An Interview with George Smart

A few of months back, I was able to catch up with George Smart, the author of The Knights Templar Chronology: Tracking History's Most Intriguing Monks. Unfortunately, it has taken me forever to write this article and as a bonus for my readers, and George, I’m going to give away two copies of his book.* (check out the end of the article for contest rules)

George’s book is an easy to use reference to events surrounding the Templars. From the beginnings of the Order’s history to modern times, George meticulously lays open the evolution of the Templars. As a reference, it there nothing I’ve found that is quite as useful to anchor Templar history and crypto-history in time. George sent me a copy of the book for review, and it’s become an indispensable reference to my own work.

One would think that an author of a text like this would be teaching Medieval history in a University. Quite the contrary, George is a part-time Grail Seeker just like the rest of us. Owner of Strategic Development INC, George spends his days coaching corporate employees on the fundamentals of team work. In his spare time, his life is much different.

What would possess a successful business owner to devote his time to cataloging events of the Order? According to George, he was sitting in the Boston airport on a lay over and picked up a copy of Holy Blood, Holy Grail. George had never had any exposure to the Templars, Priory of Sion, or Renne-le-Chateau and was taken in by the possibilities the book presented. Like many of us, Baigent, Lincoln, and Leigh had opened a door way into a previously unknown secret world.

“I started to do research on the Templars and started to make notes. Before I knew it I had about 100 pages of notes. Originally, it was a reference for me to keep the Templar’s history in perspective”, said George.

Over the next eight years, George became something of an expert on the Templars. After collecting documentaries and texts on the Order, George found the need to expand his studies. His research led him to the George Washington Masonic Monument’s Library. George found a number of unique texts to round out his already exhaustive research. If you are thinking about packing up your bags and heading to Washington Monument to do your own research, you might want to call ahead. George warns that the current librarian limits access to the libraries works to scholarly types. Evidently even Brother Masons have a difficult time gaining admittance to view the library’s catalogue.

Lucky for us, George was able to gather enough information to finish his book. After the Chronology was published, George has become recognized as an authority on the Templars. George has been asked to lecture on Templar issues and has even appeared on the History Channel series Decoding the Past.

See George in a clip from the History Channel Documentary Series: Decoding the Past

When pressed about his views on the Templars and the Grail, George keeps an open mind. Believing that the Grail is primarily a metaphor for many esoteric concepts, George feels the many secrets of the Grail and the Templars are still left to be found. “After all, that’s why I began my research”, George muses.

So what’s next for George Smart? His attention has turned to those modern day Grail hunters. The project on George’s desktop relates to those like Tim Acheson and John Ritchie who are weaving their way into modern Grail lore through their own searches. At the time of the interview, George was still in the research phases of this project.

Here at Grail Seekers, we wish George all the luck in the world. With a little perseverance and hard work, who knows; maybe you’re endeavors will be chronicled in George’s next book.

*All you have to do is to accurately pinpoint a place with significance to the Knights Templar on that’s not already listed on the Grail Seekers Templar Mapping Project Map. This place can be a holding, a place connected with an event, or a place of crypto-historical significance to the Knight’s Templar. Submissions can be e-mailed to me at briankannard@hotmail.com and must include map coordinates, and a description of the place in question. The first two e-mails I get with a verified location will receive a copy of George Smart’s The Knights Templar Chronology: Tracking History's Most Intriguing Monks. Open to US residents over 18 years of age. Contest will end 13 Oct 07 if no one has claimed the prizes. Winners will be announced by 31 Oct 07.

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 4 Aug 07

Grail Seekers this week:

If anyone is interested (hint, hint) I will be the guest on this Thursday night’s Oopa Loopa Café show on Blog Talk Radio. I’ll be talking about the blog, the Grail, and my upcoming trip to Paris for the 700^th anniversary of the arrest of the Templar. Be there or be square. Paris that is, anyone else planning a trip?

On Audio:

Philip Gardner will be on Dreamlands on Saturday, 4 Aug 07 to talk about the connection between the Ark of the Covenant, Mary, and the Shroud of Turin.

William Henry will be on Coast to Coast AM Saturday, 4 Aug 07.

Astraea magazine’s radio site has an interview with Robert Bauval on his book The Egypt Code

In the News:

Who actually discovered the mirror images in Da Vinci’s Last Supper? Well according to a September 2006 article on Unexplained Mysteries, it wasn’t Slavisa Pesci. It was a guy by the name of Derek Bair who even published a book about the topic last year. This story deserves looking into. Bair’s claims are solid as far as I can tell. So why did this fellow in Italy get all the press?

What’s so magical about the city of Turin?

On the Web:

Seems that I wasn’t the only one that thought there was something fishy about the Mitchells and the Rosslyn Cubes. Jeff Nisbet’s article in this month’s Atlantis Rising Magazine addresses some of the same issue that I have previously mentioned and many more. I e-mailed Jeff this week, and there’s still some more unanswered questions floating around out there he didn’t write about. I’ll leave it at that, but if you’re savvy you can connect a few dots. You can download a PDF of the issue at the Atlantis Rising site for just $2.95. Also check out Jeff’s site, Mythoporph if your interests run into the mythic side of research.

Esoterica Journal has released edition IX for viewing on the web.

Blog On:

Is there a ghost in the Halcyon Masonic Lodge in Cleveland?

The Born a Templar blog talks about the possible link between the Shroud of Turin and Jacque DeMoly.

I agree with Widow’s Son at Burning Taper that this has to be the worst rant on Masonic Conspiracy theory ever. There is some colorful language in this lad’s prose. It amazes me that there are people that think Freemasons control the world. You should sit in on one of our Lodge’s building committee meetings and you’ll that world domination is not even on the agenda.

More Da Vinci Mirror Image Fun

Since I evidently don't know that I need to get some sleep, I thought I'd try a few other Da Vinci painting's overlay mirror images. Sadly to say I got nothing on the first few tries, including the Mona Lisa. However, I'm almost ashamed to say what this looks like to me in the famous Da Vinci red chalk self portrait. Original Image, click on the image to enlarge.

Mirror Image overlay

Is that an "All Seeing Eye" that forms in the center, or do I just need to go to bed?

