Chapter XIX

THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN

AMONG the operas of Wagner there is, perhaps
none which is so universally enjoyed by the
large majority of people who see it, as Lohengrin. This
is probably because the story seems, on cursory ex-
amination, to be very simple and beautiful. The
music is of an unusually exquisite character, which
appeals to all in a manner which is not equalled by
the author's other operas founded upon myths such
as Parsifal, the Ring of the Niebelung, or even Tann-
hauser.

Although these last named productions affect peo-
ple who hear them powerfully for their spiritual
good( whether they are aware of the fact or not), it

158 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

is nevertheless, a fact that they are not enjoyed by the
majority, particularly in America, where the spirit
of mysticism is not so strong as it is in Europe.

It is different with Lohengrin. Here there is a
story of the time when knighthood was in flower, and
although there is an embellishment of magic in the
advent of Lohengrin and the swan in response to the
prayer of Elsa, this is only as a pretty poetical fancy
without deeper meaning. In this myth is revealed
one of the supreme requirements of Initiation — faith.

Whoever has not this virtue will never attain ; its pos-
session covers a multitude of shortcomings in other di-
rections.

The plot is briefly as follows: The heir of the
Duchy of Brabant has disappeared. He is but a child,
and the brother of Elsa, the heroine of the play, who
is accused in the opening scene by Ortrud and Telra-
mund, her enemies, of having done away with this
young brother in order that she may obtain possession
of the principality. In consequence she has been
summoned before the royal court to defend herself
against her accusers, but at the opening scene no
knight as yet has appeared to espouse her cause and
slay her traducers. Then there appears on the river a
swan, upon which stands a knight, who comes up
to the place where court is being held. He jumps
ashore and offers to defend Elsa on condition that
she marry him. To this she readily agrees, for he is
no stranger; she has often seen him in her dreams
and learned to love him. In the duel between the un-

THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN 159

known knight and Telramund, the latter is thrown,
but his life is magnanimously spared by the con-
queror, who then claims Elsa as his bride. He had,
however, made another condition; namely, that she
may never ask him who he is and whence he came.
As he appears so good and so noble, and as he has
come in answer to her prayer, she makes no objection
to this condition either, and the couple retire to the
bridal chamber.

Although temporarily defeated, Ortrud and Telra-
mund do not by any means give up their conspiracy
against Elsa, and their next move is to poison her
mind against her noble protector, so that she may
send him away and then be again at their mercy ; for
they hope, eventually, themselves to secure the prin-
cipality to which Elsa and her brother are the right-
ful heirs. "With this end in view both present them-
selves at Elsa's door and succeed in getting a hear-
ing. They profess to be exceedingly penitent for what
they have done, and very solicitous for the welfare
of Elsa. It pains them very much, they say, that
she has been taken in by someone whose name she
does not even know, and who is so afraid that his
identity be known that he has forbidden her, on pain
of his leaving her to ask him his name.

There must be something in his life of which he is
ashamed, they argue, which will not bear the light of
day, else why should he wish to deny the one to whom
he is willing to link his whole life, knowledge of his
identity and antecedents?

160 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

By means of these arguments they arouse a doubt
in Elsa's soul, and after some conversation she goes
in to Lohengrin, changed. He notices the difference
in her, and asks the cause. Finally she admits that she
feels uncertain about him and that she would like to
know his name. Thereby she has broken the condition
which he has imposed upon her, and he tells her that
now, having expressed a doubt in him, it will be im-
possible for him to remain. Neither tears nor protesta-
tions can change this resolve, so they go together to
the river where Lohengrin calls his trusty swan, and
when that appears he reveals his identity, saying, "I
am Lohengrin, the son of Parsifal. ' ' The swan which
then comes, is changed and stands before them all as
the brother of Elsa. He then becomes her protector
in place of the departing Lohengrin.

As said, the story of Lohengrin contains one of the
most important lessons to be learned on the path of
attainment. No one will ever attain Initiation till
that has been learned. In order that we may properly
grasp this point, let us first look at the symbol of the
swan and see what is behind it and why the symbol
is used. Those who have seen the opera, Parsifal, or
who have read attentively the literature on the Grail,
are already acquainted with the fact that swans were
the emblems worn by all the Knights of the Grail.

