Order of the Grail

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Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Another Secret Mission of The Templars: THE COMING OF THE PARACLETE, Part one

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Yet another secret mission of the Templars was to

prepare for the coming of the Paraclete. The original texts of

the New Testament were written in Greek. ln the Greek text of

the book of St. john, the word Parakletcs appears several times

in Chapters XIV-XVI. This word has been translated into English

as "Comforter." No single English word, however, conveys all

the significance of the Greek Parakletos which has meanings

relating to defender, helper, comforter and advocate. Some

theologians prefer to use the anglicized word Paraclete.

At the last Supper, after the Christ had revealed to

his disciples that he would be betrayed and would not be with

them physically for very long, he told them that he would be

followed by the Paraclete, a manifestation of the Holy Spirit or

the Spirit of Truth. Christ went on to give a number of hints

about the nature of the Paraclete. He indicated six character-

istics or functions:

1) lt would be with the disciples, and in them (John 14:17).

2) It would teach and recall the teachings of Christ (John 11:

26).

3) lt would testify of the Christ (John 15:26).

A) lt would make men aware of their errors, and of what is

really meant by justice (John 16:8).

5) lt would guide men into an authentic realization of what is

truth (John 16:13).

6) lt would prophesy (John 16:13).

The Templars considered the Paraclete to be the

manifestation of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth and

Revelation. For them its coming would herald the completion of

the cycle of a phase in the evolution of our planet, when the

Triune nature of the Divine will have been brought in through

concrete manifestation -t he Father aspect through Melchisedek;

the Son aspect through the Christ manifested in Jesus of Naza-

reth; and the aspect of the Holy Spirit through the Paraclete.

The Templars believed that they were given the mission of

preparing men's minds for the coming of the Paraclete, so that

one day they would be able to perceive truth directly without the

intermediary of a spiritual teacher or master. Today it is

believed that we are now entering, or have entered the Age of

the Paraclete. Accordingly, men and women in our time will need

to make less efforts to develop their spiritual intuition than their

forebears in earlier cycles. The coinciding presence of the

Paraclete and the currents of the Aquarian Age will ensure that

our current cycle will be unique in the history of our planet.

ATTRIBUTES OF THE PARACLETE Returning to the particular

attributes of the Paraclete, the Cosmic vibrations which work

through the aspect of the Divine which is called the Holy Spirit

have begun to manifest. Not only will they accelerate the

development of man's spiritual intuition if he makes the

necessary efforts to purify his vehicles by living the Christ life,

but the power of the Paraclete will dynamize the uncovering of

truth in all areas of life. Already one can observe that many

former secrets are being forced into the open, and the general

public is becoming rapidly aware of many things, both spiritual

and material, which have been hidden for centuries.

THE MODERN TEMPLAR The modern Templar, like his

predecessor in the Middle Ages, has a special responsibility to

facilitate the unfolding of the Paraclete and to propagate the

awareness of the new influences by the state of spirituality he

radiates. He will not need to go about enquiring into hidden

things. By his efforts to purify himself and open himself to the

new influences he will automatically stimulate the realization of

what truth is in the people around him. The law of cause and

effect (or Karma) will guarantee that Templars of today will reap

the harvest of seeds sown by the martyred warriors of the red

cross some six hundred years ago.The Christ force, now accelerating the return to its

Source, is facilitating the entry onto the scene of the Holy Spirit

or Paraclete, which has the particular role of awakening in Man

the realization of Truth. ln turn the action of the Paraclete will

favour efforts by the Christ Consciousness to free itself from the

restriction of matter. lf man plays his part, the action and

reaction of these two positive forces will ensure that the program

for the return of Cosmic Consciousness back to the Divine Creator,

in the sense mentioned in these lectures, will be carried out on

schedule. The French translation of the Paraclete (Gr. παράκλητος, Lat. paracletus

advocate or helper) as "Consolateur" with the etymological meaning of "he who

restores together" sums up this process well. lt suggests the

coming together of the Godhead and its physical creation.

THE SECRET MISSION OF THE TEMPLARS & The Arab World

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In addition to the activities just related, the

Templars were entrusted with a number of secret missions. One

of these was to work for the linking of Christianity and Islam.

The word Islam means "confident submission to God."

Islam is the religion promulgated by the Prophet Mohammed, and

someone who accepts Islam is a Moslem. Islam dates from the

seventh century AD when Mohammed, a welI—to—do Arab merchant,

received instructions in a vision to bring the message of the One

God to the Arab world. Mohammed himself did not claim to have

started a new religion, but is reported to have said that his

task was merely to bring Ito his countrymen the message of mono-

theism already declared by the patriarch Abraham and other

prophets such as Moses and Jesus.

MOSLEM BROTHERHOODS There is documentary evidence that

despite the continuous state of military confrontation which

existed between the Christian and Moslem armies in the Holy

Land, there were very close contacts between the Templars and

certain Moslem brotherhoods. It is known that the Templars

signed secret treatises with the Islamic sect of the Ismailis, and

it was demonstrated on several occasions during combat between

Arab and Templar forces that certain ideals of chivalry were

respected on both sides.

There were of course the famous contacts between the

Templars and the Fraternity of the Assassins, a secret fraternity

and offshoot of the lsmailis founded around 1090 by Hassan

Sabah. The head of the Fraternity was known as Sheikh-el-jebel,

or "the Old Man of the Mountains." Certain historians have

argued that the real meaning of the title was "the wise man or

sage of the Kabalah or Tradition."

THE ASSASSlNS

Although opinions differ as to the real

nature of the Assassins, there is general agreement that the

Fraternity taught a secret doctrine which was transmitted only to

the initiated. There must certainly have been some connection

between the Assassins and Sufism. lt also appears that the

organization of the Fraternity and its religious codes and

regulations greatly resembled those of the Templars.

The old belief that the Assassins were a fraternity of

drugged murderers (the Arabic word hashishvln meaning partaker

of "hashish," the local marijuana) may have been greatly ex-

aggerated during the period of the Crusades when anything

pertaining to lslam was given an unsavoury reputation in Western

Europe. Unfortunately ·the word assassin was adopted in some

European languages with the meaning it has today, although it

may well have derived from the Arabic word "assas," meaning

foundation.

THE DRUZE A brief diversion concerning the fraternity

known as the Druze might be in order here. This group is found

in Lebanon, Syria and lsrael today. Certain authors have

suggested that some of the teachings of the Druze might be of

Templar origin, and members of the fraternity do talk of their

co-religionists in Europe, especially in Scotland! Contacts

between the sect and the Knights Templar could easily have

occurred during the period of Templar presence in the Holy Land,

although this view may have arisen because Druze teachings are

a mixture of judaism, Christianity and Islam, and include

elements of Gnosticism. Within this amalgram is a secret oral

tradition said to be practiced by an inner group whose initiates

are known as Akkals or Okkals, and who possess seven secret

books of teachings accessible until recently only to the "pure".

Four volumes believed to contain these books have now been

published in Arabic, not long after Druze villages in Lebanon

were taken over by Phalangist Christians. No denial of the

books' authenticity has been issued by the Druze sect, an

omission which is significant by itself.

lt is also believed that there were contacts with those

Moslems who had settled as conquerors in Spain. Although there

is no direct relationship to the story of the Templars, it is

nevertheless interesting to note that the man considered to be the

greatest mystic in the history of lslam, Ibn Al'Arabi, was born

in Murcia, Andalucia. He first studied law in Seville, moved to

the Middle East where he was initiated into Sufism in 1194. and

died in Damascus in 1240 after an extraordinary spiritual career.

THE SUFI TRADITION The flowerings of the Sufi tradition

was also conterminous with the rise of the Templars. Although

Sufism had already existed from the early phases of Islam, it

was only around the tenth_ or eleventh century AD that it was

institutionalized. The most important Sufi brotherhoods were

founded between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, but the

golden age of Sufism was the twelfth century. It is therefore

probable that given their mission the Templars would have been

busy obtaining information during this period of spiritual ferment

in Islam.

UNIFICATION OF THE TRADITION You know of the transmission

of the Tradition to Abraham by Melchisedek. This heritage was

subsequently diverted into three main currents of Christianity,

Islam and judaism. It was the task of Saint Bernard and the

Templars to try to bring them together again.

The Templars did not succeed in outwardly reuniting

these currents. They did however manage to maintain the contact

with Islam and to integrate certain teachings, as just mentioned.

Through the Essenes and the Kabalists, elements were also trans-

planted from Judaism, fall of which were to vitalize the spirit-

uality of the Western peoples for the centuries which followed.

Another secret mission of the Templars was to strive for the

Return of the Christ. Their terminology for this objective was

the "Return of the Christ in Solar Glory." This is the priority

mission of the Temple today. One additional point can be

appropriately made at this time: It concerns the puzzlement of

historians as to why the Templars, with all their wealth and

power, so meekly and passively accepted the destruction of the

Order by Philip the Fair. The Templar tradition indicates that

the main officers of the Order believed that one day the Order,

like Christ, would have to sacrifice itself physically in order to

facilitate the return of the Christ in victu; This could explain

their courage in battle and why many of them accepted death and

the decline of their Order during the period of the persecutions

without physically defending themselves.

Times have changed. In the present cycle, the modern Templar

is not expected to sacrifice himself at the stake as did Grand Master

Jacques de Molay on that cold October dayin I3ll..

The Templar of today will rather be expected to

sacrifice the selfish aspects of his nature so that the spirit of

the Universal Christ shall manifest in him in victu: To describe

this in alchemical language: man needs to master the cross of the

four elements in order to achieve the awakening of Cosmic Unity

and Consciousness in his being.

The Templars: LINKS WITH THE ALCHEMISTS & KABALISM

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There were links between well known alchemists and the Templars. One of these

was Raymund Lull, a respected Catalan monk born in 1232. Lull,

as well as being an alchemist, was a member of a secret circle

of the Order of the Knights Templar. It is known that Lull was

present as an influential member of the Church at the abolition

of the Order at the famous Council of Vienne. Lull did not

attempt to intervene. Either he was privvy to knowledge that the

Order had arrived at the end of its cycle or he had simply

concluded that there was no more he could no to influence events.

He had argued strenuously for the unification of the Templar

and Hospitaller Orders in the hope of thus saving the Templars,

but in vain - Grand Master Jacques de Molay remained firmly

opposed to the merger.

Links have also been traced between the Templars and

Kabalism, the esoteric branch of judaism. Several writers have

alluded to the contacts which existed between the Templar

tradition in Spain and the famous Kabalistic schools of the

Iberian peninsula.

The four elements are symbolized in alchemy by the equilateral cross.

Each of the fouralchemical elements is ascribed to an arm of the equilateral cross

and coincides with one of the four cardinal points on the com-

pass. Each of the elementsmepresents among other things an

aspect or quality in ourselves which, if out of balance with the

other three elements, brings the negative aspects of that element

into our life and behavior.·

Here are some examples of the

positive and negative qualities of the different elements.

ELEMENT OF EARTH:

Positive Qualities Negative Qualities

Punctuality Unreliability

Firmness Stubbornness

Confidence Selfishness

ELEMENT OF AlR:

Cheerfulness Quarrelsomeness

Diligence · Fickleness

Kindness Tendency to gossip

ELEMENT OF FIRE:

Activity irritability

Keenness Bossiness

Resolution lntolerance

ELEMENT OF WATER:

Modesty Timidity

Docility Passivity

lntuition Credulity

In alchemy and in certain other esoteric traditions

such as the Kabalah, symbols have been evolved to represent

each of the four elements. There are ways known to initiates by

which these symbols can be manipulated through meditation or

other techniques to bring about a balance of the elements in the

practitioner, so that within him negative and positive qualities

can be neutralized and balanced by positive qualities. ln simple

terms, when an individual manages to master the unbalanced or

warring elements in himself by working on his character, his

weaknesses and uncontrolled impulses, he will have sacrificed his

ego and will no longer be tied to the cross of the elements. He

will become free from unbridled domination, thus enabling the

Christ within to manifest. The alchemist would say that such a

person has managed to purify the dross or impurities in his

metals through the force of sacrifice and self-discipline,

transmuting these metals into the alchemical gold of an awakened

spiritual awareness.

STRANDS OF THE TEMPLAR TRADITION

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Saint Bernard of Clairvaux considered it his personal

mission to reunite the different strands of the spiritual tradition

and to adapt this synthesis to the age in which he lived. He

had access not only to teachings known to the early Church

Fathers but, through family connections, he had also been

trained in Druidic lore. He despatched his Knights Templar on

secret missions to seek teachings which had been guarded for

centuries in certain brotherhoods of the Islamic and

Judeo—Egyptian traditions.

The nine Knights sent by him to jerusalem could not

seriously have been sent just to guard the pilgrims. What could

such a small body of men achieve as a police force in hostile

territory? The real task of the nine Knights in jerusalem was to

carry out research in the area in order to obtain certain relics

and manuscripts which contained the essence of the secret tra-

ditions of judaism and ancient Egypt, some of which probably

went back to before the days of Moses.

There is no doubt` that the nine founding Knights

fulfilled this particular mission and that the knowledge obtained

from their finds was taught in the oral tradition of the Order of

the Temple‘s secret circles. Hence the rumour that when the

Templars were seized by King Philip certain relics were spirited

away for safe keeping.

THE TEMPLARS AND THE GRAIL The Templars are said to

have had close contacts with the Troubadours, those wandering

minstrels whose poetry and song entertained the courts and

peoples of Europe with stories of noble deeds. Some of these

were themselves secret Templars, as is said of Wolfram von

Eschenbach, the man who popularized the Grail legends. One of

these legends relates that Gamuret, a knight and father of

Parsifal, had another son named Feirefiz by a Moslem woman.

Feirefiz also reaches the Castle of the Grail but cannot see the

Grail itself until he is baptized, to which he agrees in order to

marry the Grail King's daughter, whom he loves. Feirefiz is

then able to contemplate the Grail, around which appears a

message advocating tolerance for other races and creeds. The

marriage takes place and a 'son' is born, the legendary Prester

John, future guardian of the Grail.

LINKS WITH THE ALCHEMISTS & KABALISM

There were links between well known alchemists and the Templars. One of these

was Raymund Lull, a respected Catalan monk born in 1232. Lull,

as well as being an alchemist, was a member of a secret circle

of the Order of the Knights Templar. It is known that Lull was

present as an influential member of the Church at the abolition

of the Order at the famous Council of Vienne. Lull did not

attempt to intervene. Either he was privvy to knowledge that the

Order had arrived at the end of its cycleior he had simply

concluded that there was no more he could no to influence events.

He had argued strenuously for the unification of the Templar

and Hospitaller Orders in the hope of thus saving the Templars,

but in vain - Grand Master Jacques de Molay remained firmly

opposed to the merger.

Links have also been traced between the Templars and

Kabalism, the esoteric branch of judaism. Several writers have

alluded to the contacts which existed between the Templar

tradition in Spain and the famous Kabalistic schools of the

Iberian peninsula.

THE SECRET MISSIONS OF THE TEMPLARS

In addition to the activities just related, the

Templars were entrusted with a number of secret missions. One

of these was to work for the linking of Christianity and Islam.

The word Islam means "confident submission to God."

Islam is the religion promulgated by the Prophet Mohammed, and

someone who accepts Islam is a Moslem. Islam dates from the

seventh century AD when Mohammed, a welI-to-do Arab merchant,

received instructions in a vision to bring the message of the One

God to the Arab world. Mohammed himself did not claim to have

started a new religion, but is reported to have said that his

task was merely to bring Ito his countrymen the message of mono-

theism already declared by the patriarch Abraham and other

prophets such as Moses and Jesus.

(All EXCERPTS FROM ICES LIBERS)

THE EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC MISSION OF THE TEMPLARS

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THE EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC MISSION OF THE TEMPLARSThe mission of the Templars was two—fold. Firstly, toinject a certain spiritual idealism into the world of their timethrough a number of concrete actions. Secondly, to ensure thecontinuity of the Spiritual Tradition of the Temple by seeking outthe sacred esoteric heritage of mankind wherever it was to befound, to reunite it, and to present to a certain spiritual elite asynthesis of the Tradition adapted to the Western mentality of theMiddle Ages. Some of their activities were secret, while others werecarried out publicly. Some actions, although done openly, hadmore profound effects on the contemporary world than were appar-ent. For example, St. Bernard stimulated public awareness ofthe Feminine Principle by promoting the adoration of the Motherof Christ in the Church, and by encouraging the Templars todedicate chapels, cathedrals and churches to the Virgin Mary. lnthe harsh, cruel and male dominated world of the Middle Ages,the activation of the feminine archetype was extremely important.The esoteric tradition to which the Templars hadaccess taught them that the universe was conditioned by the lawsof sound, colour, number, weight and measure. They knew howto apply these 'laws so that symbols could be used to develop acloser relationship between man and spiritual realities.

NUMBER According to the Templar tradition, number was theprinciple of being on three levels of manifestation, i.e. Divine,Man and Nature. Number in this sense was the expression of thecosmic design and an element of the mysterious harmony whichexists in the universe. This vision of things can be traced backto the priests of ancient Egypt and was developed by Pythagorasin the fifth century BC. In the Middle Ages, the science ofnumbers played an important part in the spiritual researchcarried out by the Christian mystics, the jewish Kabalists andthe Moslem Sufis.The numbers 3 and 9 had a particular significance forthe Templars and these numbers were always present in theirbuildings and churches. The ancients have always deemed thenumber 3 to be the most sacred of all numbers. According to-Plato it was the perfect symbol of the Creator because itcontained the properties of the first two numbers. Aristotleadded the reflection that 3 contains in itself a beginning, amiddle and an end. Gold had strong symbolic meaning for theTemplars: to them it symbolized the radiance of the spirit afterpurification. They therefore associated gold with the number 3,the symbol of the perfect manifestation of unity.