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 28 July 07

Grail Seekers this week:

I haven’t read the new Harry Potter book yet, so don’t tell me the ending. Other than that, I might have some news later this week. Well not on Harry Potter, but on Grail Seekers stuff…

On Audio:

David Richarde, Bishop of the Templar Church, will be discussing the Ark of the Covenant and the Grail on Oopa Loopa Café; August 16^th.

On July 29th, Laura Lee interviews Joseph MacDermott - Old Celtic Ways & Shamanism

Dreamlands did a show with Jerry E. Smith about his book Secrets of the Holy Lance on the 21^st.

In the News:

Southern Knight reports that the Vatican has opened a portion of their Secret Archives on-line. Once again, why now while strange things are already afoot in Italy?

Archeologists were able to pinpoint the location of Scone Abbey in a recent survey.

Ethiopia seeks to reclaim the remains of Prince Alemayehu from the British Crown. That is if they can remember where he is buried.

If you’re in the Winston-Salem area this weekend, stop by Kernersville for a mock-up of the Tabernacle.

A lost city is found beneath Alexandria that could have been there as far back as 1000 BC

Does this symbol on a New York City building mean anything to you? For everyone else in the world it doesn’t, so maybe you’ll be the first.

Secret Crusade era Assassin’s fort is found in Syria.

On the Web:

Is a secret star map encoded in Masonic icons?

Want a copy of the Saunière Model? You better get it quick the Société Perillos is issuing 33 exact replicas it. Page is in French, so if you’ll need a translator.

William Henry talks about his recent visit to RLC and other places in France and Switzerland.

Blog On:

Dauntless’ Enter Dos Mundos blog has some pictures of the “Blue Apple” phenomena at RLC.

Seth Chalmer's Blog explores the Third Temple and the 9^th of Av.

The New Da Vinci Code

If those of you who haven't seen the news about "The New Da Vinci Code" can hit the article link. The basic theory is that a superimposed mirror image of Da Vinci's Last Supper placed on itself yields some interesting figures that pop out. The article claims that there is a man holding a baby and a Templar Knight in the mix. I've done some "Photoshopping" of the image of the fresco myself and here's what I've come up with. The first image is of the original in the background and the mirror image at a 50% transparency placed on top. The second image is the exact same using the inverse color filter. There does appear to be a image of something or someone in the center. I'll leave the rest up to you as always. The image comes from the Wiki article on The Last Supper and lists the image as having an expired copyright. Click on the image for a larger version.

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 21 July 07

Grail Seekers this week:

I am continuing the shotgun approach to finishing some projects. The Templar and Grail Maps are going nicely as well as a few articles I’ve been working on. Also I’ve updated the Links page of the Google Group with a few more interesting sites if you’re looking for something new out there.

On Audio:

Abaxas’s Coffee, Cigarettes, and Gnostics show #57 features Richard Webber, author of the Solomon Key.

Jim Michael, President of the Ancient Kentucke (yes that’s Kentucke without a “y”) Historical Society, talks about the location of the Ark of the Covenant under Silbury Hill (map location can be found on the Grail Seekers Map) on the Oopa Loopa Café.

Laura Lee has some interviews of note this week:

24 July 07: George Erikson on his theories about America being Atlantis.

27 July 07: Gary Biltcliffe talks about Britain’s sacred sites.

In the News:

Israel asks the Turkish government for the Siloam Inscription back.

A golden mask is found in Bulgaria. I wonder how the excavations of Templar sites are doing.

Want to have coffee with a Mason?

Italy again… the Vatican closes its library for a 3 year renovation period. The article is unclear if this includes the Secret Archives as well. This wouldn’t be so scholars and archeologists can’t get information about Paul’s Tomb after they open it could it?

On the Web:

Philip Coppens examines the “cutting of the elm” at Gisors.

Blog On:

A nice picture of Rosslyn under restoration was posted by Smokin’ Beagle

Blog d’Elisson’s merges two of my favorite things, alchemy and Scotch.

David Icke thinks Renne-le-Chateau might be close to being underwater in 2012.

The Templar Code for Dummies Blog has in interesting York Rite video.

Grail Seekers Media Watch for 1 July to 14 July 07

Grail Seekers this week:

I really think I had ADHD in a former life. In the last month I’ve started 6 articles and keep pecking away at all of them. That’s not to mention the stuff I started 6 months ago and haven’t finished. Brother can you spare a cup of Ritalin?

Since I lost my initial train of thought, I have started two things that everyone might be interested in. On Google Maps, I’ve started work on a map of places relating to Grail Lore and one is a catalogue of Templar sites. It’s a work in progress, so there’s a lot of places I haven’t put in yet and a ton of descriptions yet to write. If you have a place you think should be on the list and its location, contact me. If you wish to do a write-up, all of the credit and glory is yours. Now for the news of the last two weeks.

On Audio:

William Henry will talk about his visit to RLC on Dreamlands on the 14 July 07.

In the News:

You couldn’t swing a rabbit’s foot without hitting one article about Friday the 13^th this week.

Questions are raised about the Archimedes Manuscript

Everything you always wanted to know about Druids, but were afraid to ask.

Archeologists start a survey of Scone. Thanks again to Bob Freeman.

The Pope gives the green light to explore Saint Paul’s tomb.

Yet more from Italy, as the cops crack down on Archeological Treasure hunters. Once again, I am seeing some patterns forming in Italy, but there are still some dots to connect.

A Battle Creek, MI couple completes the 500 mile Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage on foot.

The Turkish Siege of the Hospitaller stronghold at Malta makes the Daily Mail about 450 years too late.

The Temple Mount Bridge project is now a thing of the past.

An Old Testament figure is mentioned on a 2600 year old tablet.

On the Web:

The Daily Grail interviews Holy Land archeologist and historian Dr. Sean Kingsley

Philip Coppens wrestles with the mysteries of Chartres Cathedral.

Andrew Gough interviews André Douzet of Société Perillos.

The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry deciphers Da Vinci’s codes.

The links between Sauniere and the Virgin Mary are expounded on by the Societe Perillos.

