Water Court Cards
TALES OF THE FISHER KING
In Imaginosophy, Court Cards are Storytellers and are linked with mythical figures, archetypes, and Arthurian tales. The Water Court Cards arise out of the stories of the Fisher King, specifically Amfortas. In medieval Grail Romances, Percival, Gawain and finally Galahad (who appears in Imaginosophy as the Hero) visits the Grail Castle but forgets to ask a healing question. This is important in Imaginosophy, because you will notice that each card has a series of inquiries or questions (Quest-i-ons). that are designed to lead you on an inner quest. The King awaits deliverance from his wound, a release from his pain body that can only occur when the correct inquiries are asked.
The myth of the Fisher King has held the fascination of people for centuries, and each age keeps the tale alive by telling it for the current generation. In the version of the tale by Henry James, it is Galahad who heals King Amfortas, the Fisher King. Spiritual teacher Jack Kornfield writes, “When the Fisher King forgets whom he serves, the bounty of the kingdom fails, and all suffer from the king’s spiritual sickness.” Kornfield explains that both our awakening and suffering serve the higher power. Embracing this paradox helps us resolve our quest for wholeness and enlightenment. After his first failed attempt, Percival/Galahad asks who the Grail serves. Upon remembering that the Grail serves a higher power, the Fisher King is healed of his wounds and the kingdom is restored and the land thrives once again.
The Storytellers often describe the people in your life, especially your inner circle, friends, or family members. Heroines and Heroes are youths of any gender who are learning skillsets. They often appear in your life as sons, daughters, or youthful people. Likewise, Queens and Kings denote the leadership positions of mothers and fathers, or other authorities. Imaginosophy has added a fifth deity or family member to the cards. These are the Mages, and each one is a wisdom of their element. They act as guides on the path to wholeness.
In Imaginosophy, each water card shows an illustration of a cup. These tales have Celtic origins and all arise out of the stories of the Fisher King, who has many names. He is the King of the Grail Castle and is the last in a succession of kings charged with protecting the mysteries of the Holy Grail, and perhaps and even older line of Faery Grails, and Well Maidens.
Heroine of Water – Dindraine
Keywords:
Kind-hearted, Loving, Insightful, Considerate
Shadow
Upset, Martyrdom, Self-sacrifice
Colors
White/Violet/Royal Blue
Meaning:
The Heroine of Water is a sensitive, intuitive, often dreamy person. She might have visions and feel an impulse to follow them. Her inner creativity may compel her to write, draw, paint, dance, or open the door to an entirely new world. Her shadow side is martyrdom, or of giving herself up to a greater cause. The way forward is to believe in dreams and visions, even a Higher Power. Make sure there are no strings attached to her care, for her giving can be self-sacrificing or manipulative. Although she is sympathetic and empathetic (even to a fault), the Heroine of Water’s greatest gift is that of compassion.
If Dindraine has come to you in a reading, it may be that someone will open a new path up for you, perhaps a way you were not expecting.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
A beautiful young woman with mysterious violet eyes gazes toward the reader. Her stare is direct and it is clear that she also sees the Otherworlds. She holds a silver chalice in her right hand indicating that she is a Grail Champion, someone who has discovered what she sought. Beneath a royal blue sky, she wears a crown of pearls symbolic of her nobility. Rays of light stream from her forehead, and her psychic eye is clearly open to visions. She wears a silver necklace with a Vesica Pisces, which suggests she is someone who knows how to walk between worlds. The Hawthorn tree behind her in full bloom is reminiscent of the Holy Thorn planted by Joseph of Arimathea. This puts Dindraine in the lineage of the Fisher Kings, keepers of the Grail mysteries. A white road leads though an archway to a castle with a white sun, perhaps to Sarras.
As a person: A creative person; a visionary; a lightworker; a psychic.
Astrology:
In Imaginosophy, the Heroines are related to Venus, the planet of love and relationship. Dindraine is related to Venus in Scorpio, a sign that transforms through deep love. They tend to be very passionate.
Story:
Dindraine appears in the Old French romance Perlesvaus, also known as the High Book of the Holy Grail. Dindraine is the sister of Percival who lives with her mother and brother in the Grail Castle. In the Prose Lancelot version of the tale, she is called Heliabel, and is considered even more lovely than Guinevere. There is some debate about whether or not she is the unnamed sister of Percival who gives her blood to safe a leprous maiden and dies in the process, but her act of purity opens the gates to Sarras, a heavenly realm. She thus becomes the first person to achieve the Holy Grail, and paves the way for the other three Grail Champions, Percival, Bors, and Galahad. Dindraine is also referred to as the Grail Heroine. If we look even more deeply, the Grail might be a symbol for the Goddess who disappeared with the arrival of Christianity.
