The Holy Grail
The Holy Grail:
Does the Holy Grail legend have any truth to it? When considering this the important question is (as my father said to me) "what are the origins of the holy grail" and/or of the grail legend. Firstly, the bible does not have much at all to say about the Grail, the legend is mostly extra-biblical mediaeval tradition. The earliest Christian grail stories are from William of Malmesbury (considered by some to be interpolations (not in Gildas)), Chretien de Troyes &/or Robert de Borron. Secondly, the grail is not only of Christian origin but also has (before Christ) pagan mythological roots. If the grail does not seem to have any biblical history prior/anterior to the last supper, it almost certainly will at least have (ante-)types/patterns (codes) elsewhere in the bible. Since the grail is not purely Christian, one could also argue that there will be found types of both a "good/Xtian" grail and an "evil/pagan" grail (eg harlot holding cup in Revelation).
The common basic grail story is that St Joseph of Arimathea caught blood spilt from JC's speared side in the grail. He was imprisoned (with the grail) by the Jews for a year, then was released by Vespasian. Joseph was then sent by Philip from Gaul to England in AD 63, going with group of pilgrims, & becoming the first Christian settler(s) there. Joseph brought the grail to Somerset at what was latter Glastonbury island, where he built the grail temple, installed the round table for communion, and founded an order of knights to protect the grail, the main/chief kinght becoming their king. (When Joseph passed by Glastonbury he planted his thorn staff in the ground and it later grew into a tree, the Holy Thorn, which blossomed every Xmas eve thereafter. Joseph had a son Josephus.)
In grail legends the grail can also/alternatively be symbolic for the Mary, the Sacred Heart and/or the Ark of the Covenant (all being sorts of vessels). Intriguingly there is a tradition that the Ark is under Golgotha/Calvary and blood from JC driped onto it like in the grail story. (Xtians are vessels of [trinity]. Occultists are vessels of force.)
Although the grail is usually described/depicted as a (golden) cup (or platter) containing blood or bread, sometimes it was a stone or a cup containing a stone. Waddell's "grail" was a stone one. The grail-stone may recall the ten commandments tablet(s), the stone of Scone, the philosophers stone, ancient (meteoric*) stone pillars/bethels (house of God), excalibur pulled from rock, water struck from rock by Moses, the cornerstone, the shetiyah fndtn stn of world. The gold recalls the Ark, tears/blood/skin of gods, fire-purified/tested (vs bronze).
In Celtic myth the grail corresponds to a magic cauldron (grail/nature) and the 'greal'-liquor it distilled (blood/name). The holy blood/bread and/or greal recalls the Indian Soma, Oceanic Kava, Germanic Kvasir, mead, Slav/Mongol kumiss, tree of life/knowledge & river of life, manna, elixir, fountain of youth, Judas' sop. (2 drinks one of rejuvenation, other of inspiration.) Some have interpreted the holy blood theme as a literal blood descent from Jesus Christ (to the Merovingian Frankish dynasty of kings). The grail cup recalls ancient cupbearers, drinking horns/horn of plenty, cauldrons, brazen sea (sacred lake).
In a radio drama of the story of Telemachus the Arian Goths had a special communion cup though I have not been able to find out whether this was in the original traditional story or whether it is an addition on the producer's part. Godwin links the grail with the Cathars.
So what is the relevance of all this? To Christians artefacts/relics can not save us (whether they have some practical value (eg tree of life) or not), the issue is rather about grace/faith vs pride/mammon. A Christian artefact would not be of any magical value to non-Christians. To occultists the grail is a symbolic ritual tool or operative fiction in the work of the indiviual becoming a manifestation of God. The question is not the origin of the grail so much as the origin of man: creation or evolution/emanation.
*Meteorites were ancient source of iron/stone hence heaven figured as stone or metal in Persian & other myths. The grail was traditionally fashioned from a jewell (green emerald) that fell to earth from the Devil's crown during his descent to hell. The name grail has been related to crater. (Cp flying saucer?) (Incidentally the Ark of the Covenant was the earthly copy/counterpart of the Ark in the temple in heaven.) The jewell recalls the jewell in the lotus.
*JC said I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers kgdom. Before crucifying him they offered him wine mixed with gall but when he tasted it he would not drink it. Later before giving up ghost one of them held up a sponge of vinegar for him and John says he received it. This is no contradiction: a pastor explained that there was another cup at the last supper which JC was refering to, and he will drink from this cup at the marriage supper of the lamb & the bride.
Refs: G Hancock, E Sykes, M Murray, M Godwin, Baigent/Lincoln/Leigh, LA Waddell, B Walker, [G Lucas], Hinnells, A Room, Newnes. [Acknowls: KG Hindson, Libronix/Logos, [Rhema/cell grp], Last Days Ch.]
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Sunday, February 5th, 2006
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