The Chinese Green and the Red Societies declare war on the Illuminati? While this sounds like John Carpenter’s unfinished plot for the sequel to Big Trouble in Little China, it does raise some interesting questions about what might be going on in the esoteric shadow world.

On Film:

The Danish film, The Lost Treasures of the Knights Templar III begins filming in Malta.

Blog On:

Chateau_du_Guerinet writes about why the Priory of Sion is a hoax.

Glenn on his My Space Blog looks at the history of the often overlooked Knights of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.

Le Journal De Rennes Le Chateau blog might be worth keeping up with if you know French or have a translation page. Or you can check out the pictures.

Ben Fairhall looks at some sacred peaks in The New Jerusalem.

Giucoz's (im)personal Web Space has some good pictures of Rosslyn Chapel and other sites in and around Edinburgh.

The Stone of Destiny

There is one common thread that holds most monarchies together. Bloodlines, royal jewels, ceremonies, and associated pomp all boil down to a feeling of tradition that monarchies bring to their subjects. Often one, or more, of these elements become as important as the monarch themselves.

The Stone of Scone, sometimes called the Stone of Destiny, can certainly be placed in this class. The Stone has been a part of the Scottish and English coronation ceremonies since at least 847. From looking at the Stone, one could not discern there was any importance to it at all. There is nothing physically remarkable about the stone, it is not jewel encrusted nor is it of any unusual material. As it appears today, it is a sandstone block measuring 26 inches long by 16 inches wide, and 10 1/2 inches deep.

However from the humble outward appearance, the Stone has a remarkable history. The first Scottish King Kenneth Mac Alpin was seated on the Stone of Scone during his coronation. The Stone helped crown all Scottish Kings, and John Balliol, until it was stolen by the English Army in 1296. There it rested in Westminster Abbey nearly tucked under Saint Edward’s chair. With the exception of Queen Mary II, all English sovereigns have used the Stone and Chair in their coronation ceremony. The Stone was finally returned to Scotland in 1996 and presently resides in Edinburgh Castle.

No one knows exactly why this particular stone should have been used in any coronation ceremony. History does not document the reasons behind the use of the Stone. One possible reason might be a connection to the veneration of stones seen throughout the UK. One has to go no further than Stonehenge or any of the other smaller stone circles that dot the country to draw this conclusion. However since no one has an exact answer to why these sites were important and to exactly whom, we’re back at square one.

That’s where tradition and lore come in. The prevalent tradition is that the Stone was used by the Biblical figure Jacob, as a pillow, on the night of his ladder dream. In Jewish tradition, Jacob’s pillow was used as the pedestal for the Ark of the Covenant in Solomon’s Temple. How the Stone got to Scotland isn’t very clear. Some have theorized that the Lost Tribe of Israel ended up in Scotland and brought it with them. Others think the Stone ended up in Ireland and was blessed by Saint Patrick. It was then used in Irish Kingdom of Dalriada from roughly 400 AD until 850 AD, when Kenneth I, the 36th King of Dalriada, moved his capital of his empire to Scone in Scotland.

To further muck up the crypto-history of the Stone are the assertions that the Stone that rests in Edinburgh Castle today is a fake. In 1296, Edward I of England led an army into Scotland to crush the rebellion. After sacking Edinburgh Castle and stealing the Scottish Crown Jewels, Edward made no attempt to hide that his next target was to procure the Stone of Scone. From the beginning of the campaign, Edward took three months to make the way to Scone. This was more than enough time to hide the original stone.

As lore would have it, the monks at Scone Palace did just that. When Edward’s army plundered the Palace at Scone they recovered a Stone, but was it the right one? One legend presented in a recent Scotsman article asserts that, “The stone is not the original as the original was marble. It was actually the septic tank cover at Aborath Abbey…Generations of English kings have since been crowned while sitting on the medieval equivalent of a lavy pan lid.” It wouldn’t be the first time the religious men of Scotland hid items of importance from the invading English. Bishop Wishart hid the coronation vestments in his treasury until Robert the Bruce was crowned King in 1306.

Supposedly, the monks of Scone hid the real Stone in the River Tay or buried it on Dunsinane Hill. Another tales says that Angus Og Macdonald was given the Stone and hid it either on Skye or in the Hibrides. A descendant of Macdonald’s, Iain Alasdair Macdonald, contacted Scottish historian Nigel Tranter claiming that he was in possession of the true Stone. Add in a few stories of farmers finding a washed out caves that were the hiding place of the true Stone, and you have no discernible proof any of the stories are accurate.

The other twist to the story of the Stone is that it might be a double fake. In 1950, a group of four Scottish college students broke into Westminster Abby to steal the Stone and bring it back to Scotland. The students belonged to a group called the Scottish Covenant Association, whose ultimate goal was to gain public support for Scottish independence from England. On Christmas Day, the three of the group entered the Abbey and removed the Stone. The liberators conducted a near perfect crime; aside from breaking the Stone in half and crushing two toes of one unlucky student.

The group eventually made their way out of England and returned it to Scotland. It remained hidden until April of the following year. The Stone was left on the altar in the Aborath Abbey, fully repaired. Police investigations found that stonemason Robert Gray had repaired the Stone taken from Westminster in the intervening months. Some think that Gray switched the Westminster Stone and helped return a forgery. In the 1930’s Gray had produced a number of replicas of the Stone to sell as a kitsch item.

Now enter the Knights Templar. One knows by now that there can’t be any tale of any historical medieval mystery that doesn’t include the Templars. In 1999 a curious offer was made to the Scottish Parliament. A group of modern day Knights Templar claimed they were in possession of the Stone and would return it if Parliament wished. A 33 pound stone, decorated with a single Latin Cross, had been in the care of Rev Dr John MacKay Nimmo for decades before the Stone’s return to Scotland. Nimmo was a Chevalier of the Knights Templar of Scotland and a Church of Scotland minister and died in 1999. According to his Nimmo’s wife, it was his wish the Stone be returned to the Scottish Parliament. The Templars made the request on her behalf. Where the Nimmo’s stone came from is not quite clear. Nimmo’s Stone was then given over to the Church in Dull, Perthshire for safe keeping.

