An Upraised Chalice: Adventures and Near-Death Encounters in my Search for the Brotherhood of Light

by Gene O'Neil

A riveting adventure travel story that filled a lifetime, an epic journey of self-discovery, with spiritual realizations and intense physical challenges along the way, including multiple near-death experiences.

Many have turned away from traditional organized religions to explore their own relationship with the Divine. The author is one of these seekers and this book chronicles his coming to terms with an inner understanding of reincarnation that he could faintly remember as a boy and sought to understand more fully as he grew older.

It follows him to many of the world's sacred placesacross Europe to the Middle East, from Jerusalem to Istanbul, then overland across Asia to Himalayan monasteries, from Darjeeling to Saranath where the Buddha taught his first sermon, from the cremation vats of Benares on the banks of the Ganges to the mystical plains of South India.

It is the inspiring story of a lifetime's quest for the sacred, ancient wisdom, alluded to by the mystical traditions

268 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Gene O’Neil is a family man, he has long been a student and he is also a teacher, a builder and world traveler. After a lifetime of extraordinary adventures in studying and experiencing first-hand the teachings of the Great Masters, he wrote it all down that his children and other children might benefit. His background includes the following:

- A lifetime of studying the Great Masters teachings
- An epic solo quest to the world’s sacred places
- Great adventures and miraculous divine intercessions
- Multiple near-death encounters (in the Himalayas, south India, and America) highlighted by Archangel Michael’s intercession detailed herein.
- Hosted group meditation retreats and conducted presentations on the Masters and the Path for 3 decades
- 15 years operating an Internet marketing agency
- A 20-year career in professional aviation as a flight instructor and corporate pilot
- 7-years in aquaculture - designed and build a state of the art aquaculture facility in a passive solar hatchery. Just after this business started making money it was closed by the state of Vermont because, a large corporation forged federal inspection reports and knowingly sold diseased fish that were not allowed in the state. After a grueling two year legal ordeal he and his family were victorious in federal court.
- Raised a family on a self-sufficient homestead he built in the mountains of southern Vermont The homestead was powered by a small hydro-electric plant that he built and operated for 17 years.
- Living long enough to write it all down

This book has been written for All, who will at some point, in the quiet moments of their lives ponder what its all about. This is not a religious story, but a story of a relentless quest and glorious discoveries across a lifetime of adventures. And though there may be concepts here that are foreign to your experience, know that I have only touched the surface of what awaits if the “hearts Fire is ready.” If what you have seen speaks to you, please share it.

Reviews

[Duane Dorman]

I must admit this is one of those books I really hated to see end, for I grew most attached to the nearness and dearness of its pages. It is rare indeed to find a book with such an open door into the very heart and soul of ones being as was the author has portrayed.
Though the depth and breadth of the material is vast in many areas of consciousness and awareness one seems to always return to a central them and intent, the oneness within each of our own hearts, to God and to God in all of life. The book provides in great specificity a number of truly amazing experiences of a truly accomplished visionary on many fronts yet there is a sweet humility and gentleness that does not overwhelm the reader allowing for greater understanding of the truths and purpose behind the experiences. God is the doer in all things and resides as Pure Love and Goodness within the heart of each one of us.
The author did a wonderful job in taking the sublime esoteric areas of his life and connecting them to the day to day reality of living ones life, shall we say the more mundane aspects all the while showing in pragmatic methodology how to deal with many areas of ones life including very real life threatening circumstances.
There book provides a great resource and primer for anyone seeking the basic fundamental needs we all have, love, health, wealth wellbeing etc. and despite the depth of the authors experience it provides an entry point for all! I most especially enjoyed the author’s ability to "paint" a picture in words making it much easier to visualize the concepts as well as the actual experiences as they were recounted.
I would challenge one and all to take advantage of the resources provided especially in the final chapter and "prove" the law in one’s own life and see what wonderful changes and the positive impact each one of us has the opportunity to bring forth. I'm primarily speaking about the daily use of the prayers/affirmations/decrees applying them to the specific areas of one’s own life as well as a way to help a world much in need.

[Shawn]

An Upraised Chalice: Adventures and Near-Death Encounters in my Search for the Brotherhood of Light - and What It Can Mean for You by Gene O'Neil is a memoir in which the author shares how he personally has sought the answers to the age-old questions, who am I and why am I here.

As a young man, he left the military in the US to travel solo across Europe, Israel and southern Asia and then back again to reestablish life in the US with the new challenge of holding onto the spiritual connection and insights he had gained on his pilgrimage, now in the far less spiritual and vastly more materialistic American society.

I found this book fascinating and encouraging. The presentation was a little confusing to follow in that he tells part of the story, then goes back to the beginning of his spiritual journey as a young man and tells it chronologically, but I understand that he was writing the story just as it came to him after his prayer and meditation each night. His purpose was not to please his audience with a well-polished finished product, but to share his experiences exactly as the spirit led without excessive editing or reorganizing.

I rate this book highly and consider it well worth reading for anyone who is open minded about religion and seeking God within and who can accept the idea that he has incredible ways of reaching out to each one of us personally.

This is one of those special books that has the potential to change one's perspective on life forever.

I received a free electronic copy of this book from Net Galley for the purpose of reviewing.

[Jayme]

Everyone is on the Path whether you're aware or not. This author shares his poignant personal story mixed with a how-to approach that's cleverly tied all together at the very end.

From a spiritual journey to a coming of age, this book leads you along from event to event and you feel yourself growing spiritually as the story unfolds.

At the end, I am in awe of this man's miraculous tales of the Brotherhood of Light and how he traverses this plane only to prepare himself for the very next incarnation.

For me personally, it being suggested I'm a "Goddess Awakening," I now hold an even better understanding of what that means. Within each of us is the opportunity to find inner peace in this world's turmoil, and as you read you can marvel at just how tumultuous this man's journey was and is.

He prepares you with an option and demonstrates in words with immense passion how critical it is to open oneself to the endless realms beyond. I will be pondering this reading for awhile as I continue to right myself along my own very rocky Path.