MERTA LECTURE SERIES ON YOUTUBE

For more blog posts go to https://digitalbloggers.com/articles/elysiumspassage .

DR JAN MERTA
McDOUGALL CENTRE LECTURE SERIES

All videos of Jan's talks are available for viewing on YouTube. Some have better sound quality than others. I would recommend beginning with 1) Mind, Body and Soul, 2) Freedom, 3)The Soul and Workplace, 4) Life After Death, and 5) Questions (this last talk was given shortly after he had a stroke in 2006. His words are sometimes difficult to understand. Though they are worth listening to, headphones are recommended. 

Until I can improve the substandard videos, you may need to use headphones or external speakers on your TV to improve the audio quality. Unfortunately, transferring from VHS to DVD, then to the computer MP format, has substantially compromised the quality.

To view these talks, go to: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXpzFH6VNMQLOtqOK2SrXpg 

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BACKGROUND OF THE LECTURE SERIES BY DR MERTA

This series of talks was given by my friend Dr Jan Merta several years ago. On occasion, he would speak at such nonpresumptuous venues as Annie's Used Bookstore (Calgary) or, at other times, at a university, such as the University of Swansea in Wales, where he had been invited.

In the late 90s, he asked me to organise a lecture series for him to speak at. By then, over the past few years, we had become close friends, often meeting for lunch downtown Calgary near where he worked. I said little, except for questions. As it turned out, a few years earlier, I had incorporated a charitable organisation called International Logos Foundation. 

With this official society status, we were able to use a small lecture theatre in the McDougall Centre free of charge, accommodating about thirty. This was also known as Government House South. This was an elegantly restored sandstone school owned by the Government of Alberta.

From about 1997 to 2006, I organised about fourteen talks, although I didn't videotape the earlier ones. (Wish I had... they were good!)

It was interesting that he would arrive without notes and yet be prepared, although at times it seemed he wasn't sure what he was to speak on.

Yet he always gave excellent presentations. I sent out email notices to those I thought might be interested in the talks, and the rest was word of mouth. Most of the time, the theatre was full. The talks were 90 minutes long, followed by 30 minutes for questions. In the two hours, there was no intermission. Everyone, it seemed, remained spellbound.

These talks are now available again, this time on YouTube. I'm sure many viewers will find them to be just as fascinating and informative as they were back then. There were other talks given by Jan that are not included on this list either because they were not recorded or the sound quality was too poor to include.  

The video recordings have now been digitalized and produced for presentation on YouTube. It may be accessed online at or Elysium Passage – YouTube or enter the URL:

 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXpzFH6VNMQLOtqOK2SrXpg

For anyone not familiar with the speaker's background, you may find more information on him on the blog post on him listed as DR. JAN MERTA de VELEDRAD https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/dr-jan-merta  

The following is a brief summary of his life, along with a few comments from others I found online.

DR. JAN MERTA de VELEDRAD

1944-2010

For several years, I was fortunate to regularly meet him in the courthouse basement cafeteria in Calgary to discuss topics I had never encountered before and to hear about his fascinating adventures around the world in pursuit of mysteries few could comprehend.

Jan was obviously a very gifted man, I well knew, whose accomplishments exceeded those of any other man I have ever met or even heard of on earth.  Regrettably, there was no story written about him, although a biography was in progress by Christopher Bird (coauthor of The Secret Life of Plants), who unfortunately passed away before completing it. A Czech movie script focusing on segments of his dramatic life had been completed but not filmed, which included his harrowing escape from Czechoslovakia homeland in 1968 and segments of his being trapped below the sea with a dead scientist in a deep water experiment that went wrong.

From the Canadian Who’s Who profile (1997), below, you can see his vast accomplishments, but there’s much more to his story than what is enumerated here. He was an intriguing mix of a scientist (with several patents to his credit), an adventurer (the deepest dive in the ocean to date), a mystic, and a psychic who ‘just knew’ things. It’s no wonder he was regarded by many as the world’s most accomplished man.