So the possibility exists that the Stone in Edinburgh Castle is a forgery of the Westminster Stone, which was a forgery of the original Stone. Anecdotal evidence can sway the argument to any of these points of view. There are some early references to the stone being marble and having “strange carvings” across its body. This of course fits with none of the versions of the Stone story thus presented and would lead one to believe the true Stone is tucked away somewhere. And there’s the near dying declaration of Margaret Pearl Cook, one of the founders of the Scottish Nationalist Party, that she knew the Westminster Stone was a fake. Cook also asserted to a nephew that she knew the location of the true Stone, but supposedly never told the whereabouts of it before she passed away.

Interest in the Stone never quite seems to fade away. This month there is an archeological study being preformed at Scone Palace. It will be interesting to see if they find anything that will clear up any of the questions that are out there about the Stone’s history. And if you thought this article was too long, there will be a movie released sometime in the next year about the 1950 liberation of the Westminster Stone.

One thing is a certainty; the Stone of Scone has become a Holy Grail in its own right. Men and women have fought to possess it or to obscure it from those unworthy to lay claim to the Stone. In the end, what could follow the basic theme behind the Grail than that?

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 30 Jun 07

Grail Seekers this week:

Not much to report this week, I’m still trying to finish up past projects… Go figure, if I only didn't have to sleep I'd get much much more done.

On Audio:

It seems to be Egypt week on the Laura Lee show. A number of interviews this week will address topics from the tunnels under Giza to acoustical properties of the Great Pyramid.

In the News:

The Dead Sea Scrolls tour continues in San Diego with the usual debate that has followed since their discovery.

Reporter Bob Kroon, one of the two men who bought the Saunière estate in Rennes-le-Château in 1993, passed away on 24 June 07. An interesting day for a man connected to RLC to pass. Thanks to the Radio Rennessence feed for catching this one.

On the Web:

The Daily Grail gives some tidbits of Dr Sean Kingsley’s article in Minerva magazine about the pair of Cherubim Statues that once flanked the Ark of the Covenant in Solomon’s Temple.

Ben Hammott visits the Galibert Tomb around RLC. For those of you following Ben’s work you might be interested in how he was lead to the discovery in the second bottle.

In Print

Sauniere's Secret has been translated into English by none other than Henry Lincoln.

Outskirts Press announces Mab's Cross Trilogy, part one has been published.

Blog On:

Anthony North looks at how storytelling might have influenced Grail interpretations.

Southern Knight reviews The Secrets of Freemasonry

The BS Historian sees the Light at Rosslyn about the not so recently discovered light box.

I get an interesting send up and article reprint on Global Conscience site.

Tip Site of the Week:

Thanks to Far Shores for the link on their blog listings. If you’re not savvy to their site, it’s one of the better conglomeration sites for all topics odd and fantastical.

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 23 June 07

Grail Seekers this week:

I don’t think there could be a more news packed week for all things Grail. With all the things that have been happening in Italy in the last few weeks, it makes one wonder about what’s happening over there. Without trying to be a conspiracy theorist, it’s odd that the Calvi murder trials finished, the police are investigating Masonic Lodges for undisclosed reasons, there’s talk of a Grail dig, and the Da Vinci Code might be obscene. Interconnections, odd timing, or is something in the wind? If any Italian readers are out there, drop me a line. I’d love to know what’s going on that doesn’t make the international headlines.

Other than that, I’ve had most of my attention focused in one area this week. I getting married to my long time sweetheart Laura Lee Williams tomorrow. She’s supported my ventures here quite a bit over the last year and keeps me going most days. Plus she’s a heck of a proof reader; most of my writing would be unintelligible without her eagle eye…

Oh and don’t forget to sign up for the Grail Seeker’s Google Group. I’m not sure what direction this will be going in, but I’ve added a page of links of interest to the Grail Seeker out there. It’s a work in progress, but there are a ton of links and site descriptions.

On Audio:

Corjan de Raaf of the RLC Research page forwarded this e-mail to me:

“Just wanted to draw your attention to our new Internet Radio station.

Radio Rennessence is made by Philip Coppens, Andy Gough and myself. We do a monthly interview with a Rennes-le-Château/Grail/Templar etc.

related author / researcher. Preferably people that are only known to the in crowd but have incredibly in-depth knowledge. The first interview is online now and features Patrice Chaplin about her book City of Secrets.”

Looks like a great start to the RLC Research crew; huzzah!

Burning Taper has a pod cast on: “ "A Tour of the Masonic Lodge," which is a lecture based on W. L. Wilmshurst's book The Meaning of Masonry, discussing some of the symbols in a lodge, including the great and lesser lights, the officers' stations, and the checkerboard floor.” Quote from the site.

Philip Gardiner announced on a My Space bulletin that he will be on Coast to Coast AM on 30 Jun 07.

In the News:

Is the Grail a funnel? This one is a new theory to me, but Alfredo Barbagallo, an Italian archaeologist, claims that the Grail is buried in a chapel-like room underneath the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura.

North America’s “oldest” church is found and it could be of Templar origin.

The Da Vinci Code movie is investigated by Italian police as being obscene. I wouldn’t put Tom Hank’s performance as being that bad.

On the Web:

Was Bérenger Saunière a Freemason? You’ll need Babel Fish or the like to read this one if you don’t know French.

This theory has been floating around the web for a while, but are Aleister Crowley and Barbarba Bush mother and daughter? My favorite wig wearing (is that a wig?)conspiracy monger Jeff Rense posts the article.

Tip Site of the Week:

I have become totally enamored of the IGoogle home page set up. With easy reader pages, custom widgets, and easy management of all those other Google tools you’re using, I don’t think I’ll go to another home page again. At least until something cooler with more bells and whistles comes along.

Midsummer's Eve

This article should be making it's way to Unexplained Mysteries today or tomorrow. But I thought I'd post it here for you all first..

For as long as man has memory, we have ascribed importance to certain days of the year. Be these days’ feasts, astronomical events, birthdays, or anniversaries; a certain day turns into a special event. One has to look no further than their day timer to find multiple examples of how we honor the passage of time in this way. Of all the days in a year, I can think of few that have as much esoteric importance, June 24^th.

