Key to the Sacred Pattern

07 February 2016

Back to Holy Grail Basics: Elements of the Grail Progression in Chrétien de Troyes’ “Perceval, the Story of the Grail”



A few months back I was approached by someone who was familiar with my interest in Grail lore and had a number of questions about “all things” Holy Grail related. About an hour into the discussion, he asked me, “If you were trying to find the actual Holy Grail, how would you do it?” I’m fairly use to folks asking me about the odd tidbits of Grail lore or stories about objects like the Nanteos Cup, but a real discussion about how one would go about finding the Grail was something quite unexpected. Of course, this question was posed in the spirit of an intellectual exercise and not a “pack your bags and fetch your passport” conversation. Be that as it may, I fear now the answer I gave this person was not as fully formed as I might have liked. Having a little distance from the conversation, I now know how I wished I had answered that question.

Possibly the most difficult proposition for answering such a weighty question is defining the Grail. I’ve always held that the Grail can be many things simultaneously. For example, if the Grail is a cup (or cups) used at the Last Supper, that doesn’t mean that the Grail can’t also be symbolic of Jesus and Mary Magdalene having a child. If one accepts that Biblical narratives are at least a pale reflection of historical events, there was a Passover Seder before Jesus was crucified that would have involved the use of cups. Those cups used at that Seder could have been kept and venerated as objects of religious import. Furthermore, Jesus could have been married to Mary Magdalene at the time and the symbolism of san graal (holy blood) was assigned by certain groups to this “secret.” So we’re faced with a situation where the Grail is both a physical object and a bit of arcane knowledge. One could apply the Grail’s “multiple personalities” to just about any number of Grail theories and still come out with all of those theories being somewhat valid.

One is then faced with the question of, “Which Grail to hunt?” For that, my solution is to go back to an origin point and work forward from there. In the case of the Grail, the most recognized beginning point is Chrétien de Troyes’ “Perceval, the Story of the Grail” (“Perceval, le Conte du Graal” in the poem’s original French). The unfinished epic poem by de Troyes was written sometime between 1130-90 (dates vary from whose scholarly opinion one listens to) and is the first mention of what we now come to call the Holy Grail. The poem is worth revisiting if one has never read it in its entirely or it has been a while since one has picked it up. I did so recently with Penguin’s edition of William Kibler and Carleton Carroll’s translation of the text. In rereading “Perceval, the Story of the Grail,” I attempted not to assign any other meaning to the Grail other than what de Troyes’ text specifically says.

We first see mention of the Grail as our hero Perceval is returning home to see his mother after becoming a knight in King Arthur’s court. Perceval runs into the enigmatically wounded Fisher King, who is gracious enough to invite a weary Perceval to his castle. Here at a dinner feast Perceval witnesses an odd ceremony of various people carrying objects around the dining hall and other rooms in the Castle. The progression is as follows:
  1. A young man carrying a bleeding lance.
  2. Two boys carrying a candelabra.
  3. A beautiful young girl a decorated grail (graal). 
  4. A silver platter following up the rear. 
Perceval fills his belly and fails to ask the first question about the progression. This, of course, would later come back to bite Perceval toward the end of the poem.

In later blog posts, I’ll examine each element of the progression in more detail, but there are a few things that we tend to forget about de Troyes’ description of what we call the Grail. The first is that the bleeding lance and the candelabra are totally thrown over as being important in most people’s concept of Grail lore. The bleeding lance seems to be as equally important as the grail in de Troyes’ description. We know this because when Perceval returns to Arthur’s court, a “loathly lady” berates Perceval for not asking whom the grail and the lance served because both items seemingly together could have healed the Fisher King. So why, in most modern Grail seeking, do we not seek de Troyes’ bleeding lance as equally as his grail?

The second point that jumped out at me is that de Troyes uses the definite article “a” when mentioning the grail used in the progression. One might have thought my capitalization earlier in this article was a bit off switching back and forth from Grail to grail, but there was a point to it. The “Grail” is the indefinite object that is whatever we assign our own meaning to. Chrétien de Troyes’ grail appears not to be a unique object. While this is a fine point of medieval French grammar that is beyond my linguistic capabilities, this is a widely held translation that will be addressed in future posts along with that of the word graal in the original text.

These distinctions are important if one seeks the Grail as a physical object. Obviously in the mind of Chrétien de Troyes, his grail was quite tangible. As the only known origin point of Grail lore, there must be something to de Troyes description. The real question is why doesn’t anyone seek the bleeding lance or the true stepchild of Grail lore the candelabra? I think it’s partially because other medieval authors have added on their interpretations of what the Grail is and its origins. For example, de Troyes makes no specific mention of any of the objects used in the progression as being linked Christianity. That appears in Robert de Boron’s works long after “Perceval, the Story of the Grail” hit the medieval market. The focus on these later works is also on the Grail and the bleeding lance and the candelabra are forgotten.

