esson 41: Grail Hallow

mboldened by our closeness, I ask Guinevere for the Grail. "By what right do you make such a request?" she asks.

   "By right of one who wishes to give loving service to mankind. I wish to lift the cup to be filled with blessings until it overflows upon the earth. The absence of the Grail is destroying us and we need it if we are to survive. We need lovingkindness, restoration, life-giving waters. We need Love, Law, Life."

   As I speak, it begins to snow. Guinevere gently brushes the snow from my head and I am transformed into a cow. There are other cows here as well, pure white, and I follow them as they walk to a spring. The icy waters are crystal clear, cascading down the rocks, into the Grail and spilling over again into a pool, from which the cows drink.

   I think of all the people and places in need of this healing nourishment and realize that includes the entire world! At the top of my list are Pinky, Steve, Maria, all the greats and grands in my family, David, and Mrs. Schinkopf . . . the California redwoods, the rain forests, many many of the world's children, victims, perpetrators, the bereaved, the deranged, the sad, hungry, lonely, those at war--with themselves and with others. I include them all in my prayer. I feel helpless and overwhelmed. I hear the waters like a sigh. But as I dip my tongue into the pool, I see the ripples, and how they extend to meet the ripples caused by others drinking from the pool. Yes, one can only do so much, but ripples travel wide, and can soon vibrate over the entire surface of the pool.

I plunge my whole head into the water. Ooh, refreshing! And now I see my human face reflected in the water. I think of how much I resemble my brother, and how in need of healing he is. Taking up the Grail, I ride Guinevere's cow to the place of the Wounded King. Dismounting, I squeeze some of her milk into the Grail and give it to him to drink. After he empties the cup, he lies back as all the power goes to healing him, and he falls into a peaceful and pain-free sleep. I see now that he is the Sleeping Lord, and when he awakens, he will be good as new.

Remounting the cow, she takes me back to Guinevere. I present her with the Grail and it melts like snow into the ground. Only a watery outline remains. Guinevere reaches over and takes my cards from my bag, placing them into my hands, and I spread them over the outline of the Grail.

ugury of the Grail of Love

1. Vision of Love {How can I keep my vision inclusive?}--Stone Five

Uh-oh. Seems pretty barren and adverse. Reminds me of the saying: The winds of adversity fan the big flame, and extinguish the small." IOW, a "small" love can be killed by struggles, but a "big" love is strengthened by same.

2. Abundant Love Regenerated {How can I best learn to receive?}--Stone Three

It's ithyphallic man! Is the phallus the symbol of "Abundant Love Regenerated"? Of course, ithyphallic isn't regenerated, but would be well-received!
Seriously, I think that by valuing what I create and contribute, I can better accept receiving "reward."

3. Love Restored {How can the Grail restore me?}--Spear Queen

Restoration of self-confidence; security to be friendly, warm and generous.

4. Love/Primal Joy {What feeds the springs of spiritual joy within me?}--Spear King

Raw rough wild nature. Learning, practicing, sharing and teaching creative and/or expressive skills, esp. with natural (or bodily) material(s).

5. Compassionate Love {How do I serve the Grail; how does the Grail serve me?}--Talesin

Sharing; i.e. "pass it on"; inspiration and insight; learning from own and others' experiences; assimilating, preserving and disseminating wisdom; "transformation of the mundane into the spiritual."