NEW YORK OPEN CENTER PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH GNOSIS MAGAZINE

LAMPETER WALES AUGUST 8-13, 1998 CONFERENCE

A.N week of ceLnc STUOIGS ON Tt>e wesT COAST of AUQUST 22-29, 1998 m he Quest for image in contemporary the Holy Grail culture and has T is an eternal remained a profound symbol of the search for motif of Western spiritual meaning and transcen- life since the work of dence and speaks to the Chretien de Troyes deepest yearnings of and Wolfram von the psyche. The first 'A. Eschenbach in the references to Arthur Middle Ages. Parsifal's and hints of the Grail quest continues to be a appear in the stories, early histories challenge to the understanding after and legends of Wales, perhaps the hundreds of years, and urges the most mysterious and least familiar of modern reader to reach a spiritual the Celtic countries to Americans. comprehension suitable to our time. The cauldron of regeneration and the Sung in the castle halls of the 13th figure of the warrior King Arthur first century, its echoes increasingly haunt emerge in world literature in the early psychology and literature. From the collections of Welsh mythic tales. It pre-Raphaelite painters to T.S. Eliot's seems fitting, then, to present an The Waste Land to more recent major international conference on the theme films, the Grail theme continues to of The Holy Grail in the beautiful hills speak to us. What special relevance and valleys of Welsh-speaking West does the quest for the Grail have for Wales. Following in the tradition of the present day? What unique mythic our two unforgettable summer con- potency does it possess that has ferences in Bohemia on Alchemy and enabled it to endure so long? the Rosicrucian Enlightenment, we Join us for a profound week in the will bring together scholars, writers, enchanting tranquillity of rural artists and visionaries to explore this Wales. This conference suggests that most evocative and elusive of themes. humanity is still inwardly in search The Holy Grail persists as a powerful of the Holy Grail and its meaning.

Cover: Frederick Judd Waugh, The Knight of the Holy Grail, 1912. National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. sessioMS

THE ARTHUR OF THE WELSH SIGNED DAVIES, PH.D. ihis talk examines the way that Arthur is portrayed poetry, prose tales (including the Mabinogion), Saints' in Welsh texts before Geoffrey of Monmouth - in Lives and the Triads of the island of Britain. THE WASTELAND & THE WOUNDED KING JOHN MATTHEWS ne of the central themes in the literature of the by a thousand years. Working from the principle that OGrail deals with the idea of the guardian of the we are all wounded beings, this presentation explores Grail who suffers from a wound that will only be cured the literature of the Grail myth and demonstrates how when the destined seeker comes to bring healing. And, an understanding of this material can help us identify, while the king suffers, the land over which he rules acknowledge and come to terms with our own con- suffers also, becoming a wasted land - a far reaching temporary wounds. theme which predates our modern ecological concerns THE CAULDRONS OF REGENERATION MIRANDA GREEN, PH.D. uring the last millennium B.C. cauldrons were instruments of death and resurrection. A possible Dapparently the focus of repeated ceremonial link between allusions to sacred cauldrons in the activity, involving their deliberate deposition in early vernacular myths and their presence in the watery contexts. The medieval mythic texts of Wales archaeological contexts is proposed, and models are and Ireland contain references to cauldrons as cited to explain such connections. THE GRAIL OF THE GOLDEN AGE GEOFFREY ASHE hile the Grail stories are Christian, their to a recurring pattern of human aspiration, related to WChristianity is outside the mainstream. They the myth of the vanished Golden Age. Many reformers embody a "Sense of Something Else": a belief in a and revolutionaries have been inspired not by ideas of mystery eluding the official church, known once, then progress, but by the dream of reinstating some long- lost sight of, but perhaps recoverable. This corresponds lost glory. THE HEAD IN THE DISH: ANCESTRAL VENGEANCE & CHRISTIAN REDEMPTION IN THE GRAIL CORPUS CAITLIN MATTHEWS

