Return with Elixir

“The elixir of immortal life is the secret of both Eastern and Western esoteric traditions. Miles Neale guides us through cross-cultural mysteries of life, death, and psycho-spiritual transformation on an alchemical journey that leads us through the subtle pathways of our embodied being toward the ultimate ambrosia that flows from the fully awakened human heart and, in so doing, unbinds the mind and body and renews the world. This book is itself an elixir. Read it and be transformed!” * Ian A. Baker, author of The Heart of the World and Tibetan Yogat *
“Miles Neale masterfully weaves this universal quest with alchemical lore, Buddhism, Gnosticism, mythology, Western and Eastern esoteric knowledge, astrology, Balinese traditions, and more into a deeply heartfelt personal biography of rebirth. His work is invaluable to seekers on the journey to find the elixir of the True Self.” * Tjok Gde Kerthyasa, BHSc (Hom.), ADHom., founder of Tirta Usada Holistic Health *
“Miles Neale’s brilliant account of the inner quest brings together the compelling voices of mystical Christianity, esoteric Buddhism, shamanism, Jungian depth psychology, alchemy, and the cries of pain in living an authentic life right now. The reader will not only find a set of maps for the journey but also a guide to learning the taste and texture of what truly heals the human spirit as it attends, moment to moment, the passage from death to life.” * Rev. Canon Dr. Francis V. Tiso, author of Rainbow Body and Resurrection *
“Return with Elixir is a thoroughly engrossing journey. This book is for everyone. In a time where we’re all asking questions, this book will give answers and have us concentrating on what really matters.” * Damien Echols, author of High Magick *
“Miles’s account of his inner and outer pilgrimage through the dark depths of angst and into the light of the sacred is one that can motivate us all to embark on a journey toward meaning and wholeness. Return with Elixir illustrates the basic human need for authentic and embodied spiritual experience that has existed throughout time and across cultures and encourages us today to join the great heroes, yogis, and seekers of the past in facing adversity to heal our soul and find freedom.” * Christiana Polites, director of Pure Land Farms and Sowa Rigpa Institute of Tibetan Medicine *
“Return with Elixir is far more than a manual for rebirth, blending esoteric traditions East and West; it is a deeply personal and relatable story of transformation. With this map of the inner landscape in hand, led by such an expert guide, you too can embark on the sacred pilgrimage to face your worst fears, taste the nectar of compassion at your heart, and return home for the benefit of others. It reveals the secret path of converting obstacles into opportunities and making meaningful whatever miseries arise along life’s unpredictable journey.” * Geshe Tenzin Zopa, teacher at the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition *
“Miles Neale embarks on a bold journey to resurrect what has been lost in the West, reminding us of a time when medicine was experiential and deeply connected to our inner landscapes. Through visualization, pilgrimage, and psychedelics—practices that modern standards might find suspect—Miles offers a transformative process of healing that arises from within and is not reliant on external authority. He is an exceptional guide, one with whom I have walked into the darkness and for whom I am deeply grateful” * John W. Price, Ph.D., LPC, founder of Center for the Healing Arts and Sciences and host of The Sacre *
“Return with Elixir is a wonderful literary pilgrimage, taking the reader through the channels and chakras of the Tantric subtle body to taste the nectar of immortality. It is both an excellent example of comparative mysticism and a gripping personal tale of transforming human adversity into spiritual awakening.” * Glenn H. Mullin, Buddhist author, lecturer, and teacher *
“Miles dives deeply into the nature of pilgrimage, traversing the universal and time-tested path for self-inquiry, healing, and purpose that is born from our innate desire to go home, to find our way back to our true, human nature. For the life-affirming pilgrim en route to this sacred destination, this is more than a book; it is a spirit guide.” * Jake Haupert, cofounder and conscious CEO of the Transformational Travel Council *
“This heartfelt exploration of the possibilities for personal and planetary healing through a fusion of ancient esoteric traditions and modern psychotherapy is itself an elixir, one that can help bring about the transmutations we need during this turning of time’s wheel.” * John Michael Greer, author of The Twilight of Pluto and The Occult Philosophy Workbook *
“A fascinating exploration of cosmic, societal death and rebirth. The author’s traumatic journey of self-discovery is the compelling thread that skillfully weaves together Jungian psychology, mysticism, astrology, and Tibetan Buddhism into one cohesive pilgrimage of the soul. It provides a map for seekers of meaning and purpose to navigate not only the big issues of life and death but also the fears and beliefs that prevent us from realizing our full potential. A wonderful modern addition to a genre that is as old as humanity itself.” * Tony Steel, OAM, director of the Vajrayana Institute *
“Hearing the drumbeat of universal spiritual teachings and the wisdom song of the sacred feminine, Miles Neale offers himself into the reservoir of omniscient, timeless awareness. Return with Elixir is a deeply personal and inspiring account of the awakening path and finding freedom from a world of mass delusion. It shares the extraordinary magic and meaning that occurs when we melt into the clearlight network of the Dakini and reemerge as a sublime avatar of compassion in the world. It gives us practical tools to access this most valuable treasure within us all.” * Michele Loew, coauthor of The Yoga of Niguma and founding director of Vajra Yoga School *
“My teacher said: ‘One should not discard his maps until the destination is within sight.’ At this point in history, most people don’t even know they need maps! Miles is a mapmaker and guide who has seen the rocky shoals. Read this book!” * Walter Cruttenden, author of Lost Star of Myth and Time and producer of The Great Year *
“A masterful synthesis of Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. Miles beautifully weaves together disparate threads from various sources—including mythology, Jungian psychology, and Tibetan alchemy—to focus on the growth of the soul. This will be of great interest to anyone on the perennial search for meaning. For them, this book will be a revelation.” * Ray Grasse, author of The Waking Dream *
“Amidst the collapse of civilizations past, ancient cultures once turned to cosmology and mysticism to illuminate the journey from darkness to light. In Return with Elixir, Miles revives these sacred teachings—from circumambulating the Borobudur mandala to channeling the serpent energy within our subtle body nervous system—guiding us on the soul’s pilgrimage from crisis to clarity. For those seeking a manual of rebirth and ready to heed the revolutionary call to consciousness awakening, this book offers life-affirming nectar to savor.” * Patrick Vanhoebrouck, resident anthropologist at Amanjiwo, Java *
“Miles Neale takes us on an extraordinary odyssey of exploration and transformation born out of his own inner call to awaken through misfortune. This fascinating synthesis of Eastern and Western wisdom illuminates a profound and ancient mystery of transformation still alive and relevant today.” * Rob Preece, author of The Wisdom of Imperfection and Tasting the Essence of Tantra *
“Miles Neale offers readers a series of maps to help them successfully navigate their own inner states of being and thus overcome their fear, anxiety, and apathy. Learning to ‘die before you die’ is one of the primary pathways emphasized in the book as a way to triumph over yourself. Conquering oneself is the first act of every aspiring warrior of light.” * Robert Breedlove, host of the podcast What Is Money? *