Primarily, June 24^th is the traditional day of Midsummer’s Eve. The ancients identified this day with the summer solstice and ascribed a mystical importance. The summer solstice is the longest of day and the shortest night of the year. Ostensibly due to unusual solar nature of the day, magical powers are at their peak. The walls between this world and the next became thinner on Midsummer’s Eve. Evil spirits roamed the earth that day and the populace used magic to protect them against the hellish onslaught.

The rituals and traditions that developed around the warding off Midsummer’s Eve’s spirits are primarily European and vary from region to region. These origins of these traditions predate Christianity and are lost to the modern day world. However, many of differing traditions live on, in some form, even today. With the diversity of celebrations, there are two common denominators that flow through all these cultures; fire and plant life.

Certain plants and herbs took on magical powers of healing, divination, and protection. Many of the rituals that revolve around flora ascribe a certain effect for a particular plant. Mistletoe was used to protect against misfortune, wormwood placed under a pillow would foster a dream of your true love, Saint John’s Wort protected you from evil and helped you predict the future. The list of plants and effects goes on and on.

Fire was also used to drive the spooks back into the netherworld. Men would strip to the waist and jump through fires to show their courage, thus discouraging spirits from meddling with them. Bones were burned in bon fires and their ashes scattered to the four corners of a field to insure a good harvest. Lovers would leap through the same fires to increase fertility. Torches were carried around flocks to dispel illness.

Some of these traditions are still practiced throughout Europe, but with a slightly different bent. With the introduction of Christianity into Europe, Midsummer’s Eve turned into John the Baptist’s Fest Day. To insure the full overshadowing of any older traditions, John the Baptist’s Fest was elevated to the status of Solemnity. This meant that this was a Grade “A” fest that took place even when it fell on a Sunday.

Also of note, Saint John the Baptist’s Day is one of two Masonic feast days. The other feast day is John the Evangelist’s day on 27 December. Both are viewed as the patron Saints of Masonry. At least in Tennessee, all Masonic Lodges are required to have some service honoring both Johns on their appropriate day.

June 24^th is also the anniversary of the Scottish forces defeating the English Army at Bannockburn in 1314. If you’re unfamiliar with the socio-political situation of the English/Scottish conflict, there’s a good article on Wiki to get you up to speed.

The tale goes that Robert the Bruce’s brother, Edward Bruce, had given the forces at Sterling Castle an alternative to a long drawn out siege. The Bruce’s brother made a pact that if the English did not send reinforcements by midsummer night eve that the English commander would hand over the castle. Upon hearing the terms of the pact, English King Edward I, thinking this would be an easy end to the Scottish problem, issued orders for a massive army to march north towards Sterling.

Instead of backing down from the challenge his brother had made, the Bruce decided to turn it into his advantage. His peers would have described the Bruce as an unconventional tactician. The Bruce employed primarily guerilla tactics that made use of very advantage the land had to offer. Bannockburn was no different. The Bruce’s plan was conduct the battle in the marshy Bannockburn. This would slow the advance of both English cavalry and infantry; thus giving the Scots the chance to attack when and where they wished.

The plan worked throughout the first day of battle on 23 June. The English forces were fought to a draw. As midday pressed on the second day, the battle was beginning to favor the English. Then, suddenly on a hill behind the Scottish forces came a group of fresh reinforcements. What ever this force was, it spooked the English army so badly they routed from the field. The route was so severe that Edward II was almost captured as his army fled.

The historical debate still goes on as to who or what these reinforcements were. Historical accounts suffer due the lack of any surviving first hand account of the battle. Conventional history teaches that the mysterious reinforcements were women and children waiving Scottish banners and beating pots and pans while cresting the hill.

Having visited the battlefield, this seems unlikely to me. Given the heat and press of battle was on and the mysterious force could have been in disguise to further ruse. It would still be difficult not to have discerned who was cresting the hill. At present, there is a clear line of sight from the battlefield to the hill. I myself was able to identify a number of people standing at the top of the hill from where the English front lines would have been.

Masonic lore tells a slightly different tale of the reinforcements that won the day at Bannockburn. It is suggested that Robert the Bruce made a deal with renegade Knights Templar. The Bruce gave any fleeing Templar sanctuary in an excommunicated Scotland, in return for their services against the English aggressors. The sight of even 50 fully armored and mounted Templars would have been enough to turn the tide of battle.

The Bruce was so pleased with the ex-Templar’s service, that immediately after the battle he created the Royal Order of Scotland. The Order is said to live on through a Masonic organization of the same name. It is in this way that many try to link Freemasonry with the Templars. The Templars wishing to keep their rituals alive changed them into what we know as Masonic Degrees today.

Wow, that’s a lot going on for one 24 hour span of time. I cannot say that I have been spared by the magic that is Midsummer’s Eve. Every year, I throw a Bannockburn party on the 24^th. This year will make the 5^th year I’ve held the event. It’s become something of a tradition that my family and friends have come to look forward to. And this year I’ve added a little twist, I’ll be getting married at that party. It’s not necessarily due to the magic that Midsummer’s Eve has, or to any particular belief I hold. I simply wanted to be able to always remember my anniversary, and I guess there is a certain magic to keeping myself out of the dog house for the years to come.

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 16 June 07

Grail Seekers this week:

So my goals for this week were side tracked by life and the fact I’ve got something big coming up next week. But I have managed to get some content out of the ordinary during the last few days. Also, I’ve started a Google Group for Grail Seekers. If you’d like to join, visit the group page link above. Hopefully, this will work into a way for everyone to communicate any finds or thoughts they have. Now if I can get through some things at work and if I don’t get cool feet next weekend, I’ll be groovy. Now for the news….

On TV:

Solomon’s Key author R. Douglas Weber announced this week via a My Space bulletin that he has been contacted by the History Channel to be part of a documentary they are working on based on some of the topics listed in his book.

In Film:

Check out the Treasure of the Templars site for info and updates on the fan based Indiana Jones film.

On Audio:

Rabbi Rami Shapiro explores the difference between faith and belief in this Skeptiko Podcast.

