In THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, author T. H. White writes his interpretation of the Arthurian legend: might for right; the chivalrous knights of the round table sitting in equality with one another; the consequences of betrayal and, at the same time, loyalty. The imagery brought about by these stories touches on the human consciousness of duality and our desire to integrate opposing energies when possible, using our power (might) for what we have come to believe is right for ourselves or the whole. The intention to be of service that is at the core of this tale comes from the heart center, and in this case, a heart center well aligned with will. These heart-centered emotions, however, are sometimes overridden by the needs of the physical world and the longings of human bodies also occupied by a spiritual yearning for union and dissolution of form. The rules of society at large—made to assure the practical requirements for survival as well as the egoic need for control and dominance—clash with the higher knowing of this story’s hero.
King Arthur, as mentored by the wise (but flawed) Merlin, reaches beyond the limits of his human mind to converse with other earthly creatures in order to gain a broader perspective of the world in which he lives. Through Merlin’s teachings, he gains wisdom that allows him to achieve a level of compassion and forgiveness that touches upon the Divine, even though Arthur himself remains flawed. (Results of his succumbing to youthful carnal desires later play a part in the dissolution of his beloved Camelot.) In this tale, though chaos ultimately dispels the peace and harmony of the human souls united in community, the potential that manifested in mythic earth-time remains in the energetic field of the collective and can serve as inspiration to reach for the higher spiritual ideals while on planet Earth.
Why include this observation in a forum where spirituality and the expansion of conscious awareness are the primary topics? The aforementioned desire for a world in which all are equal and united in upholding the highest potential for humanity is imprinted in our collective unconscious. The mortal behaviors and longings that we judge to be wrong or (more kindly) foolish are simply alternate expressions of certain energies—darker ones, to be sure, but equally valid on this plane where emotional bodies, creative expression, and free will reside. Learning from humankind’s comprehensive history (regardless of the…factual validity of the tales) allows us each to choose our course of action, furthering our acquisition of knowledge via the perceived conclusion of our chosen paths.
This wondrous world in which we life offers endless opportunity for experimentation and growth. Seize each chance for widening a narrow point of view as did young Arthur under the tutelage of Merlin. Be your own wizard! Recognize that the “happily ever after” of fairy tales is actually available, albeit not in the way we’ve interpreted. “Happily ever after” exists in presence, in heart-centered love and compassion, in forgiveness of others and self for perceived wrongdoings, and in the joy and serenity that are ours when we live mindfully with trust in our Soul’s higher guidance, enveloped in the grace of Source, and at one with All That Is.