In the opera, itself, two swans are mentioned as pre-
paring a healing bath for the suffering King Amf ortas.
Parsifal is represented as shooting one of these swans,

THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN 161

and a great deal of sorrow is manifested by the
Knights of the Grail at this unwarranted cruelty.

The swan is capable of moving in several elements.
It may fly in the air with great swiftness ; it also pro-
pels itself majestically upon the water ; and by means
of its long neck it may even explore the depths and
investigate whatever may be found upon the bottom
of a not too deep pond. It is, therefore, an apt sym-
bol of the Initiate, who, on account of the power de-
veloped within him, is capable of elevating himself to
higher realms, and moving in different worlds. As
the swan flies through space, so may one who has
developed the powers of his soul body travel in that
over mountains and lakes; as the swan dives below
the surface of the water, so may also the Initiate go
underneath the surface of the deep in his soul body,
which is not in danger from fire, earth, air,or water. In
fact, that is one of the first things that the Invisible
Helpers have to be taught: that they are immune
from any danger which may befall them in the phys-
ical body, when they are invested with that golden
wedding garment of which we have spoken so much.
Thus they may enter a burning building with im-
munity, there assisting those who are in danger, some-
times in a most miraculous manner; or they may be
on board a sinking ship giving encouragement to those
who are about to face the great change.

The ancient Norse mythology tells us how noble
warriors of old, when they had fought the battle and
had finally been overcome or mortally wounded, sang

11

162 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

their swan song. But let it not be supposed for a
moment that it wap only the brutal fight fought upon
the battlefield with sword and lance that was meant;
rather it was the inner fight, the hidden meaning, that
a noble soul who had fought the battle of life well, at
the last when he had attained to that which was pos-
sible in those days, sang his swan song: that is he
took his oath of Initiation and became capable of en-
tering another realm to help others there as he had
helped them here ; for it was ever the sacred duty of a
noble knight to succor those who were weak and heavy
laden.

Elsa is the daughter of a king. She is thus of the
highest and most noble birth. No one who is not thus
well born can lay claim to the services of such a knight
as Lohengrin in that manner ; that is to say of course,
there is in humanity neither high nor low, save as we
stand in the scale of evolution. "When a soul has been
long upon the stage of life, has gone to school for
many, many lives, then gradually it acquires that no-
bility which comes from learning the lessons and work-
ing along the lines laid down by the schoolmasters,
our Elder Brothers, who are now teaching us the les-
sons of life. The nobility earned by eagerness to do
deeds of mercy for our less highly advanced fellow
beings, is the key to their favor, and therefore when
Elsa was in distress, a noble soul is sent to teach and
guide her.

THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN 163

In the Book of Revelation we read about the mystic
marriage of the Bride and the Lamb. There is that
marriage in every soul's experience, and always un-
der similar circumstances. One of the first requisiti3S.
is that the soul must have been forsaken by every one
else : it must stand alone without a single friend m
the world. When that point has been attained, when
the soul sees no succor from any earthly source, when it
turns with its whole heart to heaven and prays for
deliverance, then comes the deliverer and also the
offer of marriage. In other words, the true teacher
always comes in response to the earnest prayers of
the aspirant, but not till he has forsaken the «v\rld
and been forsaken by it. He offers to take care of
one who is thus anxious for guidance, and forthwith
conquers untruth with the sword of truth, but having
given this proof, henceforth he requires an absolute
unquestioning faith. Please remember — let it imprint
itself upon your mind, let it sear itself into your very
being with letters of fire, that having come in answer
to the prayer, (which is not only words but a life of
aspiration) the indubitable, unquestionable proof is
given of the power and ability of the teacher to teach,
to guide, and to help; and then the requirement is
made that henceforth there must be absolute faith in
him, otherwise it becomes impossible for him to work
with the aspirant.