rom the Head in the Dish in Peredur and ancient consciousness in the light of the voice of need and the Fconcepts of tribal honor and ancestral revenge, to Grail question. Today, we continue to ask the same the Grail of later medieval legend with its themes of needful question: Whom does the Grail serve? Does spiritual chivalry and redemption, this talk traces the the power to bring healing to the human heart and to song of the Grail from its Celtic roots to its Christian the wasteland of our Earth still lie between the border- manifestations. We consider humanity's evolving lands of ancestral hatred and mature service? FAERY TRADITION, THE CRUSADER KINGDOMS &. THE HOLY GRAIL GARETH KNIGHT he faery tradition that stems from the Celtic lands Aphrodite. Their castle is only a few miles from the Tof the British Isles passes through Brittany in Celtic place where Eleanor of Aquitaine and her daughter France and has left an important center of influence in Marie Champagne (patroness of Chretien de Troves) medieval Poitou where it found expression in the legend established the Courts of Love. This talk examines the of the Faery Melusine. This is the realm of the Lusignan hidden influences that may have contributed to the family who founded a dynasty in Cyprus, island of Holy Grail tradition that stems from these sources. WHAT AILS THEE? A SEARCH FOR GRAIL CHRISTIANITY CHRISTOPHER BAMFORD any streams - Celtic and Druidic, Persian and so that now they have become transformative jewels in M Islamic, Arthurian, alchemical, Cathar and Western esoterism's crown: the image of the Grail Christian - flow together and coalesce in the mysterious itself. At the heart of the Grail path, however, lies a initiatory cycles of the Grail. The images, poetry and radical and new approach to the human future: Grail stories through which the Grail seeker must travel Christianity. This talk explores the deeper meaning of allow these elements to be memorized and transmitted the Grail's Christie axis. THE GRAIL &. THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR PAUL BEMBRIDGE, M.PHIL. rrihe earliest Grail texts, especially those of Chretien But what were these mysteries, and whom did they JL and Wolfram, locate the Grail mysteries within a serve? Apart from the Templar context, the Grail has Templar context. There is a royal family and an order of claimants amongst Celts and Christians, Arab and Jew. knighthood, we gather, which is committed to the But which were the authentic transmission routes? And preservation and transmission of certain "mysteries." to what extent can these varying claims be reconciled? THE GNOSTIC VISION OF THE GRAIL NICHOLAS GOODRICK-CLARKE, D. PHIL. "The Grail is the only object in this world which comes the inflowing of the Divine into our human order has from another world." also inspired T.S. Eliot and John Cowper Powys. The agan Celtic lore, Christian mysteries, medieval Welsh writer Arthur Machen, a member of the P romances and chivalry all blend in Wolfram von Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, reworked old Eschenbach's famous poem Parzival (1210), together Grail prophecies into Gnostic visions described in with alchemy and magic. The Grail as a conduit for this talk. WORKSHOPS IN THE GARDEN OF THE GRAIL CHRISTOPHER BAMFORD he Grail Stories did not arise in a vacuum. Many at the Cathedral School of Chartres a group of scholars T other manifestations of a new consciousness and philosophers gave Hermetic Platonism a new appeared at the same time and must be seen as part of form. In the north, women mystics began to incarnate the larger picture. In the south of France, the Cathars the Christian message in a radical, embodied way. This and Troubadors sought to create a new culture of love; workshop examines this "free spririt" that created the at the same time alchemy was being transformed, and context from which the Grail stories emerged. WHY THE GRAIL Now? GEOFFREY ASHE s one of the most knowledgeable writers and and legends. In this workshop, he opens the floor to A scholars on the theme of Arthur and the participants to express how and why the Grail speaks Grail, Geoffrey Ashe has long contemplated the to them today and offers his own reflections and contemporary appeal and significance of these stories insights on the subject. THE CHESS GAME OF QUEENLY SOVEREIGNTY GARETH KNIGHT n medieval times Jerusalem was regarded as the applied to Queen Isabella of Jerusalem (1172-1205) Icenter of the world, thus its sovereignty took on cos- and the four dynastic husbands of her short life: mic importance. Using the basis of the symbolic chess Humphrey IV of Tbron, Conrad of Montserrat, Henry game that appears in Celtic legend, we will II of Champagne, and Amairic of Lusignan and Cyprus. meditate on some of the inner dynamics that may be RELICS OF THE GRAIL TRISTAN GRAY HULSE umerous images come to mind when we consider the Supper cup and associated it with the martyrdom and Nterm "The Holy Grail." For some it is synonymous head-relics of John the Baptist. Rival claimants to the with the cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, status of the Grail cup appeared around Europe in the Rather fewer would associate this cup with the high middle ages, some of which survive to the present. medieval legend of Joseph of Arimathea collecting This workshop explores the nature of these relic cults, Christ's blood on Calvary, while others would connect offering an overview of the Grail-related relics them- this with the "traditions" of Glastonbury Abbey. The selves, and discusses their potential relevance to an Celtic Churches showed a keen interest in the Last increased understanding of the Grail. GRAIL, SACRAMENT & COSMOS DENNIS EVENSON uarded by its own mystery, the Grail motif is itself Golgotha illuminates the redemptive presence hidden- Ga chalice carrying profound secrets of the human ly at work in the world. As inheritors of the Grail soul in its compelling archetypes. Following indications impulse, how can we place its transformative forces of from Rudolf Steiner, this workshop examines how the renewal into our hearts and lives - and carry them tradition of the chalice which held the mystery of towards the future as a sanctifying and civilizing force? TEXTS & DOORWAYS PAUL BEMBRIDGE, M. PHIL. articipants will be invited to discuss a variety of key Excerpts from these works will be chosen to focus the Ptexts, such as Chretien's Perceval, Wolfram's group's attention upon significant details concerning Parzifal, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Grail and other key symbols. THE MABINOGION SIONED DAVIES, PH.D. he Mabinogion, a medieval collection of Welsh early Celtic Grail-like motif. In this workshop, a Welsh Ttales, contains many references to Arthur and the scholar describes these mysterious tales and explores cauldrons of regeneration which perhaps constitute an their relevance to the conference theme.