Myth: In the 5th century, King Arthur—in a last attempt to save his kingdom Camelot from ruin—sent his knights in search of the Holy Grail. The Cup which held the blood of Christ was said to be hidden in a curious castle surrounded by a wasteland. The Grail was protected by the Fisher King, who was wounded in the thigh or groin, and awaited healing from a seeker who was pure of heart. The Fisher King has many names and lives in many places. The promise given to the knights was that the one who found the Grail would ascend to Sarras (an Otherworldly island) or Heaven, where there is no hunger or disease and there is everlasting delight.
Those who are familiar with the legends of King Arthur and the Quest for the Holy Grail will know the names of Percival, Bors and Galahad, who were the three knights to receive a full vision of the sacred cup. Few know the name of the Grail heroine Dindraine, who in some early versions of the legend also received a vision of the Grail. This also would have attained her seat at Sarras, a holy isle in Arthurian legend where Grail Champions go to rest, which may also be a dimension of Heaven. Although known in France as Blanchefleur (Whiteflower), she is usually referred to as the unnamed sister of Percival.” – From Heroines of Avalon & Other Tales
Grail Question:
What dreams are you following?
In what ways are you a martyr? What needs to heal?
Hero of Water – Galahad
Keywords:
Courage, Loyalty, Valor, Magnanimity, Gentleness, Graciousness, Achievement
Shadow
Abandonment, Dogmatic Righteousness, Self-Neglect
Colors
Yellow/Sky Blue/Silver
Meaning:
The Hero of Water is heart centered, expressing love and compassion for others. He is the gentle masculine who genuinely cares. Generally, a bearer of good news, the Hero of Water opens the doors to new journeys to unknown places. He may appear in your life as a sensitive person who has the quality of being forever young. This child-like youth may know what you need for your healing and well-being. He may represent a person who can help you on a spiritual journey perhaps through the process of inquiry, asking questions that can heal the soul.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
A handsome fair-haired youth with blue eyes holds a silver cup lined with precious pearls and gemstones. A white sun shines in the doorway behind him and is suggestive of the mysterious journey into the divine light. A knight in shining armor, he is someone who has the power to rescue a person in distress. Two red fish entwine like serpents facing upwards toward three pearls that reflect the one pearl on his left ring finger, indicating that he is married to a higher power. The soft cloth around his neck suggests that while he wears the armor of men, he is in fact gentle and can be trusted.
As a person: A compassionate person; a seeker of truth; a trustworthy man.
Astrology:
In Imaginosophy, the Heroes are related to the planet Mars. Galahad is linked to Mars in Pisces who are the pacifists of the zodiac. They tend to be compassionate and have the heart-felt ability to understand the feelings of others.
Story:
Galahad was the son of Elaine of Corbenic and Sir Lancelot. In a vision, young Galahad has a vision in which he realizes he is destined to be one of three men to achieve the Holy Grail. He is joined on his quest by Bors, Percival, and Dindraine. The origin of the story has both Welsh and Palestinian roots, and he replaces Percival in later tales, becoming the chief Grail Knight of Arthurian legend. Galahad first appears in the 13th century Queste del Saint Graal. Theological by design, the Cistercian influence of the tale places influence on mysticism, and also mercy, loyalty and virtue. These were the ideals that informed the order of the Knights Templar, who were warrior knights and religious ascetics.
Myth:
As one of the knights of the Round Table, he was known for his gentleness, purity, and courage. Raised by his mother Elaine, Galahad goes to be with his father at Camelot as a young man. The Siege Perilous (perilous seat) is reserved for a Grail Champion, and Galahad claims that seat. Before him anyone who had tried the seat had died instantly. In another tale, King Arthur takes Galahad to a river where he is given (or draws from a stone) a magical sword. As a great knight, he becomes known as Sir Galahad who goes on many adventures, including many rescues. He takes this magical sword (in some versions it is the sword of King David) to the room where the Grail was mysteriously kept. Perceiving the Holy Grail, Galahad understands that he is in the lineage of Joseph of Arimathea and the Fisher Kings. His visions engulf him in a rapturous ecstasy, and he ascends to heaven.
3 Grail Questions:
Who does the Grail serve? In what ways are you brave? Have you ever experienced a higher power?