The final point in my musings on “Perceval, the Story of the Grail” was that Perceval did not obtain the grail, or the lance either because he failed to ask a question. Perceval technically “found” the grail, he just couldn’t obtain the grail. It had nothing to do with the widely held belief that one must be “pure of heart” to find the Grail. Perceval was “pure of heart” to a certain extent because his mother had raised him outside of civilization, but we’re never sure if Perceval is simply naive or if he’d remain “pure of heart” when further exposed to the outside world. This is subtle distinction, but it does give one hope should they not view themselves “pure of heart” enough to seek the Grail. Furthermore, Perceval would seem to have gotten lucky in running across the Fisher King and was headed home to see his mother. There was no real “quest” for the Grail as far as Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval was concerned. So maybe we are not meant to find the Grail, the Grail finds is meant to find us.

If the Grail does find us, that doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t be prepared to obtain the Grail once it’s presented to us. So in keeping in the vein, some of my subsequent posts will examine the other elements of Chrétien de Troyes’ grail story. One does have to have a starting point, even if that means we strip away everything that we’ve done before. If one isn’t willing to reexamine their premises every time we examine the Grail, are we really worthy of the Grail finding us if we already have answers to all of those unobtainable questions?

06 February 2016

Nicholas Poussin's The Shepherds at Arcadia Featured in the Film Monuments Men

If there are such things as “constants” in the enduring Priory of Sion, Rennes-le-Chateau and post 1307 Knights Templar mysteries, Nicholas Poussin’s painting The Shepherds of Arcadia (also known in French as Les Bergers d’Arcadie or by the Latin inscription featured in the painting, Et in Arcadia Ego) would be at the head of the list. The Shepherds of Arcadia, due to works like Holy Blood, Holy Grail and TheDa Vinci Code, has become a something of a mascot for the hunt for the Holy Grail, unearthing the lost treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau, and any number of other conspiracy theories. Even if Poussin had no greater machinations than to create a painting, the fact that Shepherds has come to represent the quest the unobtainable is appropriate. The subject shepherds and their female counterpart have seemingly just discovered the inscription, “Et in Arcadia Ego”, and are questioning the meaning of tomb’s epigram. I can think of few better personal visual representations of delving into the unknown than Shepherds. I was able to view The Shepherds of Arcadia a few years back at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, which only went to further that symbolism in my own mind. 

Nicholas Poussin's The Shepherds at Arcadia
Of course, once the thought of a visual ends up having a meaning for you, it’s rather easy to pick that image out in seemingly random places. One of the unexpected places I spotted The Shepherds of Arcadia was in the widely panned the George Clooney film Monuments Men (2014). The film is loosely based on Allied efforts during the Second World War to secure art looted by the Nazis. For what history Monuments Men gets wrong, the film does, at least, let the public know that there were men and women who risked their lives to preserve the shared cultural heritage art represents.

In keeping with my own personal feelings about The Shepherds of Arcadia, I thought it was rather appropriate that around the four minute mark in Monuments Men, Poussin’s painting makes an appearance. In the scene, a German officer is making it quite clear to an art curator, played by Cate Blanchett, just who is in charge of Paris’ works of art. While the image of a Nazi standing in front of Shepherds is cringe-worthy, it was nice to see that someone in the set department of Monuments Men included the painting along with other, more recognizable, works of European art. One can make their own conclusions as to why The Shepherds of Arcadia was included in such a prominent fashion in this film, but I would rather recognize the painting’s insertion as a nod to the caliber of artist Poussin was rather than being part of a hidden agenda.

Poussin's The Shepherds of Arcadia as featured in Monuments Men
Poussin's The Shepherds of Arcadia as featured in Monuments Men
I had actually just about forgotten The Shepherds of Arcadia turned up in Monuments Men until I saw a recent episode of NBC’s The Blacklist. While The Shepherds of Arcadia is not in the show, one of Poussin’s other paintings, Landscape with the Ashes of Phocion is featured at the tail end of “Mr. Gregory Devry, No. 95” (The Blacklist season 3 episode 11). It would seem that the themes of mystery and intrigue get heaped on Poussin’s works in a variety of corners...

A rather hasty screen grab of Poussin's Landscape with the Ashes of Phocion as seen in The Blacklist

13 March 2013

River Near Rennes-le-Chateau Runs Red the Day Pope Francis Is Elected?

File this in the ultra-strange bin. Posted on You Tube today was a scene of the La Sals river in Rennes-le-Bains flowing red. Rennes-le-Bains is a scant three miles, as the crow files, from Rennes-le-Chateau and the village is often linked to its mystery riddled counterpart. From the information I'm getting at the moment, the video was shot today. At the moment I'm trying to firm up exactly when the video was shot and will update this post if and when I find out.

If the video was shot today, the timing just adds another layer of mystery to the region. The same day Jorge Bergoglio is elected Pope maybe mean someone is sending a message. If that message is a prank, synchronicity via natural phenomena, or a secret society playing games is up to your discretion. 

UPDATE 15 Mar 2013: We have an explanation. The poster of this video has confirmed that this was done as some sort of hydrodynamics test. Other parts of the river were running "green" the same day. Good to know the world is still running on greased grooves. 


