The Sword goes back to the Bronze Age, when the technology in metallurgy enabled it to appear. Before its practical use, the sword was first used for ritual practices – hence the fact that most of the ancient swords were ornate with many symbols.
In German culture, swords were dedicated to great heroes and had a magical value. In India, the sword is the symbol of the inner fight against ignorance and craving for the light of consciousness. This is the meaning of the sword of Vishnu, whilst the sword of the Indra is the lightning that illuminates the world.
In the West, the archangel Saint Michael is portrayed with a sword, fighting against the darkness. In the book of the Apocalypse, Christ is represented with a sword coming from his mouth, symbolizing the invincible strength of divine truth that descend to our world like a flash of lightning.
Now you take the floor: what do you associate with the sword?
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WORDS are SWORD
Para mi la espada es la herramienta que nos permite conseguir lo que deseamos… alcanzar nuestros sueños, es el conjunto de virtudes y defectos que como humanos tenemos para enfrentar el destino.
No importa cual sea el tamaño de lo que queremos, nuestra espada es la constancia, la perseverancia, el saber perder y ganar… como el señor Coelho lo dice son los principios que llevan a los guerreros de la Luz a encontrar el secreto de la espada…
I also think of the tarot as well when it comes to swords. Which represents intellect basically. One with a quick wit has a sharp mind…. that of a sword. :D Used to cut though ignorance and win againist their foe.
The sword of Damocles was also mentioned, that’s a good story.
Dear sido66, thank you for your comments and wisdom. Sometimes you write so many things and so often, that we cannot follow you. From what I have realized you must be a gifted person and with much wisdom and intuition. Take care.
LOVE,
Thelma
hope ,
Sometimes it is wise to Take some distance , to leave its feelings, so that the peace inside reigns in you. The time is in time, and it is necessary to leave the time in time. If you want to go too fast, you get lost and you lose the road. And your spirit gets lost…
Manage the feelings, Take some distance ; take time
parfois il est sage de prendre du recul , afin de laisser ses émotions , afin que la paix intérieur règne en toi . Le temps est au temps , et il faut laisser le temps au temps . Si tu veux aller trop vite , tu te perds et tu perds le chemin . et ton esprit s’égare …
Gérer les émotions , prendre du recul ; prendre le temps
susan ,
The rainbow has 7 colors (thus you say 6 directions for the sword, yes, in the height / bottom, in front of / behind, to the left and to the right AND and the most important direction: inside = if the sword is placed in your heart, it takes all its sense)
It is also necessary to understand 7 colors of the rainbow which is ” the union ” between you and God (it is that we explained me the last weekend, when I asked for the importance of the sign: 2 rainbow side by side that I saw on St Jacques ‘s road )
l’arc-en-ciel a 7 couleurs ( donc tu dis 6 directions pour l’épée ,yes , haut/bas , devant/derrière , à gauche et à droite ET et la direction la plus importante : à l’intérieur = si l’épée est placée dans ton coeur , cela prend tout son sens )
Il faut aussi comprendre les 7 couleurs de l’arc-en-ciel qui est l’union entre toi et Dieu (c’est ce que l’on m’a expliqué le week-end dernier , lorsque je demandais l’importance du signe : les 2 arc-en-ciel côte à côte que j’ai vu sur le chemin de St jacques )
hILDEGARDE ,
yes the truth’s spirit , Truth is the living word
Nika Marie ,
yes The sword drives to the tree of life, source of the Strength in the “temple” which has it contains
L’esprit de Vérité , la Vérité dans la Parole vivante
L’épée conduit à l’arbre de vie , source de la Force dans le “temple” qui l’a contient
Thanks for all the answers everybody. I gained a lot out of that. Makes me realise how little I know.
Love
Last night i gave up my sword.In my dream i saw a dead child,it was dead,wasn’t moving and,like all the worms and maggots come to eat the dead corpse i saw she was surrounded by evil forces they were trying to wake the child up from death so they could use her.I asked a friend to help that child coz she is dead and she is surrounded by those devil,black magic cats and every evil power ,so that they could get hold of her.I even fought with few of them to block the way to the child but almost got defated i realized i gave up my sword.When i started to look at that child i saw it was me,my face.I saw the wind blowing,frantically,i saw msyelf walking out from the water ,more like a baptismal water,half drenched.I saw someone standing in the pool of water and watching me so sadly.