William Henry talks about the Lost Secrets of Jesus on Dreamlands.

Blog Talk Radio’s Oopa Loopa Café has an interview with Frank Joseph and his book Opening the Ark of the Covenant.

In the News:

Dave Cameron not only is richer than most 3^rd world countries, but he claims to be able to trace his heritage back to the Templars around the time of the 5^th Crusade. That’s funny since Templars were prohibited to marry…

Czechoslovakian Freemasons are interviewed in the Prague Post about Freemasonry sans Communism. Think 20 years ago what would have happened to these folks if this article had come out.

On the Web:

The Daily Grail posts a review of Rosslyn and the Grail. The review was originally in Issue 3 of their free online mag Sub Rosa.

Andrew Gough’s Arcadia site has an essay on the Source of the Wealth of Saunière

by Dr. Elias Van Kasteel

Blog On!:

The BS Historian blog has a musician’s approach to Mitchell’s Rosslyn Motet, and it’s not flattering.

Katknit posts a nice picture of an overlook on to Rennes-le-Chateau on Flickr

Is there a problem with the Bauval theory about the relationship between Orion’s Belt and the Pyraminds? Greg Little thinks there is another solution.

Live and In Person:

Ouroboros Press editor William J. Kiesel will give a talk on the enigmatic symbolism associated with the Animal Kingdom as employed in Alchemical texts during the Renaissance. The lecture is at 8pm on Sunday 8 July 2007 at The Stone in New York City.

Tip Site of the Week:

Have you ever remembered seeing something on a web site that has magically disappeared? Fear not, the Wayback Machine Internet Archive site might have the URL you’re looking for. Pretty neat stuff, and it’s free.

Ed McGrath on Teniers

Below is the final e-mail I received from Ed McGrath on his theories about paintings and the RLC mysteries. Unfortunately, I've heard from Ed that he doesn't have time to work on this project any more. I wish Ed all the luck in the world in what ever he goes on to do.

The following email is re-printed verbatim

Hi Brian,

Here is my proposed solution for the Teniers painting clue and the parchment. You can use them if you want to.

When it is established that the Poussin painting "Shepherds in Arcadia" contains the geographic coordinates of Rennes le Chateau, encoded in longitude and latitude, the next question is: What about Teniers? The Sauniere parchment says Poussin Teniers keep the key. If Poussin is showing the location to look then maybe Teniers is showing what to look for.

I believe the Sauniere misinterpreted the Teniers clue in the parchment and looked at “The Temptation of St. Anthony” painting. The clue clearly states no temptation that.

The full clue is:

BERGERE PAS DE TENTATION
QUE POUSSIN TENIERS GARDENT LA CLEF PAX 681
PAR LA CROIX ET CE CHEVAL DE DIEU
J'ACHEVE CE DAEMON DE GARDIEN A MIDI POMMES BLEUES

(shepherdess no temptation that Poussin Teniers hold the key Pax 681. By the cross and this horse of God I dispatch this guardian demon at midday blue apples).

Another Teniers painting may show the object that is sought in the search. See the Teniers painting: “Witches preparing for the Sabbat"

(St. Anthony was tempted by demons, the witches were calling them – no temptation that!)” “Poussin [and] Teniers keep the key”).

The parchment can be read a number of ways, my interpretation is that it is actually in two parts:

Part 1

Shepherdess no temptation that Poussin Teniers hold the key

(Shepherdess relates to Poussin and "no temptation that" refers to Teniers. You need both paintings to solve the clue)

Pax 681

(Peace, [closing of the first part clues]

[Psalm 68:1] (Signature, Psalm 68 is the "Psalm of David" and Jesus was of the house of David. Verse 1 reads:

"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him."

This signature fits if the clues are pointing to the continued bloodline "Let God arise"

The Teniers Witches Preparing for the Sabbat painting shows a horse’s head skeleton (no lower jaw) with an “all seeing or God’s eye” and skull and crossbones.

The skull and crossbones have a vase of flowers placed on the head.

The skull and crossbones, with the flowers on top seem to signify a Templar grave. This may be the pointer to the Knights Stone at Rennes (this stone was placed face down on the altar – hiding a crypt beneath)

This Knights tomb is the object (Teniers) RLC is the location (Poussin)

The museum at his church has the skull and crossbones.

Part 2

By the cross and this horse of God (The man of the cross, on God’s horse appears to be a very good likeness of Cardinal Richelieu)

I dispatch this guardian demon at midday (Nicolas Flamel, a member of the Priory of Sion, had reason to believe Richelieu was a "guardian demon" – not a guardian angel)

blue apples: (Reference to Eve reaching for a blue apple at St. Sulpice Church).

St. Sulpice was considered by some to be the headquarters of the Priory of Sion.

Holy Grail Phenomena in Hawaii?

I was emailed on My Space this week by a man from Hawaii who thought he has caught a Grail related phenomena on video. I’ll reserve my comments and judgment on this one and leave that to you. Below are the content of the e-mails (verbatim) and the video in question.

From: that's me in the chair.
Date: Jun 10, 2007 6:57 PM


Holy Grail Captured on video Easter 2007

Please see 4 minute video
www.glimpse2020.com

Do you believe?
Pray and ask God.

Love and Light
Brandon Price

From: Grail Seekers
Date: Jun 10, 2007 10:14 PM


Thanks for the e-mail. I’m always glad to take any leads or information about the Grail or Grail related phenomena for further examination. I’ve got a couple of questions for you to help me understand where I should direct my focus.

Is the object in question the black spot in the clouds at the first of the video and then shown again around the 3 minute mark?

Or are we talking about the oblong shape that shows up around the 2 minute mark?

If it’s the oblong object, can you give me some idea of the context of the skyward black spot; or identify what this is.

With this little bit of additional information, I can focus on exactly which part of the video to examine. I’d be happy to present this to my readers for their interpretation of what they’re seeing.

Hope this was the type of help you were looking for...