THE NUMBERS THREE & NINE For the Templars the number3 also symbolized the mystery of the Trinity. Here we find thesymbol of the triangle which is 3 as well. The triangle appearsin most of the patterns and designs left behind by the Order.The number 3 was always present in the daily life of theTemplars: their rite of reception was repeated 3 times; theaspirant had to present himself ritually 3 times; the aspiranttook 3 vows; the Templar ate meat 3 times a week; a Knight had3 horses; he had to accept to fight against odds of 3 to 1, etc.` The number 3 when multiplied by itself gives 9, thenumber of completion. The number 9 is the only number whichwhen multiplied by any other number always reproduces itselfwhen the digits of the product are added together. (Try it! i.e.9 x5 = 45; 4+5 = 9). Like 3 the number 9 has always been con-sidered a sacred number in esoteric tradition. lt is notsurprising that the founders of the first Templar Order were 9,that the Templars took vows after a waiting period of 9 years,and that the Order was divided into 9 provinces. During theirtrials they chose 9 members of the Order to defend them, and 9of them stood before the Council of Vienne when the Order wasabolished. Thus the number 9 was with the Templars at thebeginning and with them at the end. ‘ ·The Templars believed that if certain geometricalforms and mathematical relationships were employed in theconstruction and design of buildings, these would have importantspiritual effects on the people who visited them. Sacredbuildings such as chapels, cathedrals and churches were placeswhere man aspired to approach the Divine. lt was not surpri-sing that the Templars were particularly interested in churchconstruction and, as we shall see later, this explains theirconcern for the welfare of the builders and artisans who coulderect and decorate buildings according to their specifications.The Templars also made sure that certain symbols were includedin the decoration of buildings in order to pass on esotericknowledge for future generations of initiates. The Templarsapplied themselves to the business of cathedral building withsuch industry that over a thousand chapels and churches wereconstructed with their support in a little under two hundredyears.St. Bernard, the spiritual father of the Order of theKnights Templar, was a passionate believer in the power ofspecially constructed forms to bring a realization of the Divine toman. He was of course the driving force behind the Templar'smonumental building program which even reflected his tastes inarchitecture. St. Bernard favoured a rather simple and austerestyle, probably in reaction to the rich and ostentatious onepreferred by the Benedictines of Cluny.

THE TEMPLARS & THE ARABS The Templars had negotiatedwith the Arabs for permission for their church builders to doconstruction work in the region of Damascus, Jerusalem, St. ]eand‘Acre and Cyprus. The Arabs promised not to molest them solong as they did not bear arms. The builders were placed underthe general authority of a Knight named Guy de Lusignan. Thesebuilders, known as Compagnons, were men who had spent manyyears experimenting in order to develop what later became knownas Gothic architecture. ln their day-to—day tasks the buildersowed obedience to de Lusignan but in their spiritual life theyowed allegiance to the Templars.

THE RULE OF HOLY DUTY According to Raoul Vergez,a Frenchman and modern Compagnon, some time around 1100 AD theTemplars and the leaders of the Compagnons formalized the Ruleknown as the "Saint Devoir" or the Rule of the Holy Duty, whichgoverned the manner and spirit in which the latter practised theart of construction, and established the relationship betweenTemplars and Compagnons. Under this arrangement the Templarscommitted themselves to protect the Compagnons, while the latteragreed to place their skills at the disposal of the Templars.There was probably also an undertaking by the Compagnons tokeep secret, such teachings about the esoteric aspects of con-struction as the Templars would pass on to them.This was a good arrangement for the Compagnons -without the protection of the Templars, they would have beenobliged to place themselves under vassalage to some ruler whowould not particularly respect their customs. (These included thetraditional working journey around France which every builderhad to perform before he was recognized as a Compagnon). Underthe Templars they enjoyed a better status than the serfs andcould travel freely under Templar protection.

THE COMPAGNONS in a way, the Compagnons de Saint Devoirwere the first organized movement in the world of the workingman. During the period of Templar ascendancy, there were alsoother craftsmen and artisans who did not belong to the SaintDevoir, but, wishing to escape from the rigid structure of theirfeudal lords, pledged oaths of vassalage to the Templars.One of the techniques which the Compagnons learnedfrom the Templars was the art of choosing the place where achurch should be located. The fathers of the Church had longsuspected that certain earth currents were useful in enablingcontact to be made with cosmic currents, and that the junction ofthese two types of forces created conditions which were propitiousto prayer and mystical contemplation. There is a story that thisknowledge was acquired by the Church from a man called Stan-islas, who had inherited a family gift which enabled him toidentify telluric currents. lt is said that Stanislas establishedthat sacred buildings should always be placed so that they couldbenefit from telluric or earth currents which flow from north tosouth. lt seems that it is also helpful to place a church altar-above an underground stream.

MASTER BUILDERS The Compagnons developed a particularapproach to their trade. Their art was dedicated not only to thecreation of beautiful buildings, but to the construction of formswhich were also functional, by glorifying the Creator and forginga living link with Him. The trade of constructing sacred buil-dings was initiatic in the sense that the master builders keptsecret their art and passed on their secret skills only by word ofmouth. Certain instructions, especially those associated with theapplication of spiritual laws in the craft, were transmitted onlyafter theapprentice. had passed certain ordeals to test aspects ofhis character. lt was these masteribuilders, the Compagnons,inspired by their Templar masters, who worked certain hermetickeys into the geometry and forms they created to decorate cath-edrals and churches.The island of Cyprus has important associations withthe Compagnons. It was here that the results of their researchinto building techniques were first tested. ln 1195 Guy deLusignan was recognized as King of Cyprus. lt was natural,because of his earlier associations with these master builders ofthe Saint Devoir, that he became their champion on the island.·He actively helped those who had survived expulsion from theHoly Land or could not make a living in France. lt was here linCyprus under the protection of de Lusignan that the followers ofthe Saint Devoir probably lived their most exciting days in anatmosphere where manual work was elevated by spiritual discipline and Templar ideas of chivalry. Unfortunately, with theexception of a few esoteric circles, the influence of Compagnonagein the spiritual odyssey of Western civilization has virtuallydisappeared.

L'Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose-Croix - The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

2009-12-02T15:01:00.001-08:00

L'Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose-Croix - The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

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Joséphin Péladan and The Ordre de la Rose-Croix, du Temple et du Graal

2009-11-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

The Ordre de la Rose-Croix, du Temple et du Graal, is said to have been founded. It would later include Josephin Peladan among its membership rolls. This is said to have been an offshoot of a somewhat irregular Masonic Lodge known as La Sagesse in Toulouse. It is said that members of the Hautpoul family were members of this Lodge, and perhaps members of the Marconis de Negre family as well. Around 1850 one of its members, the Vicomte de Lapasse (1792 - 1867), a well respected doctor and alchemist, founded the Ordre de la Rose-Croix, du Temple et du Graal. A subsequent head of this Order was Josephin Peladan (1859 - 1918), who was also from Toulouse...

Joséphin Péladan was born in 1858, in Lyon. His father, Louis-Adrien, and his brother, were impassioned by alchemy, magnetism, arts, sciences, literature and Christian mysticism.

Joséphin’s brother Adrien (1815-1890), was one of the first French homeopaths, and had become a Rosicrucian of the order of Firmin Boissin (1835-1893), who was Commander of the Rosicrucian Temple of Toulouse, Prieur of Toulouse and senior of the Council of Fourteen. Another member of the Toulouse Command had Viscount Louis-Charles-Edouard de Lapasse (1792-1867), a pupil of prince Balbiani of Palermo, who had been a pupil of Cagliostro.

In 1884, Péladan published a novel with strong Rosicrucian and occult themes, probably in the same vein as Bulwer-Lytton’s Zanoni. It was a success and he became a celebrity, involved in many art reviews. He also did studies of painters such as Rembrandt, Dürer, Herbert, Frans Hals.

Be became a member of l'Académie Française.
In Paris, Péladan became acquainted with the Marquis Stanislas de Guaita, who had become interested in Occultism after reading Péladan’s novel. The two determined to rebuild the Command of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood. To this end they recruited Gerard Encausse, “Papus.” Within a short time there were problems. Papus wanted to dramatically extend the membership of the organization, which Péladan was against. Péladan felt that Papus was too interested in occultism and magic, and they also disagreed with his doctrines, clearly modeled on the Theosophical teachings of Mme. Blavatsky, which suggested that Christianity was on a par with the other great religions.

In November of 1890, Péladan split with de Guaita and Papus. Péladan created the "Rose+Croix Catholique,” which almost immediately changed it’s name to "Ordre of Rose+Croix of the Temple and Graal" De Guaita and Papus published invectives against Péladan, and the whole fiasco was known as the “War of the Roses.”
Peladan was an occult expert, inspired by Eliphas Levi. Peladan developed a magical system that has been described as 'erotic Catholocism-cum-magic' and organized the popular Salon de la Rose + Croix. He believed that the Catholic Church was a repository of knowledge that it had itself forgotten, and he was particularly interested in John's Gospel.

Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. The old Rosicrucian Lodge fell into abeyance, according to W. W. Westcott (writing in 1916). This would be the Nascent Dawn Lodge. Gould states that it was in operation until the 1870s. He also wrote that the first Lord Lytton was received into the Adeptship and became imbued with the ideas he displayed in his novel "Zanoni" and other works...

Emile Dantinne was born in the city of Huy, Belgium, on the 19th of April, 1884. In his youth he turned out to be an excellent student with a talent for languages. Dantinne taught himself Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Latin, and Russian. From 1909 on he studied Hebrew and Arabic at the University of Liege (Luik), in Belgium. In 1913 Dantinne meets C.Virollaud, managing director of "Babylionaca', in Paris. He starts to study the 'Sumerian Tablets' and this way he also becomes an expert on the ancient Assyrian language.

In 1904 Dantinne met Josephin Peladan when Peladan lectured at the Ravenstein hotel in Brussels. The Ravenstein Hotel was a meeting place for the members of Peladan's Order 'L'ORDRE DE LA ROSE-CROIX CATHOLIQUE EST ESTETHIQUE DU TEMPLE ET DU GRAAL', originally founded in 1891by Josephin Peladan after he left 'L ORDRE KABBALISTIQUE DE LA ROSE-CROIX' ( The Kabbalistic Order of the Rose+Cross ). After Peladan founded his new Order, he organized the now famous 'Salons des Rose-Croix' in Paris. He engaged 170 artists who collaborated in the famous art–exhibitions. At the third exhibition held in Brussels in 1894, a branch of Peladan's Order was established in Belgium. The Belgian branch was headed by the famous symbolist painter Jean Delville

After the first meeting with Peladan in 1904, Dantinne became a regular visitor of Peladan's branch at the Ravenstein Hotel in Brussels. The Rosicrucian philosophy flourished in Belgium.

Brussels became the 'headquarter' of the European esoteric Orders and Societies. In 1918 Josephin Peladan died. His death was caused by food poisoning. The 'ORDER OF THE CATHOLIC ROSE-CROSS ...' was reorganized by his disciples. The Order divided into several branches. Gary de Lacroze continued the Original "L'Ordre de la Rose-Croix Catholique" in France, as did the painter Jaques Brasilier. Brasilier was the publisher of a periodical, named 'Les Feuillets de la Rosace', later rebaptized 'Feuillets des Dunes, organe de la Rosace'.

In Belgium the Order was reorganized by Emile Dantinne under the name of 'ROSE-CROIX UNIVERSELLE' (the Universal Rosecross) with the help of Du Chastain.
"After the death of Peladan it was Sar Hieronymus who relighted the torch of the Order and restored it in the ancient tradition of the real Rose+Cross". ( an Addition to 'L'Oeuvre et la Pensée de Péladan', written by Emile Dantinne in 1952 ).Sar Hieronymus is , as mentioned before, the 'Nomen Mysticum' of Emile Dantinne.
The title 'SAR' was used in the original 'ORDRE DE LA ROSE-CROIX CATHOLIQUE...' This title was only given to the highest initiates of the Order. The meaning of the title 'SAR' is 'Son of Ra' (SA= son; R'=Ra or Re). 'SAR' was also used among the ancient kings of Assyria. A more plausible explanation can be found in the letters which Josephin Peladan (SAR MERODACK) wrote to his friends. An example can be seen in 'La Vie Supreme' (Peladan's first novel), in which we find a letter addressed to a certain Prince de Courtenay. If we'll take a look at the opening words, we read:
‘S.A.R. MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE de COURTENAY '. The abbreviation stands for ' SON ALTESSE ROYALE ' (His Royal Highness). The 'Nomen Mysticum' -SAR- was eventually copied by SAR HIERONYMUS and later on attached to all dignitaries of the F.U.D.O.S.I.

In 1923 Dantinne reorganizes the whole R+C Order (ORDO AUREAE & ROSAE CRUCIS -OARC) in 3 separate Orders. 'L'ORDRE de la ROSE-CROIX UNIVERSITAIRE', divided into 9 Degrees. 'L'ORDRE de la ROSE-CROIX UNIVERSELLE' under the leadership of Imperator Francois Soetewey (SAR SUCCUS), likewise divided into 9 Degrees. Both the Orders served the same cause, except the 'ORDRE de la ROSE-CROIX UNIVERSITAIRE' only admitted members who were university-trained. Finally there was 'L'ORDRE de la ROSE+CROIX INTERIEURE' under the leadership of Imperator Jules Rochat de Abbaye (SAR APOLLONIUS), divided into 4 Degrees. Consequently the R+C Order was divided in a total of 13 Degrees, the 13th being "the Degree of Imperator".

On December 31, 1925 Dantinne founded a 'R+C CENTRE' in Brussels (Belgium) under the leadership of Francois Soetewey with Jean Mallinger as secretary. In 1927 Dantinne founded 'L'ORDRE HERMETISTE TETRAMEGISTE et MYSTIQUE'. The Order was a reconstruction of the 'Order of Pythagoras". The Order was led by Dantinne (Sar Hieronymus) himself, Francois Soetewey (Sar Succus) and Jean Mallinger (Sar Elgrim), leader of the Belgian branch of the 'RITE MEMPHIS-MIZRAIM'.

Dantinne worked as a librarian for the Belgian city of Huy. We know that Dantinne attended colleges at several universities all through his life. He published numerous articles in the famous Swiss periodical 'INCONNU', published by the Rosicrucian Pierre Gillard, cousin of Edouard Bertholet (SAR ALKMAION) leader of the "ROSE-CROIX d'ORIENT" and "L'ORDRE MARTINISTE et SYNARCHIQUE (successor of Blanchard). Gillard was a member of the Swiss Grand lodge of AMORC.
Dantinne was also the founder of the C.R.S.O. (Commision de recherches scientifiques sur l'occultisme), established in Huy, Belgium. He also founded 'Institut scientifiques sur l'occultisme' and the 'Societe Metaphysique' in Brussels.

The Government and the King of Belgium rewarded Dantinne several times for his contributions to education and culture. In 1962 Dantinne was admitted into 'De Leopoldsorde' (one of the highest honorable titles of the state of Belgium). It is needless to say that Emile Dantinne was an accomplished writer. During his lifetime he published over 30 titles concerning topics such as foreign languages, local history, metaphysics, occultism etc. Emile Dantinne died in Huy on the 21st of May, 1969, at the age of 85.

http://kingsgarden.org/english/organizations/om.gb/Dantine/DantinneBio.html

http://www.arbredor.com/titres/androgyne.html

Could Joseph of Arimathea have founded the Celtic Christian Church?

2009-11-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

Could Joseph of Arimathea founded or influenced the Celtic Christian Church? In the History of Christianity, we find that missionaries were first sent to evangelize Britain in the 6th century. The British historian Gildas (AD 516–570) wrote that Christianity was introduced into Britain in AD 38, during the last year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Another source is Geoffrey of Monmouth, who was Bishop Elect of St Asaph in Wales, and he states, "When Augustine came to Britain he found in the province of the Angles seven bishoprics and archbishoprics, all filled with the most devout prelates and also a great number of abbeys." The Bishop of Caesarea and father of ecclesiastical history wrote in Demonstratio Evangelica, "The Apostles passed beyond the ocean to the isles called the Britannic Isles." Saint Hilary of Poitiers (C.E. 300-376) also wrote that the Apostles had built churches and that the Gospel had passed into Britain. This claim is echoed by Saint John Chrysostom (C.E. 347-407), the Patriarch of Constantinople: “The British Isles which are beyond the sea, and which lie in the ocean, have received virtue of the Word. Churches are there found and altars erected... Though thou shouldst go to the ocean, to the British Isles, there though shouldst hear all men everywhere discoursing matters out of the scriptures, with another voice indeed, but not another faith, with a different tongue, but the same judgement.”

The recurrent problem with ancient historic sources is accuracy. The venerable Bede, the monk, is known not to be accurate as a historian, probably because he simply recorded oral histories and traditions which themselves may not have been accurate. There are a number of sources that claim that Joseph of Arimethia did travel to Britain and form a church, so we cannot dismiss the possibility entirely even though many of the details of these stories are historically inaccurate.

Chivalry in Modern Literature ~ The World of JRR Tolkien

2009-05-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Since my area of expertise is generally considered to be in the area of "Modern expressions of chivalry" I thought I would share with this forum a current discussion I am hosting on the Chivalry Program forum about chivalry in J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth. Scion of both the worlds of Beowulf and Sir Gawaine, Middle-earth is a detailed compention of chivalric themes, coventions and symbolism. For the modern student of "chivalry" there is much to be learned in the world of Middle-earth.

