The Empyrean, NOT The Imperium - very important correction - John Frusciante fansite

and, I believe, the ring with clearest flame
was that which lay least far from the pure spark
because it shares most deeply that point’s truth.

I can guess that this one will be a huge PITA for everyone who’s already put the news on their websites, but it’s just another proof that human ear or, in this particular case three pairs of ears, could be wrong. The two words are very much alike when pronounced, especially if one’s accent is specific or if one’s spoken words often aren’t that easy to understand.

The correct spelling for the new album’s name is The Empyrean rather than ~~The Imperium~~. Many thanks to “Lil Z” for confirming this here and possibly on a third-party online forum as well. I have chosen to believe them and I hope all of you will choose to believe them, too.

Now what? Why believe it? Does this make any sense? To the person writing this, it does! It makes much more sense. It makes perfect sense for anyone who’s read Dante Alighieri’s work and to people who are familiar with religious philosophies all over the world’s major religions.

Also, John’s older songs, Saturation and The Slaughter could be roughly based on the same concept, which is another “pro” here. It is very logical, actually.

However, these two words are related in ways other than linguistical, so do not despair.

So, if you would like to read a partial (possible) explanation combining notes from master studies of Italian language and literature and the encyclopedia-provided quick facts, be my guest. If you’re, however, not into literature, please don’t go wasting your finger muscles to comment on this.

First of all, the concept of spheres is something well-known from the time being and the oldest possible literature. In Dante’s times, knowing and understanding the today’s Sun system that we know today would probably result in execution. Instead of that, the cultural elite of those times rather believed in a geocentric system, where the Earth would be in the middle of it all and the planets, preceeded by The Moon, would be circling around it. As the known astronomy eqipment at that time could not foresee what’s behind; Saturn was considered to be the last planet of this system and, depending on theories, there would be a sphere or two surrounding it. Even further in history in Gallileo’s days where the thoughts of a heliocentric system were breaking through, a “sphere of non-moving stars” (also known as the firmament) would be the last sphere.

According to Dante and theologist of his and upcoming times; The Empyrean is the residence of God, located outside of time and space; surrounded by the light of angels from the previous sphere, and souls of the believers. In Empyrean, the souls of all believers form petals of an enormous rose with white petals. Therefore, this is the only real home of the angels and the redeemeed and their blessedness contains in an eternal vision of the God.

There, near and far do not subtract or add;
for where God governs with no mediator,
no thing depends upon the laws of nature.

The first moment God is seen in The Empyrean appears in Canto XXVIII (28 for those who do not like Roman numerals) when Beatrice and Dante are standing at the edge in Primum Mobile (also known as Crystalline, Crystal sphere, 9th sphere, or 9th heaven) and looking at God, who is a point of light surrounded by angels. The nine circles are all moving and are blindingly bright.

From Canto XXX to Canto XXXIII, Dante is in the Empyrean and, at the very end, he’s talking to God. Throughout his ascension to the Empyrean, he is trying to determine the difference between the earthly and spiritual. At the same time, he is discovering the true meaning of love, through his visions of Beatrice, who tells him that only her Maker has all the joy. He’s drinking from a stream which is often considered to be Dante’s interpretation from the Psalm 36’s fountain of life, still looking at Beatrice. This is also a reference to the truth, as the soul’s insatiable thirst.

So, what would be the second similarity between The Empyrean and ~~The Imperium~~, other than their being pronounced in an almost indentical fashion?
Beatrice is telling Dante of the great Henry who will come “to set Italy straight before she’s ready”; describing events that would happen thirteen years later. The whole Paradiso is filled with the ideal of an empire, until the point after which human affairs are no longer discussed.

Interesting Observations

The Empyrean is a place beyond physical existence.
The Empyrean is, according to critics disecting Dante’s work, moved solely by LOVE as there is no physical movement involved, which is not the case with the other nine spheres, which all move faster and faster (as in I feel the faster I’m moving the more I’m slowing down… a mere coincidence or lyrics mastery?).
Curiously, The Empyrean is the 10th sphere of heaven, and it will be John’s 10th solo album, containing 10 songs.
According to Aristotle, next to the four known elements, Earth, wind, water and fire, the spheres of heaven also contain an aetherial transparent fifth element (quintessence), like jewels set in orbs. Aether is often mentioned in poetry, prose and other forms of literature.
In medieval and renessainse astronomy, the Empyrean is stated to be habitation of God and all the elect.
Beatrice’s face and her eyes in particular are leading levitating Dante through this realm beyond known (as in I’ll know her face a mile away, she’ll take me straight to that gate.). The metaphore of the look in one’s eyes is the most important metaphore throughout Paradiso. It’s also a style element of Dolce Stile Nuovo, but that might be a bit too much for an average reader here.

For further reading

So? I’ll leave you with the very end of The Divine Comedy.

A l’alta fantasia qui mancÃ² possa;
ma giÃ volgeva il mio disio e ‘l velle,
sÃ¬ come rota ch’igualmente Ã¨ mossa,
l’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.

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