RELATIONSHIPS

Jun 07, 2021 - 04:27 Leave a Comment 947 views

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RELATIONSHIPS

PERSPECTIVES FROM ELYSIUM’S PASSAGE

The topic of relationships is multidimensional, perhaps, because we, as humans, are multi-dimensional beings, whether we’re aware of it or not. In this post, I include a few excerpts from Books Two and Three from the Elysium's Passage series that discuss relationships on a deeper level than might be found in popular literature. This involves the spiritual dynamics of what lies below the surface of relationships, meaning, our entanglement with all that exists.

These quotes are only brief samples of what’s discussed in much greater depth throughout the books in Elysium’s Passage novel series.

This first section is an examination of loving relationships.

Chapter Four, The Summit

What you’re missing here,’ Mo said, ‘is that others can only love you in as much as you love yourself. Doesn’t this make sense? When you can’t love yourself, how can you expect anyone else to? I think probably this was the case with your romantic relationships. It’s not because they didn’t want to love you, but how could they when you weren’t capable of loving yourself or accepting what they wished to give you?’

‘It sounds like you think you have me all figured out, Mo. But I’m not sure you do.’

‘Then why did you keep jilting all these women in your life. You rejected their love because you had rejected yourself, and then you blamed them for it.’

‘See how it’s all tied together?’ Eli asked. ‘Love is more than a relationship with different bodies; it’s about the union of souls, first within yourself and then with others. So, when you finally understand that giving and receiving are part of the same reciprocal process, you will recognise that’s the essence of relationships. That’s because giving and receiving are vibratory equivalents. Anyone who understands this universal principle will want to give at least as much as they receive.

‘And not just between men and women, but with everything, including things, places and events. It’s the dynamic that creates and maintains unity since everything that exists is entangled.’
‘I must confess, in the past, I haven’t given much thought to the long term. Maybe because I resigned myself to not being able to sustain a relationship for more than just a few months.’

‘That’s because failure in love has become an established pattern for you, and so you fear you won’t find lasting satisfaction with anyone. I suspect whatever you receive from them doesn’t satisfy you for any longer than it satisfies them.’

‘Depressing, isn’t it?’ I said.

‘So maybe now would be a good time to ask specifically why no one came away satisfied in these relationships,’ Mo said.

‘I don’t know; some said I was distant, but I couldn’t understand why they would say that. I was very friendly… at least in bed,’ I smiled.

‘If you knew yourself, you would understand why,’ he said. ‘It’s only through relationships you come to know who you are and who they are, and so your sense of inadequacy in relationships is a direct result of you not knowing yourself.

‘Nothing can exist alone, nothing! Not even you. Nothing exists outside of a relationship since they are the magic everyone experiences, but few understand.

This separation is how the ego wedges itself between you and your heart that it might keep you apart from the full unity of your being.

‘Only when your mind and heart unite can you become more of what you are through your Christ, your Atman, your Self, or whatever term you wish to use. And pardon me if I keep saying you. Don’t take it personally; what I mean is everyone.’

‘Allow me to add another facet to this understanding, perhaps in more inclusive terms,’ Eli said. ‘You, Mo and I are each becoming more of what we are by expanding our divine essence through each distinctive relationship that gives expression to our Infinite Source.

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This next portion takes a more philosophical perspective of the implicit relationship of parts to the whole, showing how all is not just related, but entwined throughout all creation.

Chapter 4, Quantum Leaps

Recently, we’ve given a fair amount of consideration to the topic of relationships,’ Mo said, ‘which seems to have taken on more importance for you ever since our clandestine visit with Julianne the other night.

However, I’d now like to re-examine the concepts of the holon we discussed before. These might prove helpful in providing you with a better and more comprehensive understanding of the implicit dynamics of successful relationships with the other sex.

‘As we’ve said before, everything in the Infiniverse is an intertwined relationship of parts to the whole. The whole is never just a whole, but also a part of a greater whole, all the way to the infinite Source. Though there’s much we have said on this, I wish to go beyond what we’ve previously discussed. First, I’d like to focus on the spirit body’s relation to the material body of the earth. This understanding might help you appreciate the coherence that exists between these domains.