My heart has been broken ,i even fought with God and jeusus,saying why bring hope if they don’t want to use Hope.I told them i want to die,and i cried so badly,i saw God crying with me.But i told him don’t touch me anymore,i don;t want you,and i ran.He kept on trying to reach but i kept on running.I think my tears must have piereced their heart too,coz i had cried infront of them like i had never cried in my life.
I even threatended them saying you can have all the love from the people but not mine anymore,knowing that they are God and they can do anything.I saw more tears falling from papa’s eye.I screamed ur daughter is dead,you didn;t save her,u never save anyone,You didn’t save him on the cross when he was crying for you,You didn;t save me when i am crying for you.I am not him,i don’t want to talk to both of you anymore.I think am the only one in this universe who can threaten papa like that despite knowing the punishment.
When i woke up,after some time it started raining so heavily out of nowhere,coz it isn’t rainy season,as if the sky was crying too.
when you are dead you don’t feel anything i guess.I am
waiting to be born again.
Of all the thing i know,this much is true that,Papa gonna miss my fight with him,how i use to argue,fightlike a child and he would alawsy let me win and alawys pull my cheeks saying ur so cute,until i scream.jesus gonna miss his freind with whom he use to share his stories and life and earth and world’s happenings.
I want them to miss me,so that they can send and allow the hope to really bloom.I don’t want to miss them.
I want to go far alone somewhere far from the people God devils whatver,just alone under the shade of a tree thinking nothing.
I too thought of the sword as a cross. In my mind a cross stuck in the ground is symbolic of a few things, the first being the desire for peace. I see it from here as, ‘staking a claim’. I recognize that even these images as I present them can be seen from other perspectives in another’s mind. Some might see a sword in the ground as a declaration of war. One could ask, does another have a right to defend their homeland, self, family, friends, the weak, vulnerable?
It is true Christians have used the sword to both spread and defend their beliefs. Who hasn’t? Who is innocent? Which culture is not guilty of the same thing? Here in the USA we have an unrealistic illusion in regards to our personal history whether Native Americans or immigrants. I am finding that this same unrealistic illusion exists elsewhere, not just here in the states.
We have been fooled into thinking that we live in a dualistic world of black and white, when in fact we live in a multidimensional, multicolored world. There are six directions; up, down (top bottom), back, front, and two side. There are six colors to the rainbow. Even the sword has 6 dimensions.
I find what Julia said about ‘both sides being true’ rather interesting, and would like to explore that issue a little further in my mind. That seems to go to relativity.
I respect the strength, power and potential of the sword. Over the centuries in Scotland we fought with them in battle and danced over them to show skill and bravery in the joy of celebration.
Even though I do not own a sword there is still something in the sound of a blade being drawn that thrills the cells of my mind and causes the heart and blood to sing and a sense of calm in the sheathing.
Power… actually, it makes me think of Magician’s Diary :)
I thing the sword is the extension of one’s arm. It is a metal conductor of one’s inner energy…energy that many used in history for killing.
Sword is a tool after all. As the pen is… :)
Cristina, Cristina ,
I think and it engages only me, knowing that I do not detain the truth (and that tomorrow, my spirit can understand still):
because it knows the secrets of the after life and because it is a face of patience, the snake becomes symbol of any wisdom reserved for those who received the spirit of the truth when ” the sword ” is anchored well in its heart; it is there to protect, surrounded the sword of the wisdom, the knowledge of time Timeless
Je pense et cela n’engage que moi , sachant que je ne détiens pas la vérité ( et que demain , mon esprit peut comprendre encore ): Puisqu’il connaît les secrets de l’après-vie et qu’il est une figure de patience, le serpent devient symbole de toute sagesse réservée à ceux qui ont reçu l’esprit de vérité lorsque ” l’épée ” est ancrée bien en son coeur ; il est là pour protéger , entouré l’épée de la sagesse , de la connaissance des temps intemporels
A sword reminds me of a preposterous cross – the holly Cross – christian people have used to spred theire belief with. The Cross and a sword aim to be a symbol for hope and happiness and still the stand for death and despair.
A sword and the Cross are used to hide oneself behind – to let the thing infront solve the problem and if it does not, God is to be taken responsible.
