Parting the Mists

Last night, we watched “The Mighty,” a late 90s film about two boys inspired by the Arthurian knights. I guess it put those tales in my mind, because I chose an Arthurian deck today. It’s a timely card for me, and I hope it proves useful to all of you!

Blessings.

Strength – Percivale’s Vision

Meaning: Having the courage and vitality to realize one’s goals. Ambition tempered with serenity – a gentle strength. Intelligence and reason united with enthusiasm and energy. Discipline; channeling one’s passions in a constructive way. Having the strength of convictions. Drawing on resources of inner strength to resist temptation. Listening to the inner voice for direction. Understanding the consequences of one’s actions.

This card might also indicate the loss of courage or abandoning one’s own values. Being driven by impulses. Unjustified use of strength. Resorting to intimidation in an effort to manipulate and control others. Being seduced into dismissing one’s own code of conduct.

The Story: (remember, these stories were written in Christian times) In his quest for the Grail, Percivale find himself marooned on an island wilderness of beasts. On seeing a great battle between a lion and a serpent, Percivale killed the serpent, judging the lion to be the gentler of the two. This won him a great friend in the lion. That night Percivale dreamt of two women: one young and beautiful, riding a lion; the other old and wizened, riding a serpent. The Maid warned him that the next day he would do battle with the strongest of champions, and should he fail he would be shamed until the world’s end. She disappeared. Then, the Crone spoke of the serpent he had killed, claiming it belonged to her. In order to make amends, she suggested that he become her man. He refused. She assured him he would eventually be hers.

The next day, he had a vision of an old man who told him to be chivalrous. He said the young maid represented the holy church and faith and that the old crone represented the old ways and shouldn’t be heeded. Later, a ship arrived on the island with a beautiful woman who claimed to have been disinherited and banished. Percivale promised to help her and in return she fed him in her pavillion and would help him off the island.

As he ate, he became infatuated with her and pleaded with her to be his. She accepted on the condition that he swore “by the faith of his body to serve only her” and to do whatever she said. He agreed and waited for her to undress. Spying a crucifix as he waited, he remembered the old man and made the sign of the cross. The pavilion evaporated away as if smoke, as did the beautiful woman.

After almost succumbing to temptation, Percivale did not believe himself worthy of the Grail, and wounded himself in the thigh to punish his weak flesh. Yet the old man of his vision returned in a ship and took him off the island. He explained that both the seductress and the old crone were both the Devil himself.

Legend: The Arthurian Tarot by Anna-Marie Ferguson