

‘I believe he was suggesting that our perception of life reflects our conscious state – or, to put it another way, perceptions crystallise according to the consciousness of each sentient being. Affections are projected on the screens of our reality, regardless of what dimension one might find oneself in, be it heaven or hell.’

‘Say that again, only in terms that even a philosopher can understand,’ I chuckled.

‘Wherever we go,’ he said, ‘what is perceived is a reflection of what we have projected and crystallised from within. Do we see through the eyes of heaven or that of hell? What we choose creates the reality we manifest for ourselves, which explains why, when a soul departs earth, it continues to adhere to whatever reality it has become consociated with on the continuum of consciousness.’

‘Now you’re really confusing me.’

‘If nothing else, just remember why it’s so important to choose and affix your heart to only what is most worthy of your affection. What you decide will raise the soul’s consciousness or lower it, as expressed in a proverb that states: Guard your heart more than any treasure, for it is the source of all life.’[4] 

‘To the contrary,’ I said, ‘I tend to guard my mind more than my heart, so I’m not easily taken in by emotional arguments.’

‘Nevertheless, you must continue to balance your perception of reality by thinking less with your mind and more with your heart. Mind and heart are meant to work together, not separately… unless you choose to.’

‘That’s why,’ Mo said, ‘when focused on your heart, you were able to catch glimmerings of the Mountain, even while in the Lowlands. It might have taken years to get there, but once your heart’s vision began to work its magic on your mind, it was only a matter of time before you put your hiking boots on to find your way up here. 

‘Unfortunately, too many in the Lowlands are content to dwell on the same divisive thoughts that have resulted in centuries of wars and tribal rivalry. Instead of thinking for themselves, too many prefer to allow their minds to be conditioned by whatever socio-political Groupthink happens to be in vogue.’

‘I wish you were making this up, but as a philosopher and instructor in the system, I often witness how many bright minds are stuck in the same confusion of negative attitudes because they refuse to change their rigid mental patterns.’

‘I suspect it will take a substantial uptick in collective consciousness to climb out of these illusory hells the ego has created.’ Eli said. ‘But that can only happen when humans desire to dwell in love and gratitude instead of fear and hate.’

‘Again, I have to agree since I see this constantly happening in my academic world,’ I said, ‘where far too many are more interested in spouting avant-garde cliches than critically examining the content of their beliefs. Being impressionable, they're easily manipulated by thought trends that accept whatever they’re told rather than honestly critiquing the content of these dubious theories and opinions. Admittedly, that would include me, and to some extent, perhaps still does.’

‘As Eli suggested,’ Mo said, ‘it will take a massive infusion of photonic light from the heavens to get humans online, but only when they are ready to receive this upgrade. We see that you could play a role in preparing the way when you return, although that might take some time before you understand what’s going on above and below.’

‘I don’t know how you expect me to change the world’s prevailing zeitgeist, telling everyone what they think is real actually isn’t… at least not the way they think. Let’s face it; I’m not going to change anyone’s mind, especially those of my colleagues.’  

‘You might be surprised when millions of inquisitive souls clamour to hear what you experienced here. Who else will tell them if you don’t? That’s why you need to keep journaling everything you learn and experience in this realm. Too few in Western cultures can distinguish between the illusory world and the eternal realms of the spirit, yet they wish to learn from someone with firsthand experience. Even so, you are not alone; thousands of light-bearers are already positioned on earth, without affiliation, religion, or organisation, who will support you with what you have to say.’

‘Thousands? So, how am I to find these kindred souls if they don’t wear name tags?’

‘Don’t worry, they’ll find you. With one look, they’ll recognise you for who you are, as will you; maybe not right away, but eventually you will.’

‘I’m not sure about that, nevertheless, I still recall when I was coming on to Máire and how I picked up on her inner light... kind of like an aura or something. Perhaps that’s what drew me to her. I also sensed this quality in Julianne. Actually, I didn’t just sense it; I witnessed her light, especially that time when she was alone with the fall guy.’ 

‘Yes, I think you did,’ Eli said, ‘which proves you’re no longer the lecherous scallywag you once were,’ he laughed. ‘The good thing about being human is that anyone who receives the divine Light can channel it, even to the darkest reaches of Earth. We’re built for Elysées, where the sparks of our soul were created, not by chance in some primordial swamp as some Flatland naturalists would have your world believe. Regardless, since all souls were created as a thought in the mind of our Source, all remain consociated with Elysées.’