That is the great lesson that is taught by Lohengrin,
and it is of supreme importance, for there are thous-
ands upon thousands walking the streets in many

164 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

cities today, looking hither and thither, seeking a
teacher. Some pretend to have found him, or have
deceived themselves into that belief; but the re-
quirement that is enunciated in Lohengrin is an
actual requirement. The teacher must, will, and
does prove his ability. He is known by his fruits ;
then in return he demands loyalty, and unless
this faith, this loyalty, this readiness to serve, this
willingness to do whatever is required, is forthcoming
from the aspirant, the relationship will be terminated.
No matter how hot may be the tears of repentance
which might follow in the case of the aspirant who
had failed in his loyalty to the teacher, no matter how
sincere his repentence; the next opportunity will
not be forthcoming in the present life.

Therefore, it is of the very greatest importance that
those who are seeking Initiation should understand
that there is something due them from the professed
teacher, before they accept him. He must show the
fruits of his work, for as Christ said, ' * By their fruits
ye shall know them." This the genuine teacher al-
ways does without being asked, and without seeming
to do so or to want to give a sign. He always fur-
nishes some evidence to which the mind of the aspirant
can cling as an indubitable proof of his superior knowl-
edge and ability. When that has then been demon-
strated, it is absolutely essential that loyalty to the
teacher must follow, and no matter who says this,
that, or the other thing, the aspirant should not be
disturbed, but cling steadfastly to the proven fact,
stick to that which he believes to be true and faithfully

THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN 165

uphold the one to whom he looks for teaching; for
unless that faith is there, there is no use in continu-
ing the relationship.

It is very significant, however, that Elsa's brother
was, as we learn from the final scene, the swan which
had carried Lohengrin to his sister, and who was
changed back to his natural shape when Lohengrin
departed. He had been through Initiation. He, no
doubt, knew of his sister's plight, as one soul who is
advanced and studying along these lines knows of an-
other's struggles, but although he saw the predica-
ment of this fair aspirant, or sister soul, he had no
fear, for was he not the means of bringing to her the
succor that she might have had permanently had she
been as faithful as he?

The End.

Index

Page

Aaron, rod of, power of religion 81

vehicle of power 153

Alberich symbolizes pioneers of mankind 76

Alternation of sexes in Aryan Epoch 152

America, electric atmosphere 130

spirit of mysticism lacking in • 158

Angels led by Jehovah 36

negative influence of • 27

Apes, degeneration of 36

under care of Lucifer Spirits • 36

Apocalypse and Twilight of the gods 120

Apples, golden, life-giving food of gods 79

Archetypes, copies of, perishable 46

Ark, lungs symbolized by 124

Aryana, atmospheric conditions of • 132

world of today 77

Aspirant, desertion of 163

transmutes passion in blood 32

Atlantean Epoch, savagery of 119

Atlanteans, childlike nature of 75

lacked individualized ego • 75

inner perception of 75

symbolized by Rhine maidens • . . 74

Atlantis childlike people of 75

dense foggy atmosphere of 74

Atmosphere, clearing of, aids perception of selfhood . . 77

Attainment by arduous struggle . . . • 22

Bifrost, rainbow bridge 79

Bird, symbolizes quickening spirit 59

Black magic, symbols of • 27

Black magician, enters and leaves body by feet 25

vampires on sex force of others 32

Blood built by spirit 31

cleansed, regenerative power of 32

extract of vital body • 31

individual structure of 31

iron in, due to Mars 31

seat of soul 30

167

168 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

Pai

Brunhilde, favorite daughter of Wotan 85

sleep of • 93

spirit of truth • 85

Cain, Sons of, descendants of Lucifer Spirits 35

drawn into statecraft 43

Cancer, disease of, result of past immorality 146

Causation, cancellation of duties of 89

Chivalry in Aryan Epoch 119

Christ, aid of, to fallen • 41

evolution of principles of, work of western world . 71

every Son of Seth to leave all for 42

Christ, see also Earth Spirit.