‘To illustrate this, think of the trillions of cells comprising your earthly body. How can cells know what it’s like to be an organ, even though an organ is a unique pattern of billions of cells? Rather than bothering to examine the intricate relationship of the micro-parts to the holon of each cell, we might ask how the cell can know its relation to the organ and the organ to the complete body comprised of several organs. Each of these parts functions uniquely according to its own purpose, yet they are never separate since each needs the other to exist. For example, the liver fulfils its specific task but can only do so with the heart.

‘To take this process one step further, it may be asked how the body knows its relationship with its spirit body from which it derives life. Though each cell, organ, and body abide as a holon onto itself, it remains contained in a more inclusive holon; the cell in the organ, the organ in the body, and the body in the spirit. In turn, the spirit domain is part of a larger dynamic of holons within the cosmic spheres of the Infiniverse.

‘Mysteriously, each part contains the imprint of the whole within it, as graphically illustrated when the whole holographic image appears in an isolated part of a hologram. In this way, each cell has the information of what remains enfolded, be it contained in the whole of the organ, body, or spirit. The communication continues to flow, such as what occurs in the mind’s thoughts, instantly sensed by each cell.

‘As an example of this interconnectivity,’ Mo continued, ‘we may examine the hologram of a human figurine and see the whole in any supposedly isolated part, even within a finger. We may also consider the whole multiverse as being holographic.[1]

‘That’s why Omnipresence can never be apart from the divine energy extended to all creation through whatever forms manifest and re-manifest for all eternity in God’s thoughts. So, as we discussed yesterday, nothing can be isolated from the Source extended into all creation. Not even humanity when it mistakenly believes itself to be separate.

‘Some may object and say darkness is separate from light, but that would be wrong because, as we’ve said before, darkness is an absence of what is. Darkness is not separated from light since there’s nothing to be separated, only an absence of what is.’

‘That would seem to be the Buddhist’s perspective,’ I said, ‘which seems to lack a proper appreciation and acknowledgment of the individuated self. I’ve never liked that about the Hindu and Buddhist philosophies. It’s not realistic.’

‘You may be right about that,’ Mo said, ‘at least from the Western world’s perspective. Regardless of which dimension, everything in the multiverse is individuated, yet one with the same divine essence. That would have to be the case, or nothing could exist.’

‘You mean individuated units of the undifferentiated substrata?’ I asked. ‘Is that not a serious contradiction.’

‘It depends on how you look at it,’ Eli said. For example, each snowflake has its own individuated form even though its molecular essence comprises the same H2O atoms.

‘For sentient beings, this uniqueness is experienced as individuated consciousness within the universal field of consciousness that religions call God. This individuation is necessary for relationships to exist since it’s only within union that love finds expression in any meaningful form.

‘How else could the Source express love outside relationships, since love can only exist when authenticated in relationships, regardless of its form, be it art, music or lover?’

‘Lover, that’s you, James,’ Eli said. ‘Are you listening?’

‘Here we go again,’ I said, ‘back on the topic of relationships where we started.’

‘Which is not surprising,’ Mo said, ‘considering how all creation is an expression of relationship. Logically speaking, then, there can be no real separation within divine consciousness.

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This next section is less philosophical, and more spiritually oriented on relationships

From Chapter 6 Quantum Leaps

'As long as your vision remains limited to that of the earth plane, you can’t help but distort higher realms of experience. But when you see it through the lens of Elysées,[2] you will experience what can only be understood in silence. As Kierkegaard once stated this truth, Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining silent is capable of speaking essentially.[3] Only in the holy awe of silence can there be authentic knowingness.’

‘I’ve always found Kierkegaard a bit too intense for my taste,’ I said. ‘But anyway, give me a clue how you would define Elysium’s higher-order.’

‘One word says it all,’ Mo said. ‘Love! There is no higher reality than love, for God is love and so there can be no other reality, all else is illusion.’

‘That’s it?’ I asked. ‘There’s got to be more to reality than that.’

‘When you understand love, nothing more need be said, it just is. It fills all attributes of truth flowing from the fountainhead of the Source that expresses itself in each relationship embraced.’

‘Yes, I remember you saying that before,’ I said, ‘in fact, several times. But to me, this still sounds too abstract.’

‘Let me put it this way to help you understand,’ he said. ‘For you to truly love is to experience the other in spiritual union. Love cannot subsist on its own but must authenticate itself in relationships; to love and be loved, as both the experiencer and the experienced. In the higher realms, there are unlimited manifestations of love, each expressing their uniqueness.