THE HEALING OF THE GRAIL JOHN MATTHEWS eginning with the idea that we are all, in some and brought healing to both the Waste Land and the Bform or another, wounded beings, this workshop Wounded King, we make our own exploratory journey explores ways of working with the myths and stories of into our wounded state and find the promise of heal- the Grail through the experience of the shamanic jour- ing that is held out to us. ney. Like the questers who went in search of the Grail VOICES OF THE ANCESTORS CAITLIN MATTHEWS his workshop explores practical methods of healing divert us from our quest and we will aim to build Tgenerational patterns and hearing the wisdom of bridges of peace and reconciliation between ourselves, the ancestors upon the Grail quest, through the use of our ancestors and descendants by focusing on contem- shamanic song and prayer. We will explore ways of porary issues and tasks. release from the inherited imperatives which often

OPTIONAL POST coMfeRewce TOUR KING ARTHUR & THE GRAIL MYSTERIES OF WALES WITH CLARE et) NICHOLAS G O O DRICK- CL ARKE AUGUST 13-16, I 998 tep into the Celtic Otherworld of the Mabinogion hidden in the secret places of Arthur's kingdom. Sand join the search for King Arthur, archetypal hero Together we will explore the symbolic and mythic and real historical figure. Travel from St. David's landscape of Wales, land of transformation, where across the wild, rugged and romantic Preseli mountains legends of the Grail Knights and Celtic saints (Arthurian sites and origin of the magical Stonehenge continually interweave as agents of personal initiation. bluestones). Glimpse the mysterious and enchanted Along the way, there are readings from Arthurian lake where Arthur is said to have returned the sword legends, Celtic crosses, music, art and oghams, good Excalibur before his final sea voyage to Avalon. Ascend food and fellowship. For the energetic, there is the hill associated with Merlin's extraordinary swimming in the sea and walks along one of the most prophecies and visit the ancient Celtic center of spectacular coastal paths in Europe. Accommodation Llanilltyd Fawr on the way to Caerleon, according to on this guided coach tour will be in hotels and univer- legend the historic site of King Arthur's Court and his sity residences. Participants may wish to bring Round Table. comfortable shoes and swimwear. Local guides will bring to life the lost knowledge $925 ACTIVITIES

n TUesday afternoon we will journey by bus into These will include waterfalls, the ruined abbey of Othe surrounding mountains and valleys of West Strata Florida and, with good fortune, the site of the Wales to visit sites of natural beauty and places with Nanteos cup, claimant to the Grail lineage. mythic relevance to Merlin, Arthur and the Grail. OTHER OPTIONAL EVENTS WILL INCLUDE A SHOWING OF THE FRENCH FILM PERCEVAL LE GALLOIS.