‘Even the lowest swamper in the Lowlands yearns to return to the knowledge of who they are and where they came from,’ Mo said, ‘even if they are seldom aware of this longing. Ironically, those who most vehemently deny the divinity of their essence are often the most anxious about what they have forgotten.’

‘Oh, I don’t know; most atheists I’ve met seem rather pleased with themselves.’

‘Were you?’

‘No, but then I was mostly agnostic, not able to make up my divided mind.’

‘You weren’t alone,’ Eli said. ‘Your esteemed French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, once stated: That God doesn’t exist, I cannot deny. That my whole being cries out for God, I cannot forget.’

‘That doesn’t surprise me. Reading between the lines of a couple of Sartre’s books,[5] I got the impression he sensed he was a lost soul who longed to return from where he came, even though he couldn‘t accept there was such a place, causing him great anguish.’

‘At least you don’t have to worry about that,’ Eli said. ‘Even when you say you’re going home to London, you know, you know you currently reside on both planes, yet only in Elysées are you a citizen of where you came into being long before the foundation of the world. And so, you’ll find the diaphanous veil becomes less apparent to you.’

‘Does that mean I’ll get to teleport and levitate as I do here?’  

‘That would be most impressive if you could. Who knows, give it a try and see what happens; you wouldn’t be the first.’

‘Can you imagine me levitating in the centre court of Oxford’s Shola Naturalis Philosophiae? A jolly stir that would create, I’m sure!’

‘It might,’ Mo said. ‘Just as I told you about the story of the yogi hovering in the air near the Vatican. As with my friend who was  there, many others would deny what they saw if it was contrary to what they believed possible.’ 

‘Even if I could perform such feats in my physical body,’ I said, ‘I’m not sure I’d want to do any of them near a religious institution. I might get burned at the stake; at least, that’s what they used to do in less decorous times.’

‘That’s another reason there’s no use for religion in Elysium.’

‘Seriously, Mo, no religion in Elysium? Are you sure? I find that hard to believe. Isn’t that where religions originated?’

‘Only when it inspired the people on Earth to formulate beliefs about God and reality. But in Elysium, what more does religion have to offer? Who needs an agent to book your flight after you’ve arrived?

‘When there is only divine love, there can be no judgment, and there’s no pretext for religion to draw boundaries or erect walls of belief that determine who is admitted and who is excluded. That may disappoint many juridical souls who eagerly await vengeance to be exacted on the un-sanitised masses, along with all those who adhere to competing faiths.

‘Union, wholeness, relationship… how many religions practise any of this with those outside their community? After all, Elysium is where all reality is derived: all love, happiness, truth, joy, wisdom, and peace – need I go on? Who needs shadows when there’s only light?’ 

‘And yet,’ Eli said, ‘religions often serve a purpose on Earth when they open their doors to Elysium’s warm rays. That’s what religions should do… capture the light, then shine it out to a dark world. Unfortunately, the institution becomes a repository of darkness when its doors remain closed. In shutting out the Light, it substitutes its artificial light and external forms for God’s divine essence.

‘What’s sad is how easily that can happen when it assumes it is the Light rather than the transmission of light. As Gurdjieff once said: If you want to lose your faith, make friends with a priest. 

‘Notwithstanding the legions of light bearers who have incarnated on earth, too many long and darkened shadows have been cast over the centuries. So, we trust when you return, you will not just deflect Elysium’s light to Earth; you will draw it down and become a transmitter.’

‘Once again… you’ve got the wrong guy. Being a prophet is not what I do.’ 

‘Who said anything about being a prophet; just be the light you are and speak the truth.’

‘I’m not sure how you go about drawing light down from on high… that’s a tall order. I’m not exactly Yeshua or Buddha, am I?’ 

‘No, most certainly, not exactly,’ Eli chuckled, ‘no more than they were you. Remember, each experience and express light according to who we are – our unique pattern on the spectrum of consciousness.’

‘Even if it may not have seemed that way at the time,’ Mo said, ‘you drew closer to the light each time you became stuck in the Lowland’s morass. Finally, when you endured enough, you began to see through the miasma, as you envisioned your Mountain far in the distance. That became your new point of reference, guiding you towards what was further up and further in.’ 

‘And, so it seems,’ I said, ‘we’re speaking of the Mountain and the Lowlands again.’

‘Of course, and why not?’ Since it came to you, it is also part of you, both the dreamer and the dream you dreamt. From the perspective of this fantasy, it seems you must have genuinely wanted to leave the Lowlands. When your inward eye caught a faint glow of the Mountain through the mists obscuring your mind, it drew you like a moth to the light.’

