The Quest for the Grail
The Grail has been described as many things including a cup (or a dish) and a stone 'fallen from heaven.' In the middle ages the Grail became identified with the cup of the Last Supper, which was according to legend the vessel in which Joseph of Arimathea caught Christ's blood at the crucifixion.
We may even think of the Grail as the Cup of Gnosis. We may find hints of this in the writings of the Gnostic Ophites, an early School of Gnosticism, who possessed a bowl with a coiled and winged serpent, which was the Ophite symbol of the Redeemer and Son of God. The Gnostic Nassenes also possessed a cup known as the Anacreon having much the same meaning.
In the Celtic Mabinogion, from which the Christian Grail Myths are at least partly derived, the Grail could be Ceridwen's “cauldron of inspiration”, from which Gwion is reborn as Taliesin.
The Quest for the Grail is a journey in search of the divine soul. It is this elusive mystery that leads us ever onwards towards a “state of Grace”, and the recovery of a spiritual possession of the highest worth; one which can be found within us. Though we are beset with many trials, temptations, and dangers in this life, it is possible to eventually find our way through this forest of errors.
Our particular work for the most part is dedicated (but not limited to) the study of the Grail tradition in relation to the esoteric Christian Initiatic Stream. This stream is, of course, a continuation of the Gnostic Mysteries of the first centuries of our era, or perhaps could be thought of as one of many branches of the Tree of Gnosis. As the earlier Gnostics were persecuted and driven into hiding and near extinction, their work would tend to emerge in another time and place under a new name and persona, but possessing literature and/or symbols having similar archetypal significance and meaning. All of mankind inherently possess the same potential access to these archetypes, however it seems that they lie closer to the surface in some people more than in others.
The closest connection that will be found between the Grail and the Gnostics, however, will be found with the Cathars. The most common connection made between these two is the allusion to the possibility that the Cathars might have possibly possessed the physical Grail Cup, which for our purposes might better be left to archeologists, historians, and conspiracy enthusiasts in general. There are much deeper similarities between the Grail literature and the Cathars of which we do take especial notice and will integrate into our work.
The Holy Grail may also be found hidden within the realms of the mystery schools. In the legends and symbolism from the rituals of Masonry, Rosicrucianism, and Templarism, we discover that they all had one quest in common, that being the quest for the return of that which had been taken away. There is not sufficient space in this introduction to properly detail, the similarities of each of these initiatic societies, which will have to be taken up further at a future time, however this line of study should be at the very core of our work.
In conclusion there is one matter that cannot be overstressed. When looking into particular at the earlier Grail texts (especially that of Chretien De Troys) we find that the Grail Mysteries as well as the Christian Mystery Teachings consist of a series of initiations into the life of Christ Himself. Christ thus becomes the Divine Archetype (or the Supreme Commander, as He is named in the Order) of the Grail Initiate. To take this a step further, the Grail Knights were far more than characters in a cycle of literature. They represent a series of Primary Archetypes that display the whole spectrum of human experience, aspiration, failure to overcome the many perils along the path, and ultimately reintegration with the Divine. So when we as Grail Knights ourselves put on our armor, it is a Spiritual armor that we don not externally on our mundane bodies, rather it is an interior armor to protect us from our internal foes, the archons, the emissaries of the Demiurge.
I will close with a quote that has become an affirmation for many of us in the Order.
“Let not him who seeks cease until he finds
and when he finds he is astonished.”
- The Gospel of Thomas
Your Servant in the Quest,
John Cole
Grand Commander (1992-1999)
Rosicrucian Order of the Grail
We may even think of the Grail as the Cup of Gnosis. We may find hints of this in the writings of the Gnostic Ophites, an early School of Gnosticism, who possessed a bowl with a coiled and winged serpent, which was the Ophite symbol of the Redeemer and Son of God. The Gnostic Nassenes also possessed a cup known as the Anacreon having much the same meaning.
In the Celtic Mabinogion, from which the Christian Grail Myths are at least partly derived, the Grail could be Ceridwen's “cauldron of inspiration”, from which Gwion is reborn as Taliesin.
The Quest for the Grail is a journey in search of the divine soul. It is this elusive mystery that leads us ever onwards towards a “state of Grace”, and the recovery of a spiritual possession of the highest worth; one which can be found within us. Though we are beset with many trials, temptations, and dangers in this life, it is possible to eventually find our way through this forest of errors.
Our particular work for the most part is dedicated (but not limited to) the study of the Grail tradition in relation to the esoteric Christian Initiatic Stream. This stream is, of course, a continuation of the Gnostic Mysteries of the first centuries of our era, or perhaps could be thought of as one of many branches of the Tree of Gnosis. As the earlier Gnostics were persecuted and driven into hiding and near extinction, their work would tend to emerge in another time and place under a new name and persona, but possessing literature and/or symbols having similar archetypal significance and meaning. All of mankind inherently possess the same potential access to these archetypes, however it seems that they lie closer to the surface in some people more than in others.
The closest connection that will be found between the Grail and the Gnostics, however, will be found with the Cathars. The most common connection made between these two is the allusion to the possibility that the Cathars might have possibly possessed the physical Grail Cup, which for our purposes might better be left to archeologists, historians, and conspiracy enthusiasts in general. There are much deeper similarities between the Grail literature and the Cathars of which we do take especial notice and will integrate into our work.
The Holy Grail may also be found hidden within the realms of the mystery schools. In the legends and symbolism from the rituals of Masonry, Rosicrucianism, and Templarism, we discover that they all had one quest in common, that being the quest for the return of that which had been taken away. There is not sufficient space in this introduction to properly detail, the similarities of each of these initiatic societies, which will have to be taken up further at a future time, however this line of study should be at the very core of our work.
In conclusion there is one matter that cannot be overstressed. When looking into particular at the earlier Grail texts (especially that of Chretien De Troys) we find that the Grail Mysteries as well as the Christian Mystery Teachings consist of a series of initiations into the life of Christ Himself. Christ thus becomes the Divine Archetype (or the Supreme Commander, as He is named in the Order) of the Grail Initiate. To take this a step further, the Grail Knights were far more than characters in a cycle of literature. They represent a series of Primary Archetypes that display the whole spectrum of human experience, aspiration, failure to overcome the many perils along the path, and ultimately reintegration with the Divine. So when we as Grail Knights ourselves put on our armor, it is a Spiritual armor that we don not externally on our mundane bodies, rather it is an interior armor to protect us from our internal foes, the archons, the emissaries of the Demiurge.
I will close with a quote that has become an affirmation for many of us in the Order.
“Let not him who seeks cease until he finds
and when he finds he is astonished.”
- The Gospel of Thomas
Your Servant in the Quest,
John Cole
Grand Commander (1992-1999)
Rosicrucian Order of the Grail