Enjoy

________________________________________

Do "knights" exist in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth? Or does the "Chivalric Spirit" of the known world only exist in the archetypal forms, or in symbols devoid of reality and meaning? Certainly, none of the classic documents of Medieval chivalric thought exist in Middle-earth. In this time and place, there is no "Ordene de Chivalry", nor do we find writers and philosphers like Geoffrey Chaucer, Ramon Lull, or Andreas Capallanus speaking to us of knighthood and the "Way of the Warrior."

When examining the "Lord of the Rings" for textual clues as to Tolkien's intent for this topic, several incidents from the story do support the hypothesis that "knight" and chivalry do exist in a recognizable form in Tolkien's world. Two of the most obvious examples are:

1) Merry's exchange of Vows with Theoden
2) Pippen's Oath of Fealty to the Steward of Gondor

In the Middle Ages, as part of the standard chivalry "contract," a knight was expected to exchange with his overlord a series of promises in which the knight agreed to perform such services as the overlord deemed appropriate to his rank. In return, the King (or other secular or ecclestical authority) would promise to provide services to the knight in return. In the "Lord of the Rings", there are two examples of this kind of contract being executed. In the first, we find Merry exchanging his vow with Theoden, in a relationship that results in his joining the King's household as a 'sword-thain and esquire':

"I have a sword," said Merry, climbing from his seat, and drawing from it's black sheath his small bright blade. Filled suddenly with love for this old man, he knelt on one knee, and took his and and kissed it "May I lay the sword of Meridoc of the Shire on your lap, Theoden King?" he cried. "Receive my service if you will!"

"Gladly will I take it", said the king; and laying his long old hands upon the brown hair of the hobbit, he blessed him. "Rise now, Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld?" he said. "Take your sword and bear it unto good fortune!""As a father you shall be to me," said Merry."For a little while," said Theoden. (Return of the King, Pg. 49)

In the second example of a chivalric exchanging of vows, you have Pippin swearing an even more formal Oath of Fealty with Denethor:

"Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, and to the Lord and Steward of the realm, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or in plenty, in peace or in war, in living and in dying, from this hour henceforth. until my lord release me, or death take me, or the world end. So say I Peregrin, Son of Paladin, of the Shire of the Haflings."

"And this do I hear, Denethor son of Ecthelion, Lord of Gondor, Steward of the High King, and I will not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given: fealty with love, valour with honour, oath breaking with vengeance."(Return of the King, Pg. 27)

In both cases, the symbols of chivalric exchange are present: The Boon (the request to be accepted into service), the Oath (the promise of recpriocal service) and the Accolade (the exchange of the sword, and the announcement of the "knight's" new status.)

Later in the book you find this new status reinforced when Merry and Pippin announce to Frodo and Sam at the Field of Cormallen: "We are knights of the City and of the Mark as I hope you observe." (Return of the King Pg. 237)

When it came to portraying chivalric themes in the "Lord of the Rings, Tolkien did not stop with these two characters, however. Elsewhere in the text we find situations that exemplify other forms of the "chivalric" contract. In the next installment of this thread we will examine these two other examples of the "Arte of Chivalry."

In the meanwhile, however, this topic is being discussed on a Lord of the Rings forum elsewhere...so we'll leave the scholars a bit of time to ponder the topic and postulate their answers before I post the solution to the challenge here.

Bauceant!

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!

2009-04-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!

The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew:

As it began to dawn towards the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the Angel said unto the women: Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that he is risen from the dead. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying: All hail. And they came and took Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. http://www.gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect045.htm

“The Savior swallowed up death - (of this) you are not reckoned as being ignorant - for he put aside the world which is perishing. He transformed himself into an imperishable Aeon and raised himself up, having swallowed the visible by the invisible, and he gave us the way of our immortality. Then, indeed, as the Apostle said, "We suffered with him, and we arose with him, and we went to heaven with him". Now if we are manifest in this world wearing him, we are that one`s beams, and we are embraced by him until our setting, that is to say, our death in this life. We are drawn to heaven by him, like beams by the sun, not being restrained by anything. This is the spiritual resurrection which swallows up the psychic in the same way as the fleshly. “ The Treatise on the Resurrection, The Nag Hammadi Library http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/res.html

“What great confidence at the hour of death shall be his who is not attached to this world by any affection. But the sickly soul does not know what it is to have a heart thus separated from all things, nor does the natural man know the liberty of the spiritual man. Yet, if he truly wishes to be spiritual, he must renounce both strangers and friends, and must beware of no one more than himself.…Grace is a supernatural light, a certain special gift of God, the proper mark of the elect and the pledge of everlasting salvation. It raises man up from earthly things to love the things of heaven. It makes a spiritual man of a carnal one. The more, then, nature is held in check and conquered, the more grace is given. Every day the interior man is reformed by new visitations according to the image of God.”

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ http://www.leaderu.com/cyber/books/imitation/imb3c51-59.html

the Gnostic Chapel of Saint Jeanne D'Arc Blog at:

http://saintjeannechapel.blogspot.com/

and The Chapel of Saints Serge and Bacchus Blog at:

http://chapelofsergeandbacchus.blogspot.com/

New Theory on the Essenes?

2009-03-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

From: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1885421,00.html?cnn=yes

"Sixty years of research have been wasted trying to find the Essenes in the
scrolls," Elior tells TIME. "But they didn't exist. This is legend on a
legend."

While I am neither an archeologist nor an ancient Hebrew scholar, it seems at first glance as if Elior's main arguement is that since the Essenes aren't mentioned by name in the Dead Sea Scrolls, that they do not exist. (Even though Essene is not a Jewish term.)

She then counters with an ephemeral argument that the "Renegade Sons of Zadok" were operating in that area and were the copyists of the scrolls without any better proof. Makes a nice plot point for a Frank Herbert novel, but it doesn't seem to have any real bearing. It is likewise somewhat constraining that Elior posits that the Essenes could have only essentially have been an invention to appeal to Greco-Roman thinking. Can she possibly believe that Palestine of the time was so monochromatic that it was not processing all the spiritual currents intersecting, as it were, at the crossroads of of the world of mid-antiquity?

It's almost easier to suppose that if the Essnes had not existed, some group very like them must have. It's understood that Judaism had been influenced by it's close neighboring relations to Zoroastrianism, but Judaism had closer neighbors of course. Gnostic groups such as the Mandeans probably had their origin near Palestine of that time, if their own origin story is to be taken slightly verbatim. There was heavy Greek influence, and of course lingering tradtions from other religions, and even important competitors like the Samaritans. It's not a discussion that I know enough about to really crack the lid of.

However I know there are some smart minds here and I would be interested in your thoughts.

The philosopher's stone

2009-03-10T17:13:00.001-07:00

The philosopher's stone (Latin: lapis philosophorum; Greek: chrysopoeia) is a legendary substance, supposedly capable of turning inexpensive metals into gold; it was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For a long time it was the most sought after goal in Western alchemy.

Alchemists once thought a key component in creation of the stone was a mythical element named carmot.

Alchemy itself is mostly an original concept and science practiced in the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, and India. However, the concept of ensuring youthful health originated in China, while the concept of transmuting one metal into a more precious one (silver or gold) originated from the theories of the 8th century Arab alchemist, Jabir ibn Hayyan. He analysed each Aristotelian element in terms of the four basic qualities of hotness, coldness, dryness, and moistness. Fire was both hot and dry, earth cold and dry, water cold and moist, and air hot and moist. He further theorized that every metal was a combination of these four principles, two of them interior and two exterior.

From this premise, it was reasoned that the transmutation of one metal into another could be effected by the rearrangement of its basic qualities. This change would presumably be mediated by a substance, which came to be called al-iksir in Arabic (from which the Western term "elixir" is derived). It is often considered to exist as a dry red powder (also known as al-Kibrit al-Ahmar الكبريت الأحمر -- red sulphur) made from a legendary stone — the "philosopher's stone".

In the 11th century there was a debate among Muslim chemists on whether the transmutation of substances was possible. A leading opponent was Avicenna, who discredited the theory of transmutation of substances:

"Those of the chemical craft know well that no change can be effected in the different species of substances, though they can produce the appearance of such change."

According to legend, the 13th-century scientist and philosopher Albertus Magnus is said to have discovered the philosopher's stone and passed it to his pupil Thomas Aquinas, shortly before his death circa 1280. Magnus does not confirm he discovered the stone in his writings, but he did record that he witnessed the creation of gold by "transmutation."

The 16th-century Swiss alchemist Philippus Paracelsus believed in the existence of alkahest which he thought to be an undiscovered element from which all other elements (earth, fire, water, air) were simply derivative forms. Paracelsus believed that this element was, in fact, the philosopher's stone.

Jabir's theory was based on the concept that metals like gold and silver could be hidden in alloys and ores, from which they could be recovered by the appropriate chemical treatment. Jabir himself is believed to be the inventor of aqua regia, a mixture of muriatic (hydrochloric) and nitric acids, one of the few substances that can dissolve gold (and which is still often used for gold recovery and purification).

Gold was particularly valued as a metal that would not rust, tarnish, corrode or otherwise grow corrupt. Since the philosopher's stone would turn a corruptible base metal to incorruptible gold, naturally it would similarly transform human beings from mortal (corruptible) to immortal (incorruptible). One of many theories was that gold was a superior form of metal, and that the philosopher's stone was even purer and superior to gold, and if combined with lesser metals would turn them into superior gold as well.

A mystical text published in the 17th century called the Mutus Liber appears to be a symbolic instruction manual for concocting a philosopher's stone. Called the "wordless book", it was a collection of 15 illustrations.

Philosopher's stone as depicted in the first Harry Potter film.

View article...

Rudolf Steiner on Grail

2009-03-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

http://books.google.com/books?id=vuXFUqBwGLMC&pg=PA25&dq=#PPP1,M1

Interesting read.

King Arthur - ATrue Story?

2009-02-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

For centuries King Arthur has remained a mystery - the site of his fabled Camelot long forgotten and the true location of his final resting place shrouded by the mists of time. Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman, in their book: "King Arthur - The True Story", have attempted to find the truth behind the historical King Arthur, his Camelot and ultimately his lost tomb.

In the Middle Ages numerous tales were written about King Arthur and his famous knights. Although many themes within these so-called Arthurian romances are clearly invention, a much older manuscript - written three centuries before the earliest of these tales was composed - records that Arthur was an historical figure. According to the work of the ninth-century Welsh monk Nennius, Arthur was one of the last British leaders to make a successful stand against the Anglo-Saxons who invaded the country from their homeland in Denmark and northern Germany in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. This was during the Dark Ages: an era of anarchy and tribal feuding that followed the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Nennius does not say where Arthur originated but he does list twelve of his battles and the last of them, the battle of Badon, is datable from a separate historical source: the work of the British monk Gildas who wrote within living memory of the battle. In his De Excidio Conquestu Britanniae ("On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain"), dating from the mid-sixth century, Gildas makes reference to the event that seems to have occurred around 500 AD.

In the Arthurian romances King Arthur is said to have ruled form a magnificent city called Camelot. However, the writers disagree on its location and its whereabouts has long remained a mystery. So where did Arthur originate? Where was his seat of power?

In the Arthurian romances Arthur is Britain’s one true king. According to Nennius, however, he is the leader of an alliance of British kings. Either way, if he existed, Arthur must presumably have ruled from the country’s mightiest stronghold. Historically, around AD 500 Britain had fragmented into a number of smaller kingdoms - the largest and strongest of which appears to have been the kingdom of Powys. Now merely a Welsh county, in the late fifth and early sixth centuries Powys covered much of what are now the Midlands of England and Central Wales. Its capital was Viroconium, once a thriving Roman town that became the most important city in the country during the post-Roman era.

Viroconium still survives as an impressive ruin just outside the village of Wroxeter, some five miles southeast of Shrewsbury in the county of Shropshire. The latest archaeological excavation there took place in the mid 1990s and revealed that there was a major rebuilding of the city around AD 500. The nerve centre of this new Viroconium was a massive winged building that appears to have been the palace of an extremely important chieftain. As the work seems to have begun at the very time the Britons defeated the Saxons at the battle of Badon, it may well have been the seat of power for the British chieftain who led the Britons at the time - in other words, the historical Arthur. As Viroconium was the Roman name for the city, and no records survive of what the Dark Age Britons called it, could it actually have been the historical Camelot?

Powys was the largest British kingdom at the time of the battle of Badon and its capital was the most sophisticated in the country. So who did rule the kingdom of Powys around 500 AD? A tenth-century manuscript detailing the family trees of important Dark Age chieftains, catalogued as Harleian MS 3859 in the British Library, provides us with the answer. He is one Owain Ddantgwyn- Owain White Tooth - the son of a warlord named Enniaun Girt, whom the manuscript lists as a king of Powys in the late fifth century.

When they first discovered the name of this king, Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman were disappointed. It seemed that the king who rebuilt and refortified Viroconium had not been King Arthur after all. That was until they discovered that the name "Arthur" may not have been a personal name but a battle-name - a title. The language of the Romano-Britons was Brythonic (a cross between Latin and the native Celtic tongue) and it survives almost intact in modern Welsh. The reason being that many of the Britons were driven into Wales during the Saxon invasion. Still preserved in Welsh is the word Arth, meaning "Bear", and many linguists believe that the name Arthur derived from this word. If this is right then Arthur may actually have been the king’s battle-name - The Bear. The name of an animal, in some way typifying the qualities of the individual, was given to many Dark Age kings as an honorary title.

There is compelling evidence that Owain Ddantgwyn, the king of Powys around AD 500, had indeed been called The Bear. Many of these battle-names where inherited by the chieftains’ eldest sons. A whole succession of Welsh kings, for example, where called the Dragon during the later Dark Ages, which is why there is still such an emblem on the Welsh flag. Gildas, writing less than half a century after the battle of Badon, actually refers to Owain Ddantgwyn’s son Cuneglasse as the Bear. If Cuneglasse was called the Bear, then so perhaps was his father.

In "King Arthur - The True Story", Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman claim that Owain Ddantgwyn was the historical figure who seems to have inspired the legend of the mighty King Arthur. They also claim to have discovered Owain's (and Arthur's) final resting place in Shropshire at the heart of rural England.

View article...

The American Fons Honorum

2009-02-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

by Bauceant »
Fri May 04, 2007 8:43 am

When asked, most Americans would reply that there are "no knights" in the U.S. As every school child learns, ours is a democratic nation and the U.S. Constitution probibits the assignment of noble and royal titles to it's citizens. As this quote from Alexander Hamilton in "The Federalist" illustrates, this was a very important issue to the American founding fathers:

"Nothing need be said to illustrate the importance of the prohibition of titles of nobility. This may truly be denominated the corner stone of republican government; for so long as they are excluded, there can never be serious danger that the government will be any other than that of the people."(1)

So strong was the law maker's desire to prohibit such titles from being bestowed on it's citizens, that a further amendment was proposed that would strip recipients of such awards of their citizenship. This amendment, proposed by senator Philip Reed in 1810; read in part:

"If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive, or retain, any title of nobility, or honor, or shall, without the consent of Congress, accept any present, pension, office or emolument, of any kind whatever, from any Emperor, King, Prince or foreign Power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them." (2)

Thankfully, however, that Amendment was never ratified; leaving modern legislators and lawmakers the opportunity for a much wider interpretation of the original law. So, now that we have an idea of what didn't happen, let us turn our attention to what does Article I: Section 9, Paragraph 8 of the Constitution (the "Emolument Clause") does provide for:

"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

According to many scholars and historians, the purpose of the Emolument Clause was two-fold:

1) prevent our fledgling government of instituting it's own system of nobles and titles.
2) to prevent royalty existing at that time from using promised preferments and titles as bribes in order to obtain cooperation from U.S. citizens.

The first thing an attentive reader should note is that the text in this section is very specific as to whom it applies to. Private citizens are, by textual ommission, exempt from compliance under Article I. It is only a "Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them (i.e. the U.S. Government) who is prohibited from accepting noble or royal honours. Once a citizen relinquishes their public office (at whatever level he/she holds it), they are no longer part of the "prohibited class" and may accept such honours are conveyed upon them without (as they say in Medieval parlance) "let, or hindrance from any."

In 1966, to help clarify the guidelines regarding honors bestowed on Americans by foreign governments (such "honors" including, but not limited to: orders, devices, medals, badges, insignias, emblems or awards") the U.S. Congress passed the "Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act."(5 U.S. Code (U.S.C.) 7342). In this Act:

"...Congress consents to the accepting, retaining, and wearing by an employee of a decoration tendered in recognition of active field service in time of combat operations or awarded for other outstanding or unusually meritorious performance, subject to the approval of the employing agency of such employee."

During later review of said Act, the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that an honorary knighthood should be considered an "Order", and as such is considered as permitted by the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act.

_________________________________________

1. The Federalist No. 84, at 577-78 (Alexander Hamilton) (J. Cooke ed., 1961).
2. 20 Annals of Congress, pg. 530 (1810).

TO BE CONTINUED...