‘Understand that the essence of Elysium is relational; therefore, it cannot be defined in physical terms, whether they be streets of gold, harps, clouds, pearly gates or garish mansions. Instead, what is experienced is the projection of one’s inward affections.

‘Fear, being the opposite of love, is as darkness to light, projects the illusion of separation. Even though much of the world perceives fragmentation, still it remains ensconced in the whole of all that is. This means that everyone, whether they realise it or not, is entwined in a universe of relationships, even though lower realms of consciousness deny what they can’t see, that being love, the unifying ground of existence. The multiverse is composed of individuated states of self-awareness, and yet all conscious essence is of the infinite Source and is the infinite Source.

‘We say this so you may appreciate the true meaning of relationships. Separation objectifies rather than unifies. To help bring this home to you, ask yourself if you, in your many relations with women, have ever experienced a true union of souls, rather than just bodies? Understand that the essence of each relationship is a unique expression of union, forever changing the perceptions of what before seemed separate.’

(Later in this chapter, James, the protagonist, reflects on his past relationships)

In the past, my worldview had been more informed by my intellect rather than the intuition of my heart. After years of being immersed in the world of books and papers, I gave no thought to cultivating the pure affections of my heart. Whenever there was someone in my life, it always turned out to be just another temporal thrill with little lasting meaning. Even with my live-in lovers, there was little soulful intimacy.

Why would things be any different now, I thought? Considering my phobic attitude towards commitment, I wasn’t sure what might happen if I one day found myself in a relationship with Julianne. Would I be able to maintain the relationship? Possibly. But only if there was something such as I had with Máire... a true affair of the heart, and not just the body.

As I continued to write these thoughts late into the night, I considered how entrenched I was in my old patterns and how these held me back from discovering this crazy little thing called love.[4] But it’s not a little thing, I thought, it’s a big thing, in fact, the biggest. I remember Mo, once saying, 'our earthly relationships, be they eros-sexual, philia-friendship, storge-familial, agape-divine, or some other category of love, are all divine expressions of God, the Source.

'Though it might seem incomprehensible,’ he said, ‘the Source is the divine Holon of all that is or could be, ever creating and evolving further into its likeness. It can never end since it implicitly exists in pure potentiality, forever expanding to further completeness. A paradox, yes, but then, infinity will always remain a paradox until we transcend the rational limitations of our humanity.

‘Perhaps one way to understand this is to imagine being part of a large loving family that keeps getting larger and larger. Though one may have a whole and complete family, what happens when another child is born? Suddenly, there’s a more perfect family that would no longer be as complete without the new child.

‘Does that make sense, James? If so, this is one way to understanding, in prosaic terms, how the inward conatus of love must always grow and expand, since its nature is to become more of what it is through unlimited creativity and expansion. For this reason, love can never remain static; it must always reach out to create more of itself. That’s the nature of Source – and so it must be our nature too.’

Footnotes

[1] An excellent discussion on this topic is found in The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot.
[2] As noted in Book One, Eli generally preferred to say Elysées, the French version of Elysium, having lived in Paris for a short time, where much of the culture had embraced the name.
[3] Fear and Trembling; published in 1843 by Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813-1855)
[4] Perhaps I was thinking of a song with this title by Queen, a British Rock band, written by guitarist Freddie Mercury in 1979

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In conclusion, the following quotes on relationships are from Chapter 6, Relationship, in A Course of Love. I consider these truly profound and summarize much of what's included in this post.

'No one thing exists without the another. Cause and effect are one.
Thus, one thing cannot cause another without being one joined in truth.'

'Every joining, every union that you enter into, your real world is increased.'

'God is known to you within relationships, as this is all that is real.'

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SUMMARY OF ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE NOVEL SERIES

Elysium's Passage is a series of seven narrations 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.

To read a sample press review at https://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15515775.htm

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The following comments are excerpts from among the first readers, including a number of Amazon five star reviews. To read the full reviews, go to READER REVIEWS on www.elysiumspassage.com or directly at https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/reader-reviews

"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.”

"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…"

“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."

"I am really enjoying your book, it’s fantastic! It is so incredible and diversified that I can’t really explain it to other people, so what I say is just read this book. Thank you so much for the blessings that you’ve given the world!"

“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 our 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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