And so a sword and the Cross are symbols for the human incapabillity to solve problems with their own mind and spirit and the incapabillity to stand up for their own faults. The Cross is a more visible symbol for that incapabillity but also the sword is carried by soldiers, paid to fight somebody else’s war.
Protection
Makes me think of the phrase ‘double edged sword’ which is about duality, black/white, good/bad, right/wrong. A sword has 2 sides. It’s about accepting both sides as true. One sided is about belief and finding evidence to support the belief.
Thanks, Paulo!
Life is a mystery and I wonder what the mystery is? A thought popped into my mind a little while after reading the ‘Association of the week; The Sword: 4″ spiked heels.
I giggle at the thought finding the humor, but wondered if I should post, and decided, why not…….so I wrote some thoughts.
The Argentino Tango
Their eyes met from across the room, each rose
finding ocassion.
He took her hand and lead her to the dance floor
She followed like a gentle breeze.
He twirled her once in grand flourish
for all the world to see
then brought her too him.
She leaned into him closely
and he laid his head to hers.
the scent of their perfume mingled.
thus embraced they embarked.
She felt the power of his mind beneath her hand
and the strength of his body in his lead
And she asked the wind, ‘Who is this man?’
He felt the power of her mind as he held her hand,
and the willingness of her body to step, purposefully,
As the wind whispered into his ear, ‘she wears 4″ spiked heels’.
And so they danced, and in one way or another, drank wine.
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Edan to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So He frove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden, Cher-u-bims and a flaming sword which turned everyway to keep the way of the tree of life.
Like all things the tango has a beginning and an ending. In between, ‘becomes’ beautifies or not, what is accomplished.
The steps of the tango are intricate, reciprocal, and strategic. The tango is called the dance of love with the potential to bring into development the mind and the body, from there new souls.
In Argentian people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from around the world gather to dance the tango. It is an interesting culture.
Thank you, thank you, Argentina.
Perhaps there are some thoughts for all of us, including the world economic summit.
Gina Re, Gina Re, was it YOU, Cinderella???
LOVE,
Thelma
I associate positive images to the sword.
It has a double meaning (protection- aggression); a double edge (means everytihing has always two faces) and “can be used for almost everything, but not to sit on”… (this is not mine; I took it from Petrus’ thought).
It’a a complete object, a real “instrument” (organon in greek), and has deep meanings, all posivite to me.
In particular I like the image of a sword inside an heart, with a snake coming up aroud the sword.
can anybody explain what it means?
thank you.
have a nice day.
Thelma, Thelma, do you know Cinderella?
“…He who lives by the sword dies by the sword…”
Well…it’s just an allegory,but I truly believe;
we’ll pay all our bills someday…
the sword is not one sword
the glory is not the glory
it’s mean : we must find differently to understand the words differently
understand : The spirit, the water and the blood ( it’s the Key )
16th november 2008 : i said ” god , i’m ready ; i will walk on your path for all , for the world’love ” give me a guide for this path , which people will see : and A Stick of pelerin was given to me (a support, a guide, a support, a fellow traveller, a representation of well, of THE FAITH WHICH WILL BE MY sword by the faith of god and his love for the people)
the sword The sword by the words of justice, for God’s word, for love of the people, the words of love for the Love, the faith as the guide of the sword for a “fight” for the love .
The sword = the faith and your love such the love of the Father (God )for people, the “right”words
The sword is in me, it is fed by The spirit (the spirit of the truth sent on me), it is fed by the water (and cleanses me, and brings the humility) and it is is nourishing by the blood (the love is in me and the energy of the love takes force, purification and pours for all)
P
X
Is there some subliminal messages in your previous post that lead readers to start to think about the next association (only speaking for myself at the moment) before you post them? Or is it just the collective conscious at work?
The other day I found myself reading Hebrews 4:12 and I was intrigued with what I read in the passage “OUT OF THE LORD’S MOUTH CAME A SHARP DOUBLE-EDGE SWORD”. So I asked myself what is the symbolic meaning of the sword coming out of the Lord’s mouth? I continued to surf the internet trying to find meaning related to the sword. Eventually I gave up the search and my attention was shifted to (don’t remember) Then today I read Association of the week : The Sword! :)
And I’m back on the hunt again. This is what I have come up with now.
What comes out of the mouth? Words. What is God’s word? Truth and life. So what is a sword used for? Protection…… still thinking…..