Jacques de Longuyon ~ Les Neuf Preux

2009-02-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

by Bauceant
Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:36 pm

The Nine Worthies (les Neuf Preux) were nine historical, scriptural, mythological or semi-legendary figures who, in the Middle Ages, were considered to be the personifications of the chivalric ideals. As an allegory for the chivalric ieal, Les Neuf Preux were first postulated in the early fourteenth century by Jacques de Longuyon in his chanson de geste entitled Voeux du Paon (1312). Organized into three groups of three, these nine exemplars of the ideas of chivalry were divided among three distinct groups: Pagan, Jewish and Christian. The Worthies were:

Pagan
Hector
Alexander the Great
Julius Caesar

Jewish
Joshua
David Judas
Maccabeus

Christian
King Arthur
Charlemagne
Godfrey of Bouillon

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by Bauceant »
Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:23 pm

The following balade was written in 1386 by the prolific French writer Eustaches Deschamps. A contemporary of England's Geoffrey Chaucer, Dechamps laments the degeneration of the chivalric character in his "current age" and uses the Nine Worthies as examples of what those in positions of power should have aspired to in the way of moral character and behavior. ________________________________________

"CONTRE LES VICES DES TEMPS"
(Against the Vices of the Times)
Eustaches Deschamps (1386)

If it were possible for human nature
To revive those who have turned to ashes,
The worthy Hector, Arthur, and Charlemagne,
Julius Caesar, Godfrey, Alexander,
David, Judas, and Joshua who were willing
To take so much trouble in order to conquer
And to gain honor and renown,
And were they to be brought back to life,
I believe they all would wish to die again
Thus seeing the envy of the world,
And the suffering that everyone here inflicts,
Of coveting, robbing, expropriating, and acquiring,
Of deceiving his neighbor, man or woman,
Of abandoning honor and taking up vices,
Doing evil to the good, and rewarding the wicked,
Doing disservice to the noble and generous heart
But serving and honoring the wicked,
And foolishly waging war against one another;
All the nine worthies would wish to make an end
Thus seeing the envy of the world.
It would seem a wicked thing to them
To compare time present with time past,
When honor was in the world, sovereign
Knowledge, which made everyone understand
To love the good, and Largesse bestowed
Reward on everyone, in order to uphold valor
And loyalty, to maintain prowess: Justice and
Right held lordship. It goes otherwise; they would all wish to perish
Thus seeing the envy of the world.
Envoy Princes, there is no one, if he has common sense,
And knew the tyranny of the world,
Who would not wish to die directly,
Thus seeing the envy of the world.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/middleages/topic_2/deschamps.htm (Download 7-3-08)

Le Chevalier Errant~Thomas, Marquis de Saluzzo (de Saluces)

2009-02-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

by Bauceant »
Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:21 pm

In the late 14th Century, Thomas, Marquis of Saluzzo (Saluces) wrote the manuscript for the allegorical poem Le Chevalier Errant (1) In this important text on Medieval Chivalry, the Marquis of Saluzzo cites nine women as "les neuf Preuses" or the "Nine Worthy Women" whose qualities were the embodiment of the chivalric ideal:

Deiphille
Iynoppe
Hippolyte
Menalyppe
Semiramis
Lampetho
Thamarys
Theuca
Penthésilée(i)

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(1) (Bibliothèque nationale, Paris, mss. Fr. 12559, fol. 125v; manuscript dated 1403-04). (2) Velde, Francois. http://www.heraldica.org/topics/worthies.htm _________________________________________

(i) Compared to the list feature in the 15th Cenury work Triomphe des Neuf Preux. In this work, the list of Worthies is slightly different: Deborah, Judith, Esther, Susanna, Lucretia, Boadicia (or Boudicca), Mariamne, Saint Clotilde, and Andegona (or Antigone)

Templar Studies : The Beauceant

2009-02-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

As exoteric heraldic display goes, the Beauceant is an extremely simple Blazon. Since there are no charges on the field anywhere, the heraldic description would be something to the effect of: "Party per fess, agent & sable."

IMHO - however, the Beauceant is deceptive in it's simplicity. Quite without the use of charges and/or embellishments it's message is both powerful and profound. In its juxtaposition of black and white, one is reminded of the Kabbalistic "Pillars of the Temple"...Boaz (Black) and Jachin (White)...within whose sway "Might and Mercy" reside.

For me, this interpretation of the banner makes sense. In a book I recently read, the author indicates that the Templars used the following "Challenge" before engaging the enemy in battle: "In the Name of the Lord Almighty I call upon you to relinquish your weapons and receive the Mercy of Christ the King."

... Note the wording on the bolded sections (i.e. the "Might" of God, and the Mercy of Christ).
If it is indeed true that this Challenge was used, then I find this to be (at the very least) an interesting coincidence...

The Templar Rule: The Initiation of a Candidate

2009-02-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 1/20/2006 5:34 PM

Among the many things included in the historical Templar Rule is the formula for reception of a Templar brother. Before the candidate is admitted into the ranks of those who will become his spiritual brothers in both adversity and triumpth (as well as being allowed into the assemblage known as the "General Chapter"), the following is read by the Master or presiding Preceptor:

"Fine brother kinights [Biaus seignor freres], you see that the majority has agreed that this man should be made a brother. If there be someone amongst you who know something which prevents him from becoming a brother according to the Rule, then say it, since it is better to say it before he has come before us."($657) (1)

Hearing no objections on the candidate from the assembled bretheren, then the candidate is brought forward before the Chapter. At this time, the candidate is advised of the difficulty of the path he has chosen. In resounding terms, the Rule outlines the many dangers and difficulties inherent in the life of a warrior monk...not in the least, the loss of personal freedom and self rule:

"You see us with fine horses, and fine harness and eat well and drink well and possess fine clothes, and it therefore appears to you that you will be much at your comfort. But you do not know of the harsh commandments which obtain here within: because it is a hard thing that you, you are master of yourself, should become the serf of another...if you wish to be on thr land this side of the sea, you will be sent to the other side; if you wish to be at Acre, you will be sent to Tripoli..." ($561) (2)

Much of the rest of the Reception ceremony apparently has to do with the interrogation of the candidate, to ensure that he has met all the criteria for consideration. When this thorough interrogation concludes, the candidate having met all criteria successfully, candidate is asked one final question. As historian Edward Burman elaborates: "The final grand question, that still resounds magnificantly after seven centuries leaves no room for doubt that the prospective knight is leaving behind him the trappings of his life up to that moment: 'Do you wish to be, for all the days of your life, servant and slave of the house?' To which the candidates replies: 'Yes, if God wills, sire.'* (3)

Having now affirmed his intent to be entered into the order, the newly invested brother is required to swear loyalty to the Master as well as to loyally serve the order. The ceremony then concludes with an explanation of the Rules of the order, instructions on conduct, and guidelines for religious disciplines.

With dilligence (and very close adherence to the order's Rule), it is to be hoped that such a thorough instruction of the new candidate will help him long reside in the order, while keeping him from "losing his habit" (pert son abit), or "losing his house" (pert son maison) through intentional or unintentional breaking of the Rules so painstakingly presented and explained. *

[Translation: French] 'Voles vos estre, tous le jours de vostre vie mes, sers et esclaf de la mison? "Oill, se Dieu plaist, Sire."]

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(1) Burman, Edward "The Templars: Knights of Christ" Crucible: London. 1986. Pp. 47
(2) Ibid Pp. 47
(3) Ibid Pp. 47

Templars and the Vow of Chastity

2009-02-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 1/19/2006 1:40 PM

NOTE: This topic was first posted on TemplarHistory.com by the author (C. Leddon) on 11-20-05. It has been transferred here with the permission of the author..
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IMHO - Chastity, as defined in the Templar Rule, represents not so much a constraining of energy (and spedific behaviors), but a channeling of them. Since men *are* rather "hard-wired" for certain biological responses (and imperatives), mastering this particular discipline implies an absolute focus of Will, a focus that once learned can be applied to other uses... So, is it possible that the Discipline of Chastity is more than it appears? (Certainly, as monks, celibacy would have been sufficient to maintain order and discipline....)

For example, the term often applied to Templar troops in battle is "implacable". Certainly, some of the leaders *did* indulge in rash campaigns (and arrogant decisions), but they seem to be relatively rare. Also, despite their reputation for martial prowess, you seldom ever hear of Templars indulging in "berserker rages" (a tactic that *might* otherwise account for some of their formidable reputation.)

So, I have to admit that I wonder about this. While it would be easy to discount this entirely (and chock it up to the time period's opinion that "women are icky, stay away from them!") it feels like some other factor is at work here as well. I probably wouldn't have even thought of this...but as a fledgling fighter, I'm often told by my more experienced colleagues that I need to "focus" ...even in mock combat, a lot can go wrong at the last second if you are not completely engaged and focused on your opponent. In a melee situation, this is even more true...especially when you're trying to save your own hide, protect your own banner bearer *and* listen to the commands of the marshals and/or heralds.

As a monk, this kind of "focus" also has it's applications. As a young person, I used to spend literally hours sweeping (and resweeping) the walkways at the California Mission nearby. This particular Spanish Colonial Era structure still had a monastic community attached to it, so once in a while I would see the monks at their labors...and given some of the mindless, repetitive tasks they were doing...being able to focus on one thing would have made that process much easier.

So, I guess (if one were to consider the "chicken and egg question", I would say that the discipline first had monastic applications ...and then (once mastered) might have been developed for military ones. This is, certainly, all speculation on my part...but as a student of history, I've found that many human endeavors are actually quite consistent (even over cultural boundaries)...and when compared side to side (as we did with the Chivalry for Children program), the various warrior codes have some amazing parallels ...

So, Ladies & Gentlemen, what do you think? Was the Discipline of Chastity more than just adhering to the Rule's Cistercian origins? Or could this adherence to "Chastity" represent the underpinnings of training that could benefit the Knight on (and off) the battlefield?

(And don't worry about calling me "nuts" on this...you won't be the first one to do so over one of my strange (and no doubt heretical) theories... )

Templar Studies : On the Topic of: Tibet and the Alchemy of Compassion

2009-02-20T20:35:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 5/23/2006 6:55 PM

Last night I had the distinct honor of being invited to attend a lecture sponsored by The Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center of Wichita. Thinking with fondness the stories of Tibet that Raymond Bernard recounts in his book "Letters from Nowhere" I decided to accept my friend's invitation to attend.

Arriving at the small Episcopal Church just before 7:00, I scanned the room for my friend and the other members of the group who had invited me. Not seeing anyone I recognized, I was preparing to take my seat in the back of the room when a red-clad monk walked up and gestured for me to follow him. Moments later, I was astounded to be invited to sit in a chair in the very front row. But thankfully my discomfort was short-lived as my Buddhist friend joined me shortly after.

As the clock reached 7:00, a small gong sounded, announcing the arrival of the Ven. Bardor Tulku Rinpoche and his party. As the back door of the sanctuary opened, we rose to greet our honored guest. Smiling gently, the Teacher returned our salutations and then took his seat at the front of the room. After a few moments to allow his translator to prepare his materials and the audience to settle in, he began to speak.

As had been previously announced, the topic of the evening's lecture was: "A Path of Compassion and Peace in a Troubled World." As a teacher in the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, Rinpoche began his lecture by explaining the nature of Karma.

_______________________
From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 5/23/2006 7:38 PM

Karma he explained, simply represents the teaching that a person bears the sole and unique responsibility for their actions. At this basic level, right or wrong, good or bad, we and only we are responsible for what we say and do and ultimately, the suffering (or happiness) that results from our actions. But Karma is also a powerful vehicle for change as well. As Rinpoche went on to explain, each and every one of us possesses very powerful resources; the ability to manifest true wisdom; the potential to express gentleness and genuine compassion; and the potiential to use these things as vehicles to alleviate suffering in our lives, as well as the world at large. By learning about ourselves, he explained, and by taking responsibility for our own negative Karma, we can come to understand the causes of our suffering. Once we do this, we become the Master of our Suffering, and in doing so not only gain the ability to decide how we will respond to it, but the ability to decide how we will respond to it IN OTHERS. It is this ability (or empathy), which is the true catalyst for Compassion and Love.

_______________________________

From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 6/26/2006 2:46 PM

As the lecture continued, Rinpoche went on to introduce a work called "The Eight Verses on Transforming the Mind" One of the most important texts from a genre of Tibetan spiritual writings known as the lo-jong, this work (whose title literally translates as 'transforming the mind.') was written by the eleventh-century Tibetan master Langri Thangpa. According to the Dalai Lama's book "The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Wisdom", some of the seminal themes of the lo-jong include: "the enhancement of compassion, the cultivation of balanced attitudes toward self and others, the development of positive ways of thinking, and the transformation of adverse situations into conditions to favorable to spiritual development." (Pg. 129)

_____________________________________

From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 7/21/2006 1:51 PM

Considered essential to the development and understand of Compassion as a vehicle to Enlightenment, the Chenrezig Meditation is one of the few Tibetan Meditation practices which are allowed the student before Initiation. According to Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, who served for many years as the Chief Meditation Master of the Kagyu Lineage:"Most tantrayana or vajrarana visualization and mantra practices require that an initiation and subsequent authorization and instruction be given by a qualified lama before the sadhana, or ritual practice, can begin. However, a few practices, those that were given publicly by Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, do not fall under such restrictions. Very definitely, all the practices given in the Sutras have the full blessing of the Buddha and therefore can be practiced if one has the aspiration to do so. Such practices include those of the noble Chenrezig and of the mother of the buddhas, Green Tara. Naturally, whenever it is possible for you to take the vajrayana initiation of Chenrezig or Green Tara, you are encouraged to do so." (from the book "Gently Whispered")As Bokar Rinpoche wrote, in Chenrezig: Lord of Love, these clarifying remarks: "As long as one considers Chenrezig outside oneself, the initiation, in fact, is not indispensable. However, to meditate on oneself in the form of the deity and to actually accomplish the phases of creation and completion, the initiation is necessary."

__________________________________________________
As I promised to do so, I would very much like to share this meditation with you. Before I do so, however, I would like to spend a bit more time with my instructors. Hopefully, after my next session in August, I will be able to do so.

__________________________________________________

From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 10/8/2006 8:57 PM

My profound thanks to Lama Kathy for her advice, patience, and compassionate teaching of this technique. To her I can only say: Tashi Delek.....

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The Chenrezig Meditation, in conjunction with Tonglen (Taking & Sending) the Chenrezig Meditation is used to help an individual in his/her development of the "Compassionate" mindset. According to Tibetan scholar Pema Chodron:

"The tonglen practice is a method for connecting with suffering – ours and that which is all around us – everywhere we go. It is a method for overcoming fear of suffering and for dissolving the tightness of our heart. Primarily it is a method for awakening the compassion that is inherent in all of us, no matter how cruel or cold we might seem to be." Simple in explanation, but very difficult in practice, Tonglen represents the very heart of what I have come to know as the Alchemy of Compassion. As an explanation of the technique, once again let me share with you the words of Pema Chodron:"You breathe in the pain of a specific person or animal that you wish to help. You breathe out to that person spaciousness or kindness or a good meal or a cup of coffee - whatever you feel would lighten their load. You can do this for anyone: the homeless mother that you pass on the street, your suicidal uncle, or yourself and the pain you are feeling at that very moment. The main point is that the suffering should be real, totally untheoretical. It should be heartfelt, tangible, honest, and vivid."

http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/meditation.htm

As I understand the discipline, in it's purest form, Tibetan Meditation is a "universal" practice, in other words, all beings are prayed for regardless of gender, race, culture or species.

Templar Prayers

2009-02-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 4/14/2006 2:20 PM

TEMPLAR PRAYERS

Psalm 94 (94:1-23) King James Version O Lord God, [1] to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. 3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 5 They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. 15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow [2] it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 17 Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost [3] dwelt in silence. 18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. 22 But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. 23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

http://www.christnotes.org/bible.php?q=Psalm+94

Venite (95:1-7) King James Version:

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come [1] before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea [2] is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [3] and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

http://www.christnotes.org/bible.php?q=Psalm+95

Non Nobis(115: 1-18] King James Version

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. 11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. 12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. 14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 15 Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

http://www.christnotes.org/bible.php?q=Psalm+115&ver=kjv

Gloria Patri (Glory Be)

GLORIA PATRI, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen
(Trans: GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.)

http://www.sspx.co.uk/prayers.php?id=120

Pater Noster (Our Father)

PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen Tuum, adveniat Regnum Tuum, fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittímus debitoribus nostris; et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

(Trans: OUR FATHER, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.)

http://www.sspx.co.uk/prayers.php?id=119

The Ambrosian Hymn/Te Deum E DEUM laudamus:

* te Dominum confitemur. Te aeternum Patrem * omnis terra venerator. Tibi omnes Angeli, * tibi Caeli, et universae Potestates: Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim * incessabili voce proclamant: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus * Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra * majestatis gloriae tuae. Te gloriosus * Apostolorum chorus, Te Prophetarum * laudabilis numerus, Te Martyrum candidatus * laudat exercitus. Te per orbem terrarium * sancta confitetur Ecclesia, Patrem * immensae majestatis; Venerandum tuum verum * et unicum Filium; Sanctum quoque * Paraclitum Spiritum. Tu Rex gloriae, * Christe. Tu Patris * sempiternus es Filius. Tu, ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, * non horruisti Virginis uterum. Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, * aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum. Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, * in Gloria Patris. Judex crederis * esse venturus. Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni, * quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. Aeterna fac cum Sanctis tuis * in gloria numerari. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, * et benedic haereditati tuae. Et rege eos, * et extolle illos usque in aeternum. Per singulos dies * benedicimus te; Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, * et in saeculum saeculi. Dignare, Domine, die isto * sine peccato nos custodire. Miserere nostri, Domine, * miserere nostri. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos * quemadmodum speravimus in te. In te, Domine, speravi: * non confundar in aeternum.