Christ' Jesus, our High Priest • 147

temptation of 147

Church's creeds, do not satisfy 97

deprive man of individuality 95

Civilization, follows sun's path 73

Cleansing Blood of Grail 150

Color, function of 50

Compassion, known through experience 34

Compensation given for bodily action 37

Courage necessary in development of soul 138

Creed, causes decay of religion 81

purpose of 83

Crystallization caused by passion 36

Curiosity, danger of 114

Dead, lamentations for, cause grief to Ill

Desire body, emotions of easily dissipated 72

less retentive than vital body 72

Desire world, complementary colors active in 151

illusions of 101

realm of color 52

Disciple seeks to undo evil of past lives 150

Discord, contrasting value of 132

Dogma, usefulness of 83

Double standard, fallacy of 147

Dweller on threshold 154

Earth, activity below outer stratum 19

coming change of 124

nine strata of • 19

rst connection of with planets 30

lives, test of knowledge in 116

Earth Spirit controls earth from within 25

liberation of • 20

INDEX 169

Page

Earth Spirit, living reality of revealed in Initiaton . . 19

power in name of 18

Earth Spirit, see also Christ

East, etheric atmosphere of 73

Eden, garden of 74

Effort, advancement gained through • 82

Ego, bisexual state of 141

directs action by thought 52

enveloped in ring of vehicles . . . • 80

symbolized by Ring 98

Emotion, intense, necessity for 38

Eternal Feminine, creative force in universe 46

Europe, mystic atmosphere of • 130

Evolution unceasing effort in 82

Exilir, antithesis of Philosopher's Stone 151

color of soothing effect 151

Grail made from • 150

Experience, post-mortem, record of '. . 113

Faf ner, giant builder of limitation 80

spirit of desire • 98

Faith, in Christ, redemptive power of 42

in teacher, necessity for • 164

Fasolt, giant builder of limitation 80

Fates, three, see Norms

Father, the macrocosm • 28

Father, religion of 20

Faust, evolved humanity 11

Son of Cain . . . • 42

symbolical of the seeking soul 24

Fenris, the atmosphere 38, 121

Fire, of Aryan Age • 120

Forgiveness of sin 150

Form, function of • 50

Freya, Norse counterpart of Venus 79

Friday dedicated to Venus 79

Frost giants existence of before earth 90

nature forces • 90

Gamuret, the man of the world 60

Generation contributes to immortality 153

relation of, to solar ray • 152

used for regeneration 153

Giants builders of limitation • 80

Gimle, new earth 122

God, life of, invests every atom of matter 15

perpetual development of 10

170 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

Page

Gods, constant evolution 77

limit themselves by ring • 77

remain until end of epoch 80

warders of religions 80

Goethe, enlightened Initiate 6

Grail, castle of ' 32

Cleansing Blood contained in 150

found only by conquest of passion 152

quest for, causes spiritual strife 22

Grane steed of discernment • 106

Group spirit, influences animals by mental pictures .... 72

work through animals' desire bodies 72

Gutrune, honors of the world 119

Heaven, ideals attained . . . • 46

Hel, ruler of the indolent 88

symbolical of death 121

Herod, Castle of and Castle of Grail 32

Herzleide, sorrow 60

Hierarchies, creative, constant evolution of 90

Higher knowledge follows mastery of lower 16

Higher law supersedes lower 150

Higher nature, struggle with lower 22

Hoard of Niebelung, material acquisitions of 118

Hunding, spirit of convention 91

Hypnotic power, helmet of illusion 117

Ideals, etched into higher vehicles 6

Imagination aroused by Lucifer 153

female quality of spirit 153

Immaculate conception • 154

Inactivity, power of, to shorten life • 29

Incubi, evil obsessing entities 130

Initiate, master of different elements 16i

Initiation, opened up by Christ 61

reveals Earth Spirit 19

unveils mystery of earth's constitution 20

words of power given in 18

Inner life, completeness of • 51

emotional and mental 52

Jealousy engendered by Exilir 151

Jehovah, author of generation 146

guided mankind from without 25

highest Initiate of Moon Period • 145

ruler of angels 36

INDEX 171

Page

Jesus, vital body of, Christ's vehicle at future coming . 20

Christ entered earth by means of 25

preserved at centre of earth 20

Job, vanguard of race 11

Jupiter, Thor, Norse counterpart of 79

Keynote, each star has own • 8

Killing, by proxy 59

Knight, he who travels path of attainment 138

Knighthood, duties of • 138

Knowledge, growth of, related to vital body 31

interior state of 31

responsibility, increases with • . . . . 115

Knowledge, higher, only follows mastery of worldly

information 16

Knowledge, tree of 145

Kundry, the body 67

the Dweller of Parsifal 154

the lower nature 66

Liberation, freedom from rebirth 67

Life spirit, the Christ principle in man 71

extracts as pabulum intellectual soul • 71

Life, tree of, see Yggdrasil.

