A Map of the Runner’s Route

In A Map of the Runner’s Route, the NASA astronaut becomes, like Christ, both the goal of the poet’s hermetic opus and a solar symbol of the Self. As Andrew Murray emphasizes in The Spirit of Christ, each believer ＂must learn to know that there is a holiest of all in that temple which he himself is; the secret place of the most high within us must become the central truth in our temple worship＂ (160). Thus, ＂the spiritual, inner and complete man＂-the ＂long-sought＂ or ＂sought-after＂ believer-priest of Isaiah 62.12-is not only Christ, but also the bride of Christ, ＂the shaman that wives＂ (＂Posthuman,＂ l. 24). In truth, New Heaven’s hierophant is none other than ＂the indescribable and super-empirical totality＂ that is ＂partly empirical, partly transcendental＂ (C. G. Jung, Mysterium Coniunctionis 536). Still, for many readers, the link to New Heaven-＂Both male and female, Christ without remorse＂ (＂Link,＂ l. 23)-may seem as elusive as ＂a wordless thought＂ (＂The Location of Earth,＂ l. 16). Nevertheless, as the NASA astronaut attests, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, ＂I hold Transcendence captive in my hand＂ (＂Self-Recollection,＂ l. 8).