(Translation) WE PRAISE Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship Thee: the Father everlasting. To Thee all Angels; to Thee the Heavens and all the Powers therein. To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim cry with unceasing voice: Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Hosts. The heavens and the earth are full of the majesty of Thy Glory. Thee the glorious choir of the Apostles, Thee the admirable company of the prophets, Thee the white-robed army of Martyrs praise. Thee the Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge. The Father of infinite Majesty. Thine adorable, true and only Son. Also the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. Thou having taken upon Thee to deliver man, didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb. Thou having overcome the sting of death, didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We belive that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood. Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints, in glory everlasting. O Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine inheritance. Govern them, and lift them up for ever. Day by day we bless Thee. And we praise Thy name for ever, and world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, to keep us without sin. Have mercy on us, O Lord; have mercy on us. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee. O Lord, in Thee have I hoped: let me never be confounded.

http://www.sspx.co.uk/prayers.php?id=232

Article #222 (To be continued)

Letters from Home: Hugues de Payens to his Bretheren

2009-02-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 1/12/2006 2:01 PM

PREFACE: Every once in a while, someone will ask me: "are there Templars in the Chivalry for Children program?" And while the classic virtues of the Templar Rule (i.e. poverty, chastity and obedience) are NOT overtly included in the seven virtues we teach (i.e. humility, courtesy, honesty, loyalty, courage, charity and perseverance) the spirit of the Templar legacy *is* represented in the material.

In a recent re-reading of a reference book on the history of the Templars, I was reminded of this translation of a letter written in 1126 from Hughes de Payens to his bretheren. Not only is it a window into the mind of the order's founder at a time of great uncertainty, it also illustrates two of the C4C virtues as Hughes de Payens saw them.

Certainly, within the purview of our program, necessity requires that we do a secular presentation of these two virtues...but these two virtues are very much present, none-the-less.

(Note: For futher research, the original text is found in: Leclerq "Sur le Debut de Templiers", p 84)

1) Hugues asserts that the knights' original vocation has been weakened by the devil, and then seeks to reassure them by means of spiritual quotations.
2) He states that the military nature of the order is a major objection raised against them, and replies to this objection by insisting that since the main intention is religious the purpose of the order is primiarily relitious and only then military.
3) The devil tempts the brothers with pride and ambition, and the idea of achieving highter rank. Hugues insists that they must resist such desires with humility (emphasis mine). With patience and humility they well best serve God.
4) Referring to the same temptations, he reminds the knights that neigher tank nor dress conver Christian grandeur.
5) To the possible objection that military duties might be a obstacle to the peace of mind essential for contemplation, he argues that even contemplatives must perform some labour and cannot live without devoting time to activities other than contemplation.
6) He emphasizes the necessity of duty and perseverance (emphasis mine), since these qualities will enable the knights to resist the temptations of the devil which threaten their vocation.
7) The multiform nature of the devil's suggestions is stressed, especially the notion that the Templar brothers are not mere servants. Hugues insists on the idea of an association of free brother knights, and how service in such an association can lead to salvation."(1)_______________________________________________

(1) Burman, Edward "The Templars: Knights of God" Crucible Press, 1986., Pp. 24

_________________________________________________________________

From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 1/12/2006 2:03 PM
ADDENDUM: As a historian, I find it very interesting that the order is remembered for its triune Vow of poverty, chastity and obedience... But when it's all said and done, I agree with Edward Burman, who noted (vis a vis the Prologue to the Templar Rule) that "the dilligence and perseverance echo the plaintive language of Hugues de Payen writing to the brothers left behind in Jerusalem."(2)

"Devant toutes choses quiquioques seit chevlaier de Christ, elisant tant sainte conversation, toi entour le profession, covient ajoustier pure diligence e ferme perseverance, qui est si digne et si sainte, et si haute est coneue a estre, que se ele est gardee purement et pardurablement, tu desserviras a tenir compaignie entre les martirs qui connerent por Jhesu Christ lor arms." (3a)

[translation: Above all things, whoever is a knight of Christ choosing only holy conversation, you who have taken the vow should add pure diligence and firm perseverance which are worthy and holy and recognized as elevated virtues so that if you observe it in all it's purity and eternity you will be worthy of keeping company with the martyrs who give their souls for Jesus Christ."] (3b) ____________________________________

(2) Burman, Edward "The Templars: Knights of God" Crucible Press, 1986., Pp. 31 (3a/b) Ibid Pp. 30

Les Grands-Maîtres de l'Ordre du Temple - Hugues de Payns

2009-02-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

From: Filcos (Original Message)
Sent: 2/6/2009 4:15 PM

Un très beau site, seulement la remarque en rouge est déplacée. Les templiers furent mis à mort, mais il y a eu des rescapés, de là nos Ordres. De toute façon, ce qui figure sur ce site est du copiage, soit-disant ayanr reçu l'autorisation des éditeurs. Vrai ou faux? Or, un chevalier peut donner l'adoubement à un autre. Vos réactions! Merci.

http://www.templiers.net/maitres/index.php?page=jacques-de-molay

The Naming of Swords

2009-02-20T19:12:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 1/1/2008 8:23 PM

In the ancient days, warriors in many lands claimed (and named) their weapons. Even today, in literature and legend, these names come down to us to invoke a sense of wonder and mystery:

Charlemagne(1): Joyeuse
Charlamagne (2): Closamount King
Arthur (1): Excalibur King
Arthur (2): Caliburn
Gawain: Galatyn
Roland: Durandal
Edward the Confessor: Curtana
Beowulf: Naegling
Julius Caesar: Crocea Mors "Yellow Death" (source: Geof of Monmouth)
Marc Anthony: Philippan (source: William Shakespeare)
Nanigi: Kusanagi "Herb Queller" (Sanshu no Shinki/The Three Treasures)
Siegfried: Balmung
Mohammad (1): Al Battar "Beater"
Mohammad (2): Dhu'l Fakar "Sharp"
Mohammad (3): Halef: "Deadly"
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar/El Cid (2): Colada
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar/El Cid (2):
Tizona Tethra, King of Fomor: Orna (source: "Book of Invasions")
Lugh Lamfada: An Fragarach "Retaliator" (source: "Mabinogion")
Ferghus Mac Roich: Caladbolg (source: "Tain Bo Cualgne")
Kormak Ogmundsson: Skofnung (source: Saga Ogmundsson)
Surt: Laevateinn "Staff of Destruction" (source: Voluspa)
King Rhydderch Hael: Dyrnwyn (Thirteen Hallows of England)

So, all of this begs a question: if you ever find (or found?) yourself the proud posessor of a weapon of renown, what name would you give it? (and why?) Since I asked the question, it's only fair that I start. In the Chivalry for Children program, there are 4 swords present during the class (three of which have recorded names: Talismen, Geburah, and Windwalker. The first two blades were named by their owners because of aspects they saw in the swords themselves. The last blade, Windwalker, was named by a Native American Elder in honor of the Civil War veteran it originally belonged to. The name has been retained in honor of the original owner (and out of respect for the Elder who named it).

_________________

"The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one. " Honore de Balzac
____________________________________

From: Jonathon_TN
Sent: 12/11/2008 8:27 PM

I have a bayonette that I obtained in a curious manner. I sometimes refer to it as The "Sword in the Barrel" from the manner I obtained it. It's an M1 Garand, bayonette, possibly milled from a previous bayonete for the 1903 Springfield (as did happen early in ww2 when supplies were scarce). I dont usually call it by name but I like to have it around. It's got tally marks on the handle. I didn't put them there .I have a 8mm Mauser rifle I sometimes call Isabella. It was made in a Spanish Armory and probably did some time propping up an unsavory regime. But it's mine now.

Biblical Archaeology: A "Grail" of a Different Color

2009-02-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 10/1/2008 4:59 PM

A team of scientists led by renowned French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio recently announced that they have found a bowl, dating to between the late 2nd century B.C. and the early 1st century A.D., that is engraved with what they believe could be the world's first known reference to Christ...

For more information:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26972493/?GT1=43001

The Sleeping Shepherd-Kings of Salem and 'The Shepherds of Arcadia'

2009-02-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 10/1/2008 9:10 PM

http://osdir.com/ml/culture.templar.rosemont/2007-04/msg00016.html

The Sleeping Shepherd-Kings of Salem

Jesus descends from the sons of Salma who were the Sleeping Shepherds of Bethleham. I suspect Jesus came as the embodiment of King Solomon, a 'Sleeping Sherpherd' after the god Endymion who was worshipped by the Carians who I believe were king David's bodyguards. The Carians followed Mithra, also, and thus were the Parthian Magi who woke the Sleeping Shepherds of Bethleham and told them of their Savior asleep in a manger.

Endymion is related to Salmoneus who is depicted in a paintng by Poussin whose work 'The Shepherds of Arcadia' has received much attention in regards to the Priory de Sion and the Davinci Code. I believe there was a search for the burial place of Solomon in Arcadia by Freemasons.

According to Robert Graves, the names Salma, or Salmon, are royal titles among the Kenites who were Mose's inlaws. He married Jethro's daughter, a shepherdess. Scholars are now concluding Moses adobted the religion of Jethro that made a home in Salem, or Jerusalem, where the Axis Mundi was established.

I beleive Jesus was the embodiment of the first King of Salem, who was David. Solomon installed the Rosa Mundi, or the Shekinah in the temple. The Golden Gate in Herod's temple was sealed, and could only be opened by the embodiment of Salma, or, Solomon. Jesus entered that gate as the embodiment of Solomon to be crowned the King of Jeruaslem.

Jesus was nicknamed 'The Wind' which is the name of Aeolus the father of Salmoneus. Just before Jesus dies on the Axis Mundi there is an eclipse of the sun that lasts for three hours.
The Jews studied the phases of the moon to determine many temple rituals, and the Jubilee. Selene, the goddess of the moon, visited Endymion in his cave while he was asleep, and somehow had fifty beautiful daughters by him that represented the phases of the moon.

During the eclipse, when the cosmic clock is being reset, Jesus declares "It is done!" and the the tombs of "sleeping Saints" are opened, and they go into Jerusalem and talk to the citizens. The "saints" were not buried near Jerusalem, but the 'Kings of Jerusalem' were. This was the true title nailed over Jesus' head atop the cross. Here is the Good Shepherd - AWOKEN - from his deep sleep. Consider the sleeping disciples atop the Mount of Olives where Solomon built a temple to golden chariots.

What did the Good Shepherds of Salem, Elis, and Arcadia do with the wool of those sheep?

I found Endymion, yesterday, after I found the Axis Mundi. Meher Baba, the Parthian Poet, was called "The Awakener". The Rose-line, the Meridian, and the Axis Mundi has been reset. The Rose of the World is awake in her new kingdom!

Jon Presco
Rechabite-Nazarite Prophet
Copyright 2007

http://rougeknights.blogspot.com/

Selene, the Titan goddess of the moon, loved the mortal, who was so beautiful that she asked Endymion's father Zeus to grant him eternal youth so he would never leave her. Alternatively, Selene loved so much how Endymion looked when he was asleep in the cave on Mount Latmos, near Miletus, in Caria; she entreated with Zeus that he might remain that way. Either way, Zeus blessed him by putting him into an eternal sleep. Every night, Selene visited him where he slept. Selene and Endymion had fifty daughters called the Menae.

The sons [8] of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, 51 Salma, the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. 52 Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had other sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. 53 And the clans of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites. 54 The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. 55 The clans also of the scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Chronicles+2

In Greek mythology, Salmoneus was the son of Aeolus and Enarete, the brother of Athamas and the father of Tyro. Salmoneus became King of Elis and founded the city of SalmoniaIn myths, Salmoneus tried to equal Zeus by riding a bronze chariot. He imitated thunder by dragging bronze kettles behind his chariot and hurled torches into the air to simulate lightning. He made all the efforts to prove his false divinity to his subjects and force them to make offerings to him. Zeus killed him with a lightning bolt and destroyed his kingdom to vindicate his honour as a true immortal.

Luke 2:8-20[8] And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [9] An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. [10] But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. [12] This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."[13] Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,[14] "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."[15] When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."Surrounding Christ's death on the cross, was a chain of miraculous events that gave tremendous testimony to (1) the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, (2) His claims as the Son of God, and (3) as a result, to the fact of the redemption that comes through faith in Him. Any one of these miracles alone would be astounding, but linked together they form an unbreakable chain of evidence that authenticates and declares Jesus Christ as truly the Son of God and the redemptive Savior of the world.

Matthew 27:45-53 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, " Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ?"that is, " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ?" 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 And immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49 But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Five miracles are recorded in this passage. They include:

The miraculous darkness that settled over the land.
The rending of the veil in the temple.
The shaking of the earth and the rocks splitting.
The opening of the tombs.
The raising of many saints who had died.

http://www.divinesport.com/awakener.html

Elis, or Eleia (Greek, Modern: Ήλιδα Ilida, Ancient/Katharevousa: Ἤλις, also Ilis, Doric: Ἄλις) is an ancient district, that corresponds with the modern Elis Prefecture. It is in southern Greece on the Peloponnesos peninsula, bounded on the north by Achaea, east by Arcadia, south by Messenia, and west by the Ionian Sea.The local form of the name was Valis, or Valeia, and its meaning, in all probability, "the lowland." In its physical constitution Elis is practically one with Achaea and Arcadia; its mountains are mere offshoots of the Arcadian highlands, and its principal rivers are fed by Arcadian springs.

In myths, Salmoneus tried to equal Zeus by riding a bronze chariot. He imitated thunder by dragging bronze kettles behind his chariot and hurled torches into the air to simulate lightning. He made all the efforts to prove his false divinity to his subjects and force them to make offerings to him. Zeus killed him with a lightning bolt and destroyed his kingdom to vindicate his honour as a true immortal.

ALPHEIOS (or Alpheus) was a River-God of Elis and Arkadia, in the Peloponnesos, southern Greece.The River Alpheios had its headwaters in the south-eastern corner of Arkadia, flowing the length of the country into Elis in the east, past Olympia to reach the Ionian sea. Several of its tributory rivers were also personified, such as the Ladon, Erymanthos, Kladeos and Kytheros. Another personified Eleian river was the small Anigros to the south.

http://www.theoi.com/Potamos/PotamosAlpheios.html

This Æolus was son of Hellen and the nymph Orseis, and a brother of Dorus, Xuthus and Amphictyon. He is described as the ruler of Aeolia (later called Thessaly) and held to be the founder of the Aeolic branch of the Greek/Hellenic nation. Æolus married Enarete, daughter of Deimachus (otherwise unknown). Æolus and Enarete had many children, although the precise number and identities of these children vary from author to author in the ancient sources. Those listed as the sons of Æolus and Enarete include Cretheus, Sisyphus, Deioneus, Salmoneus, Athamas, Perieres, Cercaphas and perhaps Magnes (who is usually regarded as a brother of Macedon) and Aethlius.Endymion (mythology)

_________________________________________

From: Lightseeker
Sent: 10/5/2008 6:23 AM

That's an interesting theory or belief that Jon Presco wrote:

"I believe there was a search for the burial place of Solomon in Arcadia by Freemasons."
As a Freemason and Masonic Historian of over 30 years, I can confirm that there was no search for the burial place of King Solomon, nor was there any need for this, the location is well known and requires no further investigation. I'm afraid you need to draw some other conclusions regarding Arcadia, and hopefully they will be more accurate next time.

Sorry to have to burst the bubble, but there are a lot of incorrect assumptions made about Freemasonry, but I wish you luck with your pursuit for truth!

Lightseeker

2009-02-20T18:56:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 6/24/2008 3:39 PM

EMERALD TABLET OF HERMES TRISMEGISTUS
Translation by Issac Newton c. 1680.

1) Tis true without lying, certain & most true.
2) That which is below is like that which is above & that which is above is like yet which is below to do ye miracles of one only thing.
3) And as all things have been & arose from one by ye mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.
4) The Sun is its father, the moon its mother
5) The wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.
6) The father of all perfection in ye whole world is here.
7) Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
7a) Separate thou ye earth from ye fire, ye subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.
8) It ascends from ye earth to ye heaven & again it descends to ye earth and receives ye force of things superior & inferior.
9) By this means you shall have ye glory of ye whole world & thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
10) Its force is above all force. For it vanquishes every subtle thing & penetrates every solid thing.
11) So was ye world created.
12) From this are & do come admirable adaptations whereof ye means (Or process) is here in this.
13) Hence I am called Hermes Trismegistus (thrice great), having the three parts of ye philosophy of ye whole world.
14) That which I have said of ye operation of ye Sun is accomplished & ended.

compliments of Sir Cliff Glinn

___________________________________

From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 6/27/2008 6:55 PM

For those wishing to ponder this passage in greater detail, I can recommend the following website:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/emerald.htm

In it you can find translations of and commentary on the various passages from the perspective of a wide variety of esoteric thinkers including Newton, Albertus Magnus, Blavatsky, and Fulcanelli...

a piece of Avalon here in the city of the blues

2009-02-20T18:53:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 9/17/2008 3:22 PM

Hello Reverend Donna,

This is my last week living in Memphis. I am taking a job elsewhere in the state, but I did happen to go with a friend to tour the very beautiful St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral downtown. The cathedral has too parts, the earlier smaller Victorian Gothic chapel set up for and by the nuns early on. These were the nuns famous as the Martyrs of Memphis who died trying to save many from the Yellow Fever outbreak.