There are many fascinating personal stories yet to be told about him tell and I trust that at least some will be written someday to inspire us all. I have included some of my own recollections on my blog post, Dr Jan Merta, at https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/dr-jan-merta

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In Commemoration

Former NEB Chief Inspector of diving – Dr. Jan Merta – passes away.

By CADC Admin, on June 21st, 2011

We just learned that Dr Jan Merta passed away on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010, after a short illness. Jan had recently retired in Canada and was moving back to his home in the Czech Republic. Jan was instrumental in CADC's early formation and a pioneer in the diving industry.

Thanks, Jan, for your contribution to our industry …………

Dr Merta possesses nearly thirty years of extensive international experience
in the areas of advanced subsea technology operations, modern safety
management, risk analysis, incident and accident investigation, onshore
oil and gas pipelines as well as facilities inspections, management, and safety
audits, and regulatory development stemming primarily from his involvement
in the oil and gas industry, the subsea services industry and in the government service.

In addition to his longstanding position as the Chief Inspector of Diving
for the Government of Canada, he has been appointed under the Canada Oil
and Gas Act by the Minister for Energy Mines and Resources as
a Conservation Officer, and under the Canada Labour Code Part II,
as a Heath and Safety Officer. Furthermore, he has been designated under
the National Energy Board Act as an Inspection Officer for the Canadian Oil
and Gas Industry.

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A letter by Glenn Frazinn, submitted to "The Latest Diving News" in the CADC diving magazine in 
July 13, 2015

"Dr Jan Merta was one of the finest men on this planet. No man had a more diverse background and a quench for learning and wisdom than did Jan. I met him years ago through another wonderful man John Cejka who is also gone and developed a warm and lasting friendship with Jan. If the essence or spirit of a man could help our planet and mankind the blueprint is in Jan Merta. A great man. A wonderful and loyal friend. This Earth is better for having him on it. Lightspeed and beyond."

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Anonymous

Dr Jan Merta de Velehrad (1944-2010) was a remarkable individual who lived an incredible life. Considered by the International Biographical Center in England as one of the last Renaissance Men, he has been nominated to the Guinness Book of Records as the “Most Accomplished Man in the World”. 

Educated in Czechoslovakia, Canada, UK and USA, he held a BSc degree from McGill University in Montreal and a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the Aberdeen University in Scotland, along with more than 50 other degrees, diplomas, and certificates, covering close to 40 different occupations. 

Listed in 18 “Who's Who” type publications, he was a recipient of numerous domestic as well as international awards and honours, and memberships spanning 23 professional and civic societies. He was an inventor, scientist, international lecturer, and pioneer in the field of Deep Sea Diving, the author and co-author of diverse articles and technical publications, as well as on the subject of various articles and interviews on radio and television. Intrigued by the ancient mysteries, he spent years in Egypt investigating the secrets of the Great Pyramid.

His library of 6,000 books was likely the largest and finest private collection of its kind worldwide, assembled over his lifetime.  

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Below, I have included his 1997 Canadian Who's Who profile, although in here, there is no mention of his many honorary titles that were bestowed on him in Europe 