‘In a sense, I suppose that’s true. In any case, here I am… high in the sky, caught up with aliens in this virtual phantasm.’

‘Oh, really… we thought you were the alien,’ Eli said. ‘Don’t forget, earthling, whose more inclusive holon you’re dwelling in.’

‘All I know is that I feel suspended between two worlds, existing in both, yet in neither. It’s outrageous when you think about it. Look at me; here I am, sitting with a stash of whisky and rum, discussing philosophy while playing cards; then next, I’m off bounding among the peaks of the Andes Sierras. I’m not complaining, though; it beats slogging through the metaphoric ruts and swamps below.’

‘Nevertheless, you’re not done,’ Mo said, ‘every soul who ascends must overcome whatever obstacles are encountered along the way, no matter how many lifetimes it might take to reach their Summit.’

  I had to think about that. What other challenges did Mo have in mind before I reached my inner Summit? I didn’t know it then, but I would soon find out.

 

[1] A statement by Philosopher George Berkeley, 1685-1753.
[2] Auguries of Innocence, 1803
[3] The Inferno (1472) was the first part of Dante’s epic Divine Comedy, telling of his journey through hell, guided by Virgil, the ancient Roman poet. 
[4] Proverbs 4:23 (New English Bible) 
[5] Examples of Sartre’s more famous books include Being and Nothingness and Nausea.

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SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT ELYSIUM

Shortly after finding himself in an altered state of consciousness, James (the series hero/narrator) asks his other-worldly companions various questions about the afterlife. At first, some of his questions are a bit facetious, since he's still not sure he believes any of this, though it's becoming obvious that things are very different in his altered state of consciousness compared to before he arrived at the Summit. In any case, many of these questions, and several more, are discussed throughout the series.

So here are some of the questions James asked, both serious and frivolous:   

Okay, so if there's an afterlife, then tell me all about it? Do we still have bodies, or do we drift around in the sky as amorphous clouds of consciousness? And if we have bodies, what would that be like? Do we need brains? If not, how would we think? Would we still look the same, but at what age? I always want to look my best, like now.

Are there cities, towns and villages? If so, what all goes on there? I prefer cosmopolitans like me.

Do we still have to work, or do we just sit by the poolside all day, sipping piña coladas? Do we have residences to live in? Hopefully not somewhere in the clouds. I was hoping for something a bit more substantial. What are they like? Are they the same as here, or are they all big honkin' mansions like Hugh Hefner had? By the way, did he make it there? Because if he didn't, I'd probably be in big trouble, too.

Are there businesses there? But then why would there be if there's no economy? But if there is, would it be capitalist, as Adam Smith envisioned, or socialist, as Marx advocated? How about Porches, could I find myself a 911 to race on your autobahn there? What are the preferred means of transportation? Or do we just fly around?

How about animals? If there are any, then what kinds – hopefully not reptiles, vicious animals, bugs and mosquitoes that bite – so how about puppies and kittens for children to play with? But then, are there any children there, perhaps the ones who die on earth? If so, do they remain children, or do they grow up?

What about lifestyles? Who do I get to hang out with? What about sports? If I like to try snowboarding, for example. Do I still get to do that? Are there competitions where someone wins and everyone else loses, or is it all win-win? But how could that be?

And sailing... are there oceans and seas to surf and sail on? If this turns out to be a long stay, what happens if I get bored? Turn off the switch for a few millennia?

What kind of music do they play there – all types? Hopefully, it’s not all harps and elevator music. Is David Bowie still doing gigs? If so, I bet his old spaceman motif would be spectacular 

Do we still eat and drink? If so, can I get whatever I want? How about wine or other alcoholic beverages? What if, just for the hell of it, I want to get wasted one night with my buddies; can I?

How big is the universe? Are there other beings out there like us? How many dimensions exist? And what’s time like there, if there’s such a thing? What about the Big Bang; is there anything to it? What’s God like; is he mean or is he nice. Or is he a she? Probably that's a stupid question.

Anyway, I'm curious, who got it right with religion, or did they all get it wrong? Maybe no one even does religion there? What would be the point once you've made it, so to speak? What if I want to go back to earth to do this all over again; can I reincarnate. Not that I would want to. How about Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, Mary and all the others; do we get to meet them?

And how about the devil and all those bad-ass dudes that keep causing so many problems on earth? Is there a hell, and if so, who goes there? What must that be like; is it forever or just probation? Speaking of which, do we need to hang out with relatives we can’t stand? Are there any atheists there, especially the really militant ones like Dawkins, or do they go somewhere else not so nice? And what’s Christopher Hitchens writing these days, wherever he is – a retraction?