Brian Kannard

From: that's me in the chair.
Date: Jun 12, 2007 6:49 PM

The black dot is the sun and could be considered lens effect. The beam of light coming from the sun could be considered lens effect as well but fascinating. The bright color around the black sun is clouds, I do have another video showing how the clouds gather to the sun. The oblong shape could be considered egg shape since it was captured on easter sunday. The camera was set to automatic to follow movement. Look inside the egg and what do you see. Some people see thousands of souls, some people see a big face, what do you see? Is the holy grail the item that connects all religions to the one god? I've got a chinese interpretation that i can email to you if you would like to read it. They beleive that this is the wan ling or egg of life. I'm pretty sure in india they beleive this would be the golden lingum. We may beleive this to be the holy grail. This is the beauty of our god that our holy grail could be their wan ling and someone elses golden lingum. Please feel free to give me a call and I can give you a detailed explanation.

p.s. On the video at 3min and 21sec look at the purple item on left side that falls out of sky. You can also hear it.

Heaven's Ball

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 9 June 07

Grail Seekers this week:

Later this week, I’ll be reprinting another theory by Ed McGrath relating to his theories on a Teniers painting. I’ll also be trying yet another contest going if I can get my inner muse working. The contest will dove-tail on an interview with George Smart I did a few months back. I’ll be giving away two copies of his book Chronology of the Knights Templar to make up for me dragging my feet on writing the article. And finally, I’ve secured an interview with Professor Solomon about his book The Book of Solomon. That is if I can get past inventory at work, family obligations, and fending off ninja assassins. Well, the ninja assassins isn’t quite true. That is unless my ex-wife hired them.

On Audio:

Fate Radio interviews Dr. Karen Ralls about the Templars. Hilly Rose should have done a little more homework before doing the interview…

In the News:

Five defendants have been acquitted in the Roberto Calvi murder trial in Rome. This also comes on the heels of Italian Police investigating Masonic Lodges in Italy. I fear that this will only bring out another wave of Anti-Masonic fervor in blog-land. If you have any questions about Masonry, just let me know. All I ask is that you don’t believe anything that has to do with goats, sacrifices, or strip bingo without dropping me an e-mail first.

In Film:

Sean Connery won’t be coming out of retirement for the next Indiana Jones movie, but John Hurt will be appearing. I guess Hurt had to do something since he can’t be in Hellboy 2.

The Susan Sarandon narrated DVD Secrets of the Codeis reviewed in the Trades.

On the Web:

Societe Perillos finished up their series on the Spanish connection with Rennes le Chateau.

Chat with William Henry on the Unknown Country site on 9 June 07.

Nexus magazine highlights author Tony Bushby on his book Forged Origins of the New Testament.

Could the Holy Grail be the Book of Thoth? Philip Coppens has some insight along those lines.

Far Shores posts an article by Philip Gardnier about Secret Societies.

Unexplained Mysteries reprints a reworked article about the Nanteos Cup by some guy who does a blog called Grail Seekers.

Blog and Pod On!:

The Live in Carcassonne blog has a video of Carcassonne, Rennes le Chateau, Montsegur, Alet. The visuals are nice, but turn down the sound unless you really, really, really dig Bon Jovi’s version of Knocking on Heaven’s Door.

Random Mumblings has a two minute video of Rosslyn Chapel. It just goes to remind me that if you plan of going to Rosslyn, prepare for there to be a crowd and loud mouthed tour guides. Ah for the days when you could walk in the Chapel and there might be two or three others floating around.

Marcus Wilder talks about his visit to a Templar tower in Monbuey along the Santiago de Compostela trail.

Ed McGrath talks about Poussin, Rennes-leChateau, and Shughborough Hall

Last month I reported that Ed McGrath had come up with a simple solution to the Shughburough Hall; Shepherds at Arcadia inscription. Since Ed posted his theory on Daily Grail
it would seem that he's been busy fleshing it out. Ed sent me a couple of e-mails the other day expounding on his theories. He's done some interesting work that I thought everyone might be interested in. The e-mails are reprinted in their entirety.

Hi Brian,

I like your blog. I solved the “mystery” of the Poussin painting but the anointed ones do not accept it, too simple they say, no geodic designs or sacred pentagrams. It is heresy to stomp on their “holy grail”. The mystery itself has become the grail to them, nobody should upset it. I am offering a solution, if you would like to publish it on your site. I will send a separate mail for OUOSVAVV.

Please let me know what you think of the discovery.

This is the solution to a 370 year old mystery painting done in France in 1638. The "best minds" in the world have tried to solve it and failed; Dan Brown tackled the subject in the Da Vinci Code but could not come up with the solution. This is NEWS for anyone interested in solving puzzles similar to those proposed by Dan Brown in his books. People like to "see" a problem, with a logical solution provided. Even if the solution sparks debate, they are still interested in it. I would like to see this published because it provides an alternative explanation.

Poussin Painting Decoded – A New Theory

My theory is that Poussin encoded the location of Rennes le Chateau in the painting, using longitude and latitude references. When the painting was done in 1639, the international Prime Meridian in Greenwich was not yet established. The French used the Paris Meridian as the zero longitude reference. Paris is at 002 degrees E longitude, based on the Greenwich meridian.

The shepherds in Poussin's painting seem to be pointing to 42.9N and 0E (O degrees, relative to the Paris Meridian). Rennes le Chateau is at 42 Degrees 56 Minutes North and 0 Degrees East (using the Paris Meridian). Here is what it looks like! Poussin Pointing the Way to Rennes le Chateau http://ca.geocities.com/lmcgrath2158@rogers.com/Poussintwo

Rennes le Chateau Mystery

The mystery at Rennes le Chateau has baffled people for years. A parchment was found by Abbee Sauniere in 1891 that gave a clue to an old Nicholas Poussin painting and it is believed that the painting refers to Rennes le Chateau. The painting "Et in Arcadia Ego" http://et-in-arcadia-ego.mezzo-mondo.com/poussin-et-in-arcadia-ego.html " shows a tomb and people consider that the background scenery fits the location of Rennes. Nobody can provide a clear answer how a painting, with a scene that could be anywhere in the world, definitely points to that location. There would be thousands of tombs and locations to search. There is doubt about the existence of the tomb at Rennes when Poussin did his painting (tomb was built in 1902, destroyed in 1986).

