BE THOU MY VISION

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VpSqAcLrDI  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs 

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BE THOU MY VISION

In this post, I have revised an article I wrote on this site a few years ago called a ‘Higher Vision.’ With this post, I’ve tweaked the idea of vision with the theme of Be Thou My Vision as we move into this year with hopes and expectations of something better than what many of us experienced in 2021.

As we leave the past behind, we seek a vision of what will give us the courage to create a better world where there is love, not fear; peace, not discord; light, not darkness; freedom, not servitude.

To this end, I’ve added a few more excerpts on the topic of vision from my other novels that I’m currently editing before publication, hopefully in this new year. Rather than restate what I've already written on having a vision, these selections might be more interesting within the context of the novels.

Also, along with the words of the music, I trust this post may inspire us as we leave behind the last year of darkness, fear and authoritarianism to head into a brave new year. Btw, if you haven't already seen my post on predictions for The Coming Golden Age, you may read it here. https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and.../golden-age    

It's time we become inspired to have a ‘higher vision’ to create a world of light and freedom for ourselves by focusing on all what’s highest and best in the world and what’s within us. May we see past the forces that would diminish our personal sovereignty by demanding compliance with tyrannical threats that have shrunken many into ignominy and disempowerment.

Perhaps, some will gain strength and encouragement to endure what remains of the darkness by listening to this great Irish classic, BE THOU MY VISION.

The original Old Irish text, "Rop tú mo Baile", is often attributed to Saint Dallán Forgaill from 6th century Ireland, although some scholars date it to the 8th century. A 14th-century manuscript attributed to Adhamh Ó Cianáin contains a handwritten copy of the poem in Middle Irish and is held at the National Library of Ireland. A second manuscript is at the Royal Irish Academy, dating from about the 10th or 11th century.

I have included three performances of the song by different artists, but I haven’t decided which is my favourite, so I have included a couple more below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Optrm7lF16s    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs 
 

BE THOU MY VISION

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

 

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One of the major themes in Elysium’s Passage novel series is having a vision for, in the phrase of C.S. Lewis's Come further up, Come further in. If you are familiar with his works, you may recognise this phrase from what was cried out by the characters as they ran further up and further into the New Narnia, as described in The Last Battle, the concluding book in the Chronicles of Narnia series.

As we each ascend our Mountain further up and further in, we gain greater clarity and vision in seeing who we are while we remain on earth. Whatever path we may be on, we are all on a trek through life. James, the protagonist, shares a peculiar venture that took him further up and further in, far beyond what I could have imagined. He sensed there was more to life than he could see from his limited perspective. It wasn’t until he received his inner vision of a mountain that he knew he was called to ascend towards a much higher field of vision.

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Excerpt from Chapter Three, Book Three, Elysium's Passage: Quantum Leaps

‘Savour the journey, James. It’s only beginning. Though you may rest along the way to take in the spectacular views, realise the adventure is never over because enlightenment never ends; it only expands to a fuller vision from the heights. Wherever you find yourself, you’re always at the starting gate to go wherever you wish to go. There are always more marvels for you to see and experience along the unlimited paths yet to be discovered in paradise.

‘Unfortunately, many on the earth plane consider the body’s death to be the end of their journey, or at best, an eternal ennui of religious tedium that, if you had your druthers, you might prefer annihilation.[1] For you, however, wherever you decide to ascend will always be your highest and most noble adventure. At least until the next, and the next...’

What you say is inspiring, Eli. However, I doubt if any of this is what I will experience when I return. I see only more drudgery.’

‘It doesn’t have to be that way. ‘I brought an excerpt from what Julianne was recently reading with a much different perspective that might give you some cheer.

‘Let me read what she underlined this morning: For you know that when you return to the level ground from which you climbed, you will be different as a result of having made your ascent. The hard work is done. What you gain here you gain from what is beyond effort and learning – what you have gained will never leave you but will sustain you forevermore.’[2]

‘Indeed, that is most encouraging… and most apropos to hear, especially up here. It’s like Julianne already has me figured out, even if she isn’t yet consciously aware of it.

[1] Pascal once stated: I would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise. 
[2] From A Course of Love, Mari Peron, Book 3, Chapter 11.  

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Excerpt from Chapter Four, Book Two, Elysium’s Passage: The Summit

 

With that, they both rose to their feet and bid me adieu as they walked out the door. While I watched them make their way to the summit ridge, I heard Mo whistling the old Irish hymn, Be Thou My Vision.[1] Knowing him, I could only assume there was a message there for me.

He could be subtle at times, as he could be direct. And sometimes, the more subtle, the more direct, meaning I would have to think deeply about what he said. Was this the reason they were leaving me to myself, to find my vision, and thereby myself too?

