PROLOGUE TO THE SERIES

Aug 09, 2018 Leave a Comment 3400 views

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PROLOGUE

ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE SERIES

Hi, my name is James. I’m a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at one of the universities in London, England. Don’t let that concern you though, I don’t wish to overwhelm you with a lot of philosophical terms, concepts and jargon in order to show you how clever I am. In fact, my girlfriend says I may not be as smart as I sometimes think. Although I know she’s just trying to keep me humble, I think she’s probably right. I mean, if we are to be honest, what do any of us understand about ultimate reality; we hardly see anything past our entrenched beliefs and narrow prejudices.

In The Summit, my first narrative of the Elysium’s Passage series, you will witness me receiving my comeuppance as a slightly cocky know-it-all instructor. Yes, I was beaten, whipped, broken and laid bare: stripped of all my intellectual pretences. Well, at least it felt that way to my bruised ego. But I now understand how necessary it was for me to learn these important lessons in humility before I could acquire true wisdom.

The challenges and events I encountered did much to rid me of the rubbish that had accumulated in my mind over the years. I didn’t realize it then, but I had acquired many limiting beliefs that impaired my ability and desire to comprehend an infinitely larger reality, far beyond what could be discerned through the foggy lens of this world. Not long after arriving in the Andes for a mountain climbing expedition, I was confronted with a totally different ascent than what I had anticipated.

As you follow along, you may come to agree that what I experienced was the ultimate life adventure! Having survived this crash course, I came to understand all the clever stuff I thought I knew before wasn’t so clever after all. In fact, much of it was just plain wrong. Too often in the past, my thoughts were like shape-shifting clouds drifting in whatever direction the winds of professional acceptability blew. What I came to understand during my time on the mountain summit, is that we all have an inherent capacity to access higher wisdom that informs and transcends the limitations of our reasoning mind.

By discovering who we are, we come to understand that truth is accessed from within the centre of our being, metaphorically referred to as the heart. Sure, the cold calculating intellect may be the processor of information, but its analysis is of limited temporal value if it doesn’t join with the heart’s wisdom. Pascal said in his Pensées, the heart has its reasons, which reason cannot know.

What I came to discover was how to discipline my confused mind to hear what my heart had to say first. With my academic orientation, it wasn’t an easy lesson to learn. It was some time after returning home from this prolonged adventure that I decided to compose a narrative of what happened to me, although it was almost a year before I became aware of the extraordinary events that had transpired in my conscious life. More correctly, I didn’t decide to write about my adventure so much as I was compelled to put it out there by some very persistent and militant muses. I trust you will find it just as compelling to read as it was for me to write it. Much of what I first discovered came from a long series of discussions I had with a couple of companions I met on this mountain summit far more advanced than me and what they communicated was often contrary to what I thought I knew.

And so, not only did I have to become a student all over again, I also had to unlearn many of my old assumptions. I didn’t realize it then, but I had been thoroughly inculcated with many unsubstantiated beliefs through years of institutional teaching and conditioning. I recognize, therefore, what I say may not be appreciated or judged favourably by colleagues holding to their fixed views on the meaning of reality.

I also wish to relate what one of my wise friends on the Mountain asked me to communicate to humanity. He said we should discover how to live as spirit when we’re not a spirit. By this, I think he meant we should try to become more aware of how we are immortal spirits inhabiting a mortal body on earth for a very brief period of time. If we understand this, we will live not for only the outward world of form, but primarily in accord with the spiritual essence of what we are, now and forever.

I didn’t understand this before, but since returning, I have no doubt he was right: we are spirits utilizing our outward material form to give purpose and dignity to our lives. No matter how many bodily distractions draw us away from this realization, I believe if we take the time to look deeply within it becomes obvious how infinitely expansive the Source of our spirit is.

You may wonder why the name Elysium is found throughout this series of books. The word possesses a rich variety of meanings associated with the idea of paradise and the afterlife in classical prose and poetry found first in Homer, then in other works by such poets as Virgil, Plutarch, Shakespeare, Dante and Schiller.

It will be shown in the first book how and why this name was chosen. These five narratives are not intended to only discuss interesting ideas and concepts, but to take you on a sensational and often enchanting spiritual journey: my journey.

I invite you now to join me on my trek into Elysium’s Passage as we explore a universe that allows for infinite adventures and inward expansion. I experienced a surreal free-fall into a new consciousness that led me to discover who I am and am continuing to become. Through these tales, it is my desire that you will be inspired to plunge into a deeper realm of conscious awareness as you find your own surreal portal that leads towards Elysium.

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Author's Pictography
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/picto-bio

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Chapters available on this blog site for ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE: THE ASCENT

1. Elysium's Passage: The Ascent. Chapter One
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/Elysiums-Passage-Chapter-One

2. Elysium's Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Two
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/Elysiums-Passage-Chapter-Two

3. Elysium's Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Three
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/chapter-three

4. Elysium's Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Four
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/chapter-four

5. Elysium's Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Five
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/the-ascent-chapter-five

6. Elysium’s Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Six
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/the-ascent-chapter-six

7. Elysium’s Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Seven
https://digitalbloggers.com/book-reviews/the-ascent-chapter-seven

9. Elysium’s Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Eight
http://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/the-ascent-chapter-eight

10. Elysium’s Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Nine
https://digitalbloggers.com/book-reviews/the-ascent-chapter-nine

11 Elysium’s Passage: The Ascent. Chapter Ten
https://digitalbloggers.com/book-reviews/the-ascent-chapter-ten

12. Elysium's Passage: The Ascent, Chapter Eleven
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/the-ascent-chapter-eleven

PENDING PUBLICATIONS IN THE SERIES
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With the exception of the last novel, the other three have been written but still require more editing before publication.

The following titles in the Elysium's Passage series are projected to be released as follows:

THE ASCENT fall 2021

THE SUMMIT fall 2121

SURREAL ADVENTURES 2022

MYSTICAL ROMANCE f2022

HE ELIXIR spring 2023

THE RETURN 2023

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Elysium's Passage is a series of seven novels regarding a young British philosopher named James Phillips who finds himself living in an altered state of reality while still remaining 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 provide him with a very different perspective on the nature of 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 and 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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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 the 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 humour 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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