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THE OCCULT REVIEW London, England September 1923 (pages 195-196)
A Qabalistic Interpretation of the Drama of Parzival. By a Companion of the Holy Grail, sometime called Frater Achad. Chicago: The Yogi Publication Society.
Exactly thirteen years ago we read for the first time the story of Tannhaüser, retold by one sometime called Frater Perdurabo. We have always been thankful that such was our first introduction to Wagner, and incidentally to Rosicrucian Philosophy.
We could wish that this present volume of Frater Achad’s [Charles Stansfeld Jones] might meet with a similar fate, and be the means of introducing many newcomers to the story of Parzival, which “is not subject to time or circumstance, and need not be sought outside the human heart that has learned to beat in time and tune with the soul of the world.” “It is,” says Frater Achad, “in the hope of awakening some spark of the smouldering fire of this inner consciousness in the hearts of those who may read these lines—not having previously understood the legend—and from that spark enkindling a great fire that will burn up the veils which hide man from Himself—from God—that I have dared to add these fragments to the great mass of Grail Literature already given to the world.” We wish him Godspeed. “Was Wagner a great Qabalist? Who can say?” To continue quoting Frater Achad, “rather would we suggest that being inspired, this drama must of necessity conform to truth on all planes.” “The most important points of the drama are connected with the Cup—Understanding—Binah the third Sephira; the Spear—Will—Wisdom—Chokmah the second Sephira, and the Heart—the Castle of the Grail—Tiphereth the sixth Sephira. If we examine these spheres on the Tree of Life we find they form a Descending Triad representing the Bowl of the Chalice of Ecstasy, the points of which are 326.
Now 326 is the Numeration of Jeheshuah, the God-Man or Redeemer. We are also told that probably the oldest spelling of Parzival is Parchval, whose numeration is also 326. The word Jeheshuah symbolizes the descent of “Shin.” the letter of the Holy Spirit, into the Four-lettered word I.H.V.H., the Ineffable Name and the Formula of the Four Elements. Thus Parchval symbolizes the whole process perfectly.”
The enumeration of the other characters in the story and the enumeration of the word Grail are equally remarkable, but we purposely leave this for future readers to discover.
How Parzival, after diverse tribulations, completes the circle and, returning to the Temple of the Grail, heals Amfortas with the Holy Spear and is himself crowned king, space does not permit us to tell. Apart from the charm of Wagner’s story, we find in Frater Achad’s version a homily well worth reading.
We wish that Dean Inge or some other well-known critic would read the book and serve it up again to the more intelligent among the masses: it would ensure to the volume the widespread reading it deserves.
E. F. W. |