MERTA de VELEHRAD, Jan, B.Sc., PhD, psychologist, artist, reverend, scientist, diving systems engineer, marine safety and management systems auditor, safety officer, civil servant, international lecturer, b. (Stare Mesto), Czechoslovakia 1944, Technical Trade School (Slusovice), Trade Diploma 1962, College of Social Law (Prague), 1964-68, McGill University (Montréal), B.Sc. 1971, Univ. of Aberdeen (Scotland), PhD (expr. psych.) 1978, University of Edinburgh (Scotland), Certificate Stylometrics 1984, Carleton University (Ottawa) Fire Engineering Course 1985, International Loss Control Institute (Atlanta, USA), Diplomas in Risk Management and Safety Auditing 1992, Advanced Loss Control, Modern Safety Management. 1993, Accident Investigation 1994, CHIEF INSPECTOR OF DIVING, GOVT. OF CANADA 1981-- , army service 1962-64, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Sign and Market Place magazines. 1972-74, company president., guest lecturer, deep sea diver and diving supervisor offshore oil platforms North Sea, Middle East, Africa and North America 1974-78, Director of Research and Development for major diving companies in Scotland, Kuwait and America 1978-81, Operations Manager, World's First Diving Hospital (Dundee, Scotland) 1976, Project Manager with over 30 Research and Development projects, investigating the Ocean Ranger Oil Rig disaster 1982, provided diving expertise deep sea diving & salvage operations including. gold recovery from H.M.S. Edinburgh 1981, salvage Ocean Ranger 1984, M.V. Trans Pacific 1987, Piper Alpha 1988, Captain K 1990, Nadine 1991 and Irving Whale 1996, as scientist participated in a majority of ULTRA-DEEP diving expertise programmes conducted during the past 20 yrs. including record dives to 1600 feet, University of Pennsylvania 1976, to 2250 feet, Duke University 1982 (world record), considered candidate for first Canadian. Astronaut Program 1983, Diploma certified in speciality of Hyperbaric Medicine (USA) 1989, holds two British patents, various patents pending, recipient, Special Merit Award Canadian. Diving Ind. 1985, Commemorative Medal of Honour (USA) 1988, International. Leadership Hall of Fame (USA) 1988, International Cultural Diploma of Honour (UK) 1989, World Biographical Hall of Fame (USA) 1989, The International Hall of Leaders (USA) 1988, Certificate of Merit for distinguished service to community (UK) 1988, Certificate of Achievement for outstanding and continuous support of Canadian. Diving Industry 1996, Charter recipient of The 20th Century Award of Achievement (UK) 1992, American Biographical Inst., Man of the Year 1990 and The Most Admired Man of the Decade 1992, International Man of the Year (UK) 1991, Rsch. Advisor of the Year (USA) 1991, One in a Million (UK) 1992, The Most Admired Men and Women of the Year (UK) 1993, World Intellectual 1993, International Biographical Centre (U.K.), nominated for Frank Dearman Award of Merit (UK) 1991, The International Order of Merit (UK) 1991, Lifetime Achievement Academy (USA) 1991 and the Galletti Memorial Award (USA) 1993, Awarded Plaque of Distinction as well as Roll of Honor Plaque 1989, International Hall of Leaders 1988, Silver Shield of Valor (USA) 1992, Hon. D.Sc., London Research. Institute. (UK) 1994, Meritorious Plaque of Excellence, Canadian. Association of Diving Contractors 1997, listed in: Internat. Who's Who of Intellectuals, Man of Achievement, Who's Who in the World, The Internat. Directory of Distinguished Leadership, The Five Hundred Leaders of Influence, Dictionary of Internat. Biography, 5000 Personalities of the World, Internat. Registry of Profiles, Book of Dedications, The First Five-Hundred, Who's Who in Internat. Hyperbaric Medicine, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, American Men and Women of Science, International. Book of Honor, Internat. Leaders of Achievement, Hon. appointment Adv. Ctte. Seneca Coll. 1983, Chairman Canadian Standard Bd. Ctte. Survival Suits 1983-96, Chairman, Canadian Association. Ctte. on Diving competency 1993-- , Deputy Governor Amerian. Biographical Inst. 1988--, Hon. member., Advisory Council International Biographical Centre (U.K.) 1990, first Honorary Life Member., Canadian Association Diving Contractors 1993, first Honorary NEWTSUIT Pilot 1995, First Honorary Member, Slovak Royal Association (Kosice) 1996, Board of Advisers Adv., Stroke Centre, Fort Lauderdale 1990, member of Board of Medical Technologies Management (Florida) 1990, Vice-President, Institute of Mental Physics (California) 1994, Vice-President., International Society of Hyperbaric Medicine (Italy) 1990-94, Senator and Member of High Chamber, International Parliament for Safety and Peace (Palermo) 1990, Regional Representative for Information Swedenborg (Calgary) 1992, ordained as Preceptor and Church Minister-at-Large (USA) 1993, co-author Exploring the Human Aura 1976, Canadian Oil and Gas Diving Regulations 1988, and 18 National Safety and Technical Standards, author various news articles and tech. papers, interviewed numerous internat. TV and Radio shows, cited various books, magazines & news articles, lectured on over sixty different subjects, guest speaker international symposiums, conferences & seminars, Founder Fellow, Institute of Diagnostic Engineers. (UK) 1981, Fellow, Institute Petroleum. (Scotland) 1981, Fellow, Institute International Biographic Association (UK) 1988, Founder, Canadian. Society Psychic Research. 1973, Canadian Association Diving Contractors 1982, Merta Spiritual Centre 1989, and International Institute for Harmonious Development of Body and Mind (Ottawa) 1989, Chairman Czechoslovak Association Canada, Ottawa Branch. 1986-91, Founder and Chief Spokesman, International Movement Let's Help Democracy in Eastern Europe 1990-92, Co-founder and Executive Ctte. Member for International Day of Democracy 1990-92, Assoc., Institute Mechanical Engineers. (UK) 1982, Institute Marine Engineers. (UK) 1988, Member Undersea Medical Society (USA) 1978, American College of Hyperbaric Medicine 1989, Dinshah Health Society (USA) 1992, Institute Patents & Patentees (UK) 1981, Ancient Astronaut Society (USA) 1982, Canadian Standards Assn. 1982, British Psychology Society 1983, Canadian Fire Safety Association 1985, Society Fire Protection Engineers (Canada) 1985, Canadian, General Standards Board 1988, Marine Technology Society (USA) 1989, International Society for Hyperbaric Medicine 1990, International Society of Accredited Safety Auditors (USA) 1992, Society of Petroleum Engineers (USA) 1992, Institute Marine Safety Auditors (Canada) 1992, Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada 1993, Deep Submersible Pilots Association (USA) 1996.