Queen of Water – Elaine
Keywords:
Caring, Mothering, Empathic, Intuitive, Nurturing, Compassionate
Shadow
Drama Queen, Irrational, Manipulative
Colors
Gold/Sky Blue/Pomegranate
Meaning:
The Queen of Water rules the emotional realms. She spends time in or beside water, even making the ocean her throne. She is well versed in emotional wisdom, and may act as a mother figure. The Queen of Water understands emotional storms and can weather them. Her intuition is strong, only rivaled by the High Priestess. One of her greatest gifts is her ability to travel with alacrity and precision into the unconscious and return with insights and understanding. She might not always seem rational or logical, but her innate felt sense tends to be accurate.
If you have pulled the Queen of Water in a reading, there is a person in your life who you can depend upon emotionally for guidance. This is a person who you can turn to for deep conversation and a shoulder to cry on. This may be a mother figure, and is someone you can trust with matters of the heart.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
A beautiful golden haired woman with blue eyes gazes off into the distance as if awaiting someone, perhaps Elaine’s rescuer Lancelot. The tendrils of white behind her could be steam, as she had to endure enchantment which trapped her in a boiling pool. The flowers that blossom around her indicate that even though she was severely tested, the task was part of her personal blossoming. The pearls and red rubies on her necklace indicate that she is a warrior at heart and has the strength to do what is necessary to survive.
As a person: A mother figure; a person with strong inner guidance; an intuitive; a heart centered person; a woman who listens well.
Astrology:
The symbol of Sagittarius is a centaur aiming for the stars. It is a mutable sign, and those with strong Sagittarius in their charts tend to be flexible and able to adapt to changing situations. They tend to be good conversationalists, often choosing principles over feelings. Those with a moon in Sagittarius like their independence and might find relationships to be smothering. This fire sign tends toward optimism and the broader perspective. They often have strong flashes of inspiration.
Story:
Elaine is a personage of royal blood in line to become a queen, and her home is Castle Corbenic. There is an element of magic in her too. Elaine is the Grail heroine who safeguards the sacred Grail cup for Lancelot and then Galahad, an act exposing her as one of the wise Ladies of the Lake. Elaine is a suitable partner for a man of Lancelot du Lac’s stature. During her personal initiation into the sacred mysteries, Elaine realizes that she is not only a guardian but an embodiment of the Grail. In other words, she remembers that at the depths of her core she is a Goddess. Elaine helps us understand that when a man is divided within himself, even the greatest love will never heal his wound. His quest is something he must undertake himself, or die trying.
Through modern eyes, Elaine is the single mother whose husband, due to his inner instability, cannot quite show up to care for his family. She is a Heroine who understands that sometimes we must quest alone, and that raising children is a noble task. Elaine is an example of a woman who fulfills her mission despite the odds. Is it Elaine who betrayed Lancelot, or was it Elaine who was betrayed by those who misunderstood her? If we look at her more ancient form, we discover that Elaine’s name means “Light” and that she was celebrated as a Goddess of Beauty and the Moon. In Heroine of Avalons & Other Tales, a more compassionate story is told in her honor, and we may discover that when we heal, the ending of a story can change.
Myth: ARIANRHOD IN WELSH MYTHOLOGY:
In Arthurian legend Elaine of Corbenic is a Grail Bearer or Grail Maiden. She the daughter of the Fisher King known as King Pelles, a guardian of the Holy Grail. Her lineage is that of Joseph of Arimathea, who brought the Grail and other hallows to Britain. In Malory’s Le Morte dArthur, Pelles intuitively knows that Elaine and Lancelot will have Galahad, who will become a great Grail Champion. Under an enchantment, Elaine becomes entrapped in a boiling pool and has to wait there until she is rescued by Lancelot. She falls in love with the knight, and in many versions of the tales she tricks him into believing she is Guinevere. Later she takes their son Galahad to King Arthur’s Court. Guinevere is furious, and Lancelot runs naked into the forest. Eventually Elaine finds him and heals him with a sip from the Grail.
3 Grail Questions:
Who are you waiting for? In what ways do you feel emotionally trapped? What is your emotional mastery?
King of Water – Amfortas
Keywords:
Sympathy, Generosity, Emotional Mastery, Presence
Shadow
Empathy, Burdens, Wounds
Colors
Blue/gold/silver
Meaning:
The King of Water has a generous heart. Because of this he carries more than his share of responsibilities, which can exhaust him. Being of a deeply feeling nature, his empathic gift can become a curse. He can feel the suffering of others so much that he is tormented by the world. Fair and of a divine nature, the King of Water carries a lot of responsibility, but tends to help others even at his own cost. As he matures, he learns to shifts from empathy to a more objective sympathy, and at last an embodied compassion, from which he can effectively rule.