I’m pondering on Genesis 3:24
Thank you Paulo for posting this association I am enjoying the responses that are posted so far.
The sword is my power of the lightforces, spiritual. Using it to defend myself, without hurting anybody physical, It is clean, sharp, a perfect balance extension of my arm. Keeping my body free of humans that is not beliving the truth about love to all humans and mother earth.
A wholesome help
.La real knowledge of Graal will look to the new era, which is established at the moment with the cosmic Bend, a spiritual imprint because the human mind will then be capable of welcoming at set time, consciously and with gratitude, for the blessing and for the enjoyment of all the creatures of the Creation, the Strength which streams of Saint-Graal: the Water of the Life.
As a consequence, these words of the Apocalypse are full of promises: ” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty, I shall look in the source(spring) of the water of the life, free of charge ” (21,6) ” And what the one who is thirsty comes; that the one who wants, takes some water of the life, free of charge ” (22,17).
The one who makes good usage of this Strength stemming from Saint-Graal sees opening the doors of the paradise. It is then authorized to receive the crown of the life (Apoc. 2,10) and he(it) will have the grace to remain eternally!
We live at the moment one of the most important fulfillments of the Apocalypse: we are in the cosmic Bend, in the Last Judgment!
Deeply moving events that it is not possible any more to hold(retain), as well as an abundance of signs, show it to us unmistakably.
Because of the fault of the humanity during millenniums, the world is unbalanced, and only God can again restore the balance.
However, in the distress and the confusion which surround us, the Message come from Graal brings, from the brilliant Heights, a wholesome help!
In the middle of the destruction of any evil, it passes on the Strength necessary for the revival and for the construction!
Une aide salutaire
La véritable connaissance du Graal donnera à la nouvelle ère, qui s’instaure à présent avec le Tournant cosmique, une empreinte spirituelle parce que l’esprit humain sera alors en mesure d’accueillir à l’heure dite, consciemment et avec gratitude, pour la bénédiction et pour la joie de toutes les créatures de la Création, la Force qui afflue du Saint-Graal : l’Eau de la Vie.
En conséquence, ces paroles de l’Apocalypse sont pleines de promesses : «Je suis l’Alpha et l’Oméga, le commencement et la fin. A celui qui a soif, je donnerai de la source de l’eau de la vie, gratuitement» (21,6) «Et que celui qui a soif vienne ; que celui qui veut, prenne de l’eau de la vie, gratuitement» (22,17).
Celui qui fait bon usage de cette Force issue du Saint-Graal voit s’ouvrir les portes du paradis. Il est alors autorisé à recevoir la couronne de la vie (Apoc. 2,10) et il aura la grâce de subsister éternellement !
Nous vivons à présent l’un des accomplissements les plus importants de l’Apocalypse : nous sommes dans le Tournant cosmique, dans le Jugement dernier !
Des événements bouleversants qu’il n’est plus possible de retenir, de même qu’une abondance de signes, nous le montrent incontestablement.
En raison de la culpabilité de l’humanité durant des millénaires, le monde est déséquilibré, et seul Dieu peut encore rétablir l’équilibre.
Cependant, dans la détresse et la confusion qui nous entourent, le Message venu du Graal apporte, en provenance des Hauteurs lumineuses, une aide salutaire !
Au milieu de la destruction de tout mal, il transmet la Force nécessaire au renouveau et à l’édification !
Savita , Savita , THE GRAIL
Since the beginning of the Creation, through the Son of the Man, the Holy Spirit, the current of spiritual strength streams in the Creation from Saint-Graal, according to an eternal rhythm, to assure its renewal and its continuity.As well as the heart sends by pulsations the blood through the body, also, once a year, at regular intervals, the spiritual strength flows again in the Creation from Graal, the day of the Saint-dove. It is when the Dove appears over Graal and where the Strength spreads through the Holy Spirit!
[ The human mind lives too thanks to this Strength; regrettably, it badly used it and made most of the time usage for mean things and so became the most harmful element in this world (because badly used)!]
In the Apocalypse, given by the spiritual point of view, Jean describes in images of numerous events and mention various places and characters relating to Graal. His spiritual eye contemplated in images of the prodigious events which occurred and will still occur in the divine Realm, till bottom, in the depthes of the darkness!
