The Quest of the Grail Warrior

The Grail Legends continue to be a source of wonderment and inspiration, especially in these times of scientific materialism when the feminine principle is seeking to re-emerge. The themes of self-transformation and the discovery of one's true spiritual identity are as potent today as when the tales were first spun. The adventures of the Knights of the Round Table and their companions still retain an aura of mystery and magic, and serve as rich metaphors of the path of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. In the frenetic and chaotic current scene, these stories evoke images of a time when life had deep meaning and purpose, when great deeds and people of integrity were commonplace, and when the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of all things could be readily experienced.

The Legends, as all things, have both their exoteric and esoteric significance. Taken literally, they are stories of heroism, chivalry, allegiance to a cause. The adventures are always interesting, the cast of characters fascinating. Yet were this all, they would not continue to capture the modern imagination.

Thinly veiled beneath the exterior events is the symbolism of the Ageless Wisdom, the Mystery Tradition that has abided with humankind since the dawn of creation. Through symbol, myth and metaphor, the undying truths of universal law are revealed to those who read with open heart and mind. Within the descriptions and experiences told in the Legends, and the very nature of the Quest itself, lie those eternal truths that have always sought to inspire and guide individuals along the path of transformation toward wholeness and harmony.

The Round Table is clearly a symbol of completeness and integration, of an all-encompassing reality whose central tenets were allegiance to a greater Truth and the fulfillment of individual destiny within a framework of love and service. It also refers to the zodiac, another metaphor for the cyclical dance of Light and Dark within the human experience. Each of the twelve seats represented one of the signs, and the knights took on and acted out the associated qualities and traits. Arthur, as king and leader, embodied the principles of coherence and centering, authority and stability, inspiration and leadership.

The particular coat-of-arms, shield and armor of the various knights richly portrayed the aspects of each astrological sign. Lancelot, for example, is strongly linked with Capricorn, and the element of Earth. The conflicts inherent in this stage of unfoldment center upon service and selflessness opposing individual egoism and earthly desires. Torn between his love for both Arthur and Guinevere, he goes mad. He is unable to reconcile these dualities, yet in the end his loyalty to Arthur wins out.

Galahad, in another vein, is in many ways the archetypical Aries, embodying the element of Fire. Although headstrong and brash, he is totally motivated by purity of purpose, and thus he alone achieves the Grail. He is fully an agent of the Cosmos, allowing himself to be guided by intuition and inner knowing. He avoids the rational conflicts and endless agonizing that proved to be the downfall of Lancelot. Through the synthesis of male and female qualities, he is able to fulfill the Quest.

The pursuit of the Grail, after all, is the deep and enduring search for one's selfhood. Each of us is charged, upon incarnating, to discover who and what we are, and then to use that identity in the service of Spirit. Initially, the path centers upon outer events and circumstances, as one grapples to give an enduring meaning and significance to experiences. Through pain and suffering, the ego becomes more flexible and permeable, and the inner realm competes with the outer for attention. Events are seen as learning situations, with every circumstance and person a teacher come to help us learn about ourselves. Coming to terms with one's demons and unresolved patterns is the ultimate challenge. As the fears and limitations are faced with courage, perseverance and resiliency, the walls separating one from the presence of Spirit dissolve, and the Grail is revealed in all its splendor.

In the Legends, these inner daimons and ghosts take human form, and the battles are fought with sword, lance and cunning. Symbolically, the sword represents the power of intellect to cut away illusion and reveal truth; the lance is the power of fire that purges the old and creates space for new life. The Grail is the chalice of the Goddess, the qualities of love and redemption that complete the transformational process. The physical element is the Earth itself, the questing ground, for here not only are lessons learned, but also where Spirit is served.

At the turning of the new millennium, as fear, greed, equivocation and mediocrity run rampant in the land, it is of great importance that the balance be tilted firmly in the direction of grace, honor, courage and integrity. As the Questers of old, we too are charged with the grave yet joyful responsibility of being cup-bearers, keepers of the Divine Flame of Love and Truth. For it is through us, as awakening souls, that the salvation of Earth and Humanity can be achieved.

And so, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, the end of our wanderings are but to return to the place where we began, and to truly know it for the first time. With wisdom as our gift, the blessings of Spirit allow each of us to begin the fulfillment of that promise made long ago — to be truly ourselves, to fulfill our destiny, and to play our part in the Great Work of transforming our Earth.