The Fisher King Amfortas was wounded in the thigh and understands pain. His challenge is to master the realm of emotion, and to accomplish that he must traverse the seas of the unconscious and mend his many inner paradoxes. Having explored his inner dimensions thoroughly, he understands sorrow and therefore can be fully present with others who suffer, particularly in the matters of the heart.
If Amfortas has come to you in a reading, it may be that a person skilled in heart-felt wisdom has come into your life.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The King of Water has a generous heart. Because of this he carries more than his share of responsibilities, which can exhaust him. Being of a deeply feeling nature, his empathic gift can become a curse. He can feel the suffering of others so much that he is tormented by the world. Fair and of a divine nature, the King of Water carries a lot of responsibility, but tends to help others even at his own cost. As he matures, he learns to shifts from empathy to a more objective sympathy, and at last an embodied compassion, from which he can effectively rule.
A handsome man with the grey hair of an elder holds a cup emblazed with two red fish who encircle each other moving counterclockwise into the inner world of dreams and sometimes nightmares. These reflect the two red fish on the cup of the Hero Galahad. The eyes are of someone who has known suffering and has been awakened by it. He understands the paradoxes of life and death; of sorrow and ecstasy; of love and loss. As a mature man he is embodied in Presence. He represents the wounded healer who knows the secrets of the Grail and the Pearl beyond price. Rays of white light radiate out from the cup, connecting the hallow to the Grail mysteries. A pearl is created from the irritant inside a mollusk from a foreign object such as sand. This process reminds us that life’s suffering has a purpose, which is to polish our hearts and souls to make us even more beautiful. Amfortas wears two rings with pearls, connecting him to the watery realms and to the divine. His violet cloak links him to nobility, and the red collar suggests that he is an embodiment of heaven on earth. The Vesica Pisces (the intersection of two circles) on his chest is well known in sacred geometry. It appears in Christianity as the ichthys, a Greek word meaning fish and is a symbol of Jesus Christ. The twelve apostles are often referred to as fishermen. This symbol from the first century, places the Fisher King inside the early Christian mysteries.
As a person: A wise therapist; a spiritual teacher; a master counselor or coach skilled in matters of the heart; an esoteric Christian; a seeker of truth.
Astrology:
In Imaginosophy, the Kings are related to the Sun. People with the Sun in Pisces tend to be sensitive, romantic, empathetic, sympathetic, and compassionate. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of the universal ocean of oneness.
Story/Myth:
The Fisher King is the last of a line of kings who hold the secrets of the Holy Grail. Arising out of the lineage of Joseph of Arimathea, these kings morph into a variety of wounded kings. He is a rich king, wounded by the spear he guards. The Fisher King is the part of us that has endured a crisis and has a wound that is so terrible that it feels as though it will never heal. Actually he is asking himself the wrong questions and gets stuck in his own emotional turmoil which makes him increasingly unhappy. His healing comes when a youth reminds him of the questions he needs to ask himself, and through this inquiry a new vision of life and healing comes to him. He eventually is restored as the wise ruler of the land. Over time Amfortas becomes the maimed Fisher King Pelles of Corbinec, the father of our Queen Elaine, the mother of our Hero Galahad. Myths evolve for each generation, and in Imaginosophy, the Grail bearer Elaine of Corbinec arrives at a new solution. (See Heroines of Avalon & Other Tales).
Wagner’s Opera: There are several names for the Fisher King, who morphs over the centuries. He first appears in the 12th century Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chretien de Troyes. Wagner’s opera based on Wolfram von Eschenbach’s story Parzival was told thirty years later. Eschenbach gave the Fisher King the name Anfortas/Amfortas. In 1882, the German composer Richard Wagner unveiled the story in his opera Parsifal (Percival). The opera opens at the castle of Montsalvat. Titurel, a Fisher King, has become too old to tend the Grail (a cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper) and Spear made holy by the blood of Christ at the time of his transfiguration. The Spear and Cup had been given to Titurel for safe keeping. Feeling a threat of dark forces, his son Amfortas fights the evil magician Klingsor, who is abusing his power. Falling under a spell of a beautiful woman, Amfortas is distracted, and the holy relics are stolen. Amfortas is stabbed in the thigh by the spear. The wound does not heal and Amfortas, in terrible agony, is only soothed when he bathes in the lake. In a vision he is shown that only a compassionate fool can heal the wound with a touch of the spear. Eventually Parzival appears to play this compassionate role and heals the king.