06 February 2013

Mercedes-Benz Makes an Offical Apology for Super Bowl "Soul" Ad

I must confess I didn't think we'd see this, but a few hours ago Mercedes-Benz released an official apology to Freemasons for their "Soul" ad aired during this year's Super Bowl. Reported by
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Washington's Facebook page was this:


Apology from Mercedes-Benz
mbusa 2 hours ago

We apologize to anyone offended by the use of the ring worn in our commercial, 'Soul,' that ran during the Super Bowl.

It was not our intention to make any association with the Freemasons or any organization. In fact, neither we nor our advertising agency were aware that the ring could be associated with the Freemasons. To avoid any confusion going forward, we will modify the commercial prior to any future television airings.


It would seem that tilting at windmills does work... 

05 February 2013

Why Mercedes-Benz Dosen't Get a Pass on Super Bowl Ad

Sunday while having my morning coffee, I saw the first news of Mercedes-Benz's Super Bowl ad featuring Willem Dafoe. An Irish Brother Mason had posted a link on Facebook to the Freemasonry: Reality, Myth, and Legend blog's article "Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl Ad Links Freemasonry to Satan". Needless to say I was shocked to learn that Willem Dafoe, cast as a sell-your-soul-for-a-Mercedes Devil, is wearing a Masonic style ring. If you're not aware of the story, I would urge you to read the article in Freemasonry: Reality, Myth, and Legend to get some of the back story on the ad. The video embedded to the right is the extended version of the ad, entitled "Soul". At the 13 second mark one can clearly see Dafoe sporting a square and compasses style ring. From what I understand the version of the commercial that aired during last night's game had the ring blurred out. I did see the commercial live, but did not notice the alteration. While I have no doubt in the veracity of reports that the ad was edited, I had a momentary warm fuzzy that Mercedes had realized the error of their ways. After some contemplation, those feelings evaporated.

First and foremost, the extended version of this commercial is still live on You Tube. This version has not been edited and at the time of this posting still bears witness to Mercedes-Benz gaffe. As I am writing this piece 4.8 million people have viewed this ad in it's entirety. Had Mercedes-Benz truly wanted to show remorse for their actions, the You Tube video would have been pulled or at very least edited. Also as of Monday morning, there is no statement about the ad on Mercedes-Benz USA's press release page.What's the big deal? Why is it important for Mercedes Benz to do anything else other than alter the ad shown during the Super Bowl? Surely they've done enough...haven't they? Not by a long shot.

During the Second World War Mercedes-Benz parent company, then known as Daimler-Benz and presently just Daimler, were heavily involved with the Nazi party. The connection was well documented in a 1990 book by Bernard P. Bellon, Mercedes in Peace and War. The New York Times review of the book gives a good overview of Daimler's past sins which included using slave labor in their production efforts. According to Bellon, "On a massive scale, Daimler-Benz threw tens of thousands of men and women, including foreign workers and concentration camp inmates, into the battle to produce engines for the German air force". I would venture an educated guess that given the mass internment of Freemasons in concentration camps, Daimler-Benz likely profited from the forced labor of our Brothers. Even if there was not a single Mason who was forced to turn a bolt for Daimler-Benz, the company certainly profited from and supported a system that oppressed Freemasons. (There are no accurate records to the number of Masons interred in Nazi concentration camps, but the Chris Hodapp's Freemasonry for Dummies estimates that 80,000 to 200,000 died in those camps. If Mercedes can set the record straight on Masons being pressed into their service, I would welcome the edification.) Sorry Mercedes-Benz, that warm fuzzy feeling just went south for me.

Monday morning I decided to call up both Mercedes-Benz and the New York ad agency who created "Soul" Merkley and Partners. Mercedes-Benz actually called me back with a curious story. According to the Mercedes-Benz representative, they had been assured by Merkley and Partners that the ring in "Soul" wasn't a Masonic ring and there was nothing for me to worry about. Judge for yourself. Here's a screen shot of the ring used in "Soul" with a square and compasses inset. In discussing this with one Brother, he pointed out that Dafoe's ring doesn't have a true square and therefore it isn't a Masonic ring. I will concede that the bottom portion of Dafoe's ring is not at a 90 degree angle. However using the old trademark test I was taught in a Business Law class a zillion years ago, if you're mimicking the "look and feel" of a trademark you're in violation of trademark law. The same principle applies to this situation. Since the square and compasses is the most easily recognizable of Masonic symbolism, the ring certainly does have the "look and feel" of  a square and compasses.  An imperfect square does not give Merkley and Partners a pass either.  No matter what the ring may or may not be, it as been identified with Masonry by both members and non-members. The damage has been done.
Merkley and Partners has yet to return my call. I was involved in a discussion with fellow Masons about the commercial on the Merkley and Partners' Facebook Fan Page  Monday night. Magically Tuesday morning the two threads about "Soul", in which Masons were posting their displeasure about the ad, have been deleted. Both Mercedes-Benz and Merkley and Partners obviously want this issue to simply go away. Don't let it. Contact both groups and let them know where you stand on this matter.