However unusual this new knowledge can appear at first sight, the one who looks will be obliged to take charge of it seriously, because the moment came there!
” For whosoever desire the Grail must come alone and with his sword .So should glory be striven for.”
“Parzival”, Book X “Parzival”, Livre X
Depuis le commencement de la Création, par l’intermédiaire du Fils de l’Homme, le Saint-Esprit, le courant de force spirituelle afflue dans la Création à partir du Saint-Graal, selon un rythme éternel, pour assurer son renouvellement et sa continuité. De même que le cœur envoie par pulsations le sang à travers le corps, de même, une fois par an, à intervalles réguliers, la force spirituelle flue à nouveau dans la Création en provenance du Graal, le jour de la Sainte-Colombe. C’est le jour où la Colombe apparaît au-dessus du Graal et où la Force se répand par l’intermédiaire du Saint-Esprit !
[L’esprit humain vit lui aussi grâce à cette Force ; malheureusement, il l’a mal employée et en a fait la plupart du temps usage pour des choses viles et devint ainsi l’élément le plus nuisible en ce monde ( car mal employé )! ]
Comme Jésus le leur avait promis, les disciples vécurent jadis de façon bien particulière cette descente de la Force, c’est-à-dire le renouvellement annuel de la Force.
Dans l’Apocalypse, donnée du point de vue spirituel, Jean décrit en images de nombreux événements et mentionne différents lieux et personnages se rapportant au Graal. Son œil spirituel contempla en images des événements prodigieux qui se produisirent et se produiront encore dans le Royaume divin, jusqu’en bas, dans les profondeurs des ténèbres !
C’est ainsi qu’il désigna comme étant le «Temple de Dieu» le Manoir du Graal qui se trouve sur le plan spirituel (11,19 ; 15,5).
Or, la «Source de l’Eau de la Vie» mentionnée au chapitre 21, verset 6, est le Saint-Graal !
Aussi inhabituel que ce nouveau savoir puisse paraître au premier abord, celui qui cherche sera obligé de s’en occuper sérieusement, puisque le moment en est venu !
Comme tu le cites : «Pour celui qui désire le Graal doit venir seul et avec son épée. Ainsi devrait être employée pour la gloire. ”
“Parzival”, Book X “Parzival”, Livre X
I often think of the tarot-cards when it comes to swords.
It has a strong symbolical meaning and I use to connect it to truth and strength. Fighting with swords is an art and to carry one is almost like the eagle-feather for an indian – you have to be worthy of it. (I think ;-)
My favourite image is with Saint Michael,it gives me speciall feeling of peace.
La espada crea argumentos de poder en la subsistencia, alguien tenáz y audáz para salvar al mundo o salvar a los que esten en necesidad. La espada es el simbolo de la esperanza, de la fuerza y de que algún día se podrá vivir libre sin tener que demostrarla.
A sword automatically makes me think about courage and wisdom. Courage because even though we might think we know how to use it, still there is a risk in doing so, because a sword will always leave marks, whether are they good or not, but a mark will remain, so we must have the courage to use it but also the wisdom to do so, so we hurt no one with it. But also we must have a good reason in taking out our sword, something we believe in, something we believe worth fighting for, so no risk is taken in vain.
I gave up my sword,today.It was heavy to carry more heavier to use.I gave up my faith today,i gave back the sword to him.I realized i don’t want to carry sword anymore,it is heavy.Really heavy,i should have listened not to bring my sword here i should have listened,coz while carrying my sword i forgot myself.I forgot everything.i don’t want to raise my sword anymore.The sword is no more here to fight the comng darkness,but i prefer now this way.I saw many swords with them to fight the darkness,the sword of vanity,sword of ego,sword of pride.But i gave back the sword of light,and no wonder i could not fight to save the bird anymore coz ,there is no more sword anymore i returned the sword.I will just retun and sit under my shade,and let them fight the serpent with their own swords.sword is already inside the scabbard.He who has got the sword now says he wont use it also,let their swords of pride clash withe the sword of danger and destruction
I am no more fighter or warrior now,just an audience now sitting under the sahde and letting them fight with their own swords and watch them from far.