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The following excerpts are comments 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 the full reviews, go to READER REVIEWS on this blog at: 
https://digitalbloggers.com/articles/elysiumspassage  

"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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 CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION

WEBSITE: www.elysiumspassage.com

FACEBOOK: Elysium's Passage Novel Series, Elysium's Passage Public Group page, Elysium's Passage Author's Page, or to my personal page Neil Meyers
INSTAGRAM: @meyersneil  

EMAIL: nmeyers@shaw.ca  

BLOG POSTINGS: https://digitalbloggers.com/articles/elysiumspassage or the website above 

YOUTUBE: Elysium Passage - YouTube or directly at the URL: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXpzFH6VNMQLOtqOK2SrXpg 

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For those not familiar with the Elysium's Passage series, it may be accessed at: https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/welcome-to-elysiums-passage  

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

 
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: climbing a remote, challenging mountain 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 becomes aware of the new reality that makes him capable of far more adventures than could have ever been experienced previously 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 connection with her, the reason for which he remains unaware.

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, in which, in Surreal Adventures, he receives virtual lessons to help him 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 embark on a mystical ocean voyage to two virtual islands supposedly in the South Pacific, where he witnesses and, at times, participates in several important life lessons.

Near the end, these encounters prepare him for a new challenge within a mountain, where he falls deep into a dark tomb of fear. After being rescued by a mysterious stranger wielding the Excalibur swor, 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 experienced in the previous novels are tied together in an exciting, fast-moving, action-packed narrative over 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 is brought to an awareness of 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 within 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 ties together all six previous narratives of the Elysium’s Passage series.