That night, as the hymn’s tune continued to play in my mind, I asked myself what my vision was for life since it wasn’t something I had given much consideration to, at least consciously. Still, was it possible something within me, perhaps a subliminal impulse, that drew me to this mountain? As Mo and Eli suggested, an underlying vision to lift my soul beyond what I thought I was, transcending my earthly strivings towards some unfulfilled desire. If so, what might that mean for my future?

Judging by the moon, it was probably well past midnight – very unusual for them to have stayed so late. As I climbed to my loft, I continued to ponder what this vision was about. I realised, as a philosopher, that examining one’s life was never inconsequential. If Socrates considered introspection of primary significance, then it should be for me too.

With that, they both rose to their feet and bid me adieu as they walked out the door. While I watched them make their way to the summit ridge, I heard Mo whistling the old Irish hymn, Be Thou My Vision.[2] Knowing him, I could only assume there was a message there for me.

He could be subtle at times, as he could be direct. And sometimes, the more subtle, the more direct, meaning I would have to think deeply about what he said. Was this the reason they were leaving me to myself, to find my vision, and thereby myself too?

That night, as the hymn’s tune continued to play in my mind, I asked myself what my vision was for life since it wasn’t something I had given much consideration to, at least consciously. Still, was it possible something within me, perhaps a subliminal impulse, that drew me to this mountain? As Mo and Eli suggested, an underlying vision that would lift my soul beyond what I thought I was, transcending my earthly strivings towards some unfulfilled desire. If so, what might that mean for my future?

Judging by the moon, it was probably well past midnight – very unusual for them to have stayed so late. As I climbed to my loft, I continued to ponder what this vision was about. I realised, as a philosopher examining one’s life was never inconsequential. If Socrates considered introspection of primary significance, then it should be for me too.

 

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Excerpt from Chapter Nine, Book Two, Elysium's Passage: The Summit

 

what’s not so amusing is to be stuck in the Lowlands and not knowing the way out. It’s sad how many of these clever souls remain smugly entrenched in their ruts. If they had any vision, they might find their way out eventually as you did.

‘If they’re determined to believe that humanity oozed out of the primordial mud they’re stuck in, then that’s where they will remain… sinking ever-deeper into their swamp. That was you too, James, at least until you started having your vision of the Mountain, which became an invisible marker to help you find your way out. Before there’s a vision, there must first be a desire to envision what’s beyond seeing. To have no such desire is to remain lost. Or, as the proverb states, where there is no vision, the people perish.’[3] 

‘That’s very depressing. What do you want me to do about this? I mean, if that’s the world’s choice, there’s not much I can do about it, and so it’s their problem, not mine.’

‘Give them a vision, James,’

‘Of what?’

‘Of who they are! Remember, this is our message to you, and now it will be your message to them. When you have a clearer vision of who you are, many will be inspired to see who they are too. Your experiences will help them rediscover they are immortal beings, even while their bodies remain mortal on the mortal plane.’

‘That’s jolly, but how will my experiences here convince anyone of anything?’

‘You will demonstrate it, first by the light of your presence and then, if necessary, by your words. Still, you must have a clear vision of who you are before you can communicate to them who they are.’

‘That would be quite the tour de force,’ I said, laughing, ‘considering that I know bugger all about being a light. So how do you expect me to enlighten the world when I have no aspirations to become anyone’s Messiah?’

‘Maybe not, however, someday you might,’ Mo said. ‘Don’t you realise Lazarus needs a Messiah to raise him?’

‘Splendid! Then let him find one. By the way, who in bloody hell is Lazarus… and who is this Messiah?’ 

‘You are… you’re both. That’s why you need to prepare yourself.’

‘Prepare… prepare for what… where am I going?’ 

‘London. Lazarus awaits his Messiah!’ 

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For further reading on this and related topics from my blog posts, I suggest

Follow the Light
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/follow-the-light   

Mystical Beauty https://digitalbloggers.com/book-reviews/mystical-beauty

Can you Just Imagine? https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/just-imagine

Sowing Happy Seeds of Gratitude https://digitalbloggers.com/book-reviews/sowing-happy-seeds-of-gratitude

The Art of Contemplation
https://digitalbloggers.com/book-reviews/art-of-contemplation  

Guard Your Heart
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/guard-your-heart 

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SUMMARY OF ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE SERIES

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The Elysium Passage 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.

 
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 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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PENDING PUBLICATIONS IN THE SERIES

 
 

The following titles in the Elysium's Passage series are projected to be released soon.

THE ASCENT 

THE SUMMIT 

QUANTUM LEAPS 

SURREAL ADVENTURES 

MYSTICAL ROMANCE 

THE ELIXIR 

THE RETURN

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, where his body remains 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.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

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 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 eery 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 Excaliber, 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.­­­­­­­­­

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.