I associate the word. It is often perceived as being a two-edged sword with potential to wound and to heal. Words are magical. They can be read clearly and misinterpreted in ways that becoems great obstacles to deeper understanding.
la spada…gli eroi…il sangue, il dolore…la vittoria,la sconfitta, l’abilità, mi ricorda un duello di preparazione per uno spettacolo teatrale medievale, io e un amico, Sergio: le spade impugnate danno un grande senso di potere, il suono che producono durante lo scontro è cristallino e incita alla lotta e nessuno è guerriero senza una spada nel pugno!
presto farò anch’io il tatuaggio del simbolo del guerriero della luce, per ricordare che posseggo sempre una spada…
“for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword”
Matthew is not making a threat, but rather a promise. Any seeker of the truth must use the sword of reason to get himself to the brink of the abyss. And to take the last step across it, he will have to use it to sacrifice his own ego.
Oh!the sword? I associate the sword with Camelot, Exalaber, Merlin, Tintagel, King Arthur, the Round table.
I think of the lady of the lake rising up through the mists of the waters with the sword in her hand.All legend I know but that is what comes to mind.
Also very hot on the thoughts are “the Pen is mightier than the sword.”
The sword cuts, for better and for worse.
The Sword for me represents the Warrior of Light and the never-ending battle to find the truth.
When I think of a sword, a sense of respect fills my chest. But not respect as in me feeling threatened, but respect as in… a guiet reverence for a beautiful (art) object. And I really don´t think of blind violence when I think of a sword, since flesh cuts only are made of the frightened hands that are holding it. I also think that the sword can be a great symbol of a wise and potent mind power in a peaceful strive for lasting warmth in the world. I believe that we shall NOT let cold warriors with fear in their hearts have the sole rights of the sword as a symbol. I am also totally convinced of the fact that we, if we are many enough, can load the sword with smiles and hugs, and cut through the evil barriers in our lives.
Fight against Evil…
The sword is the tool that directs ones will… whatever that may be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmVkSEhVcuo&feature=related
Aram Katchatourian’s the ‘Sabre/sword dance’.
LOVE,
Thelma
http://www.scootermydaisyheads.com/fine_art/symbol_dictionary/sword.html
Symbols.
Google has …covered me.
I also remember the ‘sword of Damocles’.
The symbol of Mars, Ares, Scorpion, in astrology, my dear Pandora.
The sword, the symbol of Paulo Coelho’s Blog and in ..consequence for …us Warriors of the Light.
As for me, my sister tells me that I cannot accept a … fly on my sword!;] You have already experienced it with … Cinderella’s shoes and the …’iron hand inside the velvet glove’!;]
I believe it is the FIRE inside us.
LOVE,
Thelma
Sword-protection, strong, having skills, carried on a person’s back, blade protected, sword handle ready.
A battle, The power and justice,the path we have to follow,compass,
compassion.
the meaning of swords in the Tarot is interesting as well…
How strange as this is the name of my blog:”The Ancient Sword”.I came with that title few months ago now,I was having that in my mind and I do not know why.I started mentionning the sword in few of my poems and then I picked up this.Well I guess I’ve been influenced by many things.The sword to me is the truth,fight for justice,fight with words(sword/words).I’m not pretending I do this as I’m not an angel,and not really important but I picked up that title I don’t have a real explanation for that,could have been so many other interesting titles…
Something that has nothing to do with the question,at least the meaning,I love ancient japonese swords,so perhaps a more rational explanation is the fact that I’ve seen “Kill Bill” so many times.So then ,you’ll be talking about:revenge.lol
Have a nice day.
“For whosoever desires the Grail must come alone and with his sword. So should glory be striven for.”
“Parzival”, Book X
So what does this mean? I’ve asked myself that a hundred times at least. My conclusion is that the true treasures in life are “guarded” and must be striven for – they do not come easily, as there will be tests to prove one’s worthiness in any attempt to approach and obtain such treasures.
Yesterday I got a text message from my nephew’s young wife who, due to certain circumstances, is ready to give up on their marriage (which is also bound up with the futures of their two young kids). In an air of exasperation (she has struggled over this, to make things work), she wrote in her text: “Ah, well! Easy come, easy go.”
I wrote her back and I said: “No, love never comes easy. And I have lived enough to know that real love, true love, should not be taken lightly. Of all the men I have known, all the ones I have dated in my life, I have loved but two, and one of those I now despise… which leaves but one, alone, among all the many. No, if ever you find it, love should not be allowed to walk out that door so easily, as though another stood in line right behind it. It is a treasure to be striven for.”