Light waves, transmuted to sound 8

Loge, guardian of flame 88

related to Saturn • „ 79

spirit of deceit 79

Love, elevation of standards of 129

Lower nature, affected by myths • 7

plotting of 97

Lucifer arouses imagination • 153

beneficent influence of 9

green gem of • 152

imbued man with ambition 76

Mars spirit • t 79

spirit of negation 79

Lucifer spirits evolve by intensity of feeling induced in

man • 33

fallen angels 36

from Mars • 31

have freed man from angelic domination 35

incite war and bloodshed 39

progenitors of Sons of Cain 35

selfish influence of 27

stir passions of lower nature 33

172 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

Page
Lucifer Spirits, ultimately produce good through

suffering 39

Luck, result of merit 37

Lunar ray, vehicle of gestation 145

Lungs symbolized by Ark 124

Man in past, hermaphrodite 152

lead by angels 27

lead by Lucifer Spirits 27

past consciousness of 152

Marguerite, the sinning soul 41

ward of Sons of Seth . 35

Matter, God's life invests . . . . 15

Mediums, control of, by evil entities 13C

Mercury, Norse counterpart of Wotan 78

Michael,' Archangel, Lucifer struggles with 150

Midgaard Serpent, the ocean 38

Mime, the lower nature 97

symbolizes dense body

well of, bestows knowledge of the past 90

Minstrels, educators of Middle Ages 128

influence of, on public opinion 128

were Initiates 139

Mistakes, educational value of 13

Mountain of Venus 13C

Music, language of thought world 52

Myths, effects of, on man's evolution 73

given by great teachers

ideals ingrained by

seven interpretations of 59

veiled spiritual truths 72

Nature, feminine creative force 46

Nature forces, see Frost Giants.

New race to be offshoot of American 124

Nidhog, spirit of envy 88

Nisbelung, children of Wotan 85

Noah kindled first fire 120

Norms controlled by law 89

the Three Fates 89

Nothung, courage of despair 87

Ocean to pass away 122

Odin, see Wotan

Orlog, destiny 89

Panorama of Life, see Life panorama.

Paracelsus, on obsessing entities 130

Parsifal, spear of 81

INDEX 173

Page

Parsifal, symbolizes spirit 67

Passion, aroused by Lucifer Spirits 35

awakened man's individuality 35

causes sickness 35

crystallizing power of 36

Past lives forgetfulness of 112

pride of 114

Pentagram, symbolism of 24

Philosopher's Stone, chaste love symbolized by 151

symbol of redemption 153

Physical world, realm of form 52

Pioneers need of 83

Pituitary body, development of soul power in 24

Planets, movements of 74

earth's close connection with 30

Power, occult to be used unselfishly 97

Priestcraft, Sons of Seth 43

Progress, necessity for slow 16

penalty in laws of 134

Rainbow, first seen in Aryana 79

remains till end of era 80

significance of 120

Rainbow bridge, Bifrost 79

reflection of heavenly fire 120

Rebirth, alternation of sex during 129

taught in Scandinavian mythology 109

Recording Angels, infallibility of 82

Reincarnation, see Rebirth.