And oh, I almost forgot: here’s the big one – how about sex; do we still get to do that there? I'd really like to know. Or are we all androgynous – hopefully not. But if we’re still sexual, then how does that work if I’m in a spirit body? What about marriage? Am I going to be stuck with the same woman? Or are there some more creative arrangements? – hopefully better than what we've come up with here?

These and several other questions are addressed and speculated on one way or another over the course of the series, meant to provoke our thoughts about life here and hereafter, since it's really all one life, only experienced as different stages.

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The following quotes by Swedenborg on love and community may offer perspectives on the primary themes in the Elysium’s Passage series. These are in Appendix 'B' of Quantum Leaps.

CONJUGIAL LOVE

Swedenborg coined the term conjugial rather than what we refer to as conjugal (marital love) to express his unique perspective. To him, the term conjugal didn’t adequately express the essential meaning he wished to convey about love. His word conjugial was meant to describe the interior spiritual relationship rather than the external physical union. From what I understand, all expressions of sexual pleasures are divinely inspired, emanating from within.

"Now as conjugial love is the foundation love of all good loves, and as it is inscribed on all the parts and principles of man, even the most particular, as was shown above, it follows that its delights exceed the delights of all other loves, and also that it gives delight to the other loves, according to its presence and conjunction with them, for it expands the inmost principles of the mind, and at the same time the inmost principles of the body, as the delicious current of its fountain flows through and opens them."[1]

"And because conjugial love is chaste, pure and holy, the intercourse is also full. The intercourse is then more delightful and blessed, because when the love becomes of the spirit it becomes more interior and pure, and therefore more perceptible, and every delight increases according as it is perceived, and increases until its blessedness is discernible in its delight."[2]

COMMUNITIES

"People who are admitted are received by angelic communities with inmost charity and its joy, and they are shown all love and friendship. But when they are no longer content to remain in the communities they have come to first, they are received by other communities, and this process is repeated again and again until they reach that community with which they accord so far as the life of mutual love with them is concerned. There they remain until, having become more perfect, they leave, and from there are raised and lifted into greater happiness, which in the Lord’s mercy happens to them to the extent that the life of love and charity which they have received in the world exists with them."

"But their transference from one community to another is never a matter of being rejected by the community where they are. It takes place because they themselves wish to go, a wish that is in accordance with an urgent desire instilled in them by the Lord. And because that transference is in keeping with their desires, there is nothing which is not done in freedom."[3] 

[1] Conjugial Love. n. 68
[2] Conjugial Love n. 51
[3] Heaven and Hell. n. 2131

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 SUMMARY OF ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE SERIES

This is a series of seven Elysium’s Passage narrations about a young British philosopher named James Phillips, who finds himself living in an altered reality while still on Earth.  

After experiencing a near-fatal fall while climbing to the summit of a remote mountain in the Andes, James awakens in a new dimension. He soon encounters two mysterious beings who offer him a very different perspective on his existence. Over the next year, before his body recovers from the coma, he is challenged to re-examine his understanding of life’s meaning and purpose far beyond anything he previously believed or could believe.

An engaging, sometimes surreal adventure with intimations of impending romance, the narrative explores the most important questions about life, death, reality, and our ultimate destiny.

The Plains of Elysium (Champs-Élysées) was described by Homer, Hesiod, Virgil and many other poets as the paradisiac afterlife realm reserved for heroes. As the title suggests, this is about a journey through a passage that leads towards Elysium’s exciting realm of existence.

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PENDING PUBLICATION OF ELYSIUM’S PASSAGE SERIES

                                          Amazon in 2026

 

THE ASCENT: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE SUMMIT: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

QUANTUM LEAPS: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

SURREAL ADVENTURES: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

MYSTICAL ROMANCE: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE ELIXIR: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE RETURN: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage 

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1. The Ascent is the first novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage that’s foundational to everything that happens in the following narratives that embark on an adventure that will surprise and delight the reader like no other book.

It all begins with an extreme adventure of climbing a remote and challenging mountain somewhere in the Andean Mountains. Just as James, the protagonist, is about to reach the mountain summit, he falls into an abyss that leaves him in a coma for almost a year.

After being airlifted by a forestry helicopter and flown back to London, his body remained there for almost a year. Eventually, he learns it was not him but his body that was rescued. Several days later, without understanding what happened, he continues to climb to the summit in an alternate dimension of higher consciousness.