In many ways, I think this is what is meant by the phrase “approach with the sword” – anything worth having in life will come with it’s trials, and only those who withstand these tests, whereby they shall be deemed worthy, shall be allowed to approach and partake of the contents of that Holy Grail.
This same principle is illustrated, though in a rather melodramatic way, in the Indiana Jones movies which were so popular in my youth and which are still being produced today. When you see those movies, you will notice that, no matter what the treasure in question, the traps and trials and pitfalls the hero must face and overcome increase exponentially in relation to his vicinity to the treasure itself. In other words, the whole movie (about three-quarters of it, at least) will be about his learning of the treasure, pinpointing its location, and getting there to the general site. And there will be many challenges to face and obstacles to overcome in the process, BUT, in comparison to what the hero will face in the final approach and attempt to retrieve this treasure, these initial trials will seem like nothing. That last fifteen to twenty minutes is the real clincher! The hero has found the temple where the treasure resides, he’s found the hidden latch that throws open the secret door, he’s even crossed the perils of the initial passage into the inner recesses of the temple. But now, he stands at the doorway to the inner chamber, and here begins the real test of our would-be hero. Here, if he does not stand with sword drawn and muscles taut and ready, he WILL NOT PREVAIL, for the next fifteen minutes of his life will be a sure fight to the death. There is no way out alive but to kill. And although this may seem gruesome, even brutal, there is a certain profound metaphorical truth in it: whatever our selected “treasure” in life, whatever great feat of achievement we may strive for, the Grail does not admit of those who are wishy-washy, those who approach half-hearted, half-focused, half-cocked. After all, this is the Grail here: if you are not willing to fight for it, even a fight to the death if necessary, you might as well not approach at all, because certainly you are not worthy to sip of its contents. And, as legend tells us, those who are not worthy (who are not pure of heart and strong of will) who yet steal such a sip, WILL SURELY DIE of it an instant and excruciating death.
So what is it that we are really talking about here? What are these obstacles we must overcome, the nature of these battles we must wage, even unto death? What is this metaphor of the sword all about? External obstacles, to be sure – there are always those to contend with in any worthwhile quest. But more than that: Why do the challenges increase as we approach? Why does the way not get easier? And why must we approach with sword drawn, prepared to kill, or be killed? What is that all about?
I think its about internal obstacles, deep inner blockages, that must be overcome and eradicated before we can indeed be deemed, or otherwise deem ourselves, worthy of the treasure which we seek. It is also connected to the Biblical principle of the “New Man” (or woman) we must become in order to begin the new life, the blessed life, which the treasure we seek promises to offer. We cannot enter into the Promised Land without shedding our skin, in a sense. (Even in the Biblical account of the Exodus, the Israelites who fled into and trudged though the desert those many years had to die out COMPLETELY – not a single individual remaining of that initial generation – before they could be deemed fit to enter into and claim their rightful dominion, the promised land of milk and honey. As a people, they experienced a death and rebirth – a rebirth into a new generation, in essence, a new people. We, as individuals must tread the same path in search of our particular treasures. We must die to our old selves and be born anew before we can claim our rightful inheritance: the treasure we so wholly adore, the Grail we so eagerly seek.
So, this walk across the pit of fire on a bridge the width of a thread, this brutal battle with the monster with ten heads and a hundred horns – all these final battles we each must face and wage in the ultimate test of our metal, before we can receive that Grail and drink of its contents – these are as much metaphorical of the battles we must wage with our inner demons, as they are of any external challenges we must face. Sure, there will be external battles – there will be snakes and spiders and sometimes even flying daggers as we approach our personal Grail – but for the most part, these battles, at least the biggest and most dire of them, will be fought on the inside, in the deepest recesses of our inner selves, in chambers where the light of the real world, the social realm, never shines. So, when we fight to the death, we are not necessarily ruthlessly slaughtering a physical entity, a chosen enemy, so much as we are crucifying our own inner demons. So, the lesson being: WHEN YOU APPROACH THE GRAIL, DON’T FORGET YOUR SWORD – step forth ready and with it drawn, for the battles which must be waged are inevitable, intense, and long!
Love to all,
Savita
http://dozule.club.fr/messagefr1.html
mastery of the mystery
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