Heligion, decay of due to creed 81

destroyed by political affiliations 81

forswore love 84

frees from illusion 78

perfect, impossible to present humanity 80

relation of, to love .- 84

shows way to truth and life 78

symbols of 52

Religions, all imbued wTith spirit of love 91

various, form steps in man's evolution 80

Renunciation of the world, inevitable 60

Repetition, keynote of vital body 71

Rhinegold, ring of, dogma and creed 82

Universal Spirit 76

Right, criterion of, determined by evolution 118

.Righteousness, future universality of 43

174 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

Page

Ring, symbol of limitation 77

symbol of sp;rit's immortality 78

symbolizes ego 78

Rose Cross, Brothers of. foster self-reliance 23

Sacrifice, law of, greater than law of self-preservation 98

Salvation, intended for all 83

Second sight, past prevalence of Ill

Seed pod of plant and Holy Grail 152

Selfhood protecting power of 37

Self-reliance, necessary for aspirant 23

Seth, Sons of, negative character 40

the priestcraft 35

Sex, pertains to dense vehicle only 152

Sex force, extract of vital body 31

transmuted in pituitary body 24

Sexes, alternation of 141

equality of - 129

Sickness, attendant upon soul growth 138

Siegfried represents higher self 96

seeker of truth 86

Sieglinda enslaved by public opinion 87

Sin, unpardonable 146

Skuld, one of the Fates 89

Snake, symbolical of rebirth 55

Solomon, an incarnation of Jesus 42

Son of Seth 42

Sorrow, educational effects of 148

Soul, freedom in choice of 12

Soul body, development of 161

Soul growth, slow inner process of 32

through good deeds 23

Sound, power of 18

Spear, power of religion 81

spiritual power used unselfishly 66

Spheres, song of 9

Spirit, bi-sexual state of 152

entrance or exit from same door 21

integral part of God 13

primarily innocent 13

ring of, causes limitation 77

Spirits of elements 130

Spirit world lies about us 15

Spiritual realms, earthly elements nonexistent in 121

INDEX 175

Page

Stars, circle dance of 9

discord of, develops individuality 9

Stellar influences on propagation 146

Succubi, evil possessing entities 130

Suffering, God gives aid to 41

purifying power of 39

Swan, emblem of Grail Knights 160

symbol of Initiate « 161

Swan Song, vow of Initiation 162

Tannhauser. man's spirit at one stage of evolution . . . 129

Tarcap, helmet of illusion 117

Teacher comes in answer to prayer 163

fidelity to 167

known by his fruits 167

enabled only to point the way 23

Teachers, spiritual uplift mankind 53

Temple builder, man is 29

Temptation, persistence of 41

sin in yielding to 147

strengthening of moral muscle in 12

Th'vr, Norse counterpart of Jupiter 79

Thought, attractive power of 130

realm of tone 52

Thought, world of. home of ego 52

Tone, beauty of induces spiritual good 157

function of 50

Tree of knowledge 145

Tree of life, see Yggdrasil.

Truth, achieved by conquest over limitation 92

the bride of its discoverer 106

contends upon side of truth seeker 91

exists in Region of Concrete Thought 101

knows no boundaries 80

means to an end 101

must be brought down to physical realm 101

must be divorced from earthly ambition 98

world's antagonism to 102

Universal spirit, the Rhinegold 74

Unpardonable sin 145

Unselfishness, necessity for 65

Urd, fountain of, renews life 89

spins our past destiny 89

Valhal, limitations of 82

the ring of creed 91

176 MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT OPERAS

Page

Valkuerie, symbolical of virtue 85

Valplads, battle field of truth 85

Venus, Freya, Norse counterpart of 79

Venus, mountains of 130

Venus of Tannhauser, etheric entity 130

Verdande, breaks thread of our future 89

Virtue, developed by suffering 13

distinguished from innocence 63

Vital body, capable of levitation 25

extracts of 31

repetition, keynote of 71

retentiveness of 72

seen at death 11

vehicle of Christ at Second Coming 25

Walsungs, children of Wotan 85

pioneers demanding free will 84

War incited by Lucifer Spirits 39

Water, deities of 79

Water of life, spiritual impetus 90

Wedding garment, construction of 124

etheric vehicle necessary for new race 124

Wednesday dedicated to Mercury 78

West, etheric atmosphere of, conduces to spiritual per-
ception 73

White Stone, the Philosopher's Stone 151

Will, male quality of spirit 151

Witches' kitchen, each must enter 37

Wolfram, exponent of spiritual love 137

humanity becomes 139

Woman, equality of 128

place of 129

Word of power 18

World Temple, two classes of humanity build 46

Wordly possessions, desire for 98

Wotan, chief of Hierarchies 90

claims only the brave who die for truth 82

God of the age of air 122

God of wisdom 90

spear of the power of creed 91

Teutonic counterpart of Mercury 78

warder of creeds 99

Yggdrasil, lives by love 88

tree of life and being 88

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