History of the Prime Meridian

The International Prime Meridian at Greenwich England was not established until 1884. France did not participate at this meeting and continued to use Paris for their Prime Meridian.

King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu re-established, the French Prime Meridian in 1634 by Royal Decree,. Richelieu commissioned Poussin in 1635 to paint “The Triumph of Pan” (they knew each other five years before Shepherdess painting) Longitude and Latitude measurements were known to them in the early 1600s.

I may not be "right" about the discovery of the pointing Shepherds, but at least it points to a simple solution of the Poussin painting.

QUOTE

To paraphrase Occam's Razor: All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one.

Please get a decent copy of the painting and measure the angles yourself rather than accept what I have shown. I used Visio 2003 and the footer image from Andrew Gough's Arcadia website http://www.andrewgough.co.uk/

Ed McGrath

Second E-mail

Hi Brian,

Here is something else for you to consider on your blog:

When I read Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, I read about the mystery sculpture, a Reverse bas relief of a Poussin painting, at Shugborough House in England http://www.shugborough.org.uk/holy-grail-78 it says that the code can not be broken, its inscription DOUOSVAVVM could not be deciphered.

I have read about a lot of decoding attempts. They all have one thing in common, they do not consider that this is an inscription on a monument.

Why does everyone try to decipher the inscription out of context? It is an inscription on a very detailed, and modified, mirror image of a famous painting. If the monument above the inscription is not significant, why carve it? Carving the inscription alone would save a lot of time and grief.

My solution keeps the inscription and monument in the same context and it can be validated by external information (i.e. Sauniere parchment clue to Shepherdess and Poussin painting) The

Background Information Antoine Bigou miscarved the date MDCCLXXXI (1781) as MDCOLXXXI. He changed C to O (not a Roman Numeral). His uncle preceded Sauniere as Abbee at Rennes-de-Chateau. http://www.rennes-discovery.com/dalleblanchefort.htm
Poussin painted Les Bergers d’Acadie (1635-50) – the title is French http://www.parnasse.com/etinarc.jpg
Sauniere discovered a parchment (1891) that read, in part, “Shepherdess…Poussin…key…”

A reverse bas relief carving of Les Bergers d’Acadie, by Stuart is located at Shugborough house near Staffordshire England (1755) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Shugborough_arcadia.jpg
There are eight letters on one line of the bas relief, two letters on next line
Sauniere decoded the messages and found the Grail even though he was not a Templar initiate – he did not possess the esoteric knowledge thought to be needed.

The Bas relief at Shugborough Hall England is a “REVERSE” image of the Poussin’s painting.
There are 10 letters on inscription, eight on one line.
Bigou replaced C with O in his carving (Bigou was also involved with Sauniere parchments)

Solution
Read the word on the first line of the inscription O.U.O.S.V.A.V.V REVERSED (i.e. upside down and mirrored) A.A.V.A.S.O.N.O

Now, REVERSE what Bigou did on the headstone: Replace the O with a C in the eight-letter word.

The modified line now looks like this: A.A.V.A.S.C.N.C

This is an anagram, in French and has two words: "Canvas and Ca (Picture and That – it will not translate as a phrase from French to English, it is two separate words: Picture! That! Admonishing the reader to look at the original painting) As I have noted elsewhere, the original painting has shepherds pointing to the Longitude and Latitude of Rennes le Chateau

The. D and M appear on a separate line and seem to be meaningless, outside the clue (Help??)

N.B: I have also solved the Teniers painting clue and all of Parchment #1

Ed McGrath

Grail Seekers Media Watch for the Week Ending 2 June 07

Grail Seekers this week:

Do you ever have the feeling that something you thought was a hare-brained idea isn’t such an odd thought after all? I’ve had that feeling a lot this last week on some research I’ve been doing. Not meaning to be enigmatic, but hopefully I’ll have something to share soon that connects some dots regarding a famous author and the Grail in some unexpected ways. Think good thoughts for me on this one…

On TV:

History Channel:

4 June 07; 8-9pm -- Cities of the Underworld – Istanbul

4 June 07; 10-11pm -- Cities of the Underworld - City of Caves: Budapest

7 June 07; 9-10pm -- Decoding the Past - The Other Nostradamus: Edgar Cayce

8 June 07; 8-10pm -- Bible Battles

11 June 07; 8-9pm -- Decoding the Past - Mayan Doomsday Prophecy

9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - London's Lost Cities

10-11pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Real Sin City: Sodom & Gomorrah.

On Audio:

Coast to Coast AM will feature founder of Historical Realists and author, Patrick Conway, will discuss how the fall of the gods and collapse of the ancient world on 6 June 07.

The Hilly Rose show interviews Frank Joseph, author of Opening the Ark of the Covenant about the Ark’s history.

In the News:

A junior-high school student channels a Knight Templar for a history competition. I’m not sure if this is a colorful metaphor or this kid really thinks he’s channeling a Templar.

Dowsers look for stone circles in the Lake District of the UK

Scientists use laser technology to look into the Book of Kells

In Print:

A new book on Rennes-le-Château called City of Secrets surfaces this week. The book was written by Patrice Chaplin (daughter-in-law of Charlie Chaplin) about her experiences with the RLC mysteries. The above Daily Grail link has a couple of commentaries and interviews with Mrs. Chaplin.

Dark Horse comics revives the series Rex Mundi from it’s former Image Comics series. Rex Mundi is another Papal/Holy Grail conspiracy story line.

On Video:

Three videos on the UK Telegraph site go into a little more depth on the Rosslyn Cubes.

Rosslyn Chapel: Making the Stonework Sing

Rosslyn Chapel: Does the Singing Stonework Theory Work?

Cracking the 500 Year old Music Code

Blog and Pod On!:

Outlaw News thinks there is a connection between the Rosslyn Cubes and the hexagon pattern that has been seen on Saturn.

The Merovingian Mythos and the Mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau is discussed in podcast 14 by Tracy Twyman

Tip Site of the Week

Early Christian Writings has a listing and commentary on all the known Gnostic, early Church writings, and New Testament Apocrypha known to man. A good source if you’re trying to get an overview of what’s out there.