The larger structure connected to it is the main cathedral and is build in the English Gothic manner. What I thought might be of interest to you is the Glastonbury Stone set within the north facing wall. It is a small piece of column facade (as far as I can tell) obviously carved from an early period, which is apparently from Glastonbury cathedral. How it came by way of Memphis I cannot guess. All this time there was a piece of Avalon here in the city of the blues. One almost wants to pull the stone out of the wall to see what lies behind it.

Here is a picture of it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Glastonbury_Stone_St_Marys_Episcopal_Cathedral.jpg

LVX,

Jonathon

( recently received this email from one of our former OTG Commanders, and with his permission I'm sharing it wih you)

Finding the grail - a possibly new perspective

2009-02-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 7/1/2008 10:02 PM

BRADAMANTE:

"O chaste and noble maiden, the future mother of heroes, the glory of Italy, and destined to fill the whole world with their fame."(1)

In both Ludovico Ariosto's work Orlando Furioso(1516) and Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato (1487), the "Virgin Knight" Bradamante (also spelled "Bradamant" is portrayed as one of the greatest female knights in literature. As a Christian knight, the legendary "White Plume and Shield of the House of Clairmont" was considered equal to any foe.

In one story in the Tales Of Charlemagne, Bradamante defeats by her prowess in single combat, Sacripant, king of Moorish Circassia. In another celebrated adventure, Bradamante defeats the Moorish knight Rodomont in a "Pas d'Armes" (Passage at Arms), freeing by her valor all of the knights imprisoned by the King. Merciful in victory as was her wont, she spares her adversary.(2)

For more information on Bradamante and her adventures, I recommend the following online resource:

http://www.bartleby.com/183/8.html

BRITOMART:"

For she was full of amiable grace,
And manly terrour mixed therewithall,
That as the one stird vp affections bace,
So th'other did mens rash desires apall,
And hold them backe, that would in errour fall;
As he, that hath espide a vermeill Rose,
To which sharpe thornes and breres the way forstall,
Dare not for dread his hardy hand expose,
But wishing it far off, his idle wish doth lose."(3)

In Edmund Spencer's Elizabethan work The Faerie Queene (1590) the warrior virgin Britomart (or "Britomartis") represents the virtue of Chastity. Skilled in fighting and stout of heart Britomart, daughter of Ryence, King of South Wales, had an amazing capacity for calm thought in even the most tumultous circumstances.

Roaming the world in search of her true love Argetall, Princess Britomart and her aged nurse/"squire" Glauce met and vanquished all the Princess met in combat. To her lance fell such puissant knights as Sir Guyon, Sir Blandamour and Sir Paridellas (as well as the unnamed Knights of Castel Joyous.) A Champion to those who sought her aide, even an Enchanter's wiles could not deter her from her duty or Quest.

____________________
(1) Bulfinch, Thomas. Age of Fable: Vol. IV: Legends of Charlemagne. Vol. VII. 1913. http://www.bartleby.com/183/8.html (Download 7-1-08 )
(2) Legends of Chivalry: Medieval Myth. Metro Books, New York (2000) Pg. 47
(3) Spencer, Edmund. The Faerie Queene. Book 3, Canto 1. http://gorddcymru.org/twilight/camelot/faerie_queene/faerie_queene_book3.htm(Download 7-1-08 )

The Mystical Table, a possible "grail" image from the Koran?

2009-02-20T18:41:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 5/22/2008 11:39 PM

>Koran, Chapter 5 Al Maidah ('The Table') verse 117

>"Prayed Jesus, noble son of the Virgin Mary, 'Oh Precious Lord, send from Paradise a mystical >table magnificently spread, so that every human being without exception may celebrate the >profound festival of the Ultimate Divine Sign, thus providing true spiritual sustenance for all >humanity. Allah alone is the best and only Sustainer’."

>Arabic: Qala Isa-ibnu Maryama-Llahumma Rabbana anzil 'alayna ma'idata mina sama'i takunu >lana 'idal-li-awwalina wa akhirina wa ayatam-minka war razuqna wa anta khayru Raziqin.

Joan of Arc’s Feast Day is May 30 - today!

2009-02-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 5/30/2008 2:51 AM

Joan of Arc’s Feast Day is May 30 - today! This is the anniversary of her death when she was burned at the stake in Rouen in 1431. Let us all as knights of Jesus Christ’s Universal Church remember her feast day. It is an opportunity to honor and pay homage to Jehanne la Pucelle for the great woman of Faith that she was/is and to celebrate her ultimate victory over evil through, with and in Jesus Christ’s Glorious Love and Mercy!

Joan of Arc had never read a treatise on strategy nor seen a battlefield but she defeated at her first attempt the greatest tacticians of her time! How could this be? It is quite simple: because she surrendered completely to the Divine Will and did not question the Invisible as would have done an adept of the intellectual plane!

Most extraordinary soldier, you insistently proclaimed: "Let God be served first!" You began by winning many victories and received the plaudits of princes, but then you were given to the enemy and cruelly put to death. Instill in us the desire to serve God first and perform our earthly tasks with that idea ever in our minds. Amen.

O, mighty Lord, I pray that You will be my shield, just as You protected St. Joan of Arc in battle. As I do battle against ignorance, cruelty and injustice, through Your unending love, I pray that You will deliver me from my enemies, and that You will grant me goodness and steadfastness, so that I might lead others to do Your will and glorify Your Name. Through the power of Christ, our Lord. Amen.
NOVENA TO SAINT JOAN OF ARC

Glorious St. Joan of Arc, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under your special protection... (mention here). Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Joan, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, forever and ever. Amen.

The Litany of St. Joan of Arc

Lord, have mercy on us! Jesus Christ, have mercy on us! Lord, have mercy on us!
Jesus Christ, hear us! Jesus Christ, graciously hear us!
Our Heavenly Father, Who art God, have mercy on us!
Son, Savior of the world, Who art God, have mercy on us!
Holy Spirit, Who art God, have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, Who art God, have mercy on us!
Holy Mary, virgin Mother of God, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Assumption, principal patron of France, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, patron and special protector of France, pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
Saint Margaret of Antioch, virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, chosen by God at Domremy, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, informed [of her mission] by Saint Michael, the Archangel and his Angels, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, compliant to the call of God, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, confidant and submissive to her voices, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, model of family life and labor, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, faithfully devoted to Our Lady, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, who delighted in the Holy Eucharist, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, model of generosity in the service to God, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, example of faithfulness to the Divine vocation, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, model of union with God in action, pray for us.Saint Joan of Arc, virgin and soldier, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, model of courage and purity in the field [of battle], pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, compassionate towards all who suffer, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, the pride of Orleans, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, glory of Reims, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, liberator of the Country, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, abandoned and imprisoned at Compiegne, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, pure and patient in thy prison, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, heroic and valiant before thy judges, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, alone with God at the hour of torment, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, Martyr of Rouen, pray for us.
Saint Joan or Arc and Saint Therese of Lisieux patronesses of France, pray for us.
All the Saints of France, intercede for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, ave mercy on us,
Lord.Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us,
Lord.Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, Lord.
Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us, that we may become worthy of the promises of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Oh God, Who hast raised up in an admirable manner, the virgin of Domremy, Saint Joan of Arc, for the defense of the faith and country, by her intercession, we ask Thee that the Church [may] triumph against the assaults of her enemies and rejoice in lasting peace; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Have you heard about the documentary "Bloodline?"

2009-02-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 5/19/2008 6:56 PM

Have you heard about the documentary "Bloodline?"

I went to see it last Saturday, and although the idea of a Marriage between Mary Magdalene & Jesus, and a resulting bloodline a la the Da Vinci Code is not an idea that I'm ready to "believe" as yet, the movie is fascinating for its discoveries of clues, relics and statements left by the enigmatic Beringer Sauniere, the parish Priest of Rennes les Chateau featured in the "Holy Blood Holy Grail" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Blood_and_the_Holy_Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln.

As I once visited Rennes les Chateaux 1n 1988 during an almost 2 month stay in the Languedoc "Cathar Country", through a series of unforeseen circumstances, and it has piqued my curiosity ever since.

here's the website if you want to learn more about it: www.bloodlinethemovie.com

http://www.rennessence.com/

Up front info about Rennes-le-Chateau and people involved in various projects...

this link has access to a documentary from 1979 about the Templars, from Henry Lincoln, one of the men involved with HB-HG.

http://www.rlcresearch.com/2008/05/18/shadow-of-the-templars/

CINNABAR PATH IN PRACTICAL ALCHEMY

2009-02-20T18:28:00.000-08:00

From: gor_363 (Original Message)
Sent: 3/3/2006 12:51 AM

Dear Members:The story starts from Kamala-Jnana as one of nom de plume of a contemporary alchemists (maybe Roger Caro or Jean Deleuvre)that was a Superior of the Temple of Ajunta.During the 60's, the Temple Initiatique Alchimique d'Ajunta wasfounded by Jean Deleuvre (known also probably as Kamala-Jnana). A book waspublished with photographs showing the main steps of the alchemicalwork (Cinabre Path).After Deleuvre's death, Roger Caro became the new leader of this groupand changed the name of Temple of Ajunta into Freres Aines de la roseCroix. In 1973, the organisation decided to be "asleep" for 25 yearsin order to match with rosicrucian traditions (?).In fact, in 1972, Etienne Roger Caro created a new organisation : theEglise Universelle de la Nouvelle Alliance. This later organisationseems to have stopped alchemical practices since the death of Mr. Caro.Roger Caro was born in 1911 and died in January of 1992.The Collegial Al-kimia is the External Circle of the Old Rosa + Cruzheadquartered in France.With Roger Caro's death, the Collegial Al-kimia has also fallen asleep.But it is possible write to Daniel Caro (son of Roger Caro) and to ordersome books published by Ajunta Temple. The address is :Daniel CaroBatiment D. Chambrun270 avenue de Pessicart06100 NiceSo my 1 question is what hapenned when Freres Aines R+C was separated from Temple of Ajunta. And was finally Temple of Ajunta survived after this? Was there any conflict? Because I know the people whom associate their selves with FARC, but say that don't wish to belong to Temple of Ajunta. If yes, what are the goals of Temple of Ajunta ???I noticed that the person in the forum called Temple of Ajunta, whom indicated the link to the site of AMORC Modus Operandi.2 questions: can you please tell me what is this site.3 questions: Cinnabar path do you know some other realiable works (maybe photographed) despite ofKamala Jnana/Jean Deleuvre/Roger Caro.4 question: what are the conditions of becoming member of Temple of Ajunta or FAR+C can you say more about this possibilities. If possible I would like to ask for your help.GOR

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From: Tau_Vincent_2
Sent: 3/3/2006 8:42 AM

As for the FAR+C, you can't join the original FAR+C because it doesn't exist any longer. Roger Caro explicitely stated it:« A ma mort, l'Ordre souverain des Frères Aînés de la Rose Croix sera automatiquement dissout et plus personne ne pourra en utiliser le nom. » ... "Upon my death, the sovereign Order of the Elder Brothers of the Rosy Cross will automatically be disbanded and no longer will any person be able to use the name." If there are groups out there claiming to be the FAR+C, they are false, or not acting in accord with its leader. It should be added, however, that there are a couple students of Roger Caro still around who do still practice, and one might be able to enter the stream as a student.Many of the writings of Caro were available through Editions de Massanne, but many are now out of print.Que Dieu nous bénisse.+PhillipT. Vincent II, in ecclesiaKnight Commander, Sacra Insula Commandery

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From: gor_363
Sent: 3/3/2006 10:46 PM

Thank you for your clarification.You mentioned that 'there are a couple students of Roger Caro still around who do still practice, and one might be able to enter the stream as a student'.Can you please say more about such possibility?You mentioned nothing about the Temple of Ajunta or Temple of Vrehappada originally associated with Kamala Jnana (maybe Jean Deleuvre).Fraternally in eclessia,GOR

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From: gor_363
Sent: 3/4/2006 6:09 AM

Dear Tau Vincent II
In your other message in this forum you mentioned thatHowever, all hope is not lost. In spite of presently being extremely busy, there are some of us who have been in communication with one of Roger Caro's best students and who have expressed a desire to continue that aspect of the work, having already had access to virtually all other components of the esoteric tradition coming out of Europe, and in particular, France.It cannot be said what timeline may be involved, however, the potential is still very much alive.So can you please indicate of what this student have done until now? or did s/he achived any results and success in KJ way (since the way is described in the RC photos). Also I think that you could know the Society Sanctuaire in France.Bes regards,GOR

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From: Tau_Vincent_2
Sent: 3/4/2006 9:31 AM

Well, I only know one of Caro's last principal students, and he is not taking on anyone at the moment. I will see if there are other possibilities from my French connections.I do know that the particular student I know has had some success, although I am not at liberty to say any more.I didn't mention the other groups because I know nothing of them personally. My primary focus and authority lies within the Eglise Gnostique - Martinism (&c.) - Memphis-Misraïm stream of French origination, although I have many connections to parallel and later groups.Que Dieu nous bénisse,+P

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From: MercuriusDeuplex
Sent: 3/5/2006 11:45 AM

I applaud your tenacity GOR ... any information on the former students of Caro and FAR+C or any surviving remnants of the teaching that can be brought forward is welcome.If Tau Vincent or Kamala Jnana or anyone else out there has any information that can help us to connect with the folks who have kept knowledge of the "Cinnabar Path" preserved, I invite you to share hints and clues or whatever you can.Has anyone written to Daniel Caro lately? Does anyone know if he speaks English? The books that he may make available, are they also all in French?

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From: Filcos
Sent: 6/3/2008 9:37 AM

To Whom It May Concern:

I am pleased to have found this page, and to know what happened with FAR+C after the death of Roger Caro. I am not interested in alchemistry as such, but in the knighthood "Roux de Lusignan" as part of the Order of which I am since 1975 a "Chevalier Grand de Merit FARC". The FAR+C may have disappeared after the death of Roger Caro, but not the "Templar lineage Roux de Lusignan", in this I pursue Pierre Phoebus (Roger Caro) 's work, as found on my website as a "Memorial" to him:
www.haguratelier.com/FARC.html

I keep the nomination "Ordre Souverain des Frères Aînés Rose + Croix" in honour of Pierre Phoebus, to further the Knighthood lineage "Roux de Lusignan", whose knights have to observe:

Simplicity - Charity - Obeissance:

Love your neighbour more than yourself - be humble, charitable, and obedient to the ONE truth.

This means that all established religious beliefs, humanist and occult societies, gnostics, unbelievers, all are welcome, providing they observe humbliness (simplicity) - charity - obeissance to the ONE truth, the unity of all life.

In all this, is the emphasis laid on character building and spiritual (inside) development as a foundation for the development of all the faculties inherent in man (microcosm) as in the macrosmosm.

Let us have the strong determination to penetrate within the veil, and to find out what lies on the other side of the unknown.

Yours in the One,
+ Philippus-Laurentius De Coster
www.haguratelier.com/Oremus.html

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From: Filcos
Sent: 6/3/2008 9:42 AM
Post Scriptum:

I forgot to join a document as per attached.

Thank you.
+ Philippe Laurent De Coster, B.Th., D.D.

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From: guild_decabalis
Sent: 6/3/2008 4:30 PM

Greetings all.

The only person whom has properly identified themselves here is:Philippe Laurent De Coster, B.Th., D.DGiven all the various anonymous postings over the years concerningTemple of Ajunta, AMS and FAR+C .. at Yahoo groups and alt.magick it must be noted that only TWO persons I know of whom have openly identified themselves as having a connection to FAR+C are Bishop de Coster and Jean Ruggiu of Paris.I personally do not accept postings from persons whom do notidentify themselves. Nor do I advise any person to accept postingsfor any person regarding FAR+C unless they can validate their lineageas a prerequisite.All else should be considered disinformation, spam and that witha political agenda.- Jean de Cabalis

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From: guild_decabalis
Sent: 6/3/2008 4:55 PM

Oh and of course

+Phillip A. Garver (aka Tau Vincent II) of the FAR+C has identified himself

these postings are a few years old and he likely has learnt a lot more concerning FAR+C since his 2006 posting

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From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 6/6/2008 9:09 AM

Sir:

Thank you for your post. Although my French is rusty, I found your memorial website to be a lovely tribute to an exceptional man. May you Prosper in the Great Work.CLL

L’Ordre de la Rose+Croix Catholique et Esthétique du Temple et du Graal

2009-02-20T18:27:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 5/22/2008 11:58 PM

While searching for something else a few days ago, I happened to find this well written article in English about Peladan's order which also has some interesting stories about the many amazing occultists and artists who converged in Paris and Belgium around that time. A fascinating read, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

You can download it at the link below:

"1891 L’Ordre de la Rose+Croix Catholique et Esthétique du Temple et du Graal.pdf" at:

http://www.mediafire.com/?w5x9day2mkq

You'll need to have Adobe Acrobat already installed to open, print or save the file:

http://www.acrobat.com

New Book: a contribution toward Christian-Muslim dialogue

2009-02-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 5/22/2008 11:31 PM

Authors Charles Upton and his wife Jennifer Doane Uptonand (an Eastern Orthodox Christian and a Sufi) have just published a book called Shadow of the Rose: The Esoterism of the Romantic Tradition; and they would like to offer it as a contribution toward Christian-Muslim dialogue.

The tradition of Western Romance, though an intrinsic part of Christian culture, owed much to an Arabo-Persian tradition of spiritual romance, which was largely Sufi in nature. And both Islam and Christianity possessed traditions of “spiritual chivalry” – still alive, here and there, in Dar al-Islam – traditions which had much in common, as well as certain clear differences.