Grail Question: When Parsifal asks the question, “Whom does the Grail serve?” inquiry instantly and rather magically heals the Grail King. Why does the question heal the king? All the Fisher King needs to do to heal is to remember to ask the right question. The answer is generally, “It serves Thee.” In other words, the Grail serves a higher power. The psychologist Carl Jung felt that by asking this question an alchemical transformation occurs in which the Ego comes into service of the Self.
3 Grail Questions:
What are you thirsty for? What is your wound? What is it that you need?
Mage of Water – Lady of the Lake
Keywords:
Empathy – Emotional Intelligence – Considerate – Aware – Trustworthy
Veils:
Depression – Distancing – Absence – Deceit
Colors:
Royal Blue/White/Lilac
Idea:
What you seek is close at hand
Meaning:
The Mage of Water has the gift of emotional intelligence. She understands emotions and because of this deep wisdom has an empathic understanding of others. She has an innate awareness of a person’s strengths and weaknesses. Because she is a master, she supports others and feels trustworthy. Her heart seems to have magical silver sparkles, and her ability as an empath can make one feel well-held and safe. Another of her gifts is her ability to help during major life transitions, such as birth, illness, death, or any type of rebirth. The Mage of Water has the capacity to hold all feelings without judgment.
Divination:
The Mage of Water may appear in your life as a spiritual teacher or wise friend who can help you navigate your heart and soul, and life’s many passages. The Lady of the Lake knows the oceanic heart and can hold all emotions. Pulling her is like receiving a spiritual hug. What you are looking for is within your grasp.
Veils:
The shadow side of the card is a feeling of absence or depression, in which case your soul, perhaps in the form of a Lady of the Lake (or an inner wise mother or grandmother) is calling you to listen to your depths.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
In the image we see a wise silver-haired lady standing in from of a lake with all the phases of the moon drawn behind her. Each lunar phase gives off a different energy. The new (dark) moon supports planting seeds; the waxing crescent moon is the time for creating; the full moon is the time for action; and the waning moon is the time to let go, rest, and renew. The Lady of the Lake gave the magical sword Excalibur to King Arthur ensuring his reign would be successful, and it must be returned to her at his death. The Lady of the Lake knows how to move between Avalon and Middle Earth. Arthur’s body is also given to her for safe passage for healing in Avalon. White lilies are a flower of innocence, purity, and rebirth. The purple mountains behind the lake indicate that she knows of magical Otherworlds. The three strands of pearls that she wears are symbolic of the wisdom she has earned through experience.
As a person, ally, or guide:
A spiritual teacher; a wise friend; a shaman, priestess, mid-wife, or hospice worker; a life coach; a person with a strong mother archetype; a trustworthy person; a spirit guide or guardian angel. A miracle worker.Legend:
The magical, mysterious, and changeable Lady of the Lake has multiple personas. Most psychics and mystics have been unable to define the Lady of the Lake, although they try. The truth is she is as elusive as water slipping through your fingers. Yet she knows the Grail secrets and who is ready for the next phase of the quest. Caitlin Matthews refers to nine Ladies of the Lake, which she divides into three groups. The first triplicity are kindred to Arthur: Morgan le Fay, Guinevere, and his mother Igraine. The second trinity are the spiritual sisterhood of Argante, Nimue and Enid The third group are the Grail Maidens: Kundry, Dindraine and Ragnell. The Lady of the Lake always appears as is a magical helper, who is not human but acts as a link to the Spirit Faery realms. Bards whisper that Igraine was originally a goddess of the sea, or even a priestess of Atlantis. She knows who is a true oracle, ovate, or seer.
Astrology:
The three water signs are Pisces, Cancer, or Scorpio. All three signs tend to encourage empathy and sensitivity. People with watery signs can communicate their feelings.In Imaginosophy, the Mages are masters of their element. The Lake of the Lake embraces Water as Wisdom. She is extremely sensitive and knows when to appear, also when her light codes might overwhelm another. The Lady of the Lake knows where the sacred hallows reside, and when the quester is ready to hold a sacred cup or sword — or discover a sacred well.
3 Grail Questions:
What secrets or enchantments are at work in your life?
What life phase are you in?
What sacred hallow do you seek?