Fortuitously, he meets two adventurers on the summit ridge who are no longer of this world. After that, his surreal life leads him to several new adventures in the subsequent chronicles that include a rich mix of adventure, romance, and fantasy, along with profound discussions of philosophy, spirituality and the afterlife.

 
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2. The  Summit, the second novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, carries on where James, the narrator and protagonist, is taught more about a multidimensional reality that he finds difficult to comprehend.

Not only does he find he’s not as clever as he imagined, but his off-world companions on the summit demonstrate that much of what he believed about life was not just parochial but wrong. At first, he finds this difficult to comprehend since their teachings are contrary to his limited understanding of non-material reality.

After being tricked into teleporting off a ledge where he was trapped, James finds himself in a new reality that lets him embark on far more adventures than he could ever have in his physical body back home.

Now, if only he would win over the only woman in this life who matters, the nurse on the other side of the veil, who continually demonstrates her unconditional love toward his healing.

Warning: This book may also open the reader’s eyes to a much vaster reality than most might be aware. As with the other Chronicles, there are discussions of philosophy, the spiritual afterlife and what might seem like fantasy.

 
 

3. Quantum Leaps is the third novel in Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, where James, the philosopher-protagonist, teleports back to London to visit his body and make contact with the special nurse taking care of it in his absence. Immediately, he feels an inexplicable spiritual bond with her for reasons he remains unaware of.

Now aroused by a renewed interest in matters of love, the beginnings of a relationship begin to emerge as he attempts to reach across the chasm of their worlds. But it’s not until the fifth novel, Mystical Romance, that he encounters her in a way that he finds difficult to believe.

However, before that can happen, there is much about his failed relationships that must be resolved before he is ready to move forward in his new life in Elysium’s Passage. It is during this time he christens his comatose body as the fall guy since it took the fall for him down the abyss so he could learn the lessons he’s now learning.

That will be the next focus of his life, where in his next Surreal Adventures, he is given virtual lessons to release many of his past beliefs about life.

 
 

4. Surreal Adventures is the fourth novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, which finds James, the protagonist and narrator, escorted by his companions to a remote South Pacific Island, where he is left to reflect on what he’s learned.

During the next forty days, he battles the demons of his past as he works through some rather painful issues from his early youth. Here, in a tropical storm, he encounters an eerie suspended spectre of the one he loved yet still resents for abandoning him as a child.

After this, he achieves peace of mind and is ready to return to his lodge to join his off-world companions on the Andes summit. However, just when it seemed things couldn’t get any stranger, a sixteenth-century sea captain sails his ancient ‘ghost’ ship onto the beach. Together, they sail off on a mystical ocean voyage to a couple of virtual islands supposedly in the South Pacific, where he witnesses and, at times, participates in several important life lessons.

Near the end, these encounters help prepare him for a new challenge within the interior of a mountain, where he falls deep into a dark tomb of fear. After being rescued by a mysterious stranger wielding his Excalibur, he continues on to where his life is about to be transformed in the following chronicle, Mystical Romance.

 
 

5. Mystical Romance is the fifth chronicle in Elysium’s Passage, which will surprise the reader with a romantic twist of how love is expressed in higher realms. From this lofty perspective, everything about intimacy is understood as within, so without.

After escaping his tomb, James, the narrator and protagonist, makes his way through a maze of tunnels until he arrives at a large oak door, which he opens with the golden key he had been given. There, he steps into Elysium’s Passage’s Great Hall, where his life and recent achievements are celebrated now that his eyes have been opened to perceive a fascinating interior world of wonderment… and romance.

To say more might risk diminishing the multitude of delightful surprises as circumstances begin to open to The Elixir, where James is about to re-enter his earthly body’s existence.

 
 

6. The Elixir is the sixth chronicle of the Elysium’s Passage series that prepares James, the narrator-protagonist, to awaken and return to his body in London. Before that can happen, however, his off-worlder friend presents a mysterious equation enshrouded with a light code frequency that will stimulate multidimensional DNA strands within him.

Much of this narration is centred in London, where his nurse unknowingly becomes involved in how the Elixir’s equation finds its way from a taxi cab driver to higher echelons of science. There are many twists in how she unwittingly brings the Elixir to the attention of mathematicians and physicists, after which they eventually discover how to code the equation into a laser ray to stimulate his fall-guy body into full consciousness.

Ostensibly a new Adam, he is destined to return humanity to a higher multidimensional existence. How this happens is filled with intrigue, as is his shocking return to his earthly body.