CULHWCH & OLWEN A TALE FROM THE MABJNOGION ROBIN WILLIAMSON toryteller, harper and Celtic bard, Robin will perform traditional and original songs, stories and SWilliamson takes us on a journey through the music, drawn from Celtic heritage, including selec- mystical world of the medieval Welsh imagination. He tions from The Mabinogion and The Tain ?&N EVENING OF WELSH POETRY DIG /ONES & MENNA ELFYN ales is perhaps the only country in the Western evening Die Jones, farmer and Bard of his rural Wworld where poetry remains a living art locality, will offer the traditional alliterative fixed form among the local populace. Bards are elected metre poetry of Wales (and translate it into English). annually at the cultural festivals known as Eisteddfods He will be joined by Menna Elfyn, poet, playwright where poetry is written and improvised in Welsh, the and translator, whose work reflects the more modern most widely spoken of the Celtic tongues. This face of Welsh literature. A CONCERT WITH MALE VOICE CHOIR &. HARP he male voice choir is one of Wales' most its cadences, harmonies and rich, spiritual themes. Ttraditional, enduring and beautiful art forms. The This evening the Cwmann Male Voice choir will be soul of the proverbial "Land of Song" can be heard in joined by local harper Delyth Medi Jones. 10QRApt>lCAl_ IN f30RCD AXIOM

Geoffrey Ashe is best known for his explorations of the Tristan Gray Hulse lives in North Wales and is a researcher Arthurian mythos and for his original findings on the origins into Celtic hagiography and Celtic Christianity. Former editor of the legend. His twenty three books include Camelot and The of Source: The Holy Wells Journal, he is currently writing a full- Vision of Albion and Mythology of the British Isles. He was sec- length study of the life and cult of St. Winifred. retary of the Camelot Research Committee which excavated Miranda Green, Ph.D., is currently Reader in archeology Cadbury Castle in Somerset, the reputed site of Camelot. and Director of the SCARAB Research Center at the University Christopher Bamford is founder of Lindisfarne Press and of Wales College, Newport. She was the first winner of the editor-in-chief of the Anthroposophic Press in Hudson, New Legonna Celtic Research Prize awarded by the National Library York. He is the author of The Voice of the Eagle, a book about of Wales and is the author of several books, among the most Celtic Christian tradition and the Gospel of John. recent of which are Celtic Art: Reading the Messages and The Paul Bembridge, M.Phil., is a university lecturer specializing World of the Druids. in medieval and early modern literature. He has a life-long Die Jones is a farmer and Welsh poet who is past winner of interest in the Western Mystery Tradition and was recently the National Eisteddfod chair, a high honor in Welsh culture. elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for his controversial He is the author of several volumes of both prose and poetry. work identifying Andrew Marvell as a Rosicrucian poet. Gareth Knight is an author, lecturer, jazz musician and pub- Sioned Davies, Ph.D., is chair and head of the Department lisher whose books include The Secret Tradition in the of Welsh at the University of Wales in Cardiff. A specialist in Arthurian Legend, Experience of the Inner Worlds, and the Mabinogion, her work examines the interplay between A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbohsm. orality and literacy in medieval Welsh narrative. Caitlin Matthews is the author of over 30 books, including Menna Elvyn is a widely traveled Welsh poet, playwright and Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom, Celtic Devotional and Singing the translator whose work reflects the modern face of Welsh Soul Back Home. She teaches Celtic traditions worldwide and literature. has a shamanic practice in Oxford. Dennis Evenson has taught the Grail mysteries to adults John Matthews is an internationally acknowledged scholar and gifted young people for more than twenty years at lona, the in the field of Grail studies. His many books include Healing Omega Institute and the New York Open Center. He is the Wounded King, The Grail: Quest for Eternal Life and (as director of education at Long Island School of Music and Art. editor) Sources of the Grail. He gives workshops throughout Clare Goodrick-Clarke is a poet, artist, writer and Europe and the USA and travels widely in search of further homeopath with a special interest in art history. aspects of the quest for the Grail. Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, D.Phil., is a historian, Robin Williamson shot to international fame in the 60's as Germanist and author of several books on the Western esoteric a founding member of The Incredible String Band. Since 1975 tradition. He is series editor of the Essential Readings, with he has worked as a Celtic performer, songwriter, author, story- volumes on Paracelsus, Jacob Boehme and Rudolf Steiner. teller and harper. Nominated for several Grammy awards, his Brought up in Wessex and the West Country he has a long- music has won the Celtic Record of the Year Award from Tower standing interest in the countryside and heritage of England Records. and Wales.