Our book deals with these subjects in depth, as well as with the metaphysics of Romance, of the distinction and relationship between Divine and human love. We hope that Shadow of the Rose may contribute to “the reconciliation of the ancestors”, and in so doing prepare the way for peace and understanding between the living.

Shadow of the Rose: The Esoterism of the Romantic Tradition: Sophia Perennis, 2008; 184pp. $17.50 [£9.95]. Available through www.barnesandnoble.com , www.amazon.com , and www.amazon.co.uk. RESELLERS: This book is distributed through Ingram, Bertrams and Gardners; query jameswetmore@mac.com for further information.

East Meets West - The 1st Aphorism & The Heart Sutra

2009-02-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

From: kynara54leddon (Original Message)
Sent: 5/19/2008 10:29 AM

In perusing a tome I recently acquired, I took the time to ponder the following “mystery” The Rosicrucian First Aphorism: I. The Eternal Parent was wrapped in the Sleep of the Cosmic Night. Light there was not: for the Flame of Spirit was not yet rekindled. Time there was not: for Change had not re-begun. Things there were not: for Form had not re-presented itself. Action there was not: for there were no Things to act. The Pairs of Opposites there were not: for there were no Things to manifest Polarity. The Eternal Parent, causeless, indivisible, changeless, infinite, rested in unconscious, dreamless sleep. Other than the Eternal Parent there was Naught, either Real or Apparent.

When I mentioned my study to a Buddhist friend of mine, he suggested that my studies might be enhanced by a slightly different perspective on the same conundrum:

The Great (Wisdom) Heart Sutra
"When the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara."
"Was Coursing in the Deep Prajna Paramita."
"He Perceived That All Five Skandhas Are Empty."
"Thus He Overcame All Ills and Suffering."
"Oh, Sariputra, Form Does not Differ From the Void,
And the Void Does Not Differ From Form.
Form is Void and Void is Form;
The Same is True For Feelings, Perceptions, Volitions and Consciousness."
"Sariputra, the Characteristics of the Voidness of All Dharmas
Are Non-Arising, Non-Ceasing,
Non-Defiled, Non-Pure,
Non-Increasing, Non-Decreasing."
"Therefore, in the Void There Are No Forms,
No Feelings, Perceptions, Volitions or Consciousness."
"No Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Body or Mind;
No Form, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch or Mind Object;
No Realm of the Eye, Until We Come to No realm of Consciousness."
"No ignorance and Also No Ending of Ignorance,
Until We Come to No Old Age and Death and
No Ending of Old Age and Death."
"Also, There is No Truth of Suffering,
Of the Cause of Suffering,
Of the Cessation of Suffering, Nor of the Path."
"There is No Wisdom,
and There is No Attainment Whatsoever."
"Because There is Nothing to Be Attained,
The Bodhisattva Relying On Prajna Paramita
Has No Obstruction in His Mind."
"Because There is No Obstruction, He Has no Fear,"
"And He passes Far Beyond Confused Imagination."
"And Reaches Ultimate Nirvana."
"The Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future,
By Relying on Prajna Paramita Have Attained Supreme Enlightenment."
"Therefore, the Prajna Paramita is the Great Magic Spell,
The Spell of Illumination, the Supreme Spell,
Which Can Truly Protect One From All Suffering Without Fail."
"Therefore He Uttered the Spell of Prajnaparmita,
Saying Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha." _________________________________________

Has anyone else studied these two esoteric texts in conjunction with each other? If so, would you be willing to share your insights on their differences and similarities?

The Holy Grail...

2009-02-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

From: Chantal-Elsa (Original Message)
Sent: 9/16/2007 6:51 PM

Reading on the website about the search for the Holy Grail, I wonder if anyone has ever thought that it can be within ourselves, or, as ancient Hebrews said: ''at the bottom of the ''well of the oath'', that is, deep and secreted from the bare eyes of the shallow minds).
This has been my understanding when I spent much time studying some the Middle-Eastern esoteric friends of the Templars, who blend in Islamic, while offending no one. The nine had indeed penetrated the first crusade, so well provoked, and found their way exactly where they wished to be... (Let us recognize that it was one the greatest political ruse and tour-de force, surely!)
Perhaps they brought some items of historical/archaelogical value; perhaps also this did not stop them from bringing back the abstract treasures buried and forgotten under centuries of excessive oppression in the West, treasures guarded, at all cost, for us to enjoy for evermore, enjoyable in full Freedom, and all the more, it is hidden under bright light.
I think of a famous Middle-Eastern group named ''the Nusairi''.They are Syrians. In their outer lifestyle, they offend not Islam, they could not, by all means, since they are not heretical; they blend, just like our Masons blend in our societies, going even to church, wherever they are.. They somehow believe in a cup receiving the dew...
Hope I am making some sense.
Peace to all.
Ch-E.

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From: Stibknight1
Sent: 9/17/2007 3:59 PM

Fraters, Bretheren, ALL,The Cup is obtainable by all. It is the vessel (secret vessel) of the alchemists. There is only one Cup, one Grail, one vessel, one substance, one Mother.It holds the (red) male and the (white) female....the wine and the bread of the First Eucharis (not the Last Supper)......the blood of Christ and the Milk of the Virgin of the Crucifiction (the celebration of Resurection or rebirth, not death).This is not an esoteric "happening", it is a real, physical thing that must be obtained to complete the Work, the Great Work. The thing that Arthur had to find to bring his "kingdom" into balance.This is the begetting of Wisdom, to know God (Allah, Maat, ....et al...by what ever name you wish to apply.) or at least to know how God works.Why else is the Philosophers Stone so named?We are not looking for an artifact, "IT" can be found in any stone, one simply needs to know how. Just like Arthur, Excalibur is extracted by the WISE. One should not expect to go to Rosslyn, or anywhere else in fact, to find "IT". It lies at the bottom of the "spring at the base of the oak", the bottom of the "lake" from which "the lady offers up Excalibur to Merlin (the Magi)"Spirit (life - nothing more and nothing less) is the "dew which rains down as a continual blessing", it is defined as a condensed vapour ( even of Hermans beard)LUXBob
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From: Chantal-Elsa
Reading on the website about the search for the Holy Grail, I wonder if anyone has ever thought that it can be within ourselves, or, as ancient Hebrews said: ''at the bottom of the ''well of the oath'', that is, deep and secreted from the bare eyes of the shallow minds).
This has been my understanding when I spent much time studying some the Middle-Eastern esoteric friends of the Templars, who blend in Islamic, while offending no one. The nine had indeed penetrated the first crusade, so well provoked, and found their way exactly where they wished to be... (Let us recognize that it was one the greatest political ruse and tour-de force, surely!)
Perhaps they brought some items of historical/archaelogical value; perhaps also this did not stop them from bringing back the abstract treasures buried and forgotten under centuries of excessive oppression in the West, treasures guarded, at all cost, for us to enjoy for evermore, enjoyable in full Freedom, and all the more, it is hidden under bright light.
I think of a famous Middle-Eastern group named ''the Nusairi''.They are Syrians. In their outer lifestyle, they offend not Islam, they could not, by all means, since they are not heretical; they blend, just like our Masons blend in our societies, going even to church, wherever they are.. They somehow believe in a cup receiving the dew...
Hope I am making some sense.
Peace to all.
Ch-E.

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From: Chantal-Elsa
Sent: 9/17/2007 4:52 PM

Hi Brehtren; Superb reply to mine (in my broken English).
Now, for the good of all, please, do explain to all, why the Grail came to be identified with a stone, and why it has always been imagined in the green colour.
Incidently, when I mentionned the Nusairis, I should have spoken about the wonderful Sufis as well.
Wisdom never dies...Islam and Judaism never did suffocate it; no one had a profitable purpose in so-doing;that's why it was retrievable, and necessary to go back to its source, via the Levant. Thanks to the symbiotic Arab/Sefardi presence in Spain, till 1492,when all others were deprived of their Right to perceive Light and Peace, our European ancestors were exposed, by means of just ''peeping'' through these borders, via the famous Languedoc, on a source of Light that shone far down till ''Fez'', and, being regenerated by it, went back to its source, in the Levant, for which its own warrior-monk army was created, modeled after that of the Arab Ribbat...hence the Opening of the Tomb, sometimes said to be that of Ch. Rosenkreutz.
Throughout the centuries, mainly in the Middle-Ages till the 18th century CE,so many hard working and self-sacrificed Ones have silently toiled for us to enjoy anew, the right to perceive that Light, and that right to find the Grail within ourselves, where it should never have stopped to exist.
Let us beware to preserve It, forever more.
Thankyou, Bob.
Peace Profound to you, and all.
Ch.-E.

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From: Donna17190
Sent: 3/22/2008 2:23 AM

Dear Grail Brethren

Thank you for your thought provoking and inspiring posts on this central of all subjects. I have recently been reading "The Compte de Gabalis" by the Abbe N. de Montfaucon de Villars, which has become a fine follow up to OUR JOAC last month's meeting lecture subject, "Alchemical Regeneration" (the title was actually Alchemistical Regeneration) ICES Liber 46. The story is intriguing, but the footnotes (which, fill every other page and comprise a book in themselves) contain much fascinating information on the secret alchemical messages revealed in sacred religious texts, including a long section on the Koran.

The ICES Liber, from some unknown Rosicrucian Society, I would guess was written in the last century due to the detailed but somewhat outdated scientific descriptions of the workings of the Pituitary and Pineal glands in the brain, their relationship to one another; and their regenerative transformation crucial to forming the philosopher's stone and the Alchemical Wedding.

I've attached the Liber if you'd like to have a look!

as for the Compte, here's a select quote from the aforementioned 'footnotes', "When a religion is given to the world, a centre is usually established in which the pure essence of the sacred teachings is preserved intact. For as the human mind evolves in this essence it becomes tinctured so that the original teaching and instruction tend to become disintegrated by the action of human thought. Thus those whom Numa anointed with the Sacred Fire or Everlasting Solar Force transmitted this power and knowledge of its mystery to their successors, who maintained their temples of worship as centers for its radiation and the regeneration of the races, until that purpose for which the religion of Numa had been instituted was fulfilled and the Force which had vitalized it was withdrawn."

and now something from the 'Compte' himself," Man sinks into oblivion and indifference of thought and allows himself to be governed by the minds and opinions of others. It has therefore been possible to keep him in ignorance of his true estate and to retard his spiritual progress for centuries. The man who does not think cannot know, and becomes the slave and property of other minds. The man who thinks, wills to know, and tends to become the expression of the God within."

Oh, yes, and I would have to agree, the grail is to be found within us, but it is much more than mere emotional romanticism.

Easter Blessings,

Reverend Dame Donna, Grand Commander

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From: Donna17190
Sent: 5/16/2008 11:02 PM

The Grail as a cup or chalice is said to represent the feminine polarity of spirituality. If wine is present in it, this is taken to symbolize the male or active principle, the two polarities - masculine & feminine, positive & negative — symbolizing perfect manifestation. The feminine principle in life was not given the same consideration in Western civilization as the male principle, despite the symbol of the Virgin Mary to church doctrine. The adoption of Protestantism as a state religion in some countries diminished its importance still further. The Grail legend, symbolized as a receptive feminine archetype in the collective unconscious, has helped to preserve the feminine principle in man’s consciousness, especially during the period of the Reformation which experienced the strong masculine influences of Lutheranism and Calvinism. In recent centuries our civilization has tended to over—emphasize the masculine principle, and the balancing force of the feminine is now due to manifest in order to rectify this tendency. It can safely be predicted that the Grail mystery with the feminine symbol of the cup or chalice will again take hold of the popular imagination and fulfill its primordial destiny. In the light of what has been said, could one give a simple reply to the question of what the Grail really is? One answer might be that the Grail is the symbolic representation of what man will discover about himself and about the real meaning of life in his search for truth. The Grail is the essence of all that is, and is yet to be manifested. It can therefore be never fully comprehended, since life in the Cosmos will never end. At our limited level of understanding the Grail can be regarded symbolically as the perfect blueprint of what Man is intended to be at the summit of his evolution on planet Earth.

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From: Donna17190
Sent: 5/16/2008 11:19 PM

I don't pretend to have all the answers but here are a few suggestions....A legend has it that "the cup of the Grail was cut from an emerald stone, which fell from the brow of Lucifer during his battle with Saint Michael the Archangel, chief of the celestial militia." Green represents the Emerald fallen from the Crown of Lucifer (meaning Light-bearer), and the Emerald Table or Tablet of Hermes well known to Alchemists. Green is the Color of Vegetation, also the color that Copper, a metal associated with Venus turns when exposed to the atmosphere and oxidizes.

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From: Tau_Vincent_2
Sent: 5/17/2008 11:27 AM

That's because there are actually two Grails. There is an external one, the one that can be found and that was historically significant, and an internal one - the one that we find within ourselves when our quest for the truth gives us a glimpse of that truth. This is why the descriptions of the Grail are different, because the external one is ancient, but the internal one is different for everyone since it pertains to our own search for the truth and will tell us about ourselves.Have you found the Grail within? It's a quest that is well worth the undertaking!+Phillip

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From: kynara54leddon
Sent: 5/18/2008 9:14 PM

Has anyone ever read "The Grail Legend" by Emma Jung and Marie-Louis von Franz? They have some fascinating perspectives on the topic...

The Crucible of Experience (Discussion Topic)

2009-02-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

kynara54leddon (4-25-08)

Since time immemorial, man has endeavored to comprehend his place in the cosmos. Through rigorous testing, dedicated study, and arduous physical trials the Initiate attempts to transcend the limitations of physical matter to reach and communicate with that divine spark of consciousness that he/she knows is present in all things.

From the cave paintings at Lascaux, to the Aboriginal art of the Americas , from the secret rites of the Templars to the ecstatic dances of the Sufi Dervishes, the observant student can find the reflections of these tests and manifold Disciplines in action. initiation, by its very nature, is a transformational process. Within the confines of ritual and symbolism, the candidate is expected to experience an altered state of consciousness. But oft times this altered state comes with a price; a cost which is paid in physical realm as well as the spiritual one.

As someone who has participated in Native American, Buddhist, and Western Esoteric ceremonies of varying intensity, I can say that my personal range of experience in this area runs the gamut from mildly “discomfortable” to the “actively painful.” As a participant in the ceremony at the time, however, I always felt that I held the inalienable right to decline to participate or (if the procedure was too much) to withdraw entirely.

I am curious, however, to find out what other people think. In your experience, have you ever been in a ceremony where you thought the situation was more than you wanted to handle (or thought you should?) If so, what did you do? For those of you who may not have experienced this situation yet, I would like to ask you: in your opinion, how much is *too* much? Where would you draw the line if presented with a situation you felt you would not handle?

(MODERATOR’S NOTE: THIS PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION IS TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF CANDIDATE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS IT APPLIES TO THE INITIATION PROCESS. THIS TOPIC IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXPOSE OF THE RITES, CEREMONIES, RITUALS OR PRACTICES OF ANY PARTICULAR ESOTERIC, FRATERNAL OR SPIRTUAL DISCIPLINE. PLEASE KEEP YOUR REMARKS RESPECTFUL, AND USE DISCRETION WHEN CITING EXAMPLES. ~THANK YOU~)

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catalan (5-7-08)

Yes, I think is very painful. I've been taking part of many rites in Mexico during the last 4 years. My soul have changed so much.

Regards

THE PASSING OF OUR DEALRY BELOVED BISHOP GEORGE BOYER

2009-02-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Dame Donna Owen (3-22-08)

Dear Grail Brethren,

Two days ago I received this message (which was also posted on a Martinist List)

I have just been informed that Bishop George Boyer of the Pre Nicene Ekklesia died in Hospital from heart failure on Monday, March 17.

+Leila Boyer is in shock and has asked Bishop Mike Hay to contact a number of people on her behalf. I will pass on further Information as I receive it

George was one of the last of the great teachers of esoteric Christianity who was Ordained by Richard Duc de Palatine - he will be sorely missed by all who had the good fortune to know and to work with him."

In 2001 on the recommendation of my good friend and brother +Tim Storlie, we petitioned and were granted a new charter for The Order of the Grail from H.E. Count (and Bishop) George Boyer. He was also Grand Master and Lord Abbot of "The Healing Teaching and Chilvric Order of St. Michael and St. Raphael" into which he offered to induct me as Dame (and I accepted) in 2002 when I visited +George and +Leila in England.

Due to their generosity in allowing us permission to do so, some of the "OMR" materials are now included on the CD ROM we send to our new OTG Commanders, and several articles by Bishop's George and Leila Boyer and Richard Duc De Palatine appear in our Website archives.

+George was well into his 80's when I first met him, but he still had a sparkle in his eye and a keen mind. He was a brilliant and loving man, and a true philosopher and teacher of Wisdom, and he never tired of sharing this with others. His passing will be mourned by his many friends and admirers, and May his legacy will continue for many lifetimes to come

IHN

Donna+

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econnu au (3-22-08)

Dear friends

Bishop George Boyer was a wonderful servant with deep wisdom and kindness. I wish to ask that we all pray for his dear wife Leila that she may be granted wisdom and strength to heal and learn at the best pace how to adjust to this new situation .

many blessings

Elias

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kynara54leddon (4-5-08)

From what I have been told he was a man of rare compassion, wit, insight and strength. His loss will be keenly felt. My thoughts and prayers go with all who knew him at this sad time..

film based on a search for the "Secret Book" of Bogomil Cathar beliefs

2009-02-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

Dame Donna Owen (2-15-08)

The story of the film is based on a search for the "Secret Book", a book written with Glagolic letters (first Slav alphabet, made by St. Cyril and Methody).