 
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7. The Return is the seventh and last chronicle in the series where James, the narrator and protagonist, has re-emerged from Elysium’s Passage as he readjusts to life in the third dimension. Many of the events from the previous novels are woven into an exciting, fast-moving, action-packed narrative spanning several countries.

 At first, it seems all memories have been lost, with his fall guy’s brain not being aware of what happened to him while in his coma. As a consequence, it takes a while for him to be convinced he had been out of his earthly body for almost a year.

Through some rather unexpected events and evidence, along with his girlfriend’s urging, he comes to understand much of what occurred. It takes a while for his mind to catch up with the changes made in his heart during his stay in the alternate realm. But after experiencing several harsh realities, he discovers what he became while out of his body. Gradually, he comes to understand the many challenges that lie ahead for him in fulfilling his future mission on Earth.

This book is filled with adventure, romance, and personal intrigue that tie together all six previous narratives in the Elysium’s Passage series.

READER REVIEWS

The following comments are among the first Amazon reviews of Elysium’s Passage: The Summit. All are Five Stars! Others reader reviews are included below, along with excerpts from two professional reviews. To read full reviews, go to READER REVIEWS on www.elysiumspassage.com

"Quietly, gently, and without imposition, the Author unfolds the pages, creating an intricate, interlocking bridge spanning the chasm between mind and heart. Renewing, refreshing, restoring. In my bereavement, it was vigil and light…"

"A delightful mix of fantasy, reality, conjecture and humour; Mr. Meyers draws the reader into the story with a gentle narrative that captures imagination, leaving one anxious to get to the next page drawing you into his exceptional world.”

“Excellently written with an exceedingly deep understanding of this world and the next. The characters are very well written and engaging. I can't wait to complete this book!"

“Takes the reader on both a philosophical and spiritual journey, a journey that at times is both disquieting and tranquil. James, a British Philosopher can be irreverent and caustic, traits that should have left me cringing, but instead made me laugh out loud. Elysium’s Passage is a fun, enlightening and remarkable book.”

“This is a masterful fantasy, becoming a real possibility, as the reader is drawn into the story. The Summit leaves you anxious for the next book in the series, yet also leaves you totally satisfied with the world you have just visited. Genius! An exciting, yet calming, experience that is not to be missed."

"There was hardly a page on which I did not find at least one sentence worthy of hi-lighting for future reference. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, James, whose personality and passionate verbal exchanges with the other characters, kept me coming back for more. I am reading the book for a second time while I wait for the next one in this series to be made available."

 “N.G. Meyers has clearly put a great deal of research and thought into what the afterlife may look like and I like his perspective. It’s an altogether welcoming and exciting vision. The book gives one a great deal to think about and a reassuring confidence that the end of our lives is truly the beginning of life in the next. I highly recommend it."

“The humour interjected into a serious discussion makes me laugh out loud. Totally unexpected....l may be in the presence of at least a master, if not a genius. A fair ride into reality... seeking that which is unseen, yet absolutely real.”

“An engaging story of adventure embracing man's deepest desire to search for meaning and purpose, N.G. Meyers takes the reader on an adventurous thought provoking journey. This book has substance. It is a perfect blend of adventure and fantasy combined with spiritual philosophy. It ignited my imagination. The author magically weaves a good story laced with wit and humor together with deep philosophical wisdom. This book has it all!”

“An evolution in thought is triggered by many fresh philosophical themes which could inspire readers to re-think their reality and former ideologies that have dictated their lives… the author fires readers’ imaginations to view what could be possible when spirit vacates the body.”

“This is the book spiritual seekers have been waiting for. For me, it granted a great read as well as increased inspiration to live every day with a heightened sense of purpose. I highly recommend it.

“The Summit is capable of hooking readers and luring them to search for Book 2 to discover more about Dr. Philip’s surreal trek into the mysterious unknown universe. This thick book is well worth the read and to share…”

“Mind-blowing statements and speculation (‘…everyone is a non-physical thought form conceived in the Mind of God, preserved for all eternity because God’s thoughts never die…’). Many will find Meyers’ journey up the Mountain intriguing—and possibly even life-changing.” (BLUEINK REVIEW)

“In its effort to grapple with fundamental questions about the meaning of life, it raises questions that have echoed throughout the ages, including about where we come from, where we are going, who we are.”  (CLARION REVIEW)

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Sample press review: https://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15515775.htm 

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 (ATTEMPTED) VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES