Between the characters of ‘the imperious queen’ in Beowulf (who executes even the best of men for simply looking her in the eye) to Mallory’s ‘Guinevere,’ Chivalry was developed in physical form and prepared for its full-flowering at the beginning of our modern epoch (circa 1400 AD).
Can one be born not taught as a 'Cavalier' or 'Lady'? Can it be given 'from the start' in some cases? 🤔
There are some people, both men and women, who, when they approach you, it feels very different without their effort of 'proving' they were born 'like this'. I was fortunate enough to meet a few. Rare, but 'not dead' 😊 But..sad part today (and many yesterdays) - those people very often remain 'hidden', invisible, or even pushed back, because of the same reason - they were born 'like this', and exactly 'this' thru many years of 'tolerance, pride, politeness, deep understanding of not written ways and rules' made and make them give the others 'their way', which led us to exactly where we are today - separated, divided, persuaded and made believe, that only 'love-hate' (rather 'lust-I am done, move, go now', with obvious conclusion "you are all the same" on both sides) relationship between man and woman can exist. When was the last time you experienced..observed simple respect between a man and a woman? I am not talking about 'shows off'..but just simple 'street behaviour'? Even at home..how people behave..when no one can see?
Those of us, who 'get it', who understand, appreciate and value 'Chivalry' are as rare as those, who are 'Cavaliers and Ladies' themselves. And...one finds..one...in a pile of 'oh, Darling...they all are the same', as they are not. Chivalry is not dead, just as rare..as 'Black Diamond' is.
Thank you John, great article, so enjoyable to read...(can't watch the videos, as...my connection to cyber space never was taught of any 'Chivalry' and wasn't born 'like this')
I first came across this concept reading Steiner’s student, Walter Johannes Stein’s book on the Holy Grail. In it, he made some interesting remarks about the masculine and feminine in connection to Chivalry and the Grail.
The feminine stream IS ‘born into it’ and if anything is taught of the art of Chivalry, it goes from the woman to the man. It is the masculine stream that cannot be ‘born into it’ - the man must go through the stages of page, squire, and knight, before he pursues Chivalry.
But, of course, things have evolved, and this can’t be taken as a general rule since at least the 1700’s.
The ‘woman artist’ works with the same aspects of spirit, soul, and body as does the man and if she ‘practices Chivalry’ either from the feminine or masculine role she will be in a similar position to the man.
And likewise, a man can be ‘born into these days’ - but in this case it is likely that man was taught in a previous life what he unconsciously knows now.
Chivalry as a divine union is a very impressive concept. I really enjoy the span of literary figures who populate this article's landscape and have really enjoyed your enlightening familiarity with Guinevere. I know little to nothing of Europe from the Roman collapse to Charlemagne. It is a 'dark age' to my mind's eye. You have associated the code of chivalry to the Tao Te Ching in a way that enables my imagination. Perhaps Europe's lack of narrated history was not because Europe was widely illiterate or because the history was burned. Perhaps we see a symptom of life's fullness. Thomas Merton's translation of the Way Chuang Tzu wrote of a period when "Rulers were simply the highest branches on the tree, and the people were like deer in the woods. They were honest and righteous without realizing they were doing their duty..." My shadows tell me this would be a stretch according to what's popular conceptually, and maybe rightfully so, but I am grateful to have my inkling's range of motion stretched by this wonderfully expansive piece.
And to see Abigail! The Adams-Jefferson Letters are treasured at my house.
Thank you so much! There’s a lot to consider in your comment - I appreciate your attention and the points you bring up. I look forward to expanding on them soon.
I sense 'dark age' is a terminological garment of ignorance around my latinized mind's ability to understand a history relevant to me, but it is too early to make any inferences. I'm excited for the opportunity to explore your work further.
I hope I haven’t signaled that I’m free from latinized thinking - I’ve been trying since I was, 18 - but I’ve yet to find a way to bust out of here :-)
The part of it being ‘relevant to you’ is what is most important to me. Rudolf Steiner told the people around him, fretting about the future (our times) over a 100 years ago - “don’t worry, from the years 1966-1999, those spirits belonging to the warrior stream of the Archangel Michael will incarnate. These are the ones belonging to the stream of Arthur, the druids, etc.. they are here to complete the quest of the Grail.” The Grail alone can heal the individual and humanity and sustain life into the future.
Steiner prioritized ‘keeping the flame alive’ to remind the people born in this time of their past and their current destiny - it is in that spirit that I do this work here.
You were born in the wrong century. A true gentleman. Now a days men sit on park benches scrolling their smart phones while women are being raped by "immigrants" in front of them.
When Z gen men and women date they bring interview lists demanding to know each others financial profiles. All about extraction potential. How romantic. Sure way to create depopulation, especially white depopulation. I wish I were born in a different century when chivalry was alive.
The numbers are tiny among consciously striving people - but if you can keep your focus on them - it’s really encouraging.
You have incredible stamina physically and soul-wise considering the dark subjects you take on such as ‘data-centers’ - I can imagine it seems like we’re just all our way to the slaughterhouse - we’re living in a Bosch painting at the very least.
But the flip side is great! You’re Dorothy - you’ve got the bucket of water and the Witch just show up. Wonderful! - that’s how it is.
Chivalry was not merely manners. It was an attempted field-governor for force. It tried to bind warrior power to restraint, service, beauty, sacred obligation, and protection of the vulnerable. But because it was carried by aristocratic, religious, and military institutions, it was never pure. It contained both the medicine and the disease.. 🙏🏼♾️🍻 great read btw
YESS!!! Thank you - in heartfelt gratitude - thank you - especially as - and no dis to anyone, but - I can’t think of a person who embodies or expresses the different roles across the spectrum of Chivalry as well as you do. Yes, I suspect even where you appear to fall short in one aspect or another it is because your opposing ‘inner knight or lady’ is working too strongly from the other side.
Can one be born not taught as a 'Cavalier' or 'Lady'? Can it be given 'from the start' in some cases? 🤔
There are some people, both men and women, who, when they approach you, it feels very different without their effort of 'proving' they were born 'like this'. I was fortunate enough to meet a few. Rare, but 'not dead' 😊 But..sad part today (and many yesterdays) - those people very often remain 'hidden', invisible, or even pushed back, because of the same reason - they were born 'like this', and exactly 'this' thru many years of 'tolerance, pride, politeness, deep understanding of not written ways and rules' made and make them give the others 'their way', which led us to exactly where we are today - separated, divided, persuaded and made believe, that only 'love-hate' (rather 'lust-I am done, move, go now', with obvious conclusion "you are all the same" on both sides) relationship between man and woman can exist. When was the last time you experienced..observed simple respect between a man and a woman? I am not talking about 'shows off'..but just simple 'street behaviour'? Even at home..how people behave..when no one can see?
Those of us, who 'get it', who understand, appreciate and value 'Chivalry' are as rare as those, who are 'Cavaliers and Ladies' themselves. And...one finds..one...in a pile of 'oh, Darling...they all are the same', as they are not. Chivalry is not dead, just as rare..as 'Black Diamond' is.
Thank you John, great article, so enjoyable to read...(can't watch the videos, as...my connection to cyber space never was taught of any 'Chivalry' and wasn't born 'like this')
That is an essential point/question!
I first came across this concept reading Steiner’s student, Walter Johannes Stein’s book on the Holy Grail. In it, he made some interesting remarks about the masculine and feminine in connection to Chivalry and the Grail.
The feminine stream IS ‘born into it’ and if anything is taught of the art of Chivalry, it goes from the woman to the man. It is the masculine stream that cannot be ‘born into it’ - the man must go through the stages of page, squire, and knight, before he pursues Chivalry.
But, of course, things have evolved, and this can’t be taken as a general rule since at least the 1700’s.
The ‘woman artist’ works with the same aspects of spirit, soul, and body as does the man and if she ‘practices Chivalry’ either from the feminine or masculine role she will be in a similar position to the man.
And likewise, a man can be ‘born into these days’ - but in this case it is likely that man was taught in a previous life what he unconsciously knows now.
Chivalry as a divine union is a very impressive concept. I really enjoy the span of literary figures who populate this article's landscape and have really enjoyed your enlightening familiarity with Guinevere. I know little to nothing of Europe from the Roman collapse to Charlemagne. It is a 'dark age' to my mind's eye. You have associated the code of chivalry to the Tao Te Ching in a way that enables my imagination. Perhaps Europe's lack of narrated history was not because Europe was widely illiterate or because the history was burned. Perhaps we see a symptom of life's fullness. Thomas Merton's translation of the Way Chuang Tzu wrote of a period when "Rulers were simply the highest branches on the tree, and the people were like deer in the woods. They were honest and righteous without realizing they were doing their duty..." My shadows tell me this would be a stretch according to what's popular conceptually, and maybe rightfully so, but I am grateful to have my inkling's range of motion stretched by this wonderfully expansive piece.
And to see Abigail! The Adams-Jefferson Letters are treasured at my house.
Cheers and thank you!
Thank you so much! There’s a lot to consider in your comment - I appreciate your attention and the points you bring up. I look forward to expanding on them soon.
I sense 'dark age' is a terminological garment of ignorance around my latinized mind's ability to understand a history relevant to me, but it is too early to make any inferences. I'm excited for the opportunity to explore your work further.
I hope I haven’t signaled that I’m free from latinized thinking - I’ve been trying since I was, 18 - but I’ve yet to find a way to bust out of here :-)
The part of it being ‘relevant to you’ is what is most important to me. Rudolf Steiner told the people around him, fretting about the future (our times) over a 100 years ago - “don’t worry, from the years 1966-1999, those spirits belonging to the warrior stream of the Archangel Michael will incarnate. These are the ones belonging to the stream of Arthur, the druids, etc.. they are here to complete the quest of the Grail.” The Grail alone can heal the individual and humanity and sustain life into the future.
Steiner prioritized ‘keeping the flame alive’ to remind the people born in this time of their past and their current destiny - it is in that spirit that I do this work here.
You were born in the wrong century. A true gentleman. Now a days men sit on park benches scrolling their smart phones while women are being raped by "immigrants" in front of them.
When Z gen men and women date they bring interview lists demanding to know each others financial profiles. All about extraction potential. How romantic. Sure way to create depopulation, especially white depopulation. I wish I were born in a different century when chivalry was alive.
You say the sweetest things - thank you :-)
The numbers are tiny among consciously striving people - but if you can keep your focus on them - it’s really encouraging.
You have incredible stamina physically and soul-wise considering the dark subjects you take on such as ‘data-centers’ - I can imagine it seems like we’re just all our way to the slaughterhouse - we’re living in a Bosch painting at the very least.
But the flip side is great! You’re Dorothy - you’ve got the bucket of water and the Witch just show up. Wonderful! - that’s how it is.
Manners Maketh the Man…🙏
Chivalry was not merely manners. It was an attempted field-governor for force. It tried to bind warrior power to restraint, service, beauty, sacred obligation, and protection of the vulnerable. But because it was carried by aristocratic, religious, and military institutions, it was never pure. It contained both the medicine and the disease.. 🙏🏼♾️🍻 great read btw
Thank you, Michael - I appreciate your insights and perspective :-)
Wow.
I will have to come back tonight and read this again, after some digestion. Truly brilliant.
YESS!!! Thank you - in heartfelt gratitude - thank you - especially as - and no dis to anyone, but - I can’t think of a person who embodies or expresses the different roles across the spectrum of Chivalry as well as you do. Yes, I suspect even where you appear to fall short in one aspect or another it is because your opposing ‘inner knight or lady’ is working too strongly from the other side.