The Secret Book is supposed to contain the base of the Bogomil beliefs, known also as Catharism (Bogomils, persecuted by the church, left their homeland, and started moving north west, spreading their way of living and thinking where ever they were going, and through Bosnia, Dalmatia, north Italy, reached the south of France, where they (known as Cathars) founded their new homeland.
*
* *
The exceptional actors gave their special mark to this film that was prepared and shoot by a wide international crew

*Region of Bitola and Prespa Lake - Macedonia
*Balchik - Bulgaria
*Paris and Villerouge-Termenes - France

The story of "The Secret Book"

Pierre Raymond (Jean Claude Carriere) is a passionate explorer, a man who devoted all his life to the quest of the original "Secret Book" , a book that exists as a legend in several religions and heresies, and it was "A Holly Book" fof the Bogomils, written with glagolic letters...

Leaded by the strange messages from the Balkan, brought to him by doves, he chooses Chevalier to search where he stoped...

...Chevalier (Thierry Fremont) . the son he had with the only women he loved in his life (Joanna)...

...the son he abandoned carried away by his dreams, the son he finds again, just before his death, carried by his wish to give over to him all the knoledge hecollected on his endles jurnies, but also the questions he didn't find answers for...

...the son who continued his quest into the unknown...

The quest begins from where the messages are coming from by the messenger doves, from Macedonia...

...and the sender is Pavle Bigorski, a man that identifing him self with the autenthic author of "The Secret Book" from the midle ages, (the book that is supposed to contain the principle of good and evil and the principle of power) jumped across the time barrier and tuched the essence of the Quest for the roots of Thruth...

...His family, his three brothers, like three strains implicated in the being of Macedonian people draws, each in his own way ( father Andrey through the faith, Gizus through the rebelian towards the evil that he find in the human society, while he was looking for the fortune, and the Legionary - the ultimate defender of the honour of his family and his country as well) the real picture of Macedonia, of the Balkan, for the teritories that appear as a part of an unknown World, but they are part of the wellknown Europe.
*
**
The shooting of the film went in three phases, on different locations, in compliance with the demands of story:

In this adventure where Chevalier faces moments when dreams turn into reality and the reality becomes an endless dream. Dreams filled with sounds of the Song of Vocals, that Bogomils used to sing while they were leaded to meet their death. ... he finds many things that he did not even look for...

...like the love he found with Lydia (Labina Mitevska), the doctor in the mental hospital who treated Bigorski.

Their love gives birth to the next circle of life and quest...

All those searching for this book are in fact, searching for paths leading to the cognition of Life, for the source of power, and this paths are often even more important than the purpose of the quest it self, for while walking this paths, we are faced with the good and evil, their sources, the strange unknown powers, so closely connected to the origin of the world and most often, for us, recognizable as Mystery, embodied in the role of the Unknown...

attachment contains links to more information on the film

2009-02-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

Dame Donna Owen (2-21-08)

Welcome on the Website of the Project Beauceant

http://www.templiers.org/index-eng.php

Objectives of the Project:

The main objective of the existence of this website is to set up a kind of encyclopedia on the Templar Order and a catalogue of diverses historical remnants that the presence of these men had left everywhere in Europ and Middle-East.To do it, the Project is open to any person, professional or not, who wants to share his research and experiences on this topic.

What Project Beauceant is not:

Even if we have a deep passion for the templars' History, the Project Beauceant is not a resurgence of this Order and not a new Neo-Templar secret society.

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Lightseeker (2-22-08)

Thank you Dame Donna,
This is indeed good news, infact its' long overdue.

It's not that I have anything against Secret Societies, (I am infact a Masonic Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite 32°), but it is long overdue to have a place to register the tangible historic evidence of the Knights Templar (and I hope this includes photographic evidence not just opinion), without the harrassment of the 'New Age', UFO believers who spam our mailboxes with everything from Aliens to Jesus was related to Elvis and Hitler.

Hope fully this website will discourage the conspiracy theorists and those who jump onto the Templar bandwagon to promote Neo-Templar cults, Orders and self opinionated theories which are based upon pure speculation, and not authenticated by tangible research and evidence.

Thank you

Fraternal regards
XSir Allan of Light XP.K.A. 'Lightseeker'

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Knightsquest1 (2-22-08)

My name is Sir Shane Quint Dillard, I was Knighted into the British Realm of knights over a year ago. Not a knight you would find at any fair or reinactment group but a true Knight, registered and certified with my warrant for knighthood filed at the patent office at Harnsworth House London England. I'm a member of the Free and Accepted Masons ( Blue Lodge ) and have been formally invited to join the ranks of the Holy order of Knights Templars based in Germany. If I can be of any help in the future please let me know. Till then I bid you Godspeed,
Sir Shane Q. Dillard

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Kynara54leddon (2-22-08)

As a moderator on another well recognized Templar History site I am fairly familiar with the Project Beauceant site. I've never had the priviledge to posting material there, but my colleages (who are all considered experts in the realm of Templar history), speak very highly of the Project and the rigor of it's scholarship.

The OTG; Magic, Alchemy, the Auric Egg and the test in the Grail Castle

2009-02-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

Dame Donna Owen (2-1-08)

My favorite writer in the Magic "genre" is W.E. Butler who wrote "The Magician, his Training and Work". If you are not familiar with this book, I will quote a small section for you, "…For the practical work of magic, the idea which we must keep ever before us is that we are all like the Lady of Shallot in Tennyson's poem, we are all engaged in viewing in a mirror the universe in which we live, and a mirror, moreover, which is constantly changing. This mirror is our own personal unconscious or "subconscious mind" and was known to the older occultists as the "Sphere of Sensation." In modern terms is the "auric egg" or psychic atmosphere which surrounds everyone. That sphere of sensation is the glass in which all things are mirrored and the first tasks of the apprentice-magician are designed to give him control over this magic mirror. he may not, except indirectly, work upon the outer world, but he can directly alter and remold his own subjective world, that he finds it shaping itself in accordance with his new point of view, since these deeper aspects of himself are part of the corresponding depths of the collective unconscious of the race, and of the universal consciousness.

"This process is for us, in the Order of the Grail, a kind of "Alchemy of the Soul", similar to masonry in that the perfection of humanity begins with us, with our own "self-freemasonry". The differences between operative magic and the ritual work we do in our OTG Conventions is that our rituals are benign, harmless, and oriented first to changing ourselves and through self-knowledge and personal growth, working to help others do likewise. We do not assume that we know best or that we have the right to attempt to directly influence matters in the world towards our perceived "best" result, we trust in the divine to show us our own way to the truth. Martinism has been called "the Way of the heart", but in the OTG we are striving to become Grail Knights and Dames, which is also a way of the heart…a divine theurgy.

Here is an excerpt from "The Ninth Century and The Holy Grail" by W.J. Stein. Chapter 5. In this Chapter of the book Stein (with the help of Steiner) is analyzing the difference between the Parsifal of Chretien de Troyes and Wolfram von Eschenbach's "Parzival", the latter being a sort of Astrological story "written in the stars" is how he sees it, and it makes some interesting points regarding the 2 times Parzival enters the Grail Castle, and why the first time he fails in his Quest. "…. Now the poet describes what the inhabitants of the Grail Castle suffer, and he describes this suffering from a macrocosmic aspect. He describes it expressly in relation to the constellations of the stars. It is true this mystery is not revealed until Parzival comes to the castle of the Grail for the second time. The first time it remains hidden, because what is lacking in Parzival is he cannot read "star writing" he does not find the words which are inscribed on the Grail sword , he only looks at what is revealed to him in imagination, he does not rise to the level of Inspiration which would allow him to read and understand the signs and symbols of the "picture" writing.

What the Human being sees when he enters the Grail Castle is himself. The question is for him when his whole being confronts him and asks, "Brother, what ails (is wrong with) thee?" No one else can answer this question - only he can do it- for the answer to this question is, "I myself have caused all the suffering that I see here…" Parzival must learn that Amfortas suffers because he, Parzival, has not recognized himself to be the cause of his suffering. Whoever sees the imagination of the Grail and thinks he sees anything other than the slaying of what is noblest through his own imperfection, cannot redeem the suffering Grail King. The question is what brings redemption. But here we anticipate the second visit of Parzival to the Grail Castle, for between the first and second visits lies a long path of inner development. The human soul must find the way to imaginative vision, and must nevertheless lose it again, for not until it reveals itself to him for the second time does he see it aright. One can study this in the mystics, for example, Jacob Boehme, he too had to lose all his visions, as Rudolf Steiner told us, before he was able, after straying for a long while, to experience them anew, now filled with inspiration. Inspiration, the reading of the picture script , depends upon a kind of conscious, voluntary, forgetting. Only in the soul which has been emptied of imaginations does the language of the stars resound, and then are seen anew imaginations which form the spiritual starry heavens, the macrocosmic aspect of the Grail Castle."

Your friend in the Quest,

Dame Donna

friend

What is grace? It is the inspiration from on high: it is love; it is liberty. Grace is the spirit of law. This discovery of the spirit of law belongs to Saint Paul; and what he calls "grace" from a heavenly point of view, we, from an earthly point, call "rigtheousness."
Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment.
Saint Bernard (1090 - 1153)

The Ebenezer Stone

2009-02-20T17:42:00.000-08:00

Kynara54leddon (1-5-08)

Of all of the gifts man has been given, it has been said by some that "memory" is the most powerful of all. From the quipu of the Meso-Americans to the "Ars memorae" of classical antiquity, methods to utilize this divine attribute has been sought and codified.

To the ancient Hebrews, the "art of memory" took a different form. Usually transliterated as the proper name "Ebenezer" , their "Stone of Memory" (or "Even Haazer") was both monument and memorial. To them, the raising of such a stone represented not only a reminder of things that must be remembered, but it stood as a testament to the Holy Presence of the Divine, and it's covenenat with Man. As it is recorded in the Bible:

' "Samuel took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—"the stone of help"—for he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us!" —1 Samuel 7:12, NLT '

In the world today, the path of the Seeker is fraught with many unexpected trials. The way *is* perilous, but it is a path which also affords many opportunities for reflection and self-examination; both leading to the ultimate integration of memories (both good and bad).

This year, as your Journey on your way, I hope you will stop now and again to raise an Ebenezer to mark your own particular Journey to the Light. While it is true that you may not pass that particular milestone again; for those who linger in the enduring dusk behind you, this "stone of memory" may well stand as a lamppost and beacon for the next generation of Seekers who may well follow the trail you have blazed.

Shalom CLL

Chivalry and Personality

2009-02-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

Kynara54leddon (1-1-08)

Recently, I had the opportunity to take a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test. This test is an assessment tool, and is routinely used in professional and academic circles to gaue the "personality" traits of the individual being assessed.

According to my particular profile, I am what is known as an INFP (or Introverted-iNtuitive-Feeling-Perceptive) personality. If you take it one step further (and plot my profile on what is known as the Kiersey Temperment Sorter)...I am considered to be a "Healer" type in the sub-Temperment category known as "Idealist."

I am sharing this with you (not because I wish to "toot my own horn") but because I am curious about something. Since all of us here tend to share a common interest in history/chivalry (and Templars!) it leads me to wonder: is it possible that we also have a similarity in personality profiles as well?

If this question intrigues you, then below you will find the link to the FREE version of the Keirsey Temperment Sorter.

http://www.keirsey.com/

If you are so inclined, I would love to hear about your particular experiences with the test (taking a few minutes of your time to find out what "makes you tick" is well worth the effort!)

Enjoy!

SANS PEURS ET SANS REPROCHE

2009-02-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 10/25/2007 6:53 PM

Greetings Grail Seekers,

Recently it has come to my attention that a phrase used in our Knight's prayer, "...Here Lord are your footsteps, I want to follow them through everything without fear and without reproach my soul virile and my head held high, this is my promise as a knight, and upon my honor I shall not fail..."

Even if your command of French is as poor as mine, you can tell that this is a translation of the French. I recently discovered, (by doing a wed search using this phrase, en francais, that this is a motto attributed to a famous French Knight, Pierre Terrail de Bayard.

Some of you may be already familiar with Pierre de Terrail, a photo of a statue of Terrail (that is to be found in the Scottish Rites Cathedral in Indianapolis, IN) appears on our website on the Chivalry link, and an anecdote regarding him and the French King Francois I, appears in our 3rd Degree Knighting Ceremony.

Interesting co-incidence, but not really surprising? Why did I not discover this before? Well, I have an excuse, but my excuse isn't better than "the Dog ate my homework". You see, strangely enough, it has to do with researching my own genealogy. As is often the case, something must "find us where we live" in order to get an important point across that we have been missing even though it is right in front of us.

In this case it was, and to make a long and not-that-interesting story short, after recently reading the genealogical research completed by my maternal Aunt, I have discovered I have some "Baynards" as distant ancestors. These are Baynards of England, who had a castle of this name and other possessions after the Norman invasion of England, and then lost most of them when Edward I took the throne, as they supported the Eldest Son of William, a rival.

Anyway, I'm not certain why I fixated to some degree on this one branch of "the family", of which no more than "a few drops of this distant ancestors blood" remains in my veins, if any. Probably because I had heard of the name, and was easily able to find reading material online including "Baynard, an ancient family bearing arms" which was full of famous names. Whatever the reason, I doubt it was virtuous.

In addition to this coat of arms "sketch" on the cover of this book, I was easily able to find a coat of arms for a Baynard recorded in Sir Bernard Burke's General Armory in 1884, It was listed as "sable on a fess between two chevrons or three birds of the field beaked and legged gules". This coat was similar in design, it had the fess between two chevrons although it was not identical, and did not find any description of the colors (or indicating hatch marks) crest, or motto.

The surprising thing to me was the motto attributed to these "recorded" arms, "SANS PEURS ET SANS REPROCHE" a phrase which was familiar to me.

So there you have it, the story of my strange discovery, odd co-incidence it is. Although, Pierre Terrail is "de Bayard" from a village in the Haute-Alpes, and has a castle of that name. The Baynard "history" tells of Norman Knights named Baynard (which can also mean son of Bayard or Bernard).

I honestly do not know, and cannot imagine that THIS Bayard, Pierre Terrail, Knight, who died in 1415. Could possibly be but a possible distant relative of one of my ancestors distant relatives. I am new to genealogical research and so far (with the efforts of my maternal Aunt) my minimal efforts have only gotten me barely back over the "pond" from America, to a Thomas Baynard born in 1613 at Blagdon Manor, Somerset, England and died at Cliff Manor, Dorset, England, in 1682, which has still to be proven.

Anyway, to conclude this little exercise in "Seeking out the Myth and not the literal History" Something of the great example of the Blameless Knight, Sir Pierre Terrail de Bayard, I've inherited by my work in the Order of the Grail, if not by actual blood, and the connection through coincidence has at least made that apparent to me, if to no one else.

If you or I can find inspiration is such a "happenstance" or synchronicity, and it makes us more dedicated in our work, than something will have been distilled from typical vanity and self-interest, and a common pre-occupation with fame and notoriety, that will hopefully bring us back to the divine realities above the endless churning of years and ages.

Godspeed my friends!

Rev. Dame Donna

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From: Chantal-Elsa
Sent: 10/25/2007 10:44 PM

Most Venerable Dame Donna: Interesting story...If you allow my humble help, the Baynard name is Flemish.I once knew a priest of that name there.Waves of our ancestors moved at various episodes, to the British isles.Many certainly went to Scotland,throughout the Middle ages, but many had already left with William the Conqueror for England. Later, many French protestants left for England.These latter were the ready-to move middle-class; they were artisans, etc...and left the country, ''unpoor''.The name has changed alphabetically whence ''Britishized'', and it remains ''Benaerdt, Benaerd,Benardt, mainly ''Benard'' nowadays in Northern France and Belgium.William was heaviy involved in our province, that's for sure.Peace profound.Chantal-E.
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From: Mikhelle
Sent: 10/26/2007 10:10 AM

Greetings, Rev. Dame Donna,

How very true! One of my professors has been doing work on the role of "imaginaries" in leadership and social values - these are not "made up things", but rather the myths and stories that have an emotional or intellectual influence on how we understand ourselves and our place in the world, and that lead to the creation of the values to which we hold ourselves.

For me, being part of a tradition that stresses Ancestor honoring, it goes a bit further -- we're taught that all of those who by relation (especially by blood or shared spiritual initiation) are always with us and influencing us to continue their presence. Only the most worthy make it into the celestial realm we term "The Ancestors", so the best and brightest of our heritage are always present, guiding us to remember them and claim the gifts they have passed down to us through blood and knowledge. It doesn't matter how far back or how long ago -- time only exists here, so it's just a matter of people opening up and listening to the voice that tells you who you are.

Oddly (well, maybe not!) enough, my biological family name -Chamberlin- traces back to the Normans, as well. I haven't been able to do a lot of genealogy due to the complications of adoption, but I have been able to join in with the World Chamberlain Society, which preserves and researches the lines descending from William de Tancarville, Chamberlain of Normandy. I learn through this association about the fine examples and accomplishments of this bloodline at its best, and it's inspiring as a name to live up to. How much DNA I share with the Norman Knights responsible for the beautiful Abbaye St. Georges de St. Martin de Boscherville is questionable, but the encouragement the legacy gives me as a student of both architecture and chivalry (with an affinity for those particular Saints) is inestimable. The family motto, "Virtuti Nihil Invium", is an excellent guide for life, regardless of which virtuous Ancestors I feel most deeply connected to.

Thank you for bringing this so prominently to mind right now - that alone is a most welcome gift of synchronicity from this group!

Respectfully, and in peace profound,

Mikhelle